Patrol Duty - Obedience
(PD-OB)
Phase 1: OBEDIENCE
The K-9 will master the basic commands of heel, change of pace, sit, sit-in-motion, down, down-in-motion, down-on-recall, and come. He/she will also master distance control, down under distraction, social exposure (people), and control of animal aggression. The K-9 Team must document 100 hours of study, training, and practice, or the equivalency prior to evaluation. The completion of this requirement shall be verified and shall bear the signature of the Training Director. The Training Director has the sole discretion to modify this requirement based on a K-9 Team's previous documented history.
The evaluation shall be judged by an Service Dog Association (SDA) certified judge. Each K-9 Team must present an SDA score book prior to the evaluation. The judge shall verify identity of each dog/handler team at the time of the evaluation.
The evaluation shall take place under conditions and on grounds approved by the judge. The PD-OB examination area should be approximately 50 yards (150 feet) x 100 yards (300 feet). Items of distraction will be present on the examination field, such as (but not limited to), a vehicle, a drainage pipe, a large box, a blind, & etc. A preset "Obedience Heeling & Exercise Pattern" will be utilized to evaluate the team's performance. The preset pattern combines the various exercise components to provide for a smooth overall flow. All Patrol Duty - Obedience exercises are done on lead. The judge shall give each team a critique and score after completion of their testing.
Exercise Value:
- Heeling under Distraction - 25 points
- Change of Position & Social Exposure - 15 points
- Down on Recall & Recall - 15 points
- Sit in Motion with Recall to Heel - 15 points
- Down in Motion with Recall - 15 points
- Down under Distraction - 15 points
Total = 100 points
HEELING CONTROL: The handler will demonstrate the K-9's ability to obey the basic commands of sit, down, heel, and come under distraction. The K-9 will, on command, heel at the handler's side until released by the handler. The exercise will consist of at least three (3) legs and at least a right turn, a left turn, and about turn, a change of pace, a sit, a down, and a come utilizing the preset pattern.
DISTANCE CONTROL (with Social Exposure): The K-9 will be heeled by the handler in a figure eight around several people in a group (Social Exposure) and then halt in the center of the group. The handler will then leave his K-9 in a siting position and walk away 20 yards (60 feet) and then turn and face his K-9. The K-9 will be given no more than three (3) hand and/or voice commands to reach the desired position. The position change will be from a "Sit" to "Down".
SOCIAL EXPOSURE (with Distance Control): While the K-9 is on a down at the center, the people in the group will rotate one position counter-clockwise around the dog. The K-9 should not break the down command. The handler remains 20 yards (60 feet) away faceing his K-9. When signaled by the judge, the handler calls his dog ("Here" command). As the K-9 is responding to the "Here" command, the handler will demonstrate a down-on-recall ("Down" command) using a hand and/or voice command. After the K-9 downs on recall, the handler will again command his K-9 to come ("Here" command). When the K-9 has returned to the basic (heel) position. The exercise ends with the handler heeling his K-9 away.
MOTION EXERCISES: The K-9 team will demonstrate the following motion exercises as set forth in the preset pattern. Sit-in-motion with a return to a moving heel from that sit-in-motion is required, as is, a down-in-motion ("Down" command) with a recall ("Here" command) after the handler has turned to face his K-9 about 40 yards away. The handler will then command the K-9 again to come ("Here" command). When the K-9 has returned to the basic (heel) position. The exercise ends with the handler heeling his K-9 away.
DOWN UNDER DISTRACTION: The handler will demonstrate the K-9's ability to take a position ("Down" command) and hold it until commanded to return to the heel position. The handler will heel his K-9 to a position indicated by the judge. Then the handler will command the K-9 into down position, whereupon, the handler will leave the K-9. The handler shall walk to a position at least 20 yards (60 feet) from the K-9. The K-9 is to remain in the commanded position for approximately of ten (10) minutes while another K-9 Team completes the preset heeling pattern. When notified by the judge, the handler will return to the K-9 and command the K-9 to sit. When the K-9 has returned to the basic (heel) position. The exercise ends with the handler heeling his K-9 away.
The K-9 Dog/Handler Team that successfully demonstrates their ability to pass each segment of this evaluation shall be awarded the SDA 'Patrol Duty - Obedience', or PD-OB title.
