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APDT SignS and Descriptions

 

Level 1 is performed on-leash. A Level 1 course consists of 18 - 20 exercise signs, exclusive of the Start and Finish exercise signs. Level 1 is divided into two classes: A and B. The A class is for teams who are working towards earning their Level 1 title. The B class is for teams that have earned their Level 1 title in the A class. Once a team has earned their Level 1 title in the A class, they may

continue to compete in Level 1, but must do so in the B class.

 

1. HALT- Sit. The handler approaches to within approximately two to four feet of the exercise sign. The handler halts, and the dog sits in heel position. This can be an automatic sit, or the handler may cue the dog to sit. When completed, handler cues dog forward and proceeds

to the next exercise station.

 

2. HALT - Sit - Stand. . While heeling, the team comes to a halt and the dog sits in heel position. The handler then cues the dog to stand. Handler may leave heel position to stack the dog as in conformation and may touch the dog to help position the stand. The handler may not physically force the dog to stand. When the dog is standing, the

handler resumes a proper heel position and cues the dog to heel forward from the stand.

 

3. HALT - Sit - Down. While heeling, the handler comes to a halt and the dog sits in heel position. The handler then cues the dog to lie down. When the dog is down, the handler resumes a proper heel position, then cues the dog to heel forward from the down.

 

4. HALT - Sit - Down - Sit. The first part of this exercise is performed as described in Exercise 3. When the dog is lying down, the handler cues the dog to rise into a sit position. When the dog is sitting, the handler cues the dog to heel and moves toward the next exercise station.

5. HALT - Sit - Walk Around. While heeling, the team comes to a halt with the dog sitting in the heel position. The handler gives the dog a stay or wait cue and walks forward, around the dog counterclockwise, and back to heel position. Handler then cues the dog to heel and moves toward the next exercise station.

6. HALT - Sit - Down - Walk Around. While heeling, the team halts and the dog sits in heel position. The handler cues the dog to lie down, gives a wait or stay cue, then walks forward, around the dog counterclockwise, and back to heel position. The handler then cues the dog to heel from the down position and moves toward the next exercise station.

 

 

7. Right Turn. This is a 90-degree right turn performed as in AKC Novice Obedience.

 

 

8. Left Turn. This is a 90-degree left turn performed as in AKC Novice Obedience.

 

 

9. About Turn - Right. This is a 180-degree turn to the handler’s right as performed in the AKC Novice Obedience About Turn.

10.About U Turn. While heeling, the team makes a 180-degree about turn to the handler’s left. When dog and handler are facing the opposite direction, they move forward with the dog in heel position.

11.270-Degree Right (Turn). While heeling, the team makes a 270-degree turn that begins to the handler’s right. However, the final direction taken toward the next exercise station is to the left of the team’s original position.

12.270-Degree Left (Turn). While heeling, the team makes a 270-degree turn that begins to the handler’s left. However, the final direction taken toward the next exercise station is to the right of the team’s original position.

13.360-Degree Right (Turn). While heeling, the team makes a 360-degree turn (a complete circle) that begins to the handler’s right. The final direction is the same as that of the team before starting the exercise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.360-Degree Left (Turn). While heeling, the team makes a 360-degree turn (a complete circle) that begins to the handler’s left. The final direction is the same as that of the team before starting the exercise.

15.Call (Dog) Front - Forward Right. While heeling the handler stops his/her forward motion and calls the dog to the front position. The dog continues to move during this portion of the exercise - he/she does not sit and then go to the front position. The handler may take several steps backward as the dog turns and moves in to sit in front of and facing the handler. The backward movement of the handler must be no more than three to four steps taken straight back.. The handler is not to move to the side to position him/herself in front of the dog; the dog must move to sit directly in front of the handler. For the second part of the exercise, the handler cues the dog to move from the front position to the handler’s right, around behind the handler and into heel position as the handler continues forward. The dog does not sit in heel position.

18.Call (Dog) Front - Finish Left. The Call Dog Front portion of this exercise is performed as in Exercise 15. For the second part, the handler cues the dog to Finish, moving from the front position to the handler’s left, and sitting in heel position. The handler then cues the dog to heel and moves forward towards the next exercise station.

19.Slow Pace. The team decreases its pace so that there is a noticeable difference from the team’s normal pace

20.Fast Pace. The team increases its pace so that there is a noticeable difference from the team’s normal pace. The pace should be fast enough that the dog at least breaks into a trot.

21.Normal Pace. The team moves forward at a normal pace that is comfortable for dog and handler.

22. Moving Side Step Right. While heeling past the sign, the handler takes one diagonal step with his/her right foot, forward and to the right with the exercise sign on the right. The handler then steps with the left foot, also forward and to the right, along the newly established line. (Alternatively, the station sign may be placed directly in the team’s path, in which case the exercise is performed two to four feet in front of the sign. In this case the sign is on the handler’s left as the team passes it). The dog must move with the handler.

23.HALT - 90 Degree Pivot Right - HALT. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the handler pivots 90 degrees in place to his/her right and halts. The dog moves with the handler and resumes a sit in the heel position when the handler halts. The handler then cues the dog to heel and moves forward toward the next exercise station.

24.HALT - 90 Degree Pivot Left - HALT. With the dog sitting in heel position, the handler pivots 90 degrees in place to his/her left and halts. The dog moves with the handler and resumes a sit in the heel position when the handler halts. The handler then cues the dog to heel and moves forward toward the next  exercise station.

25.Spiral Right - Dog Outside. Three cones (pylons) are placed in a straight line approximately 5 feet apart. The Right direction indicates that the handler turns to his/her right when moving around each of the cones (clockwise). This places the dog on the outside of the turns. The exercise sign is placed next to the first cone facing the direction of the team’s approach. Dog and handler pass the first cone and proceed to and around the third one, then loop the first cone, proceed to and around the second, then loop the first cone one last

time. Each of the three spirals circles the first cone.

26.Spiral Left - Dog Inside. Performed as in Exercise 25, except that the turns of the spiral are to the handler’s left (counterclockwise) and the dog is on the inside of the turns.

27.27. HALT - 1, 2, 3 Steps Forward. The team halts at the exercise sign. With the dog sitting in heel position, the handler cues the dog to heel and takes one step forward, then halts. This is followed by two steps and a halt, then three steps and a halt. The dog heels with the

handler and sits each time the handler halts.

28.HALT - Turn Right - 1 Step - HALT. With the dog sitting at heel, the handler turns to the right and takes one full step in that direction, then halts. The dog moves with the handler and sits at heel after the handler has turned and taken one step.

29.Straight Figure 8. Four cones (pylons) are placed in a straight line approximately 5 feet apart. The exercise sign is placed near the first cone in the line. Entry into the weaving pattern is between the first and second cone with the first cone on the team’s left. Dog and handler weave through the cones, loop the end cone and weave back to the beginning of the pattern. Exit direction from the pattern is dependent on the placement of the next exercise station.

16.Call (Dog) Front - Forward Left. The Call Dog Front part of this exercise is performed as in Exercise 15. For the second part, the handler cues the dog to move from the front position to the handler’s left, moving into heel position as the handler continues forward. The dog does not sit and the handler moves forward as the dog comes

into heel position.

17.Call (Dog) Front - Finish Right. The Call Dog Front portion of this exercise is performed as in Exercise 15. For the second part, the handler cues the dog to Finish by moving from the front position to the handler’s right, around behind the handler and finally sitting in heel

position. The handler then cues the dog to heel and moves forward towards the next exercise station.

 

30.Serpentine This exercise uses four cones, approximately 6 ft. apart in a straight line. The team enters with the first cone on their left, weaves through the cones and exits at the last cone. The team does not weave back down through the cones.