Participants will be randomly (or not so randomly)
divided into teams. Each team will work together to complete all
of the required Versatility exercises. Exercises will be evaluated
on accuracy, enthusiasm, creativity, and sportsmanship. All of
the judge’s decisions are final! Each dog on the team must
complete at least one of the exercises, but may complete more
if desired. You will be given time to plan your strategy and practice
before the competition.
1. Distance Delivery. You
will spit or toss a treat at your dog and he must catch it.
You may use any food you like. Furthest catch wins.
2. Circus Dog. For this exercise
your dog must complete as many tricks as possible in one minute.
Tricks cannot be repeated. You may not use food or toys during
this exercise.
3. Catch Me! You will leave
your dog on a sit/wait and walk halfway across the ring. As
you ask your dog to heel you will start walking. The dog that
gets into heel position fastest wins.
4. Stop & Drop. Several
‘marks’ will be placed on the floor. You will have
your dog sit at one end of the ring and you will walk to the
other. Call your dog and direct him to drop on the marks, one
after the other. The dog that drops on the most marks wins.
5. Fetch This. A variety
of retrieve objects will be placed in a hula hoop. You will
stand in another hula hoop and ask your dog to retrieve as many
objects as possible in 2 minutes.
6. Temptation Alley. You
will sit your dog at one end of the ring, go to the other end,
and call him. There will be a number of possible distractions
placed on the floor between you and your dog. Fastest time wins.
7. Target Practice. Several
targets will be placed across the ring. You will ask your dog
to go touch them with his nose/paw.
8. Silent Partner. You will
use only hand signals and body language to get your dog to stand
stay, down, sit, recall, and finish. The successful handler
who can do this from the furthest distance wins.
9. Reverse Finish.
Start with your dog sitting in heel position. Ask him to move
to front position. The straightest front wins.
