Dog Training Advanced Obedience and Competition Training 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In AKC Novice obedience competition, what is the required heel position relative to the handler?
- Dog's shoulder aligned with handler's left leg (Correct answer)
- Dog sits 2 feet ahead of handler
- Dog heels on the right side
- Dog remains 1 foot behind handler
Correct answer: Dog's shoulder aligned with handler's left leg
In AKC Novice obedience, the dog heels on the handler's left side with its shoulder aligned with the handler's left leg.
Question 2: What does 'proofing' a behavior mean in advanced dog training?
- Practicing a cue in varied environments and with distractions until the dog performs reliably (Correct answer)
- Teaching the dog a brand-new trick
- Correcting a dog's failure to obey
- Removing food rewards entirely from training
Correct answer: Practicing a cue in varied environments and with distractions until the dog performs reliably
Proofing means systematically exposing the dog to different locations, distractions, and contexts so the behavior generalizes reliably.
Question 3: Which principle describes teaching a dog to respond to a cue even when the handler is out of sight?
- Distance and duration work (Correct answer)
- Latent inhibition
- Stimulus control
- Desensitization
Correct answer: Distance and duration work
Distance and duration work involves extending a dog's ability to hold a behavior or respond to cues while the handler moves away or out of sight.
Question 4: What is a 'go-out' exercise in AKC Utility obedience?
- The dog runs straight ahead to a target point and sits on command (Correct answer)
- The dog retrieves a dumbbell from across the ring
- The dog jumps over a high jump on cue
- The dog performs a recall from a down position
Correct answer: The dog runs straight ahead to a target point and sits on command
In the AKC Utility go-out, the dog runs straight to the far end of the ring, sits on command, then jumps a directed obstacle.
Question 5: When teaching a formal retrieve, what common error causes a dog to drop the dumbbell before presenting it?
- The trainer takes the dumbbell too quickly, teaching the dog to release early (Correct answer)
- The dumbbell is too light
- The dog was taught to sit first
- The trainer uses too much praise
Correct answer: The trainer takes the dumbbell too quickly, teaching the dog to release early
If the trainer consistently grabs the dumbbell immediately, the dog learns to release it before the formal 'out' cue is given.
Question 6: In competition obedience, what does 'fronting' refer to?
- The dog sitting directly in front of and facing the handler after a recall or retrieve (Correct answer)
- The dog heeling in front of the handler's path
- The dog blocking distractions during an exercise
- A judge's evaluation of the dog's attention
Correct answer: The dog sitting directly in front of and facing the handler after a recall or retrieve
Fronting is when the dog sits squarely in front of the handler, centered and close, after completing a recall, retrieve, or scent discrimination exercise.
Dog Training Advanced Obedience and Competition Training 1
In AKC Novice obedience competition, what is the required heel position relative to the handler?