AKC Title Training & Testing

1. Accepting a friendly stranger

2. Sitting politely for petting

3. Appearance and grooming

4. Out for a walk

5. Walking through a crowd

6. Sit and down on cue/Staying in place

7. Coming when called

8. Reaction to another dog

9. Reaction to distractions

10. Supervised separation

1. Dog stands, sits or lies down and waits under control while the owner:

   1. sits at the registration table and fills out paperwork, or,

   2. if the test is done in the community, dog waits while the owner sits and has a snack or visits with another person (e.g., at a park)

2. Walks on a loose leash in a natural situation (not in a ring) — does not pull.

   1. left turn

   2. right turn

   3. stop

   4. fast and slow pace

3. Walks on loose leash through a crowd:

   1. at a show or in class, this item is tested in a real crowd, not in a ring

   2. in the community, dog walks on sidewalk, through a crowd at a community fair, park, on a trail, through a busy hallway, etc.

4. Dog walks past distraction dogs present; does not pull.
   This item may be tested along with #3 if there are dogs in the crowd, etc.

   1. at a show or class, dog walks by dogs waiting in the crowd–dogs 2 ft. apart

   2. in the community, dog walks by other dogs on a trail, sidewalk, in a hallway, etc.

5. Sit-stay in small group (two other people with dogs, total of 3 people, 3 dogs in group).

6. Dog allows person who is carrying something (backpack, computer bag, etc.) to approach and pet it.
   “May I pet your dog?” (Item is placed on floor/ground before the person pets the dog)

7. “Leave it.” Dog walks by food and follows owner instructions, “Leave it.”
   This can be food placed by the evaluator on the floor or ground in a food dish with a wire cover as in Rally.

8. Down or sit stay — distance (owner’s choice).
   Dog is on 20–ft line, owner walks away with back to dog, picks up an item (e.g., backpack, training bag, clipboard, folder etc.) placed on the floor/chair/ground by the evaluator and returns to the dog.

9. Recall with distractions present (coming when called). Handler goes out 20–ft. **(off center) and calls dog.

1. Exit/enter doorway with no pulling in dog-friendly buildings. Exit building to start test, additional Public buildings items are below.

2. Walk through a crowd on a busy urban sidewalk.

   • People come toward the dog from 1-ft. away

   • Tolerate distractions (people wearing hats, coats, men, women, etc).

3. Appropriate reaction to city distractions. This includes movement, noises, and walking on a variety of surfaces. Examples:

   • Noises: horns, sirens, construction noise, etc.

   • Moving objects: skateboard, bike, carts, person running

   • Surfaces: concrete, grass, grates, plastic tarp, wet sidewalk

4. Crossing street: Stop at corner, stand or sit to wait and cross with no pulling (on leash, with owner). Crosses street under control.

5. Ignore food on sidewalk. (Dropped food, or cups, bags, cans, in which food was wrapped).

6. Person walks up and pets the dog. May be carrying an item such as a small dog in a bag, a computer bag, etc. Person does not put the bag down to pet the dog.

7. Public Building (that is dog friendly). Walks under control in building (slick surface, carpeted floor). Down stay (3 min) in lobby or outdoor area, or waits while owner has a meal or snack.

8. Stairs, steps, or elevator under control.

   • Steps (at least 3 – up and down)

   • Elevator (Enters under control, exits, rides under control)

9. Housetrained for apartment, condo, city living. Owner may verify this item. Evaluator may also observe in public buildings, or have observed in training classes.

10. Transportation. Owner’s choice depending on transportation needs.

    • Car. Enters/exits, remains under control during the ride. (Crate? Seatbelt?)

    • Subway. Small dog in bag for ride. (large dogs are not always permitted; know and abide by the Transit Policies in your area).

    • Dog friendly (enters/exits or allows to be put in/taken out) under control.

Dogs without the CGC must perform 10 tricks while dogs with the CGC only need to perform 5.

List of trick options:

• Balance beam (walk on board a few inches off floor) 

• Bark on cue (“Speak”) 

• Crawl (dog on belly, crawls at least 3 body lengths)

• Fetch it (ball, etc., 10 ft. away, bring to handler within 2 ft) 

• Find it (find treat or scent item hidden under 1 cup or object)

• Get your _______. (Leash, brush, name of toy) 

• Get in (gets in box)

• Sits in box (on cue)

• Get on (gets on low platform or step - 4 paws) 

• Hand signals (Choose one: down, sit, or come) 

• High five

• Hold (3 seconds)

• Jump (thru a low hoop or over a low bar)

• Kennel up (go in crate, stay in until released)

• Kiss (point to cheek or back of hand)

• Paws up (2 front paws on low stool or step)

• Push-ups (sit, down, sit, down, sit, down)

• Shake hands

• Spin in circle

• Touch it (hand or target stick)

• Tunnel (agility tunnel or child’s tunnel)

Must have Novice Trick Dog Title. Must perform 10 tricks. Tricks cannot be ones used on previous trick dog title.

List of trick options:

• Balance on ball or foam exercise peanut

• Balance treat on nose or head (e.g., dog biscuit)

• Carry (such as basket or another object)

• Catch (soft toy, soft ball, treat, etc.) 

• Close door

• Close drawer 

• Crawl (at least 5 body lengths-may use food/toy lure)

• Fetch it (20 ft. away and deliver to hand)

• Flyball (run to, push, get ball)

• Game (manipulates interactive canine game) 

• Go find (handler hides, dog goes and finds) 

• Go to your place (to bed/mat, crate from 10 ft.) 

• Hand signals (Sit, down, come, stand. Total of 3.) 

• Head down 

• Heeling with automatic sit

• Jump through handler’s circled arms (or over handler’s leg)

• Leg weave (weave around handler’s legs)

• Open door 

• Open drawer (cloth pull handler) 

• Paws up (on handler’s arm) 

• Pull a toy on a string or rope 

• Push button/key to make sound 

• Remove object from box/ toy mailbox

• Ring bell, doorbell mounted on wood 

• Rollover 

• Shell game (“Find it” - treat or scent item under 1 of 3 cups) 

• Sit pretty (sit up or sit w/ head tilted) 

• Teeter totter (may use agility equip. in Intermediate) 

• Touch lamp 

• Wave good-bye/hello 

• Weave poles (may use food or toy lure - 6 weave poles) 

• Wobble board

Must have Intermediate Trick Dog Title. Tricks cannot be ones used on previous trick dog title.The dog/handler must perform 10 Tricks.

List of trick options:

• Back up (walk backwards) 

• Balance treat on nose, flip to eat (when told “OK”) 

• Barrel (roll with 2 paws, or stand on with 4) 

• Basketball 

• Bow (as in “Take a bow”, curtsy) 

• Circle right, circle left 

• Cover your eyes (paw over eyes) 

• Cover-up with blanket 

• Dance/moonwalk 

• Embarrassed 

• Go hide (get under table, etc.) 

• Head down 

• Hide your head (under blanket, pillow, etc.) 

• Identify toy by name (out of 3) 

• Jump into handler’s arms 

• Jump over handler’s back 

• Lassie pose (sit pretty, bent paw) 

• Leg weave, handler walks 

• Light (turn on battery operated light) 

• Make your bed 

• Open door (mailbox toy refrigerator) get object 

• Pay for it (fetch and bring money) 

• Pick pocket (as handler moves) 

• Pivot (paws on disk) 

• Play dead (faint, sleep, etc.) 

• Pulls a bag with objects 

• Remove handler’s slipper, shoe 

• Retreat -crawl backwards 3 body lengths 

• Retrieve - flat item, flat surface (e.g.,credit card from floor) 

• Reverse circles around handler

• Say your prayers 

• Scent articles (choose from 5)

• Shake (as in to shake off water) 

• Sing, talk 

• Sit or down at distance (15 ft.) 

• Sit pretty, add Lassie pose 

• Smile 

• Smoosh (press face on plexiglass) 

• Sneeze 

• Tissue out of box (and bring to handler) 

• Toys (take to and drop in box) 

• Under handler (handler on hands and knees)

• Walk on hind legs (paws may be on handler’s arm) 

• Weave poles (no lures).

Requirements:

• A total of 10 tricks are required to earn the performer trick dog title.

• Story is an option.

• Tricks must be Intermediate, Advanced or Performer and must be tricks not previously submitted for other titles.

• Must have the Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced Trick Dog Titles.

• At the Performer level, there can be no agility or obedience equipment, although handlers may design their own equipment.

• At least 3 Tricks must be at Performer level.

• You may substitute tricks not on the list as long as they are Performer level tricks. Email trickdog@akc.org to ask about your own tricks.

Requirements:

• A total of 10 tricks from Advanced or Performer levels are required to earn the Trick Dog Elite Performer Title

• Must have all 4 previous titles on record.

• The dog/handler must perform 10 Tricks that include at least 5 tricks from Performer.

• At least 5 tricks must have props.

• No agility or obedience equipment may be used. May include handler-designed props including jumps, etc.

• No lures in Elite Performer.

• A story/script is required for providing entertainment at shows, events, in therapy settings, and for dog training classes.

• An audience is not required.