IMDT Partnership Grades
Grade 1
Exercise & Criteria
1. Loose lead walking.
Handler allowed to treat 3 times over the course, but no luring
100 metres, incl 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x2 sits on a loose lead
2. Sit
No lure, Dog to sit, Handler to step 5 paces away, return to dog after 60 seconds
3. Down
No lure, Dog to Down, Handler to step 5 paces away, return to dog after 60 seconds
4. Recall
Handler to place 5 treats on the floor and walk 10 paces away as the dog eats, when ready, handler to recall the dog. Longline on for safety
5. Inspection
Dog to comfortably be inspected by IMDT trainer with no distress from dog. Areas to inspect are ears, eye, paw
6. Hand touch
With no lure, Handler to cue hand touch. Dog to maintain position for 2 seconds
Grade 2
Exercise & Criteria
1. Loose lead walking.
No treats or toys on the course
200 metres, incl 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x1 sit on a loose lead to include 50 metres fast pace and 50 metres slow pace
2. Sit
No lure, Dog to sit, Handler to step 10 paces away to ‘poo pick’ a waiting Kong from the floor into a poo bag, return to dog after 60 seconds
3. Down
No lure, Dog to Down, Handler to step 20 paces away, untie and retie shoelaces and return to dog after 60 seconds
4. Recall
Handler to leave dog in a Sit or Down, walk 20 paces away, then recall the dog into a sit front present. Longline on for safety
5. Clear Jump
On or off-lead. Dog to clear jump a height designated safe by the trainer. Handler can go over the jump with the dog or round the side of the jump
6. Bow, Spin, Twist
With no lure, Handler to cue Bow, then spin, then Twist x 3 in succession
Grade 3
Exercise & Criteria
1. Loose lead walking.
No treats or toys on the course
300 metres, incl 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x1 sit, x1 Down Off Lead. To include 50 metres fast pace and 50 metres slow pace. Include a Sit, Handler walks 20 metres away and then call dog to them to complete the course
2. Search
Dog to find and retrieve toy hidden 10 metres away amongst cones or similar
3. Emergency Stop
Handler to recall dog from +20 metres and Stop dog when 10 metres
4. Meet a Friendly Stranger
Handler and dog to approach an excited and friendly stranger. Handler to shake hands with stranger. Dog not to jump at stranger
5. Clear Jump
Off lead. Handler leaves the dog in a stationary position and goes to stand level with the jump and cue the dog to jump
6. Bow, Spin, Twist
With the dog stationary 5 metres away from handler, with no lure in hand, handler to cue Bow, then spin, then Twist, x3 times in succession
Exercise & Criteria
1. Loose lead walking.
No treats or toys on the course
400 metres, incl 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x1 sit, x1 Down. Off Lead. To include 50 metres fast pace and 50 metres slow pace. Include a Sit, Handler swaps sides and completes the last 20 metres
2. Search
Dog to find irretrievable toy (hidden too high or under heavy object so the dog cannot access) and to clearly indicate the ‘find’ to handler with a freeze, sit or down
3. Down
Dog in Down, handler to go out of site (min 10 metres away) for 2 minutes. Dog to remain in down until Hander returns
4. Meet a Friendly Stranger with a dog
Handler and dog (off lead) to approach an excited and friendly stranger who also has a dog (on lead). Handler to shake hands with stranger. Dog not to jump at stranger or interfere with stranger’s dog
5. Boomerangs
Handler to send the dog around a pole/cone placed 10 metres away
6. Sendaway
Handler to send dog to a target. 10 metres away. Dog to sit or down on the target
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Grade 4
Exercise & Criteria
1 .Loose lead walking.
No treats or toys on the course
250 metres ‘fast pace’ dog on left hand side of Handler incl 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x1 sit, x1 Down.
Off Lead Repeat with dog on other side of the handler
2. Search
Find and retrieve 4 Individual items hidden under 20+ cones/hides, placed at least 2 metres apart from each other. Each item to be found, retrieved to Handler, then resent for next item.
3. Canine Knowledge
Handler to answer 5 general knowledge questions about dogs, e.g., normal temperature, colours dogs see, resting heartbeat, how to deal with heatstroke, toxic food, etc (questions to be designed by trainer)
4. Sit
Dog in Sit, Handler to go out of sight (min 10 metres away) for 2 minutes. Dog to remain in sit until handler returns
5. Boomerangs
Handler to send the dog around a series of 6 poles/cones all placed 10 metres away. (e.g., line of 3 one side, line of 3 other side, making a rectangle) Handler not to get closer than 5 metres from any pole/cone.
6. Send away
Handler to send dog to a target (mat/bed) 10 metres away. Dog to Sit or Down on the target.
Handler to remain in position, then redirect the dog to the left to another target 10 metres to the left of the original target
Grade 5
Grade 6
Exercise & Criteria
1 Loose lead walking.
No treats or toys on the course
300 metres, incl. 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x1 sit, x1 down, Off Lead To include 50 metres fast pace and 50 metres slow pace. Include a fluid change of sides x 2 while walking
2. Sequence
Create a sequence of 5 known behaviours, that can be back chained. Behaviours to be cued on a verbal cue only, at 1 metre distance
3. Directions
Handler to send dog to a target 10 metres away, dog to sit or down next to or on target. Handler to walk to a target 5 metres to the dogs right and place a treat, Handler to return to start position and direct the dog with a hand motion to go to the treat. Repeat 5 metres to the Left of the dog and 5 metres behind the dog
4. Retrieve
3 retrieves – 1) Handler to send dog to retrieve a toy at 20 metres, dog to return to ‘Middle’ to deliver the retrieve 2) front present to deliver the retrieve 3) Heel to deliver retrieve
5. Clear Jump
Off lead, handler to leave the dog in a stationary position and stand level between two jumps, handler to cue the dog to jump the first jump and then send over the second jump to a target to do a sit or down. Handler to then walk to the start and recall the dog back over both jumps
6. Bang With the dog walking towards the handler, the handler cues ‘Bang’, dog lay down from a stand onto their side and becomes still