SUN DOG PHILOSOPHY

Sun Dog has a Street Dog competition that is designed to test your dog in a situation that is as real life as possible. A Street Dog is of absolutely no use to you, the owner, if you cannot safely take it with you in public. At Sun Dog we give you every opportunity to test your training skills and your dog. We stress obedience and we frown on dogs that make their own decisions regarding protection. You are asked to compete on a field that is unlike anything you have seen before. We have invested a great amount of time and thought into everything that we present at these events. Regardless of the type of training or sport that you are involved in with your dog, you can come here and test what you have trained in a very neutral and unbiased setting. Hope to see you soon.  Jerry Kaminski

2008 Format

All of the basic obedience commands: heel, sit, down, stay and come will be included in all levels in addition to the following :

SLEEVE:

This class was designed as a starting point for experienced handlers with new dogs or in-experienced handlers with a new dog, or a seasoned dog. The idea is to get both handler and dog off to a good start in a very non-threatening class, i.e., get over your stage fright!

1.     All of the decoys in this level will freeze on the "out" command.

2.     Dogs will be required to jump up onto an object. (This could be anything, such as hay bales, large stumps, stacked logs, etc.) The dog

        could then be required to sit or down on top of the object. The handler could then be required to leave the dog, but will remain in sight

        of the dog.

3.     Handler and dog will receive a 180 degree civil agitation.

LEVEL ONE:

1.     All decoys will freeze on the "out" command.

2.     Dogs will be required to jump up onto an object, (this could be anything, such as hay bales, large stumps, stacked logs, etc.) The

        dog could then be required to sit or down on top of the object. The handler could then be required to leave the dog.

3.     A tunnel will be used in this level. It could be straight, curved or sharply angled.

4.     Your dog will receive a 360 degree civil agitation. This could be done on the ground or with the dog inside a vehicle.

5.     Handler may be required to "send" the dog with the leash attached.

6.     Handler should be able to call their dog inside a building through an open window.

7.     Handler will place their dog on a sit/stay, drop the leash and move away to a designated spot, turn around and instruct the dog to

        down.

8.     Handler will be required to leave their dog on a down/stay, drop the leash and move out of sight. The dog will receive distractions

        during this period.

9.     Dogs will be required to jump a hurdle.

10.   Dogs will heel over objects lying on the ground.

11.   Handler and dog will perform a heel while walking up and going down a set of stairs.

LEVEL TWO:

1.     Dogs will be required to perform a reverse heel in the presence of a decoy.

2.    All obedience and protection work will be off leash, except for the 360 degree agitation, which will be performed on leash.

3.     If someone, on the field, throws an article at you, you must send your dog.

4.     Dogs will be required to hold a down or sit, (stay) with handler moving out of sight.

5.     Dogs will be required to walk on top of, sit and down on objects such as logs, hay bales, boards, etc.

6.     Handlers will be required to down their dog while heeling, with the handler continuing to walk away. (Down in motion).

7.     Handlers will be required to down their dog as it is running towards them. The dog must down between two predetermined objects in

        order to receive full points.

8.     Handlers and dogs will receive a 360 degree agitation, both on ground and in vehicles. This could be done with one or two decoys at

        the same time.

9.     Handlers will "send" their dog onto a threatening decoy or  possibly a fleeing decoy.

10.    Handlers will be required to use the "call-off" with their dog.

11.    Handlers will have to deal with two man attacks.

12.    Handlers must be able to redirect their dog during a bite.

13.    Handlers will heel with their dog and while heeling, instruct the dog to stay, as the handler continues to walk away. (Stay in motion).

14.    Handlers will leave their dog on a stay, walk away, and call their dog to a heel while continuing to walk. (Return to Heel).

15.    Dogs will be asked to jump over objects such as a hurdle, hay bales, logs, etc.

16.    Handlers will leave the dog on a sit, walk to a designated point, instruct the dog to down, then instruct the dog to stand.

17.    Decoy will fall to ground while fighting the dog. The dog must stay on the decoy for maximum points.

18.    Handler will place the dog inside an aprx. 10x10 kennel. One of the walls is a wooden ramp that leads up to a platform and a set of stairs  leading down to the ground. The dog must remain inside the kennel until the handler calls to the dog, (Scaling Wall). Only at Sun Dog.

OTHER:

Decoy Points:  Decoys will rate the dog's fight, (not the bite), such as the intensity, wrapping of legs, pushing, pulling, dragging, shaking.

          Excellent - 3 points     Good - 2 points          Fair - 1 point

Handlers who place in the top three of every level must have their dog present to receive the award and star.

Judges will rate breeds on their own merit, slower breeds will not be penalized because they lack speed.

If a training mode is called by the judge, all points for that part of the exercise will be lost.

Prong collars will be acceptable with no loss of points, except in the Pro-Am Class..

Pro-Am dogs will wear a choke chain while competing.

Competitors must attend all four events to qualify as a Series Winner.

LEVELS, POINTS AND STARS

As a competitor, you can enter more than one class with the same dog. However, you will only receive points in your base level (see below). When you sign up for a second level, it is your responsibility to designate your dog as "N.S.D.", (No Star Dog), at the sign-up booth. You can enter your dog as an N.S.D.., receive a score sheet just like everyone else in that level. However, you will not receive series points, star, or a plaque, (you are competing just for experience.) Under this system, entering a second level does not jeopardize your base level series points.

BASE LEVELS

Sun Dog Training Facility, Inc., has four levels of competition; Sleeve, Level 1, Level 2 and Pro-Am.  You must designate, at the beginning of the season, which level will be your base level. If you feel, after competing one time, that you need to move down a level - you may do so. You must then stay at this level for the remainder of the season.

PRO-AM

Pro-Am and N.S.D. were created so that you, the competitor, can compete with the same dog in more than one class. By competing in the Pro-Am, or designating N.S.D. in a lesser class, you can experiment and test your dog as well as yourself in order to see if you are ready to move up from your current base level. Pro Am will be offered at Sun Dog only.

If you need any further explanations or information, please contact us.

RULES AND REGULATIONS:

FACILITY RULES:

• No Alcoholic Beverages.
• No drugs, this will result in being banned  from Sun Dog for life!
• No overnight camping without prior permission.
• No littering, please use the numerous containers.
• Barking must be kept to a minimum.
• Dogs must be on leashes at all times.
• Dogs are to remain quiet at all times in the spectator area.
• Remain alert when in the spectator area with your dog. Children are not always cautious when approaching dogs. If unsure of your dog, please crate. The Sun Dog staff has the right to ask you to remove your dog if they feel the situation is unsafe.
• Poop scooping is your responsibility. (Tools and receptacles will be provided.)
• Time schedules will be strictly enforced. (You snooze - you lose!)   

COMPETITION RULES:

• The Series Gold Star Winners of Sleeve and Level One will automatically be moved up one level for the following season.
• Judge's decisions are final - no exceptions made.
• Score sheets will be kept for two weeks following each event. Any adding errors must be disputed prior to the two week period.
• Decoys are not to be thrown to the ground unless specifically instructed.
• Female dogs in heat will not be permitted to enter competitions.
• Dogs that are limping or have open wounds will not be allowed to compete.
• Dog's nails must be trimmed.
• If a dog defecates and/or urinates on the field during the event, a 10 point deduction will be taken from the total score.
• If a decoy makes a mistake that affects the judging, full points will be awarded to that portion of the excercise for all dogs entered in that level.
• Physical abuse to any dog will not be tolerated. If observed - you will be immediately disqualified with no refund. If necessary, management reserves the right to ban you from all future Sun Dog Competitions.
• Order of competitors will be from a random draw during sign-up.
• Honesty Disclosure - in order to protect the decoys, please disclose, before the competition, if your dog has tendencies to "play dirty", i.e., bite hands, or face. This information will be relayed to the decoys. You will not be penalized.