Obedience & Dexterity

General Rules — Obedience & Dexterity (UO/GW)

General (TJ authority)

TJ may decline work areas or obstacles that don’t comply with Testing Standards.
Marking of areas is per TJ decision after checking the location.
V: fixed programme, no draw. A/B: draw before the event, same sequence for all participants; dexterity is one block. See level overview.
For FL/T, reporting/social behaviour is first; heeling follows (V on leash, A/B off leash). Down runs alongside the other team.

Behaviour of the DH, teamwork, sportsmanship are all evaluated.
Splayed stance of the DH is generally faulty and devalues the respective exercise.

Joy to work, handling, directability, mobility, fitness, endurance, overall picture.
D is shown in a natural gait, follows DH at knee height, attentively and close.
When DH stops, D sits independently, close and straight.

Must be short. The dog’s name counts as 1 AC.
If AC and VC are both used, they must be given simultaneously.
2nd AC/VC to execute same command → −2 grades on that exercise or partial.
3rd AC/VC required → entire exercise = Insufficient.
No execution after 3rd AC/VC → exercise terminated, 0 points.
3-second pause must be maintained between AC/VCs.
D refuses apparatus or area → 0 points; repeating is not permitted.
Non-used AC/VCs are not penalised.
Additional AC/VC and body help, as well as hidden aids: devalue accordingly.
Where the rulebook conflicts over AC versus AC/VC, the 2026 guideline accepts either described version.

After AC/VC the D must assume position quickly, without hesitation, straight and attentively.
Starting GS and halts are assumed independently. Dexterity usually starts about two steps before the obstacle and ends behind it. A step is approximately 0.7 m.

DH turns left (180°). Two options:
- D goes right turn behind DH
- D shows left about-turn at 180°

A marginal mistake carried through the entire work (e.g. crooked GS) is not punished heavily in each exercise, but is incorporated in the overall image discussion.

Every UO/GW exercise begins and ends in GS (Grundstellung / basic position) at TJ directive.
GS: D sits close and straight to the left of DH, shoulder at knee height.

See Praise and Touching for the binding 2026 clarification, search starts, water and prohibited rewards.

Minimum 70% of total points required to pass each phase.
Both phase A (nose work) and phase B (UO/GW) must be passed to receive a title/rating.
At events with rankings: highest scores in phase A are decisive before phase B.

Use the official score table for partial scores; final phase scores are whole points, rounded up or down according to the overall impression.