Obedience & Dexterity
Exercise 13 — Horizontal Ladder
Applies to: RH – F, FL, T, MT; Level A and B
Points: 10 p
Obstacle Spec
- Beam ladder: length 4 m, rung distance 30 cm (centered), rung width 5 cm, 14 rungs
- Padding at start and end: height ~0.50 m
- Mounting ramp: length 1.20 m, width 0.50 m; cross struts permitted as mounting aids.
- Ramp must be solid and stable.
Permitted AC/VC
- 1 AC and/or VC for “mounting”
- 1 AC or VC for GS (at end)
Execution
Level A:
- RDT assumes GS in front of apparatus (D off-leash).
- At AC/VC: D goes up ramp onto ladder and independently reaches the last rung, remaining there.
- As soon as D reaches first rung with front paws, DH walks alongside the working D — without touching the dog or the apparatus.
- At the end of the ladder, DH lifts D off and GS is formed.
Level B:
- RDT assumes GS in front of apparatus (D off-leash).
- At AC/VC: D goes up ramp onto ladder.
- DH stays until D has reached the last rung with front paws.
- At TJ instruction, DH walks to the waiting D.
- DH lifts D off and GS is formed.
Evaluation — Critical Rules
- D jumps off within first half → 0 points
- D jumps off after first half → Insufficient
- D jumps off after last rung → maximum Satisfactory
- D falls between rungs: if D recovers independently, scored as Insufficient; if D cannot recover, treated as jump-off at that point