What to Watch: UO Exercises

Heeling

• Forging is the most common error — watch shoulder alignment throughout.
• Leash tension: listed as a named fault (“strained leash”), devalued accordingly — proportional to severity and duration, at the judge’s discretion. No minimum threshold; a brief tightening in a tight left turn differs from constant pressure throughout. Judge by degree and frequency across the whole exercise.
• Submissive behaviour (tucked tail, crouching, ears back) = devalue. Distinguish from natural low-drive gait.
• About-turn: DH must turn left 180°. Right-turn behind DH or D’s left 180° — both valid, but must be clean.

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Sit in Motion

• DH must not break stride or turn when giving the sit command. Subtle head turns count.
• Check prompt execution on the command; do not present anticipation before the command as a positive criterion.
• “Wrong position” (down/stand): hard −5, not subject to interpretation.

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Distance Control

• Check that D does not creep forward during the down phase.
• 10-step overshoot rule on recall: measure from the position marker, not DH.

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Change of Position

• DH decides the position sequence (any order of Sit/Down/Stand) — the judge only gives the instruction to proceed to the next position.
• D jumping off mid-exercise = Insufficient; sharp and must be applied.

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Down Under Distraction

• Watch for micro-movements: creeping, orienting toward obstacles, vocalizing.
• DH interference during the down (body language, position change): devalue.

Sources

FCI/IRO 2025, §3.3. Binding IRO guideline, approved 25 August 2026.