Competitive dog training involves training the dog to tune with its handler during dog competitions. People generally mix competitive dog training with dog obedience training, though the two differ in terms of level of commands. Obedience training is to make dogs learn the commands to obey their owners. On the other hand, competitive training aims at teaching them the commands that would help in winning a competition.

Many organizations like the United Kennel Club and the Australian National Kennel Council hold dog competitions, popularly known as dog trials. In the USA, the American Kennel Club (AKC) organizes such competitions and award titles like Companion Dog, Utility Dog and Obedience Trial Champion.

So, what a dog owner or a handler should teach the dog through competitive dog training? Find some tips in the following sections.

Three Level Training
As per the formats of various dog competitions, a dog can be trained for three levels during the competitive dog training. These include:

• Novice Level
• Open or Intermediate Level and
• Utility or Advanced Level

Simply sitting, lying or walking is not sufficient for the dog to win the competition. Learn what all exercises are taught through dog training for all three levels of the competition.

Novice Level Exercises
Some of the main exercises that are taught to dogs at the novice level include:

• Long Sit and Long Down: These exercises are performed by a group of dogs at the same time and in the rings. The dogs are judged on their ability to maintain the sitting and down positions for fixed durations.
• Heel: This exercise demands the dog and the handler to walk in a predetermined format that includes one left, one right and one about turn. A fast and a slow section are also included in the exercise and the dog is required to maintain the heel position throughout.

Open Level Exercises
Some of the exercises in open level are similar to those done in the novice class. Here are some of the open level exercises:

• Drop on Recall: For this exercise, the handler calls the dog on the signal of the judge. While the dog is coming, the handler signals the dog to lie down or drop. The dog must lie down till the next command is issued.
• Long Sit and Long Down: The exercise is similar to that performed for novice level. The only difference is that the handler goes out of sight of the dogs for a fixed duration and the dogs are expected to maintain their positions in that time period.
• Retrieve on the Flat: This exercise involves the use of a dumbbell. The handler on the judge’s signal throws a dumbbell at the distance of at least 20 feet and commands the dog to retrieve the dumbbell.
• Retrieve Over High Jump: The exercise is similar to the previous one, except the change that the handler stands on a solid jump and the dog is required to throw the dumbbell over the jump.

Utility Level
It is the most advanced class in a dog trial and involves exercises like scent discrimination. Metal and leather articles are selected and the dog is required to choose the article scented by the handler. Heel and many other exercises are also performed at this level.

Dog owners need to hire the expert dog trainers who know the right techniques of competitive dog training. The training is meant not for the dog alone, but for the dog and the handler together as a team.