test the natural confidence in your dog

Sport Dog Courage test is a two-part evaluation. Starting by completing Obedience 1 and/or higher. If you do not complete/pass the Obedience portion you may participate in the courage test, but no title will be awarded. 

Obedience:  is scored by a point system 100 is highest score and needing 80 points to pass. Pattern typically follows the standard ‘L’ pattern consisting of healing, sit, down, recall, left, right turn and about turn optional. Judges are encouraged to use surrounding environment when laying out the field and have the option to change the pattern to accommodate space available. 

Field may be marked out with cones, paint or judge can call out speed, direction, and/or position changes. This will be at judge’s discretion for field layout. 

Obedience can be done with flat collar or choke/fur saver chain on the dead ring.  

Heel position to the left or right leg of the handler should stay clear and consistent throughout test. Judge is looking for control, understanding positions and commands between handler and dog. Commands are allowed at every position change or direction change. 

Courage:  No bite is allowed in the Courage testing portion. The decoy will aggressively threaten the dog and handler. Decoy will have an object/equipment in hand used to distract and further threaten the dog aggressively.  Object/equipment can be a clatter stick, padded stick, umbrella, jug of rocks etc.

As the threat is presented the handler must hold their dog and NOT move. If the handler isn’t sure they are physically capable of holding their dog, they can have someone hold them or back tie to a solid object to ensure decoys safety and does not get bit. 

If the dog shows any type of uncertainty, hesitation, or shyness they decoy must go into pray mode and help the dog recover. This is up to the judge’s or decoy’s discretion. If the handler feels that they do not want to proceed with testing, they must get the attention of the decoy to stop the threat. This will be discussed at the handlers meeting to know what the signal is to stop.

The threat will come towards the dog as the handler steps back or behind the dog. A command is allowed to signal your dog to hold its position or “attack”. The threat will last up to at a maximum of 30 seconds. After the threat is done the handler must put their dog up and off the field before judge’s critic is given. 

Dogs can be on a harness or flat collar for the courage testing scenarios. Dogs can wear a muzzle if handler chooses.