Earning Your Champion Trick Dog Tile
Are you ready for some Seriously Pawsome Fun?
The TDCH is the highest tier title, and is awarded to exceptional dogs who demonstrate outstanding skill in performing a large number of difficult tricks, and who also demonstrate skill in every facet of foundation behaviors.
To earn your TDCH Title, you must demonstrate skills in 9 behavior areas
and have earned your NTD, ITD, ATD, & ETD Titles
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Champion Title Guidelines:
Leashes - No Leashes
Treats / Hands / Toys - No Luring or Guiding Into a Trick.
Rewards may be given at the end of a behavior
Attempts - handler may give up to 3 cues
Helpers - No other person can help with the trick unless needed for a particular trick
Physical Manipulation - handler cannot physically manipulate or force a dog into a trick
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Pressure - Pressuring the dog is discouraged. Pressure may include a stern voice, stern eye-contact, crowding or hovering over the dog, or putting your face or hands close to the dog’s head. (You can be close to your dog, but keep it lighthearted.)
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NO ADVERSIVE OR COMPULISVE METHODS ALLOWED
(choke, prong, e-collar)
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Modifications - may be made for service dogs, physically limited dogs,
very young (think low impact), and very senior dogs
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Substitutions: At the champion level, we allow you to substitute similar tricks which demonstrate the same skill being tested. Email us with questions about a particular trick.
Champion Behaviors
Leashes - No Leashes
1. Coordination
Choose 1
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Double Beam
Dog walks across double beams, with two paws on each beam
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Horizontal Ladder / Cavalettis
Dog trots through a ladder of at least 6 feet in length
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Skateboard
Dog pushes skateboard (alone) with 2, 3, or 4 feet on the board
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Push a Shopping Cart
Front paws on cart, walk with hind legs.
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Barrel
Dog rolls a barrel or inflatable peanut with his front feet, or stands on barrel and walks
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Back Up
Dog backs up 5 feet. Trainer may start next to dog, but not move.
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Other
2. Mouth Target
Choose 2
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Hold an Object / Carry an Object
Hold object (such as dumbbell) or carry an object (such as purse/bag) while walking with you. Release object to your hand.
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Retrieve Object to Hand
Dog fetches an object 12 feet away and releases to your hand.
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Pull a Rope
Dog pulls a rope to move an object. Ex: pull open a door, cabinet, or crate door; pull a wagon
3. Paw Target
Choose 1
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Ground Target
Dog places paw deliberately on a small object or mark.
Example: step on a tap light, desk bell, or "easy button"
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Raised Mark
Dog paw touches a raised object.
Example: close a door with a paw; bat a bell hanging from a doorknob; flip a light switch on the wall.
Nose Target
Choose 1
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Target Stick
Dog nose-touches target stick. Show several times in a row, unedited, moving the target each time and varying its height and location
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Handheld Target
Same as target stick but using a handheld target (ex: jar lid)
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Hand Target
Same as target stick but using a hand target (such as 2 fingers)
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Soccer / Treibball
Nose touch and move ball. Repeat several times, showing that the dog is following the moving target
4. Nose Target
Choose 1
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Target Stick
Dog nose-touches target stick. Show several times in a row, unedited, moving the target each time and varying its height and location
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Handheld Target
Same as target stick but using a handheld target (ex: jar lid)
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Hand Target
Same as target stick but using a hand target (such as 2 fingers)
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Soccer / Treibball
Nose touch and move ball. Repeat several times, showing that the dog is following the moving target
5. Scent
Choose 1
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Shell Game
Perform twice in a row, unedited, with the scented shell in a different position each time
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Nose-Work Box Search
Dog searches 5 boxes and indicates the one with the hot scent
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Scent Articles
Dog searches 5 Identical Objects (ie dumbbells or tennis balls) and retrieves the one with his owner's scent
6. Distance
Perform Both
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Go to a Mark / Pedestal
Send dog 20 feet away to a raised platform or mark (such as a mat)
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Cued Behaviors at a Distance
Dog on pedestal/mark 12 feet away. Performs any 6 cued behaviors
7. Signals
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Perform Any 6 Behaviors With Only Silent Cues
List the 6 Tricks
8. Chain
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Demonstrate a Behavior Chain
When given a single cue, the dog performs a chain of a minimum of two behaviors.
Examples:
Roll yourself in a blanket
Open door and get soda from fridge
Fetch litter and drop in step can
Fetch basketball and drop in net
Open mailbox and fetch mail
Paint with a paintbrush and return brush to bucket
Tidy toy into toy box and close lid
Open crate door and go inside and close crate door
8. Expert Tricks
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Demonstrate 5 of your best tricks
Choose tricks from the ETD list, or invent your own of comparable difficulty. Tricks should be difficult and also entertaining.