The information contained in these pages should not be considered authoritative. It is meant to provide a basic feel for the sport, and hopefully contains enough information to get you started training. A detailed rule booklet is available.
The groups given below are general categories of exercises. Typically exercises become more difficult at higher stakes - longer tracks, larger scent boxes, greater precision, etc. The tables given under stakes relates the exercises with the stakes. Exact requirements can be found in the stakes section. Discussion below will focus on WCD, with specific differences in higher stakes noted sometimes.
The control group includes exercises which primarily test the handlers control and rapport with the dog. Unlike typical kennel club obedience, the emphasis here is on relaxed control and attention. Exercises which come under this group include:
Note that at the Working Companion Dog Stake, The obedience group is actually divided into multiple groups, with the stay group including the sit and down stays, the control group covering the heels, recall and go-out, and the retrieve being included in the nosework group (since tracking is not done at WCD). Later stakes do not include the sit stay, and the down stay and retrieve are then included in the control group.
The agility group tests the dog's ability to 'travel' with it's master. The three obstacles were originally based on a creek bed, a tall fence and a rail fence. These were later standardized into the obstacles used today.
The height and lengths the dog jumps depends on the dog's height:
| Dog's Height | Clear Jump | Long Jump | Scale Jump |
|---|---|---|---|
| <= 12 inches at shoulder | 1ft 6in | 4ft | 3ft |
| <= 18 inches at shoulder | 2ft | 6ft | 4ft |
| > 18 inches at shoulder | 3ft | 9ft | 6ft |
The following exercises are included in the nose (or scent) work group:
Patrol work is only seen in one of the two Championship stakes (WPD), and only after completion of the WD title.
In the British rules (and ours should be very similar) the patrol group includes quartering, test of courage, search and escort, recall from criminal & pursuit and detention.