Basic Obedience Test and Certification

Please see our Current Class Schedule for Basic Obedience class days / times

To complete Sirius K9 Academy's Basic Obedience Level (and receive a certificate if in our basic group class) and move on to our Intermediate Obedience Level, your dog must be able to perform the following exercises using only VOICE COMMANDS (hand signals are not permitted and you cannot point, snap your fingers, repeat commands, or bend over, etc., at any time during the test.) Corrections are also not allowed (verbal or with the leash) during the test. Treats are permitted as a reward only AFTER completion of each exercise (not during.) Treat aprons cannot be worn on the handler during the exam (but you can have some treats in your pocket as long as they are not in a baggie and are not visible to the dog.) Your 5' - 6' leash must remain loose the entire time while being tested. ** Pinch or Check Training collars are permitted during the exam.

Its best to teach your dog VERBAL commands first so that your dog will respond to your commands reliably, regardless if they are looking at you or not, no matter what you have or dont have in your hand, and without any other cues being given. ** We also HIGHLY recommend and encourage our clients to use a different language when giving their dog these formal commands (such as Czech, German, French, Spanish, Dutch, etc.), and we can help you learn to give commands to your dog in these languages.**

Please see the video clip below each exercise explanation of our basic obedience test. This is what our client's dogs can do after they complete our basic obedience class!
** In the video clips are Victor and his dog Cooper. Cooper is a 6 year old male German Shepherd. Victor adopted Cooper from the German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County at approximately 6 months of age. **

To pass our Basic Obedience Level, your dog must be able to perform the following exercises:

Sit from a stand / Down from the sit / and Sit from a down = at your side (in heel position.) Your dog must remain facing forward and straight at your side.

Sit / Down / and Sit from a down = in front of you at the end of your leash. Your dog must complete this without moving forward towards you. (They must stay at the end of your leash.)

Complete at least a One-Minute Sit Stay at your side in heel position (loose leash.) No talking or moving is allowed by the handler once the verbal command has been given to sit. (No "stay" hand signals are allowed.)

Complete at least a Three-Minute Down Stay at your side in heel postion (loose leash.) No talking or moving is allowed by the handler once the verbal command has been given to down. (No "stay" hand signals are allowed.)

You must be able to completely walk around your dog at the end of your leash as they are in a sit and down position. Your dog must hold these positions as you walk around them and not break. After you have walked all the way around your dog, we will then ask you to return into heel position beside your dog. (Your dog cannot break their position when you return to heel position.)

Heeling at your side (the heeling routine must include at least two sharp left, right, and about turns) and your dog must also automatically sit when you stop walking. (You can not tell them to sit or stomp your feet, etc to get them to sit when you stop moving.) Your dog's head must remain even with your legs as you walk. (They cannot lean on you, lead you, or get in your way as you walk.) During the heeling portion of the exam, the end of the leash will be in your pocket or over your shoulder (you cannot hold the leash.) You also cannot talk to your dog or pat your leg during the heeling part of the test after you have begun heeling your dog.

Formal Recall from a minimum of 15' with a automatic sit directly in front of you (or with a return into heel position by sitting at your side if that is what you have already taught your dog prior to attending our training.) You may recall your dog from a sit or down position. Only one verbal command can be used, (you cannot use your dog's name and then a recall word. You also cannot tell your dog to sit once it gets to you.) You also cannot move as you call them to you and/or pat your legs, etc. The instructor will tell you when to recall your dog. We want to be sure that your dog will not anticipate the recall command by coming to you early or break their sit or down position. (We want to see that they are comfortable and patient at that distance away from you, so we will wait a while before asking you to recall your dog.)

Here is a demonstration of how to properly do "recess" with your dog during class.