Animal Actors are trained to model in photoshoots. To earn this title, your dog (or pet) will demonstrate real-life modeling skills by posing for their own dog calendar. Take 12 posed photos of your dog which utilize animal modeling skills and comprise a theme.
Common agility warm up exercise where the dog will place front feet on the floor or a target with rear feet on an elevated board or object.
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4
2 On/2 Off Peanut
CCF3
Balance
Dog will have rear feet on stabilized peanut, ball or similar and front feet on target or floor.
In this exercise the dog balances on a surface that gives under his feet with his back feet on the elevated surface and his front feet on the ground or flat paw target on the ground. You may substitute a rolled up sleeping bag, quilt, or blanket for the peanut for this exercise, the substitution should be high enough that the dog clearly balances with his rear feet higher than his elbows.
71
5
2-on/2-off Pull Back on
CCF4
Strength
2 on 2 off pull back on (pull front feet back onto platform): Dog will move front feet only on cue from a 2 on 2 off position on a ball/peanut or elevated pedestal. Front feet may be on a target or the floor and rear feet will be elevated. The dog will pull the front feet from the target or floor back onto the elevated surface where rear feet are.
54
10
Assisted Upright Walking
CCF3
Strength
Dog will place paws on the handlers arm as the handler walks backward. Handler should show about 5 steps of walking. For small dogs the handler can be on their knees.
48
14
Back Up Chute
CCF3
Coordination
Dog will back up 5 feet (1.5 meters) in a chute made from objects like gating, boxes or furniture. Dog may pause and be given the cue to back up several times. Handler may walk beside the dog. Construct a narrow chute, for example by placing the back of a sofa near the wall. Toss a treat into the chute. Your dog should walk in to get the treat, and walk backwards out of the chute. We can build on this trick later, for the Advanced trick of "back up on cue".
26
15
Balance Beam
CCF2
Balance
Dog will walk across a non slip board that is at least six feet long (~2 meters) and 12 inches (30 cm)or less wide. An agility dogwalk can be used but is not required.
The point of this exercise is to get the dog used to moving across a narrow elevated platform. This builds on Walk a Line of Platforms and is in preparation for higher level exercises. Any slightly elevated board or other surface that is approximately 1 to 2 x the dog’s shoulder width and 3 x the dog’s length (measured from the point of the chest to the point of the hip or distance between the dog’s front and rear legs) may be used. Objects like agility dog walks, logs and low balance beams in playgrounds make options for this exercise.
69
16
Balance Beam (Double Rail)
CCF4
Coordination
This trick challenges the dog’s balance and coordination. The rails should be roughly chest width apart and there should be a gap of at least a paw width between the rails. The rails should be at least twice the length of the dog as measured from nose to hip. The height of the rails is not important as long as the dog is clearly placing his feet on each rail for the length of the board.
64
18
Balance on a Block
CCF4
Balance
Dog will balance on a small block or brick. The item should be half the length of the dog or less as measured from the point of the chest to the point of the hip.
The goal of this exercise is for the dog to stand on a square block with all four feet close together. A square cinder block is ideal for medium to large breed dogs, toy breeds and giant breed dogs may require smaller or larger blocks. Blocks of wood, stumps and other landscaping objects can be used.
13
21
Bar Jump
CCF1
Strength
Dog will jump over a bar jump, no height requirement is required but the dog should jump vs walking over the bar. Jump may be made from anything safe around the house (Example: broom handle and blocks, etc)
47
25
Barrel Roll: 2 feet pushing
CCF3
Coordination
Barrel Roll, 2 feet pushing: The dog pushes a peanut or similar object by placing his front paws on object and walking forward on his back legs. The dog should demonstrate placing his feet on the object and moving the item safely from a stopped position pushing forward a minimum of 5 steps.
The goal of the barrel roll is for the dog to walk forward on his rear feet while balancing his front feet on a rolling object. This requires the dog to move his rear feet forward while moving his front feet as if he were walking backward. Any appropriate rolling object may be used this includes but is not limited to: peanuts, barrels, tires, wire spools, plastic buckets, logs, or fitness balls.
67
26
Barrel Roll: 4 Feet on barrel
CCF4
Coordination
Barrel roll, dog walks on top: The dog stands with four feet on top of a barrel, fitness peanut or similar object. The dog walks forward causing the barrel to roll backward. The dog should take at least 3 steps on the barrel.
The goal of this exercise is for the dog to move forward placing one foot at a time on a challenging surface. All four feet are constricted into a small space making balancing difficult.
Walking slowly along a line of small blocks or similar objects may be substituted. The dog should move along a line of at least 4 blocks pausing with all four feet on each block then step onto the next block without touching the ground. The blocks should be far enough apart that the dog is clearly stepping from one block to the next, but not so far that the dog is forced to jump to the block or step to the ground to travel between them.
Barrel Roll: line up blocks for the dog to balance on, and have them move carefully from one block to the next
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33
Dynamic Stretch: Bow
CCF3
Flexibility
Dog will use the magic square to get into the bow position with the front end down (elbows on ground) and rear end up. Any home made square can be used.
46
39
Cavalettis Irregular
CCF3
Coordination
Dog will trot through cavalettis in the shape of an arc. At least 5 poles should be used and dog should trot thru poles for at least one repetition. Poles should be spaced appropriately for the dog's size.
73
47
Paw Swipe at Muzzle
CCF4
Strength
Cover eyes - quick swipe ok: The dog may be sitting, standing or lying down for this trick. The dog raises a front paw and wipes at the bridge of his nose. The dog may swipe at his nose or hold his paw on his nose/head in a salute position both are allowed.
12
49
Crawl Tunnel
CCF1
Strength
Dog crawls with elbows on ground through a low tunnel at least two body lengths. Tunnel can be made from chairs or other household items.
The goal of the exercise is for the dog to crawl under an object that is at least twice the length of his body and less than ¾ the dog’s height at the shoulder. Any object that is safe for the dog to go under and meets this criteria can be used. An easy substitution is a row of chairs that the dog crawls under.
61
75
Slant Board Swimmers Turn
CCF4
Flexibility
The dog runs to a slanted board or flyable box to complete a turn on the board. All four feet should touch the board/box. The dog may turn in either direction for this trick. No ball retrieve is required. NOTE: Flyball including ball retrieval is listed under expert tricks.
72
88
Handstand
CCF4
Strength
The dog backs up, placing his rear feet on a wall or slightly slanted board (30 degrees or less from the wall) and backs up to a position where his back is parallel with the wall or board. Alternately the dog may perform a handstand without support by balancing on his front legs only.
The goal of the exercise is for the dog to demonstrate rear end awareness and strengthen and stretch his shoulders. The dog should back up with his rear feet on a textured surface that is somewhere between a slight incline (30 degrees) and vertical (90 degrees), the angle should be determined by the dog’s physical structure and ability.
Slant board can be on just a slight incline, it does not have to be vertical.
14
98
Hoop Jump
CCF1
Strength
Dog will jump through a hoop. Hoop may be made of any material and be any size. Handler can hold the hoop or use a mounted hoop in a holder.
66
119
Rear Leg Hike
CCF4
Coordination
On cue, the dog lifts one rear leg and holds it in the air similar to a male dog urinating. Alternately the dog may extend the rear leg backward in the air in a toe point / arabesque behavior. A prop like a fire hydrant or such may be used as if the dog is hiking a leg on an object or the leg lift may be a freestanding leg lift. The dog can also lift their leg onto an object as long as it is high enough to differentiate it from a rear foot target.
22
124
Dynamic Stretch: Neck and Spine
CCF2
Flexibility
Dog and handler both look left or right, mirroring each other.
44
142
Stacking Pods
CCF3
Balance
Paw pods 4 feet on 4 targets: This trick uses 4 balance pods such as the Fit Paws Paw Pods or TotoPawds. The pods are placed on the ground at the approximate spacing that will allow the dog to stand with all four feet squarely under him. The dog independently places one foot on each pod and balances on the pods. The handler should not manipulate the dog or place the dog’s feet on the pods.
The goal of this exercise is to build core and foot and leg strength by having the dog balance on four rounded objects, with one foot on each object. There are a number of products on the market for this exercise including Paw Pods by FitPaws and TotoPAWDS by TotoFit as well as pods manufactured for human fitness. You may substitute other similarly shaped objects as long as they are safeand stable for your dog to use.
4
146
Paws Up on a Pedestal
CCF1
Balance
Dog will place both front paws on an object on cue. There is no height requirement for the object.
The goal of this exercise is for the dog to balance with his front paws on an object while his rear feet remain on the ground. Any object that is stable and has a safe surface can be used, examples include a low table, stump or large rock. Ideally the object is between elbow and shoulder height.
34
155
Platform Jump
CCF2
Strength
Platform jump with hoop b/w platforms: Handler will place two platforms at appropriate distances apart based on dog’s size and place a hoop between the platforms. The dog will move from one platform to the other jumping through the hoop as the dog moves.
11
162
Rainbow Ladder
CCF1
Coordination
Dog will trot through a low ladder on the ground.
The goal is for the dog to walk through a slightly elevated set of regularly spaced poles in a straight line. Any similar ladder, such as an extension ladder, may be used or one can be made using regular PVC pipe and T connectors, the ladder should be at least 7 feet long. 7 cavaletti poles can also be set up in a straight line with uniform spacing for this exercise, the poles should be placed 10 to 14 inches apart.
50
163
Rainbow Ladder (Back Paws Only)
CCF3
Coordination
Rainbow ladder, rear paws through ladder luring OK: Dog will move his back legs only through the ladder in a side pass style movement. Handler may be at the dog’s side or in front of the dog. The handler may lure the dog with a treat or toy but physical manipulation should not be used. The dog should move rear legs over a minimum of 5 ladder rungs.
See Rainbow Ladder in level 1
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