Dog Driving Titles

These are the basic skills that dogs must know for dry land mushing. No riding type equipment is necessary to win this Title. Your videos must show the fit of the harness, line out, dragging of bicycle tires or equivalent, walking out front while taking directional commands. Directional commands include Gee/Haw (or Right/Left) and a speed change such as Walk/Trot. If you have a wagon or cart you may use that in your video. Canicross practitioners can also receive the Ground Driving Title.

Requirements

Demonstration of harness fit.

The harness must be shown to be comfortable and appropriate for what is being pulled. The harness doesn't have to be a designated pulling harness as long as it is comfortable and safe for the weight being used.

Load

The dog must be willing and comfortable with the drag. Acceptable drags included but are not limited to milk jug filled with sand, bike tires, sand bag, wagon, cart, or sulky. Drags must stop when the dog stops. Feel free to ask on Facebook if your drag is acceptable before applying.

Required Skills to Be Demonstrated

Responds to handlers commands

Line Out

Dog moves forward until the line is snug and maintains tension regardless of whether the drag moves or not.

Forward and Stop

The dog must demonstrate willingly a at least two times. Forward on command and stops on command holding in the Line Out until ask to move forward again.

Left and Right

The dog willingly turns in the direction commanded approximately 90 degrees. Must demonstrate each direction at least once.

Speed change

The dog must demonstrate at least once the ability to increase speed and decrease speed command.

Ignoring distractions

The dog must demonstrate at least once the ability to move past a distraction such as a toy, other dog, food dish, or fire hydrant.

No Fouling

Dogs are not permitted to urinate or defecate during their Ground driving submission. If this happens during a in-person trial your dog will be excused.

Trail Driving can be most fun title to achieve. To earn the Trail Driving Title, drive your dog/dogs frequently in various locations. Keep an eye out and be creative in finding obstacles. E.g. puddles, other dogs, people, bridges, tight squeezes, crosswalks, and so much more. Drivers must demonstrate correct fit, balance, and suitability of the harness, collar and reins (if used), and the load.

Requirements

• All dogs must be seen to respond to voice commands in each submission/test.
• Video the dog performing the obstacles chosen.

Gallery

Driving on a busy street

Driving with new dogs

Driving in water

Driving by cows

Rough terrain

Navigating traffic

The Fitness Title measures the dog's ability to pull for distance. The Title requires the distance to be traveled three times within a three month period.

Requirements

Physical

• Drive terrain can be cross-country rough, rail-trail smooth, or residential.
• Drivers must demonstrate correct fit, balance, and suitability of the harness and rig, driving collar (or halti and reins if used), and the load.
• Pace of drive at owner's discretion. Stopping for water and cool down is encouraged when needed

Training

• Dog(s) must respond to voice commands in each of the three submissions.
• Dogs must demonstrate a controlled stop and restart in each of the three submissions.

Timing & Submission

• Complete all runs within 3 months.
• Submit a video for each of the three required drives.
• If no video is provided, submit a photo on each trail with the dog(s), vehicle, and driver.

The Arena Title is achieved when a dog organization hosts a driving event. It measures skills within the Arena or on the parking lot or field. The Judge will ask for change of pace, starting and stopping, and maneuvering around and through obstacles and distractions. Arena needs to be accomplished one time, not three times, because these driving tests are rare.

Requirements

• Drivers must demonstrate correct fit, balance, and suitability of the harness, collar and reins (if used), and the load.
• Rigs with shafts may have brakes but the driver is not allowed to use them during a test. Drivers using rigs with tug lines may use the brakes.
• All dogs must demonstrate appropriate respond to voice commands in each submission/test.
• The dog disqualifies if he urinates or defecates during the Driving test.

Novice Arena Driving Title

Apply for the Novice Arena Driving Title

• Change of speed: from normal to slow for 5 feet, then back to normal, or from normal to fast for 5 feet and back to normal.
• Right and Left turn: these turns should approximate 90 degrees.
• Gate management: driving up to a gate, stopping, the driver getting out and opening the gate, then calling or driving the dog through the gate, closing the gate, and continuing the drive. This is the only time the driver may be out of the vehicle during exercises.
• Waiting under control: while the driver stops to chat with a passerby.
• Serpentine: through 5 cones placed 12 feet apart, or a figure 8 around 2 cones so placed.
• Ignore Distraction: suitable to the test level. E.g. Toy or food

Intermediate Arena Driving Title

Apply for the Intermediate Arena Driving Title

• Change of speed
• Right and left turn
• Gate management
• Wait while the driver chats with a passerby
• Serpentine through 5 cones placed 5 feet apart, or a figure 8 around 2 cones
• Ignore Distraction of a higher level. E.g. Treats, food, or other animal.
• Pass hitched dogs parked at the side of the arena
• Back up 2 feet (60 centimeters). For rigs without shafts, only the dog needs to back up, not the rig, but either the rig must move backwards or the tug line must be long enough to allow the dog to back the required distance without running into the rig. The dog may not be pulled backward.
• The Narrows: go through a narrow space no more than 2' wider than the widest point of the dog and rig. It must be no less than the length of the dog and rig. There must be walls on either side at least 2' high. The dog and rig must pass completely through the narrow space. The Narrows may be bound by (but are not limited to) cars, walls of buildings, fences, or exercise pens.
• Cross a bridge or obstacle made of 6 1x2" boards laid on the ground across the line of travel, 12" apart, held together with a 1x2" board fastened across each side if necessary to hold them in place. This obstacle will be no less than 4' wide and will be 5' long.

Expert Arena Driving Title

Apply for the Expert Arena Driving Title

• Change of speed
• Right and left turn
• Gate management
• Wait while the driver chats with a passerby
• Serpentine through 5 cones placed 5 feet apart, or a figure 8 around 2 cones
• Ignore Distraction of a higher level. E.g. hot dogs, people with toys
• Pass hitched dogs parked at the side of the arena
• Back up 3 feet (90 centimeters)
• The Narrows
• Cross the "bridge" obstacle
• Head-on passing of an approaching hitched dog.
• Stay: The driver exits the rig and commands the hitched dog to either stand, sit, or down (driver's choice). The driver will go 5' in front of the dog, stay there for 2 minutes, then return around behind the rig and re-enter it. Breaking the stay at any time before the driver is ready to drive again will fail.
• Attitude: The course must be performed with a happy, willing attitude. To be considered expert, the dog must make the course look easy.

These are the highest achievements in the titling program.

For the Master title, submit a brief description of each of the 2 days of driving, and screenshots of distance traveled or maps showing the routes.