Dog Scouts of America

Activity check-off sheet

Naked Dog Obedience:

Dog can wear a buckle or martingale collar, but no leash.

All behaviors must have been taught or re-taught to the dog (preferably using a new cue), using only positive reward based methods. (No rewards on person during test).

____ Handler understands concept of operant conditioning

____ Handler understands how to pair the clicker with a reward

____ Handler has bridged the click (to the dog, click=treat)

____ Dog shows that he or she understands the meaning of the clicker

____ Handler understands how to use a variable reinforcement schedule

____ Handler knows when and how to name a behavior

____ Handler knows how to fade the prompt

____ Handler has used only positive reward based methods to teach the

dog the behaviors used for this badge.

____ Handler has taught the dog a new behavior while the dog is off-leash,

using positive reward based methods

____ Handler can get the dog to walk in heel position (off leash) for at least 10

steps

____ Handler can get the dog to correctly perform 5 different behaviors in a

row (random order), on cue, using only one cue per behavior,while

the dog chooses to stay at least five feet away while the handler

remains in place. No items used to aid behaviors.

This means:

  • The behaviors are cued one right after another (in quick succession)
  • That it is not pattern trained (the cues can be given in any order)
  • The behaviors happen in response to a given cue (hand signal or verbal)
  • That the dog is fluent (only needs 1 cue per behavior)
  • The dog doesn’t creep forward
  • No other items are needed for the dog to do the behaviors

The dog CAN be started farther than 5’ away, but the behaviors chosen should not get the dog within 5’ of the handler. The handler moving back to keep the dog 5’ away is not the intention of this badge. Also, the dog needs to be on the same surface and level as the handler (ground, floor, etc.) with forward movement not prevented by any edge or barrier and no mat or station may be used. The rapid fire succession of 5 behaviors is separate from the demo of the off-leash heeling. The new behavior taught without the aid of a leash should be understood well enough by the dog to be performed as part of the 5 behavior sequence.

The following are SUGGESTIONS for possible behaviors that could be included in the sequence, none of these are mandatory: sit, down, stand, back-up, spin, wave, bow, wipe your face, sit-up, lie on side, stand on hind legs, roll over, cross your paws, speak, sneeze.