IACP Dog Training Standards for the Family Pet
There is a lot of information available about how to choose a dog trainer for your dog. Visiting a class in action, talking to the trainer, and “trusting your gut” are often recommended as ways to help find a dog training class to suit your needs.
But with all the trainers available, and with many different levels and types of classes to choose from, deciding what your dog needs can be difficult. Here are some additional questions to ask when you are shopping for a trainer:
- What exactly will my dog learn?
- What skills are important and why?
- Assuming I have an average dog and time to devote to training every day, what is a reasonable time frame to learn these skills?
The IACP Dog Training Standards for the Family Pet are minimal standards developed and endorsed by the IACP to act as general guidelines for what can reasonably be expected in any pet dog training program. Dog trainers who structure their programs to meet or exceed these minimum standards will strive to graduate dogs that meet the established criteria for each stage of training.
Puppy Class Standards (for dogs 10 to 20 weeks old)
Basic Class Standards (for dogs older than 16 weeks)
Advanced Class Standards (for on and off leash work)
Not sure if your dog needs a Puppy, Basic or Advanced class? Compare class requirements with our
IACP Dog Training Standards for the Family Pet.
IACP Dog Training Standards for the Family Pet - Summary Table
|
Skill to be performed with minimal coaxing or correction |
Puppy
(10 to 20 weeks old)
4-6 lessons |
Basic / On-Leash
(Older than 16 weeks)
4-10 lessons |
Advanced
(On and Off Leash)
2-6 lessons |
|
Sit |
· Puppy will sit from a stand or down, using command or signal |
· Dog will sit from a stand or down, using a single command or signal.
·Minimum reliability: successful on 4 out of 5 attempts. |
· As with Basic.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 7 out of 8 attempts. |
|
Down |
· Puppy will down from a stand or sit, using command or signal |
· Dog will down from a stand or sit, using a single command or signal.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 4 out of 5 attempts. |
· As with Basic.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 7 out of 8 attempts. |
|
Stand |
· Not required, although some classes will offer it and some puppies will be ready to perform this skill |
· Dog will stand from a sit or down, using a single command or signal.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 4 out of 5 attempts. |
· As with Basic.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 7 out of 8 attempts. |
|
Recall |
· Puppy will come from distance of 20 feet.
· Recall ends with sit, which may be done on command.
· Assistant may hold the puppy at a distance of 20 feet. |
· Dog will come from distance of 50 feet.
· Recall ends with sit, which may be done on command.
· Assistant may hold dog by the leash at a distance of 50 feet.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 4 out of 5 attempts. |
· Dog will come from distance of 50 feet.
· Recall ends with an automatic sit, with no additional command.
· Dog will come from sit/stay position.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 7 out of 8 attempts. |
|
Walking Nicely on Leash (Puppy and Basic)
Or
Heeling, On leash and Off Leash (Advanced) |
· Puppy will remain with handler on 30 yard/metre walk containing two stops.
· Leash will remain loose 80% of the time (4 out of 5 attempts) without any lunges. |
· Dog will remain with handler on 100 yard/metre walk containing two stops.
· Leash will remain loose 80% of the time (4 out of 5 attempts) without any lunges.
· Heeling is permitted but not required. |
· Dog will complete a heeling pattern, including left, right and about turns.
· Heeling pattern will include 3 changes of pace (slow, fast, and normal).
· Heeling pattern will include two stops with automatic sits (no command).
· Heeling pattern to be repeated off leash.
· Dog will not venture more than a leash-length away from the handler.
· Dog will not miss more than one automatic sit.
· OPTIONAL: Heeling position not necessary, but dog will complete the above pattern while staying within three feet of the handler for both an on leash and off leash walk. |
|
Stay |
· Puppy will hold stay (sit or down position) for 30 seconds. |
· Dog will hold a sit, down or stand/stay for one minute.
· Handler will stand 6 feet from the dog during the stay.
· The only movement permitted is a shifting of feet to maintain balance during the stand/stay. |
· All stays will be performed at a distance of 6 feet or greater.
· Dog will hold a sit/stay for 2 minutes.
· Dog will hold a down/stay for 4 minutes.
· Dog will hold a stand/stay for one minute.
· During the stand/stay, the dog will be handled. |
|
Leave It/Off |
· Puppy will leave an attractive/tempting object alone when asked. |
· Dog will leave an attractive/tempting object alone when asked. |
· Already established. |
|
Handling (Puppy)
or
Sit for Examination (Basic and Advanced) |
· Puppy accepts gentle handling of feet, ears and mouth. |
· Dog will allow the tester to gently pet him on the head and shoulders while holding a sit/stay beside his handler.
· The dog will not show any resentment. |
· Dog will accept handling from a stranger while maintaining a stand/stay at a distance of 6 feet. |
EACH CLASS INDIVIDUALLY
Puppy Class Criteria
|
Skill to be performed
with minimal coaxing
or correction |
Puppy
(10 to 20 weeks old)
4-6 lessons |
|
Sit |
· Puppy will sit from a stand or down, using command or
signal |
|
Down |
· Puppy will down from a stand or sit, using command or
signal |
|
Recall |
· Puppy will come from distance of 20 feet.
· Recall ends with sit, which may be done on command.
· Assistant may hold the puppy at a distance of 20 feet. |
|
Walking Nicely on Leash
|
· Puppy will remain with handler on 30 yard/metre walk
containing two stops.
· Leash will remain loose 80% of the time (4 out of 5
attempts) without any lunges. |
|
Stay |
· Puppy will hold stay (sit or down position) for 30
seconds. |
|
Leave It/Off |
· Puppy will leave an attractive/tempting object alone
when asked. |
|
Handling
|
· Puppy accepts gentle handling of feet, ears and mouth. |
Next Level – Basic Skills:
Commands:
· Minimum reliability for all commands: successful on 4 out of 5 attempts.
· Dog will hold a stay (sit, down or stand position) for 1 minute.
· During the sit/stay, the dog will be handled.
Recall:
· Dog will come from distance of 50 feet, increased from 20 feet.
Walking Nicely On Leash:
· Dog will remain with handler on 100 yard/metre walk (increased from 30 yards/metres)
containing two stops.
· Heeling is permitted but not required
Stay:
· Dog will hold a stay (sit, down or stand position) for one minute.
· Handler will stand 6 feet from the dog during the stand/stay.
Sit for Examination:
· Dog will allow the tester to gently pet him on the head and shoulders while holding a sit/stay
beside his handler.
Basic Skills – On-leash Criteria
|
Skill to be performed with minimal coaxing
or correction |
Basic / On-Leash
(Older than 16 weeks)
4-10 lessons |
|
Sit |
· Dog will sit from a stand or down, using a single command or signal.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 4 out of 5 attempts. |
|
Down |
· Dog will down from a stand or sit, using a single command or signal.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 4 out of 5 attempts. |
|
Stand |
· Dog will stand from a sit or down, using a single command or signal.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 4 out of 5 attempts. |
|
Recall |
· Dog will come from distance of 50 feet.
· Recall ends with sit, which may be done on command.
· Assistant may hold dog’s leash at a distance of 50 feet.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 4 out of 5 attempts. |
|
Walking Nicely on Leash |
· Dog will remain with handler on 100 yard/metre walk containing two stops.
· Leash will remain loose 80% of the time (4 out of 5 attempts) without any
lunges.
· Heeling is permitted but not required. |
|
Stay |
· Dog will hold a stay (sit, down or stand position) for one minute.
· Handler will stand 6 feet from the dog during the stay.
· The only movement permitted is a shifting of feet to maintain balance during a
stand/stay. |
|
Leave It/Off |
· Dog will leave an attractive/tempting object alone when asked. |
|
Sit for Examination |
· Dog will allow the tester to gently pet him on the head and shoulders while
holding a sit/stay beside his handler.
· The dog will not show any resentment. |
Next Level – Advanced Skills:
Commands:
· Minimum reliability for all commands: successful on 7 out of 8 attempts.
Stay:
· All stays will be performed at a distance of 6 feet or greater.
· Dog will hold a sit/stay for 2 minutes.
· Dog will hold a down/stay for 4 minutes.
· Dog will hold a stand/stay for one minute.
· During the stand/stay, the dog will be handled.
Recall:
· Dog will come from sit/stay position at a distance of 50 feet.
· Recall ends with an automatic sit, with no additional command.
Heeling:
· Dog will heel, on and off leash, not moving more than a leash-length away from the handler.
· Heeling pattern will include turns, pace changes, and automatic sits, with no additional commands.
IACP Dog Training Standards for the Family Pet
Advanced Skills – On and Off-leash Criteria
|
Skill to be performed with minimal coaxing
or correction |
Advanced
(On and Off Leash)
2-6 lessons |
|
Sit |
· As with Basic.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 7 out of 8 attempts. |
|
Down |
· As with Basic.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 7 out of 8 attempts. |
|
Stand |
· As with Basic.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 7 out of 8 attempts. |
|
Recall |
· Dog will come from distance of 50 feet.
· Recall ends with an automatic sit, with no additional command.
· Dog will come from sit/stay position.
· Minimum reliability: successful on 7 out of 8 attempts. |
|
Heeling, On leash and Off Leash |
· Dog will complete a heeling pattern, including left, right and
about turns.
· Heeling pattern will include 3 changes of pace (slow, fast, and
normal).
· Heeling pattern will include two stops with automatic sits (no
command).
· Heeling pattern to be repeated off leash.
· Dog will not venture more than a leash-length away from the
handler.
· Dog will not miss more than one automatic sit.
· OPTIONAL: Heeling position not necessary, but dog will complete
the above pattern while staying within three feet of the handler for
both an on leash and off leash walk. |
|
Stay |
· All stays to be performed at a distance of 6 feet or greater.
· Dog will hold a sit/stay for 2 minutes.
· Dog will hold a down/stay for 4 minutes.
· Dog will hold a stand/stay, from a distance of 6 feet, for one minute.
· During the stand/stay, the dog will be handled. |
|
Leave It/Off |
· Already established |
|
Sit for Examination |
· Dog will accept handling from a stranger while maintaining a
stand/stay at a distance of 6 feet. |
Prepared by Tawni McBee, chair; Jill Skorochod; Roger Hild of the Standards Committee
