The K9 Elements Taxonomy
Behavior taxonomy
Every behavior in the K9 Elements curriculum — the building blocks (Foundation), the trained-and-proofed skills (Applied), and the composite trial exercises (Integrated).
132 behaviors · 25 Foundation · 66 Applied · 41 Integrated
Integrated
Composite behaviors combining multiple Applied behaviors into a scenario or routine; the actual competition test units.
- I-22 L3 EN 1.1 — Heeling under muzzle L3 EngagementContent coming
Muzzled heeling pattern with minimum 4 turns and 2 halts; pace change required. Tests muzzled control and precision at the L3 standard.
L3 - I-23 L3 EN 1.2 — Heeling through active provocation L3 EngagementContent coming
Un-muzzled heeling pattern routed through a decoy provocation zone; tests both heeling precision and decoy neutrality simultaneously.
L3 - I-24 L3 EN 1.3 — Long stay, handler out of sight L3 EngagementContent coming
1-2 minute long stay (judge sets duration within range), three positions tested across the stay, handler out of visual field.
L3 - I-25 L3 EN 1.4 — Position change at distance, handler not visible L3 EngagementContent coming
Position changes at 10+ m distance, multiple positions in sequence, executed with handler out of dog's visual field.
L3 - I-26 L3 EN 2.1 — High-speed engagement (presented target) L3 EngagementContent coming
Long-send courageous engagement with a presented target; 5+ stick hits; single-command out. Highest-power engagement in L3 EN.
L3 - I-27 L3 EN 2.2 — Low-speed engagement (self-targeted) L3 EngagementContent coming
Blind entry, ambush, or place-bed engagement; dog reads situation and self-targets per Universal Targeting Principle; 5+ stick hits; single-command out.
L3 - I-28 L3 EN 2.3 — Muzzle work / civil aggression L3 EngagementContent coming
Active prey-style engagement under muzzle; 12+ second sustained drive; clean release on recall.
L3 - I-29 L3 EN 2.4 — Re-engagement test L3 EngagementContent coming
Handler-cued sequential bites: out cleanly, re-engage on cue, out again cleanly. Proofs the off-button under repeated provocation.
L3 - I-30 L3 EN 3.1 — Article search with discrimination L3 EngagementContent coming
Handler-scented article among 3+ distractors (some scented by other people); scent work calibrated to L2 discrimination standard; dog identifies handler's article via passive indication.
L3 - I-31 L3 EN 3.2 — Multi-tent hunt for hidden decoy L3 EngagementContent coming
3 tents minimum, including possible blank tent; dog hunts independently, alerts on tent with decoy, does not false-alert on blank.
L3 - I-32 L3 EN 3.3 — Multiple-object retrieve L3 EngagementContent coming
Multiple objects in field; dog retrieves the cued object (handler cues by direction, scent, or color per handler training) and ignores others.
L3 - I-33 L3 EN 3.4 — Threat discrimination L3 EngagementContent coming
Multi-approach scenario where dog must engage actual threat and NOT engage non-threat, per own reading of decoy behavior.
L3 - I-34 L3 EN 4.1 — Send-away to abstract target (25+ m) L3 EngagementContent coming
Cone, scent flag, or marker-only target at 25+ meters; clean stop or down at target on cue.
L3 - I-35 L3 EN 4.2 — Directional discrimination (3+ targets) L3 EngagementContent coming
Multiple targets at distance; handler designates one; dog goes to designated target only.
L3 - I-36 L3 EN 4.3 — Autonomous threat engagement L3 EngagementContent coming
Dog at post (place bed, marked spot, or designated location); handler at distance and silent; dog reads and engages threat without cue.
L3 - I-37 L3 EN 4.4 — Active guard with autonomous return to post L3 EngagementContent coming
After autonomous engagement (4.3), dog outs and returns to post without handler cue; sustained guard for judge-set duration (3-15 sec).
L3 - I-38 L3 EN 5.1 — Vehicle stay (in-vehicle, unsecured) L3 EngagementContent coming
Dog held in vehicle while handler departs; handler-controlled exit on cue.
L3 - I-39 L3 EN 5.2 — Prisoner transport (strike position) L3 EngagementContent coming
Dog in close proximity to compliant decoy; intent focus; no break to engage.
L3 - I-40 L3 EN 5.3 — Final composure (visual examination) L3 EngagementContent coming
Judge approaches at close proximity; no contact; multiple angles of visual examination; dog holds composure.
L3 - I-41 L3 EN 5.4 — Decoy neutrality (composite throughout routine) L3 EngagementContent coming
Aggregate scoring across all routine moments where decoys are not the focus. Always present in both L3 EN legs as a throughline scoring evaluation, judged via aggregated observation across the leg's other behaviors.
L3