Behavior taxonomy

Dog holds heel position through a handler-navigated pattern including turns, halts, and pace changes on flat surface with minimal environmental variables.

Heeling pattern including deliberate handler pace changes (normal, slow, fast) with the dog maintaining position through each transition.

Heeling pattern routed through areas where decoys are moving, vocalizing, or otherwise active. Dog holds heel position and neutrality simultaneously.

Dog holds declared position (sit or down) for 30-60 seconds while handler stands at position or short distance away.

Dog ignores food presented actively or passively by a steward while in a working state (heel, stay, or held position).

Dog returns to handler on cue from distance and assumes a front position (sit directly in front of handler, squared, close to handler's body) without additional cue.

From the front position, dog moves to handler's left side (heel position) on cue via either a left-side pivot or a right-side loop, per handler's declared style.

On cue, dog is sent to retrieve a thrown object on flat ground, returns to handler, presents at front, delivers to hand, and finishes.

On cue, dog is sent over a jump to retrieve a thrown object, returns over the jump, presents at front, delivers, and finishes.

Dog leaves handler on cue and moves in a straight line to a designated target (cone, scent flag, or marker) at distance, stops and holds a declared position at target.

Dog is directed to one of two visible targets at distance based on handler's directional cue (verbal, gesture, or both), and goes to the designated target only.

Dog changes between sit, down, and stand positions on cue from handler at distance (typically 10 m or more), holds each position until next cue.

Dog holds a stand position while a steward or judge approaches from designated angles for visual examination without contact, then handler returns.

After examination, dog is recalled to heel and handler presents the completed team to the judge for the trial's formal closure.

Dog navigates through a tunnel obstacle (straight, curved, tarp, or hay bale variant) on cue from handler.

Dog jumps a 24-inch standard jump on cue.

Dog clears a horizontal broad jump obstacle on cue.

Dog jumps through a frame requiring the dog to jump through an opening (not over a bar).

Dog climbs and descends an A-frame or platform obstacle on cue.

Muzzled dog holds a working position (heel or stay) while one or two stewards approach the handler and engage in conversation.

Dog navigates 3-4 obstacles in judge-set sequence on the trial field, called by a steward, without intermediate handler resets.

Dog maintains full-mouth grip while decoy applies minimum 5 stick hits over up to 5 seconds of counter-pressure, with more dynamic stick handling than L1.

Dog engages target and maintains grip while decoy fires a 9mm blank-fire pistol at close range (2 shots at L1, 3-4 shots at L2).

On single verbal command from handler at distance, dog releases the bite target immediately, no re-grip, transitions to a guard/strike position or handler-cued next behavior.

Muzzled dog engages a decoy in prey-style contact using the muzzle, without inhibited drive, until released.

Muzzled dog engages a decoy actively for a sustained duration (8s at L1, 12+ s at L2/L3), including active decoy threat presentation before engagement.

Dog engages and maintains grip through decoy's use of an approved fending object (chair, broomstick, jacket, trash can lid, or traffic cone at L1; expanded inventory at L2).

After out, dog holds a focused, ready-to-engage position (dog's choice within trained convention: bark-hold, strike, or watchful stance) directed at the decoy, for judge-set duration.

Dog remains in the trial-supplied vehicle (truck bed, cab, SUV cargo, van) unsecured — no leash, no crate, no barrier — while handler dismounts and moves away, for 15-30 seconds.

Dog heels alongside a compliant decoy (post-engagement) in a focused strike position — intense visual focus on the decoy, close proximity, no engagement — over a designated transport route.

Dog holds a declared position on a K9E-standard place bed (24"×36", 4-8" height, raised edge per §4.8) while decoy activity occurs around the field, for duration until handler cue or autonomous engagement trigger.

Dog systematically searches through 2-3 tents or blinds on cue, alerts on the tent containing a hidden decoy, does not enter without cue.

Upon locating a hidden decoy in a tent or blind, dog holds position at tent opening and sustains bark until handler arrives, without entering to engage.

In a low-speed engagement scenario, dog reads the situation and self-selects a legitimate bite target (leg, arm, torso) without decoy presenting a target.

Dog maintains bite on engaged decoy while a second decoy is active nearby (vocalizing, prey movement, gestures) without breaking grip to engage the distracting decoy.

During an engagement with Decoy 1, when Decoy 2 emerges 10 m away with active distraction (vocalization, prey movement), dog holds grip on Decoy 1 and does not break to engage Decoy 2.

Dog commits to the scent trail from the K9E scent pad, departs in the correct direction of travel, and works the track with nose-down commitment.

Dog works turns in a track, committing to the new direction of travel without over-shoot, cast, or handler cue.

Dog commits to and works a colder-scent track aged per L2 or L3 specifications, requiring higher scent commitment and endurance.

Dog encounters an article on the track and offers the handler-declared indication (sit, down, stand, or active alert), sustained until handler retrieves.

When a dog loses the track scent, the dog casts, re-orients, and recommits to the correct direction of travel, with handler support via line management.

Handler manages the long line (15-30 ft per §4.2) with appropriate tension, reads the dog's body language, and provides support without over-cueing.

At track's end, dog locates and indicates the missing person (track layer with K9E branded end marker) via declared indication style.

L2-specific mechanic where a designated "lifeline" article on the track determines whether the team continues or is halted. Dog must indicate the lifeline article per L2 protocol.

Dog systematically searches an interior environment (room, building) for hidden odor, working walls, corners, floor, and furnishings per declared pattern.

Dog systematically searches an exterior environment (open ground, fenced area, structural exterior) for hidden odor, adjusting for wind and terrain.

Dog systematically searches vehicles (cars, trucks, vans) for hidden odor, working seams, wheel wells, doors, and interior access points.

Dog systematically searches containers (luggage, boxes, packages) placed in a defined area for hidden odor.

When searching an area that contains no target odor (a "blank" area), dog does not offer an indication, does not false-alert, and completes the search per declared pattern.

Dog searches for multiple K9E odors present in the same area, indicating each source distinctly, without confusing one odor for another.

Handler observes the dog's indication and calls the hide to the judge with appropriate confidence, per K9E handler-call protocol.

At the source of odor, dog assumes and sustains a passive indication (sit or down per declared style) until released.

Dog sustains motivated, systematic search behavior across all assigned search areas, without giving up in blank areas or losing intensity late in the routine.

Dog maintains commitment to searching for the target odor when environmental distractions (mechanical noise, secondary scents, movement) are present in the search area.

In any working state (heel, stay, retrieve, position at distance), dog holds focus on the task while decoys are active in the field, without breaking task to engage or react to decoy activity.