Divisions
Competitors may compete at any division level. The exception to this is Juniors (see classification for
clarification).
After competing at any level, competitors may not move down a level. Special dispensation may be obtained
from the rules committee in extreme circumstances.
Competitions refer to sanctioned Paws 2 Dance competitions. A fun match is not considered to be a titling
competition.
Competitors must move up to a higher level division once they have achieved the lower level title.
An individual is defined as one handler with one dog. A pair is defined as two handlers with two dogs. A team is
defined as two or more handlers with the same amount of dogs.
Juniors (Division 1 individual, Div. 2 pairs, Div. 3 teams)
Music time 1.5 - 2.5 minutes
Dogs may be on or off leash or any combination thereof.
Juniors may compete in this division until their 16th birthday.
Competitors in this division may not have competed at the intermediate or advanced levels.
Juniors, however, may compete with dogs that have competed at higher levels.
When a competitor has achieved two scores of 5.0 out of 10.0 or more, at two different competitions
they will have achieved their title for this level.
After achieving a title for this level, Juniors may elect to move up to a higher level division or may
continue to compete in this division until their 16th birthday.
Novice A (Division 4 individual, Div. 5 pairs, Div. 6 teams)
Music time 1.5 - 2.5 minutes.
Dogs may be on or off leash or any combination thereof.
Competitors in this division may not have competed at the intermediate or advanced levels.
Juniors, however, may compete with dogs that have competed at higher levels.
When a competitor has achieved two scores of 5.0 out of 10.0 or more, at two different competitions
they must move up to a higher level division and will have achieved their title for this level.
Novice B (Division 7 individual, Div. 8 pairs, Div. 9 teams)
Music time 1.5 - 2.5 minutes
Dogs may be on or off leash or any combination thereof.
This division is for competitors who have competed at the intermediate or advanced levels who want to
compete with a new dog i.e.. Dogs that have not competed at the intermediate or higher levels.
When a competitor has achieved two scores of 5.0 out of 10.0 or more, at two different competitions,
they must move up to a higher level division and will have achieved their title for this level.
Novice C (Division 10) Non Titling
Novice X, (Division 10 individual, Div. 11 pairs, Div. 12 teams)
Music time 1.5- 3.5 minutes
THE BALANCE OF THIS IS YET TO BE ANNOUNCE
STAY TUNED
When a competitor has achieved two scores of 6.0 out of 10.0 or more, at two different competitions
they must move up to a higher level division and will have achieved their title for this level.
Novice XC, (Division 14) Non-Titling
Veterans (Division 13, individual, Div. 14 pairs, Div. 15 teams)
Music Time 1.5 - 2.5 minutes
This is for dogs 7 years of age or older who have achieved a Novice A or Novice B title and are healthy.
Once a dog is entered in Verterans, it must remain in that division and after obtaining the Veterans title
may continue to compete in Verterans.
This division will be offered “time permitting” dependant upon the venue and this will be considered
before adding it to the premium list.
Intermediate (Division 16 individual, Div. 17 pairs, Div. 18 teams)
Music time 1.5 - 3.5 minutes.
Dogs must be off leash for the entire routine.
When a competitor has achieved two scores of 7.0 out of 10.0 or more, at two different competitions
they must move up to a higher level division and will have achieved their title for this level.
Intermediate C (Division 21) Non - Titling
Advanced (Division 19 individual, Div. 20 pairs, Div. 21 team)
Music time 1.5 - 3.5 minutes.
Dogs must be off leash for the entire routine.
When a competitor has achieved two scores of 8.0 out of 10.0, or more, at two different competitions
they have achieved their title for this level.
Competitors may compete at this level indefinitely.
Advanced X (Division 25)
Music time 1.5 – 3.5 minutes
Dogs must be off leash for the entire routine.
To attain this title, the handler and dog must achieve 8.5 out of 10.0, on four separate occasions with a
minimum of two different routines.
Competitors may compete at this level indefinitely.
Champion Freestyle Dog (Division 26)
This division is for exhibitors who have attained their Advanced X
Exhibitors in this category are not eligible to receive the high overall MF score award.
Masters (Division 22 individual)
Music time 1.5 - 3.5 minutes.
This level is suggested for professional trainers, although anyone may choose to compete at this level.
Dogs must be off leash for the entire routine.
The competitor must enter two routines with the same dog and the total score will be the average of
both routines.
When a competitor has achieved three scores of 8.0 out of 10.0, or more, at three different competitions
they will have achieved their title for this level.
Criteria will be developed and made available to handlers preparing for this category by 2010.
Canine Dressage
The intent and spirit of the sport is to develop quality heelwork. Handlers and their dogs may enter any level
but will not be able to compete at a lower level once they have competed at a higher level. To title at any level,
competitors must successfully complete one leg. At each level, specific required elements will be identified.
The required elements have been selected with training progression in mind. Suggested elements and ideas
for choreography are also provided but handlers are free to innovate.
Dressage - Requirements in detail
Consultant: Ray Underwood
Heel position:
Either on the left side or on the right side. Dog must not move more than 45° from parallel to handler. In
advanced divisions, dog may be facing the opposite direction from handler.
Transitions:
A transition is any move that • changes the position of the dog. ie. from left side to right side, from a crawl to a
heel • changes direction of movement. ie. north to south For the transition, dog may move out of heel position.
Any move may be incorporated (weave, spin, circle, roll) but the move must be used as a transition, not a trick.
Therefore, a single spin or single weave, not multiple.
Steps:
All steps would be considered “normal” handler walking steps. If sideways, approximately shoulder width apart.
NOVICE: Must be on Leash
Novice I
Heel position: Dog is generally (90% of the time) in a heel position and is under handler control while in the
ring. Having dog facing you is not a heel position.
Novice II
Back heeling: Dog remains in heel position while handler takes a minimum of four steps backwards in a
straight line. To count, dog must be in heel position (no more than 45° from parallel) for four consecutive steps.
Novice III
Back heeling: Dog remains in heel position while handler takes a minimum of four steps backwards in a
straight line. To count, dog must be in heel position (no more than 45° from parallel) for four consecutive steps.
Inward side pass: Dog remains in heel position while handler takes a minimum of four side steps in a straight
line toward the dog. Dog must be in heel position for four consecutive steps.
Outward side pass: Dog remains in heel position while handler takes a minimum of four side steps in a
straight line away from the dog. Dog must be in heel position for four consecutive steps.
INTERMEDIATE: Off Leash 2 - 3.5 minutes
Intermediate I
8 steps right heeling: Dog remains in a right side heel position for 8 consecutive steps. Movement may be
forward, backwards, in a straight line, or on a curve.
360° Pivot Right: From a left-side heel, handler pivots to the right on the spot (no forward movement) a
minimum of 360° with dog maintaining heel position.
360° Pivot Left: From a left-side heel, handler pivots to the left on the spot (no forward movement) a minimum
of 360° with dog maintaining heel position.
Intermediate II
360° Pivots in each direction: See above • Right Side Back: Dog remains in heel position on the right side
while handler takes a minimum of four steps backward in a straight line. Dog must be in right heelposition for
four consecutive steps. • Forward Figure 8: Dog remains in heel position on the leftright side while handler
completes a figure 8 moving forward.
Intermediate III
Right Side Back Heel Circle: Dog remains in heel position on the right while handler walks backwards in a
circle (approximately 6’ in diameter) Dog on the inside.
Right Side Inward Pass: Dog remains in a right-side heel position while handler takesa minimum of four side
steps in a straight line toward the dog. Dog must be in heel position for four consecutive steps.
Right Side Outward Pass: Dog remains in a right-side heel position while handler takes a minimum of four
side steps in a straight line away from the dog. Dog must be in heel position for four consecutive steps.
ADVANCED: Off leash
Advanced I
2.5 - 3.5 minutes
High Step Normal Pace: Dog heels with high step for eight consecutive steps.
Right side 360° Pivots: From a right-side heel, handler pivots to the right on the spot and to the left on the
spot (no forward movement) a minimum of 360° in each direction with dog maintaining heel position.
Creative Pose: Dog holds a pose for three seconds. Pose may be free-standing or in gentle contact with
handler. i.e.. handler must not hold dog in pose.
Advanced II
High Step Slow Pace: Dog heels with high step at slow place for four consecutive steps.
Reverse - position Heeling: Dog heels on the right or left, facing opposite direction from handler for eight
consecutive steps in a straight line..
Modified heeling: Dog either crawls, walks on hind legs, or performs flying changes (skips) for eight consecutive
steps in heel position.
Advanced III
Dog Finds Heel Position Pattern: Handler leaves the dog a minimum of four steps and the dog moves into heel
position, handler and dog then move together in a different direction for four steps. This pattern is repeated
three times. Example: Dog stays while handler takes four steps backward; dog takes four steps backward to
join handler; both dog and handler do an outward side pass for four steps; this pattern is repeated two more
times.
Backwards Figure 8: Dog remains in heel position (either side) while handler completes a figure 8 moving
backwards. (Each circle approximately 6’ in diameter)
Roll-Overs into Heel: While performing a side-pass in either direction, dog rolls into position a minimum of
three consecutive times. Dog remains in a constant distance to the handler’s leg.
A word about costumes: although the focus is on the dog, a costume that works with the music fine - as long
as it doesn’t over-shadow the dog or the movements. Handler Movement: some musical interpretation is
allowed, as long as it does not over-shadow the dog.
Copyright (c) 2009 AlterXMedia
