Our titling program aims to increase awareness of and participation in the sport Dog Driving. By working towards achieving a title, skills increase and the pleasure of dog and human grows.
Dogs will enjoy a healthy, full and fun life by participating in the sport of driving dogs. People will appreciate their dogs more and will see and visit the world around them in greater detail and variety. Driving dogs increases the bond between dog and handler.
The driving exercises are designed to demonstrate the skills of the trained driving dog and the team work between driver and dog(s)
While the Association will organize testing locations and dates from time to time, most dog drivers will present their work via video, photo and text because there will not be a driving test within a reasonable distance.
Please join our Facebook page “International Association of Dog Drivers“. Enjoy the conversation. Post about yourself and your dogs. We get to know you and your dogs. You get to know us. We learn from each other.
There are five categories of Title.
1. Ground Driving – These are the basic skills that dogs must know for dry land mushing. No riding type equipment is necessary to win this Title. Your videos must show the fit of the harness, line out, dragging of bicycle tires or equivalent, walking out front while taking directional commands. Directional commands include Gee/Haw (or Right/Left) and a speed change such as Walk/Trot. If you have a wagon or cart you may use that in your video. Canicross practitioners can also receive the Ground Driving Title
2. Trail Driving – Trail Driving may be your most fun title to achieve. To earn the Trail Driving Title, drive your dogs frequently in various locations. Keep an eye out and be creative in finding obstacles. For example, when driving on the sidewalk, a crazy dog is running the fence and your dog ignores the barking dog behind the fence and continues driving. Another example. When driving a trail, after a heavy rain, the dog trots on through an unexpected puddle with no hesitation. Collect these successes with video and photo and win a Trail Driving Title.
3. Fitness – The Fitness Title measures the dog’s ability to pull for distance. The Title requires the distance to be traveled three times within a three month period.
Fitness Levels:
* Beginner (1mi/1.6 km)
* Novice (2.5mi/4km)
* Intermediate (5mi/8km)
* Expert (10 mi/16km)
4. Arena: – The Arena Title is achieved when a dog organization hosts a driving event. It measures skills within the Arena or on the parking lot or field. The Judge will ask for change of pace, starting and stopping, and maneuvering around and through obstacles and distractions. Arena needs to be accomplished one time, not three times, because these driving tests are rare.
Arena Levels:
* Novice
* Intermediate
* Expert
5. Complete: The Complete Title includes both Fitness and Arena.
6. Master: The Master Title includes Complete at the Expert level and driving ten miles on two successive days. The ten miles on two successive days has to be completed one time only.
Cost: $15 USD per level for members
$25 USD per level for non-members
$35 USD for an Annual membership
Members can apply for as many titles as they want during that year.
APPLYING FOR A TITLE Click Here
RULES AND GUIDELINES Click Here