Obedience TEAM Rules

Titling with TEAM

The TEAM program is broken up into Pre-levels, TEAM Levels 1-3, Plus and Honors 1-3, Team Levels 4-6, and Plus and Honors titles 4-6.

Below is a short explanation of each.

Pre-levels – Pre-levels are optional titles, designed to provide handlers feedback from TEAM judges. Each Pre-level consists of at least 6 of the exercises, chosen by the handler out of the full list of exercises for the corresponding TEAM Level.

TEAM Levels 1-3 – TEAM Levels 1-3 are designed to test important foundation skills. The criteria for each exercise requires dog and handler to demonstrate high levels of precision and correct training.

Plus Titles – Plus titles require dog-handler teams to demonstrate their skills in new locations.

Honors Titles – Honors titles are optional and showcase the ability to work with reduced reinforcement in a new location. For TEAM1h-3h, the only rewards allowed are those that are specified within the individual exercises as reset rewards or distractions. For TEAM4h-6h, no rewards or reinforcement is allowed.

TEAM Levels 4-6 – Levels 4-6 begin testing more complex chains with increasing challenges. The focus is obedience exercises.

Pre-Levels 1-3

These are optional titles that handlers may choose prior to submissions for Levels 1, 2 and 3. The exercises should be taken from the relevant level. For example, if a person attempts a Pre-Level 1 title, they will attempt exercises from the Level 1 program. Handlers must attempt at least six exercises and they are welcome to attempt all of them! A passing score will require at least five successful (passing) exercises.

Exercises that are judged as a not yet (NY) will receive a judge’s comment explaining where the exercise has not met criteria. Once the relevant pre-level is completed, the title “TEAM1P,” “TEAM2P” or “TEAM3P” may be added after your dog’s name.

TEAM Levels 1-3

Levels 1, 2 and 3 are designed to test important foundation skills for teams who wish to pursue many types of dog sports including obedience, rally, agility, field work, tricks, freestyle and more. Dogs that can demonstrate these core skills will be in an excellent position to learn routines and skills specific to their chosen sport.  Details for Levels 1, 2 and 3 are located on the individual level pages.  All levels may be completed in the same familiar location.  Once each level is completed, the title “TEAM1,” “TEAM2” and “TEAM3” may be added after your dog’s name.

Here’s a fun sneak preview of what it looks like – three levels in three minutes!

TEAM 1+-3+ Titles

Plus titles require the dog and handler to work in a novel location; each Plus title submission must be in a different location that has never been used to film before. Teams may complete each Plus level in conjunction with the original level or may choose to complete them after successfully finishing the first three basic levels. For example, a team might choose to do TEAM1, 2 and 3 followed by TEAM1+, 2+, 3+ OR the team might do TEAM1 and then TEAM1+, TEAM2 and then 2+, etc. Once completed, the “TEAM+” title may be added after your dog’s name at the appropriate level.

TEAM Levels 1H-3H

The optional Honors track requires the skills of Levels 1, 2 and 3 to be completed in a novel location other than that used for Levels 1, 2 and 3. (Teams that have a Plus title for that level may reuse that location.)

The Honors track also requires the team to reduce food/toy reinforcement. Honors levels 1-3 stipulate that the only rewards allowed are those that are specified within the individual exercises as reset rewards or distraction rewards. Teams may complete each Honors level in conjunction with the original level or may choose to complete them after passing all of TEAM1, 2, 3 or TEAM1+, 2+, 3+ levels. Teams may opt to go directly to the Honors level versus the Plus level if they choose. Once completed, the “TEAMh” title may be added after your dog’s name at the appropriate level.

TEAM Levels 4-6

Levels 4-6 apply the basic skills from Levels 1, 2 and 3 and create challenging, unique chains of behavior that emphasize reduction of reinforcement, use of novel locations, cue discrimination, and greater formality.  Details for Levels 4, 5 and 6 are located on the individual level pages. Once each level is completed, the title “TEAM4”, “TEAM5” and “TEAM6” may be added after your dog’s name.

Check out this video featuring levels 4-6:

TEAM Levels 4+-6+

The TEAM Plus title series combines the skills in Levels 4, 5 and 6 with the requirement that each of these Plus levels must be tested in a new location that has not been used before in a passing video submission.  Once completed, the “TEAM+” title may be added after your dog’s name at the appropriate level.

TEAM Levels 4H-6H

The TEAM Honors title series combines the skills in Levels 4, 5 and 6 with the requirement that each of these levels must be tested in a new location that has not been used before in a passing video submission AND each level must be completed without any food or toy reinforcers.  Teams that have completed the Plus title for the level may reuse that location for Honors at that level.  At the end of the test, the handler must demonstrate that the dog wants the distraction by having the dog either eat the reward or play with the toy. Once completed, the “TEAMh” title may be added after your dog’s name at the appropriate level.