Novice is the first non-optional level of the American Kennel Club's obedience trials. Three different judges must at least qualify a team with a score of 170 or higher in order for the participants to move onto the next levels, if they would like to. You can move onto open and utility trials after that. When people see these dogs in the ring, they think it's all about "pretty walking". It's actually about a lot more than that. Here are some exercises from the Novice trials, and their real life
HEEL ON LEAD: Heel is a moving command and an exact position. The dog turns with the handler , and exhibits that their job is to move with and pay attention to the handler. Uses for this include, but are not limited to walking safely down city streets (teaches your dog to not be concerned with distractions), bringing groceries and dog from car to house, walking through unexpected distractions, taking a dog out of a situation that is about to become volatile, and just the simple non pulling on a lead. The auto sit and turn portion of the exercise ensures that your dog is duplicating the handlers moves for safety reasons. For example, an owner wouldn't want their dog to continue walking off the sidewalk and into a moving vehicle.
HEEL OFF LEAD: Allows you to have outdoor fun with your dog not in heel, and get him instantly into position should something come up. For instance, perhaps a walker comes upon you that clearly does not look comfortable with dogs. Heel off leash also gives you better reliability on leash, as the dog is not generalizing where and when to heel.
STAND: The actually training of a "stand for exam" gets dogs and puppies used to handling by strangers. Great for Vet exams where the veterinarian needs to evaluate the structure of your dog or check for stomach problems. Makes grooming much easier whether done at home or at the groomers. I use it instead of an auto sit for my dog that has knee problems.
FIGURE EIGHT HEEL: This is just another portion of the heeling exercise. In the city you can't always walk straight lines, and this helps a dog know how to walk in curved areas on either side of you. Again, great use for city walking especially or even in the woods with trees when needed.
RECALL OR COME COMMAND: This command is arguably one of the most important. This command can save your dog from great harm or death. This command saved Jazzabelle's life. As a youngster as she streaked towards a friend that she saw across the street. "Come" brought her to the yard, instead of the oncoming truck. This can also be used to retrieve your dog before they ingest something dangerous on the ground during a walk.
SIT: This is useful if you want your dog stationary (staying separate from stay here for a moment) so you can put on their leash, because the dog's head is up higher than a down. Great for when walking in a heel position, and you come to a curb where your dog stops with you.
DOWN: I use this a lot if a strange dog is approaching, then not only is my dog in a stationary position, but also in a very non challenging position. I can then head off the strange dog, if I wish. This is useful when introducing large dogs to smaller dogs. Excellent command for use in the grooming salon or veterinarians office.
STAY: This is usually used after a stationary command (sit or down, for instance). I use this when I don't want my dogs to counter surf, while eating dinner, while talking to a friend and I can't watch the dog at the moment, when bringing the poop bag up to the street (potential customers love this move when there are many dogs and people on the beach as well). The level of skill in which commands are trained and taught to your dog also makes it possible to sit outside at restaurants with your dog. An owner might be privileged to bring dogs into their hotel rooms, rather than have to use a kennel. Well trained dogs can be welcomed at various events such as craft fairs or family picnics. Now if someone starts to go into the higher obedience level skills which require jumping and retrieve, more joys await you. The skill of retrieval can be taught for any household object. This is a way to give your dog a fun job to do, and exercise his brain muscles.
If an owner has a reactive dog or one with behavioral issues, these skills, done to a standard, will increase and improve a dog's attention and focus on their handler. Training is a good way to begin distracting a dog from items that make them fearful as well.
Please be sure to train dogs to reliably understand their owner. It will make not only their lives better, but also start to give back the rights of responsible dog owners.
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