To pass, dogs have to score a minimum of 70 points in Tracking and Obedience, and a minimum of 80 points in Protection. The length, age and difficulty of the track varies, depending on the level of competition entered. The tracks are between 400 and 1000 paces long with several turns and even cross tracks in the higher level. Dogs are expected to track the scent with a deep nose, without looking up or stopping, and point out the articles by lying down near them. While the dog is tracking, the handler cannot influence the dog, yet is simply walking behind him at a distance of about 30 feet, connected only with a long tracking lead.
Obedience is clearly a test of the handler and dog performing as a team.
While tracking showcases the innate abilities of the dog, without a doubt the obedience phase shows off the abilities of the handler to train his dog, more so than any other phase of the sport. The team is required to perform a variety of on and off leash healing exercises, stays, recalls, retrieves, jumps etc., based in difficulty on the level entered. During off leash heeling, there are also two gunshots fired, to test the dogs nerve costume, and - as each dog also has to perform a long down stay while another dog is heeling etc., these gunshots are also present during the long down stay exercise. The third - and to many the most exciting phase of the sport is the protection phase. Now the dog has to search for the decoy, find him, hold him at bay, prevent him from escaping, divert attacks on his master, guard the decoy and even fight him when he tries to attack the dog himself.