Mondioring is a complex sport that aims to show the skill of the handler, the training of the dog, the dog’s intelligence and the natural abilities the dog possesses.
The table below gives an overview of the exercises for each category and the maximum possible points that can be achieved.
In the next section, each of the exercises will be explained with example photographs and sample videos. This will hopefully give the viewers an idea of the change in difficulty and an indication of what is expected from the dog, handler and decoy. This is just a guide, please refer to the FCI rules for a full explanation.
All exercises are completed without a leash or collar.
Prior to starting each exercise there are a few seconds of preparation time when you can indicate to the dog the forthcoming activity. After this further commands are limited.
The competitions always start with the obedience exercises, followed by the jumps and then the biting exercises. The order of the exercises are selected by the judge.
Heeling – With the dog heeling on the left or right hand side, the handler walks a pre-determined route laid out by the judge. At various points the judge will indicate that you must pause / stop. At this point the dog is to either sit or maintain a standing position before a further indication to start walking again. The dog must make the same position at every pause / stop until the exercise is finished.
Category 1 Heeling https://youtu.be/i-zzO2WM9VE
Category 2 Heeling https://youtu.be/I1NLoNBSNb8
Category 3 Heeling https://youtu.be/f_hJWF4xkHA
One Minute Absence – The handler places the dog in the down position (can be a sit in Cat 3) on the ground or a platform location and goes out of site of the dog. At some point within the minute, distractions will occur. The dog must remain in its position and location until the judge indicates the end of the exercise. Penalties can occur if the dog moves or raises more than one elbow. The distractions change in intensity depending on the Category and level of competition.
Category 1 Minute Absence https://youtu.be/hj2LY3um2UE
Category 2 Minute Absence https://youtu.be/q-H_dkSIYus
Category 3 Minute Absence https://youtu.be/antz_arLZxA
Food refusal – The handler places the dog in the down position and moves to a location specified by the judge, within view or out of sight of the dog. Food will then be offered in differing quantities depending on the Category. The offer can be direct, dropped, lowered rolled etc. The dog is not allowed to make contact with the food.
Category 1 Food Refusal https://youtu.be/ceqCV4wVZt4
Category 2 Food Refusal https://youtu.be/9yyNYQK41cU
Category 3 Food Refusal https://youtu.be/1oa20mrfTNU
Sendaway – The handler is shown a direction on the competition field. After the preparation the dog must run in a straight line, in the direction shown, until recalled by the handler after an indication by the judge or the dog passes over a marked line.
Category 1 Sendaway https://youtu.be/T5c3Dp2PfXM
Category 2 Sendaway https://youtu.be/qzNjZBSKqmQ
Category 3 Sendaway https://youtu.be/7ZwNgBRY5KY
Retrieve – The handler is given an article which is to be thrown a minimum of 5m in the direction indicated by the judge. After a command the dog must go and retrieve the article, return and present it. There is a time limit and penalties are given for chewing or dropping. The difficulty of the article increases with Category.
Category 1 Retrieve https://youtu.be/4FD567oDUpY
Category 2 Retrieve https://youtu.be/STbinsYbeYc
Category 3 Retrieve https://youtu.be/f367wJUguMI
Positions – The dog is placed in one of three starting positions. A sit, down or a stand. After walking to a designated location the handler then commands the dog to take up different positions as directed by the judge or steward. The dog is not allowed to move forward or backwards from the starting mark or penalties are awarded. The number of changes of positions increases and the location of the dog and handler becomes more difficult in the higher categories.
Category 1 Positions https://youtu.be/EvfXpPdsKTk
Category 2 Positions https://youtu.be/CBP0iPTYhpI
Category 3 Positions https://youtu.be/-FwzLcXt71w
Little Wood – At the start of the competition the handler is offered a small piece of wooden baton (approx 25mm x 25mm x 150mm) which is clean and un-scented. The handler has a few seconds to imprint the scent of their hands on the piece of wood and it is then placed in their pocket. The pocket must be clean and it is forbidden to have food or aids to help the dog. At the time of the exercise the dog is placed in the sit and waits. The handler walks to a location specified by the judge where they then place the wood on the ground,with their back to the dog. They then return to the dog.
During this time an assistant places fresh wood around the wood placed by the handler. Once ready, the dog is sent to search for the wood of the handler. It is to return and present the wood. Points are deducted for chewing and dropping. In the higher categories more fresh wood is placed and there can be obstacles on the field where the wood is placed.
Category 2- Little wood https://youtu.be/SmuKqYYB9ks
Category 3 – Little wood https://youtu.be/IF8sTaR_D9k
Scale Jump – The dog is placed at the base of the jump at a distance set by the handler. After a signal from the judge the dog has to jump up and ideally scale the vertical part of the wooden wall, pass over the top onto the landing ramp. Once at the bottom of the ramp the handler indicates the dog to down and wait until he/she is collected. The heights increase depending on Category (1@1.8m, 2@2.10 and 3@2.30m) The handler is allowed to stand inside the support structure of the jump to catch their dog should they not achieve the jump to prevent injury.
Scale jump https://youtu.be/39Lvvlz0_Eo
Hurdle Jump– In this exercise the dog is required to jump over a vertical fence like structure. The dog is placed at a starting location on one side of the jump, the handler walks to the jump and then commands the dog, once the dog traversed the obstacle and has landed the dog is told to wait and then commanded to jump back over and recalled. For full points no contact is to be made with the jump on either pass. The panels of the jump are designed to rotate if any impact is made, so as not to hurt the dog. Cat 1= 1.0m, Cat 2 = 1.1m and Cat 3= 1.2m in height.
Hurdle Jump- https://youtu.be/830XBUmnfjQ
Long Jump– In this exercise the dog is required to clear a long horizontal type jump. The dog is placed at a starting location set by the handler. The handler then walks to the jump and commands the dog to jump. Once over the jump the dog is told to wait until collected or recalled. The distances are Cat 1 = 3m, Cat 2 = 3.5m and Cat 3 = 4m.
Long Jump –https://youtu.be/zzQZ-8SHntk
Defence of Handler– In this exercise the handler follows a role-play created by the judge and decoys. The decoys will interact with the handler asking him to walk to certain locations and perform actions i.e kick a ball, throw an object but never touch him/her. At some point one of the decoys will strike the handler. The strike is when the decoy places 2 hands on the shoulders or back of the handler in a firm manner. The second decoy will always be 3m or more away when the contact is made. Only once the strike occurs can the dog bite. The difficulty, length and complexity of the defence exercise increases in the higher categories. Normally this involves 2 decoys but occasionally it may be 3.
Category 1 Defence of Handler https://youtu.be/o5nlvFzPWMk
Category 2 Defence of Handler https://youtu.be/RvJf2aObDv4
Category 3 Defence of Handler https://youtu.be/pouXz21ckNE
———–
Stick Attack
The Stick Attack or Face Attack is an exercise where the dog is sent to bite the decoy in the padded protective costume. The bamboo stick (spliced down the middle) is used as a calling device for the dog and the distinctive rattle indicates that this is a biting exercise for the attention of the dog. The handler faces the decoy at a set distance and after an indication from the judge, the dog is sent to bite. The decoy can wave the stick in front of the dog and attempt to block entry but after the dog has bitten the stick never makes contact with the dog. The decoy may wave the stick around the dog during biting and move to test the strength of the bite and courage of the dog. After a set period of time determined by the judge the dog is recalled.
In Categories 2 & 3 the dog is sent from a longer distance and is often required to jump over or through an obstacle / barrage before attempting to bite the decoy.
Category 1 Stick Attack https://youtu.be/v4wuBufsdHw
Category 2 Stick Attack https://youtu.be/L8rzSRv-L84
Category 3 Stick Attack https://youtu.be/RtAs9ZUw8L0
———–
Flee Attack
As indicated by the name, the handler faces the decoy and after indicated by the judge the decoy turns and runs in a straight direction away from the handler and dog. After a set distance the dog is sent to bite the padded costume. There is no baton used in this exercise so the decoy will move and use his arms around the dog to test the bite / courage but is never allowed to touch the dog.
Category 1 Flee Attack https://youtu.be/K9-Zt-QvJx8
Category 2 Flee Attack https://youtu.be/ijlMX3–hR4
Category 3 Flee Attack https://youtu.be/Xq4JMBBsYug
———-
Stop Attack
Identical to the Flee Attack but after sending the dog to bite the dog must be recalled within 3m of the decoy (for max points) and return to the handler without biting the decoy. Due to the difficulty of this exercise it is only in Category 3.
Category 3 Stop Attack https://youtu.be/_IaC1rZlDgc
———-
Accessories
Exactly the same as the Stick Attack but after calling the dog with the stick it is discarded and the decoy uses accessories/artefacts in an attempt to slow or prevent the dog from biting. There are rules on the artefacts used and it is to test the courage of the dog and it’s desire to bite. The artefacts do not harm the dog and are designed so that the dog can push through. Due to the difficulty this is a Category 2 & 3 exercise only.
Category 2 Stick Attack with Accessories https://youtu.be/yA-kgyrD9-Q
Category 3 Stick Attack with Accessories https://youtu.be/VR2gI7nb6Nw
———-
Search & Escort
The Handler and dog leave the field for a short period of time. Whilst this happens one of the decoys hides on the field. After the handler has returned, the dog is sent to find the decoy. Once found the dog must indicate via barking close to the decoy. The handler then gives a command for the decoy to move away from the hide. At this point the dog must guard / transport the decoy along a designated route which will contain obstacles. During the escort the decoy will attempt to escape, at this moment the dog is allowed to bite and detain the decoy. The further the distance the decoy can escape without biting, the more points that are lost. Once the dog has bitten the dog is commanded to guard again and the decoy continues to walk. If at any point the dog bites during searching or when the decoy is not escaping, points will be deducted.
Category 2 Search & Escort https://youtu.be/NZwpyMmNako
Category 3 Search & Escort https://youtu.be/fSWxbIVm-2Q
———–
Object Guarding –
An object is placed on the ground within a ringed area and the dog is required to guard this object from the decoys who will attempt to take it. The difficult aspect of this exercise is that the handler is out of sight of the dog for the full duration.
There are two decoys involved and each decoy will make a number of passes/attempts (3 total) to steal the guarded object. Once the attempt has started the dog is allowed to bite the decoy when he/she is within range. After the dog has bitten and the decoy retreats the dog has to release the decoy and return to guarding the object. For maximum points the dog must wait on the object until the decoy is <2m then biting and releasing within the same distance. For grater distances points are deducted. Obstacles/artefacts can also be used. After the passes are complete, the handler returns to the dog and releases him from the guard.
This is a Category 3 only exercise due to the difficulty.
Category 3 Guard of Object https://youtu.be/5ZfgaEKTBZE
———–
FULL CATEGORY 1 EXAMPLE ROUND –https://youtu.be/91rhGdaUY1E
British Mondioring Association 