Service Dog Games Novice Level

Novice Level Title (SDG-N)

This title level is the prerequisite level for most of the other titles offered and is a great place to start exploring what tasks are available for a service dog. If your dog is young, new to dog sports, or needs to gain some confidence, we recommend starting with the Novice Level Title.

You will need to perform and video 8 tasks selected from the list of tasks for the Novice Level. No more than one task from each section of the list. There are 12 sections.

Most games are played once, some are played 3 to 5 times in different locations. You should submit a video for each iteration of the game. Therefore you may end up with more than 8 videos that you will need to upload for your submission.

If your submission is not passed, you will be informed within 30 days. You may resubmit at that time with NEW videos for the ones that were not passed. Each of the new videos must be in a different location than the original video.

Remember, your video MUST include the full performance of the game!

Open to all

The Novice Level title is available to dogs at least 9 months old. The games are simple and fun. No stress involved and nothing a young canine body can't handle with ease. This is the jumping off point for the rest of the levels. From here, if you are a seasoned service dog team, you can go straight to Champion Service Dog or the Specialty Level.

General Rules

Titles will be reviewed once the submission form and payment is received. Applicants will receive an email within a month concerning the status of their submitted titles.

No refunds will be given for title submissions that do not meet our criteria, but you are welcome to resubmit for titles as many times as necessary (payment will be required each time).

Certificates are e-mailed out quarterly.

Title Fee

The cost to submit a Novice Level Title for review is $25 USD. You will pay upon submitting your form for review.

For a printer-friendly checklist of all the games, click here.
Novice Level Title Submission Form

Frequently asked questions

Public Access - 40-foot recall with no distractions: Put your dog on a 50 foot leash. Walk your dog to a specified spot in a safe area (fenced) or have a helper hold the dog’s leash loosely about 8 feet from the attachment on the dog. Ask your dog to sit. Walk 40 feet (the remaining feet on the leash) away from your dog still holding on to the end of the 50 foot leash. Call your dog. When you call your dog, the helper should prepare to let go of the leash but no actually let go until the dog starts to move toward you. Your dog should come straight to you with no deviations.
Scent Tasks - Scent One Food Zero on cue: Get two containers. Put the target scent in one container and food in the other. Put the lids on the containers. Put both containers in front of your dog, 4 feet apart and 2 feet from the dog. Cue “find it”
Assistance Tasks – Dog lies on handler’s lap with handler on a couch for 2 minutes on cue: Handler lies on a couch and cues the dog to get on the couch and lie on the handler’s lap. The dog must remain on the handler’s lap for at least 2 minutes without any restraint.
Obstacle Avoidance - Tuck under 3 different types of furniture, without moving the furniture, and stay tucked for 60 seconds under each piece of furniture (separate videos): On cue, the dog must move under an obstacle that is less than shoulder height. Dog must be as completely under the obstacle as possible considering the size of the dog and the size of the obstacle. There are to be no restraints keeping the dog under the obstacle.

Moving Through the Environment: Cue your dog to go back and forth between obstacles 10 times: Get two identical objects (hardback books or bricks work great). Put the objects about 4 feet apart. Stand between the objects, centered between them and about 1 feet away from an invisible line that extends from one object to another. Cue your dog to target the object on the left, then cue to target the object on the right. Do this 10 times. Your dog should eagerly go between the objects without reinforcement or correction.
Retrieve: Find a named object, like the morning newspaper on the porch, on cue The object should be something that is related to your disability or something valuable like your keys or glasses.
Protection: Find a closed exit from a room; indicate the doorknob: Lead your dog into a room that has a door that can be closed. Close the door. Walk as far away from the door as you can, with your dog. Ask your dog "where's the door/exit". When he walks to it, follow him. Ask him where the doorknob is using whatever cue you have trained with. When he indicates the doorknob, say "thank you", open the door and walk out of the room with your dog.
Sound: Alert to a sound device: Wind up a minute timer, oven or microwave timer going off. When it rings, cue the dog to “find it”: Use whatever cue you’ve been using to train this behavior.

© Copyright 2024, 2025 Jamie Robins. All Rights Reserved.

Service Dog Games International is NOT a certifying agency for any Service Dog anywhere in the world. Anyone caught using their Title Certificates or Service Dog Citizen Certificates as a means of proving their dog is a service dog for the purpose of public access or living accommodations, will be fined and/or taken to court. Anyone caught using their Title Certificates or Service Dog Citizen Certificates as a means of proving their dog is a service dog for the purpose of public access or living accommodations will be banned from further participating in the Games or the Service Dog Citizen tests and all Titles and Certificates revoked.

Service Dog Games Novice Title