Through the miracle of "Still Photography," Geordie demonstrates the Long Sit-Stay exercise from the Novice (first) level of AKC (competitive) Obedience-- heck-- also the next level, Open, too, where the handler disappears for three whole minutes and the dog may not break...

...And the Long Downstay. That's five minutes without taking off. What a guy!  Here Geordie sets another record for Longest Downstay Ever Done By a Living Dog.

In third level (Utility) competitive obedience, the handler directs towards one of three gloves: left(1)-middle(2) and right(3).  The dog must return with the glove the handler indicates.  Maggie demonstrates the correct way.  Geordie, instead, opts for the fashion statement.

Maggie appears to be working...*

*NOTE:  "APPEARS" is the operative word.  Maggie has not yet mastered this exercise .  If sent to retrieve the correct, scented article, she'd just grab any one she wanted-- as she did during this nifty "dramatization."  

...but has anyone seen Geordie? 

"Here I am!"

Also in Utility Obedience, there is a Scent Discrimination exercise.  The handler puts his/her scent on an article, the article is placed among the unscented ones, and the dog must select the correct one from the pile.  This is done with both a metal and a leather article.