Obedience Trials Part One

Both the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC) hold obedience trials.  Although the rules differ slightly, the exercises are the same for both clubs.  Obedience competition, when done right, grows a deep connection between the dog and owner.  Both must trust the other.  The owner must observe the dog’s signals, and the dog must observe and obey the owner’s commands.  Obedience competition also produces a well mannered and obedient dog that is a job to live with.

The novice obedience class is the first class that the dog and owner compete in.  Novice A is for handlers that have never put a title on a dog, while Novice B is for experienced handlers.  In the novice class, the dog and handler perform the following exercises:

• Heel on leash – complete a heeling pattern dictated by the judge while on leash
• Figure 8 heeling- heel a figure eight pattern while on leash
• Heel off leash – complete a heeling pattern dictated by the judge while off leash
• Stand for Examination – stand stay and let the judge pet the dog without the dog moving
• Recall- sit on one side of the ring, let the owner walk to the other side of the ring, and come when called, then sit in front of the owner. Move to heel position on command.
• Long Sit (1 minute) – sit for one minute across the ring from the owner amongst other dogs
• Long Down (3 minutes)- stay on a down for three minutes across the ring from the owner amongst other dogs

A dog that scores at least 170 points out of 200 and passes each exercise earns a leg toward his Companion Dog title.  Three legs are required to obtain the title.

The open obedience class is the second class that the dog and owner compete in.  Open A is for dogs without an open title.  Open B is for dogs with an open title.  In the open class, the dog and handler perform the following exercises:

• Heel off lead – same as in Novice
• Figure 8 – same as in Novice
• Drop on recall – call the dog, and signal him to drop while he is running to you, then call him to you
• Retrieve on flat — throw a dumbbell and have the dog retrieve it
• Retriever over high jump – throw the dumbbell over a jump and the dog must go over the jump, get the dumbbell, and jump back over the jump to the owner
• Broad jump – jump a broad jump
• Long Sit (3 minutes) – dog must stay sitting amongst other dogs with owner out of sight
• Long Down (5 minutes) – dog must stay down amongst other dogs with owner out of sight

A dog must score at least 170 out of 200 and pass all the exercises to earn a leg toward his Companion Dog Excellent title.  Three legs are required to obtain a title.

Please see Obedience Trials Part Two for the rest of the information on obedience trials.