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There are many FAQ's available for this group. For a complete
listing of these, get the "Complete List of RPD FAQs". This article
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It may NOT reside at another website (use links, please) other
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==========
Canine Activities: Obedience Trials
Author
Cindy Tittle Moore, Copyright 1995.
Table of Contents
* Introduction
+ History
* Organizations that Offer Obedience Trials
+ American Kennel Club
+ American Mixed Breed Obedience Registry
+ Mixed Breed Dog Club of America
+ Australian Shepherd Club of America
+ Canadian Kennel Club
+ New England Obedience News
+ States Kennel Club
+ United Kennel Club
* Overview of the AKC Obedience Exercises
+ Tracking is Obedience?
+ Agility is Not Obedience?
+ Upcoming new things in AKC Obedience
* Overview of the CKC Obedience Exercises
* Overview of the SKC Obedience Exercises
* Overview of the UKC Obedience Exercises
* Opportunities for Mixed Breed Dogs
* PupPeroni Classic Tournaments (previously known as Cycle, Gaines)
* Swedish Obedience Trials
* Bahamas Obedience Trials
* Stewarding
* Common Handler Errors
+ Recall
+ Long sit/down
+ Heel on lead
+ Figure eight
+ Heel free
+ Stand
+ Generally Common Handler Errors
+ Generally Common Helpful Hints
+ Tips for dealing with Stress at the show
* Making Treats
* Acronym List
+ Obedience titles - AKC & CKC
+ Obedience titles - UKC (all prefixes)
+ Conversational acronyms
* Glossary
+ Pattern training
+ Jackpots
+ Backchaining
+ Operant conditioning
+ Attention
+ Motivational training
+ Behavior shaping
+ Touchsticks and clickers
* Resources
+ Favorite suppliers
+ Organizations
+ Magazines
+ Videos
+ Books
_________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Please note first that this FAQ is _heavily_ biased toward obedience
competition in North America. If you want to send me a summary like
the one for Swedish competition for other countries, I'll be more than
happy to add it in!
This FAQ was prepared with the extensive help of the folks on the
original OBED-L mailing list. Particular thanks go to Judy Byron,
Terri Hardwick, David Hendrickson, Lars Kaskija, Janet Lewis, Nancy
Gagliardi Little, Ed Morrow, Dianne Schoenberg, Denise Mclean, and
Kathleen Weaver.
There are several mailing lists of interest to the obedience
enthusiast, all of which are detailed in the Email List FAQ also
posted monthly to rec.pets.dogs.info.
Please note that I welcome any and all comments, corrections,
additions and suggestions! Note also that this isn't the only source
of online information about obedience.
History
In the United States, AKC obedience started in the late 1930s. It was
promoted by several people and groups around the country. Blanche
Saunders toured the country in a travel trailer with her black
standard poodles giving obedience exhibitions and introducing
obedience to the American public and the nascent conformation
community. Her books on Novice, Open, and Utility are still in print.
The person who was instrumental in bringing obedience to the USA,
however, was Mrs. Whitehouse Walker.
Following World War II obedience only clubs were organized and become
member or sanctioned clubs of the AKC. Up to the middle to late 70s
all obedience training tended to be of the punishment avoidance type
(generally called "jerk and pull") which discouraged some people and
did not work well with some breeds. The introduction of independent
obedience tournaments such as Gaines in 1980 has done more to
revolutionize AKC obedience than anything. Once these tournaments
started the level of performance competition increased dramatically.
The standards were raised causing people to search for training
techniques which would produce an exacting 'happy' performance.
Positive motivation techniques began to appear. Around that same time
private obedience schools became more numerous and obedience seminars
become more popular. Today it seems as if most competitive obedience
people train at private schools where before most of the training was
done by kennel or obedience clubs.
In 1993 there were 10,973 obedience titles awarded by the AKC. In 1992
11,397 were awarded. 84 Obedience Trial Championships were awarded in
'93 and 92. In Europe, one of the most enduring names in obedience,
Arthur Newman, got his start in 1941 and learned to handle Border
Collies with sheep (but failed his first competitive trial in 1943).
Later he began competition with Shepherds and Rottweilers in the
British working trials, which are more like the Schutzhund sport
without the need to do the protection phase in each class. The British
trials are much more demanding in regard to control, food refusal,
speak on command and recall from a running decoy. Absolute control is
the vital element.
While serving in the British Airborne for 25 years, Mr. Newman was
able to travel to the Far East, Africa, and Europe where he always
searched out the local obedience clubs and learned from them. Upon
emigrating to Canada in 1970, he was shocked and surprised to see the
standard, simple tests and proliferation of titles; but he went on to
put 15 dogs through CD six to CDX and two to OTCH as well as working
some Schutzund and tracking.
He introduced Agility to Canada in the late 1970's and founded the now
Agility Association of Canada with 40 clubs across the country. All of
his working Shepherds and Rottweilers have been shown in conformation
to prove that a 'pretty' dog can also have brains.
_________________________________________________________________
Organizations that Offer Obedience Trials
While most people think of the AKC obedience ring when they think of
obedience, the AKC is not the only game in town. There are alternative
sources for obedience titles, including for mixed-breed dogs. These
are listed below in alphabetic order.
If you plan on competing with any of the organizations below, write or
call them for their rules and regulations on competing in their
organizations. This is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. There are often
restrictions on how the handler must behave in the ring (as well as
what the dog should be doing), what actions cost you points, and other
general rules that you are obliged to familiarize yourself with. This
FAQ does NOT cover all such regulations for ANY organization!
American Kennel Club
The AKC is probably the most widely used organization for obedience
trialling in the US. Most titles and classes are compared to the
AKC's.
_American Kennel Club_
5580 Centerview Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
212-696-8276
also
main switchboard (212)696-8200 NYC
51 Madison Ave.
NY, NY 10010 USA
American Mixed Breed Obedience Registry
AMBOR was formed about fifteen years ago to promote the participation
of mixed breeds in obedience trials. They offer trials of their own,
and will accept scores from designated other organization's matches
and fun matches toward AMBOR titles. Titles offered include AMBOR-CD,
AMBOR-CDX, and AMBOR-UD, based primarily on AKC-style rules.
AMBOR accepts only neutered/spayed dogs that cannot be registered with
any other organization (so for example if your dog can be ILP'd with
the AKC, they ask you to try that first).
In a welcome development in February of 1994, the UKC accepted AMBOR
as the "parent club" for mixed breeds in the UKC. Therefore AMBOR
registered dogs are *also* eligible for UKC performance titles.
_American Mixed Breed Obedience Registration (AMBOR)_
Mail to: ambor@aborusa.org.
Or: 10236 Topanga Blvd. Suite 205, Chatsworth, CA 91311.
Mixed Breed Dog Club of America
Offers both obedience and agility trials for their members.
_Mixed Breed Dog Club of America_
c/o Chris Dane
100 Acacia Ave
San Bruno, Calif. 94066
Australian Shepherd Club of America
ASCA, despite its name, allows all breeds and mixed-breeds into their
non-conformation activities.
_Australian Shepherd Club of America_
6091 Hwy 21
Bryan, TX 77803-9652
(409) 778-1082
Email: asca@myriad.net
Canadian Kennel Club
For those of you living near Canada or willing to travel, it's easy to
register your AKC-registered dog with the Canadian Kennel Club and
participate in all CKC events. CKC is, of course, the most widely used
organization in Canada (are there alternatives in Canada?).
_Canadian Kennel Club_
100 - 89 Skyway Avenue
Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 6R4
1-416-675-5511 (tel)
1-416-675-6506 (fax)
New England Obedience News
New England Obedience News (NEON) titles mixed breed dogs, and is in
care of Lana Pettey-Bernardi 15 Long Pond Rd Danville NH 03819.
States Kennel Club
The SKC seems to be most active in the southern part of the US. It is
a multiple breed registry, overlapping somewhat with the AKC, but
including other breeds the AKC does not.
_States Kennel Club_
Post Office Box 389
Hattiesburg, MS 39403-0389
(601)583-8345
United Kennel Club
The UKC is an alternative to AKC, with a greater emphasis on
performance events than on conformation. It's easy to register your
AKC-registered dog (or LP an unpapered dog OR a mixed breed) and
compete in their obedience trials. The exercises are slightly
different for the Novice and Open classes and substantially different
in the Utility class. As yet, there is no obedience championship
title, although one is in the works.
_United Kennel Club_
100 East Kilgore Road
Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
(616) 343-9020.
_________________________________________________________________
Overview of the AKC Obedience Exercises
The Obedience Regulations may be obtained for $1 by writing to the
AKC. Sometimes they are handed out at shows. Details on deductions,
rules, and so on are given in this book. The regulations were last
updated January 1994. This is a bright red booklet, given to bleeding
pink if wet, so keeping it in a plastic baggie is advised.
Note: jump heights and lengths vary according to the entered dog's
breed and height. Dogs may be measured at the ring.
Novice (A/B)
Heel on Leash and Figure 8 - 40 pts
Stand for Examination - 30
Heel Free - 40
Recall - 30
Long Sit - 30 (across ring, one minute)
Long Down - 30 (across ring, three minutes)
___
Maximum Total Score 200 pts
Open (A/B)
Heel Free and Figure 8 - 40 pts
Drop on Recall - 30
Retrieve on Flat - 20
Retrieve over High Jump - 30
Broad Jump - 20
Long Sit - 30 (out of sight, three minutes)
Long Down - 30 (out of sight, five minutes)
___
Maximum Total Score 200 pts
Utility (A/B)
Signal Exercise - 40 pts
Scent Discrimination #1 - 30 (leather articles)
Scent Discrimination #2 - 30 (metal articles)
Directed Retrieve - 30
Moving Stand and Examination - 30
Directed Jumping - 40
___
Maximum Total Score 200
Requirements for titles
Companion Dog (CD)
* Dog has no previous obedience title
* Dog earns three "legs" in the Novice Ring
* Each leg is a qualifying score (170 or more points, at least half
the points earned in each exercise)
Companion Dog Excellent (CDX)
* Dog has CD
* Dog earns three "legs" in the Open Ring
* Each leg is a qualifying score (170 or more points, at least half
the points earned in each exercise)
Utility Dog (UD)
* Dog has CDX
* Dog earns three "legs" in the Utility Ring
* Each leg is a qualifying score (170 or more points, at least half
the points earned in each exercise)
Utility Dog Excellent (UDX)
* Dog has UD
* The UDX has 10 "legs"
* Each "leg" is earned by qualifying in both Open B and Utility B at
the same show
* A qualifying score is 170 or more points and at least half the
points earned on each exercise
Obedience Trial Championship (OTCH)
* Dog has UD
* Dog has 100 pts from Open/Utility (according to published point
schedules, earnable only with first or second place scores)
* Dog must place first in Utility in an all breed obedience trial
(no specialties) with at least 3 dogs in the competition.
* Dog must place first in Open in an all breed obedience trial (no
specialties) with at least 6 dogs in the competition.
* Dog has an additional first place (total three) under the
conditions of the above two bullets.
* Dog won the three first places under three different judges
Tracking is Obedience?
Historically, the original AKC Utility ring included a tracking
exercise that was later removed from the set of required Utility
exercises and formed the basis for today's TD test. Because of this
prior association, Tracking is considered a test of obedience, and the
TD and TDX titles are considered to be obedience titles. This is also
the reason that dogs with both UD/X and TD/X are able to combine them
into special dual titles, including UDT, etc.
Agility is Not Obedience?
No. In the AKC, Agility is considered to be a performance event, and
as such shares company with other performance trials such as Field
Trials, Herding Trials, etc. This may or may not be true in other
kennel clubs.
Additionally, some other events commonly associated with obedience,
such as Freestyle, are not obedience though they are obviously
derivative. Freestyle is frequently demonstrated at the Gaines
Classics, UKC's Top Gun, and other similar competitions. For more
information about Freestyle, you can contact Heinz Pup-Peroni Canine
Freestyle at PupFreSty@aol.com for more information.
Upcoming new things in AKC Obedience
From "Nola Ventura"
Subject Multiple Surface Tracking
I got this flyer from the WSOTC in Washington. The name has been
changed again - originally it was like Variable ST but AKC changed it
and who knows may still. This was sent to me earlier in the month. So
they still had the idea of calling it VST.
"The AKC Obedience Department is working to develop a new tracking
event: 'Variable Surface Tracking'. The event can take place in a
city, or parking lots, and in light industrial grounds. The track will
be on grass areas about 50% of the time and on non-vegetated areas 50%
of the time. Non-vegetated areas can include cement, asphalt and
gravel surfaces such as driveways and parking lots. The track will be
600-800 yards, be 1-3 hours old, have 3-4 turns and 4 articles. The
track will not have intentional cross-tracks, but natural cross
traffic will be considered a part of the normal track.
Workshops are being held around the country to introduce this new
event to the fancy and develop the rules do that it will become a
practical and popular event once it is approved by the AKC Board of
Directors. Attendance at one of these workshops is one requirement for
grandfathering TDX judges to judge this event.
John Barnard, the head of AKC tracking, is a nationally recognized
expert on tracking and scent work. He spent three decades with the
Baltimore Police Department K-9 unit. During that time, he trained
other law enforcement and national security officials in the
intricacies of canine scent work and assisted several scientific
studies concerning the use of dogs' olfactory senses."
_________________________________________________________________
Overview of the CKC Obedience Exercises
Description of Exercises in each ring
Novice:
Heel on Leash 35pts
(Figure 8 is included)
Stand for Examination 30
(done on 6 ft leash-
leash is not to touch ground)
Heel Free 45
Recall 30
Long Sit (1 min) 30
Long Down (3 min) 30
----
200 max. pts.
Open:
Heel Free (Figure 8 included) 40pts
Drop on Recall 30
Retrieve on Flat 25
Retrieve over High Jump 35
Broad Jump 20
Long Sit (3 min. out of sight) 25
Long Down (5 min. out of sight) 25
Utility:
Seek back (heel free w/ glove
drop that dog has to seek
and retrieve on command) 30 pts
Scent discrimination #1 20
Scent discrimination #2 20
Scent discrimination #3 20
(articles are wood, leather, metal)
Signal Exercise 35
Directed Jumping 40
Group Examination 35
(min. 3 minutes)
Bar and high jump: as nearly as possible the height of the dog at
withers. Max 36 inches Broad jump: distance equal to twice the height
of the high jump.
Requirements for titles
_________________________________________________________________
Overview of the SKC Obedience Exercises
A dog may be entered in both the 'A' and 'B' sections of a class if
eligible. However, only the higher qualifying score will be counted
towards a title if the same judge officiates in both sections.
Description of Exercises in each ring
Novice A/B
Heel on Leash and Figure 8 - 40 pts
Stand for Exam - 30 pts
Heel Free - 40
Recall - 30
Long Sit (1 min) - 30
Long Down (3 min) - 30
(Total 200 pts)
Open A/B
Heel Free and figure 8 - 40pts
Drop on Recall - 30
Retrieve on Flat - 20
Retrieve on High Jump - 30
Broad Jump - 20
Long Sit (3 min out of sight) - 30
Long Down(5 min out of sight) - 30
High Jump height - equal to height of dog at withers, as determined by
judge, min. 8 inches - max. 36 inches. Broad Jump - distance to cover
twice the height of the high jump. 4 hurdles for 48 to 72 inches, 3
for 28 to 44 inches, and 2 for 16 to 24 inches.
Utility A/B
Signal exercises - 40 pts
Scent discrimination article1 - 30
Scent discrimination article2 - 30
(leather and metal like AKC)
Directed Retreive - 30
Directed Jumping - 40
Group Exam - 30
(stand for exam as group -min 3 minutes for
handler away from dog).
Requirements for Titles
_________________________________________________________________
Overview of the UKC Obedience Exercises
Description of Exercises in each ring
Novice U-CD
Honor (Long Down in opposite ring
corner while other dog doing
Heel on Leash) 35 pts
Heel on Leash and Figure 8 35
Stand for Exam 30
Heel off Leash 35
Recall over Jump 35
Long Sit (1 min) 30
----
200
Open U-CDX
Honoring (out of sight) 30 pts
Heel Off Leash and Figure 8 40
Drop on Recall 30
Retrieve on Flat 20
Retrieve over High Jump 30
Broad Jump 20
Long Sit (3 min out of sight) 30
On the Heel Off Leash the steward walks the same pattern
as the handler/dog team. Also after the dog drops on the
Drop on Recall the steward walks from the handler's side
past the dog to the other side of the ring.
Utility U-UD
Signaling and Heeling 30
Honoring 10
Scent Discrimination (metal) 30
Directed 'Marked' Retrieve
(from handlers side) 20
Directed 'Signal' Retrieve
(sent from handler, then
directed) 30
Consecutive Recalls
(one with and one without
Down) 40
Directed Jumping 40
Jump heights: min 8 inches - max 24 inches. The height is set at even
2 inch increments. A dog 17 1/2 inches jumps 16 inch high. A dog must
jump twice its shoulder height for the Broad Jump in one inch
increments.
Requirements for titles
_________________________________________________________________
Opportunities for Mixed Breed Dogs
Most of the major kennel clubs (AKC, CKC, etc) do not allow mixed
breed dogs to compete in any of their shows. While this is
unfortunate, it is certainly their perogative (perhaps the rules will
be relaxed someday, as any dog can do well in obedience trialling).
The happy exception to this is the United Kennel Club. In an agreement
reached with AMBOR on February 3, 1994, the UKC began issuing LP's to
mixed breeds (who must be neutered, as all UKC LP dogs have been
required to be) and AMBOR became the national parent club for the UKC
mixed breed dogs. Effective May 1, 1994, all mixed breed dogs
registered with the UKC participate in all UKC licensed Obedience
Trials and Hunting Retreiver events and earn UKC titles and degrees.
As additional programs are developed by the UKC, these dogs may also
be allowed to participate. These could include Tracking, Agility, and
Terrier (go to ground) Trials.
There are a number of additional resources for the owner of a mixed
breed dog who is interested in obedience trials. Contact any of the
following:
_American Mixed Breed Obedience Registration (AMBOR)_
205 1st Street, S.W.
New Prague, MN 56071
612-758-4598
offers titles to dogs in rings with the UKC plus it's own set of
titles
_Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America_
c/o Phyllis Massa
1937 Seven Pines
Creve Coeur, MO 63146
offers obedience titles of their own (registered dogs must be
neutered).
Also see ASCA above.
_________________________________________________________________
PupPeroni Classic Tournaments (previously known as Cycle, Gaines)
Three regional tournaments (western, central, and eastern regions) and
a final tournament each year. These tournaments are held in various
cities throughout the continental United States and are organized by
volunteers and non-profit organizations. The PupPeroni Dog Obedience
Tournaments are a showcase of the best Obedience teams throughout the
U.S and Canada and can be described as the "Westminster of Obedience".
The Tournaments were originally sponsored by Gaines, then Cycle and
now PupPeroni.
For additional information write:
Quaker Professional Services
Pet Food Division
P.O. Box 049001, Suite 23-1
Chicago, IL 60604-9001
Eastern, Western, and Central regional tournaments
Each Regional is a two-day event comprised of three shows. Each
exhibitor must compete in all three shows in the division in which he
is entered. The three designated Divisions of competition are: Novice,
Open, and Super Dog (combined).
Placings in the Divisions are determined on the basis of total points
lost, qualifying or non-qualifying with prizes to the first ten
placements in all Divisions.
Titles and scores are accepted from the American Kennel Club, the
United Kennel Club, the Australian Shepherd Club of America
(Australian Shepherds only), the Canadian Kennel Club, and the
American Mixed Breed Obedience Registry. All three scores must be from
the same registry. Dual titled dogs must compete in the division of
the highest title.
Entrance Requirements
_Division I - Super Dog_
An AKC Obedience Trial Champion is automatically eligible. Other dogs
that may enter must meet the following requirements:
1. Earned a confirmed Utility title in one of the above mentioned
registries, prior to the closing date of the Regional.
2. Must have earned three scores in Open B averaging 193 or better,
and three scores in Utility A or B averaging 193 or better in
competition at approved trials prior to the closing date of the
Regional.
The Super Dog section is limited to 60 entires in each Regional. The
ten dogs losing the fewest number of combined points in all Open and
Utility classes at a Regional will receive a cash prize and other
prizes, and automatically become eligible to compete in the U.S.
PupPeroni Dog Obedience Classic for that year.
_Division II - Novice Dog_
1. Earned a confirmed Companion Dog title in one of the above
mentioned registries, prior to the closing date of the Regional.
The dog must not have earned a third leg towards a CDX prior to
the date of the Regional in which they are competing.
2. Must have earned three scores averaging 193 or better in Novice A
or B competition at approved trials prior to the related Regional
closing date.
The Novice Dog section is limited to 70 entries in each Regional. The
ten dogs losing the fewest number of points in Novice competition at a
Regional will receive a cash prize and other prizes, and automatically
become eligible to compete in the U.S. PupPeroni Dog Obedience Classic
for that year.
_Division III - Open Dog_
1. Earned a confirmed Companion Dog Excellent title in one of the
above mentioned registries, prior to the closing date of the
Regional. The dog must not have earned a third leg towards a UD
prior to the date of the Regional in which they are competing.
2. Must have earned three scores averaging 193 or better in Open A or
B competition at approved trials prior to the related Regional
closing date.
The Open Dog section is limited to 60 entries in each Regional. The
ten dogs losing the fewest number of points in Open competition at a
Regional will receive a cash prize and other prizes, and automatically
become eligible to compete in the U.S. PupPeroni Dog Obedience Classic
for that year.
_________________________________________________________________
Swedish Obedience Trials
Contributed by Lars Kaskija
The Swedish Kennel Club has sponsored competitive obedience since the
late 60s (imported from England?). Obedience was not particularly
popular to start with, but it has become more and more popular,
particularly during the last 10 years. Today there are approx. 24,000
obedience trials carried out each year, which is quite a lot
considering the small size of the country. Agility was introduced
around 1986, and is now extremely popular, especially among young
people. Most recent is Flyball, introduced 2-3 years ago.
The Swedish Working Dog Association (SBK, Svenska Brukshunds-Klubben)
also organizes competitive obedience - which it has done for a very
long time. This form of obedience is only slightly different from that
organized by the [Swedish] Kennel Club. Any competition, whether in
trecking, or schutz-training etc., also includes obedience. Obedience
is thus compulsory, no matter what special branch you are competing
in.
Levels of Obedience
There are four different levels of Kennel Club obedience: Level I,
Level II, Level III and Elite Level.
In levels I and II a dog has to earn 160-200 points for 1st place,
140-159,5 for 2nd place, and 100-139,5 for 3rd place.
In levels III and Elite a dog has to earn 255-300 points for 1st
place, 224-254,5 for 2nd place, and 192-223,5 for 3rd place.
A dog that has achived a 1st place in level I can move up and compete
in level II, or, continue to compete in level I until it has three 1st
places, in which case it will receive an "obedience diplom" (Lp-1).
After three 1st places in level II the dog receives an "Lp-2", and in
level III an "Lp-3". To become an obedience champion a dog must win
three 1st places at elite-level, and on top of that the dog must have
the figure 2 from a conformation class (i.e. it must conform to the
standard of its breed). Border Collies can only become obedience
champions if they have passed a general test for herding dogs, i.e.
they must be approved herding dogs.
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