Obedience

Competition obedience demonstrates a dog’s ability to follow specific routines and usefulness. Dog and handler teams are judged on how closely they match the judge’s mental picture of a theoretically perfect performance of the exercises. Teams start out with 200 points, which are subtracted for mistakes made during their run. A score of 170 and receiving more than half of the points for each exercise is required for a qualifying score. Over the past few years AKC Obedience has multiple options for titling in obedience. The five main levels of obedience competition are:

Novice (CD – Companion Dog)
Demonstrates good canine companion skills, such as heeling, both on and off leash, coming when called, standing for a simple exam, and staying in a sit and a down with a group of dogs. Dogs need three qualifying scores, under two different judges to earn this title.

Open (CDX – Companion Dog Excellent)
This class has more challenging exercises, which are all performed off leash. Exercises such as retrieving and jumping are added in this class, along with staying in a sit and down position with a group of dogs while the dogs’ handlers are out of sight. Dogs need three qualifying scores, under two different judges to earn this title.

Utility (UD – Utility Dog)
In this class exercises are all performed off leash, and include directed jumping, scent discrimination, blind retrieves, and hand signals. Dogs need three qualifying scores, under two different judges to earn this title.

Utility Excellent (UDX – Utility Dog Excellent)
Dogs must receive a qualifying score in both Open B and Utility B classes at the same trial, 10 times to earn this title.

Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH)
Using a point schedule by the number of dogs entered, and placement received at a specific trial, dogs must earn 100 OTCH points. To earn OTCH points, dogs must also earn qualifying scores in both Open and Utility classes at the same trial.

Optional titling classes include: Beginner Novice, Graduate Novice, Graduate Open, Pre-Novice, and Pre-Open, among others.

Our Obedient Dogs: