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How Obedience Trials Work
All-breed obedience trials are the most common type of trials.They offer competitions for more than 150 dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Specialty trials are restricted to dogs of a specific breed.
AKC dog obedience competitions are offered at three levels: Novice, Open, and Utility.
A dog must complete the requirements at each level before moving on to the next.
The Novice Class demonstrates good canine companion skills.
These include heeling (both with and without a leash), coming when called, standing for a simple physical examination, and staying in both a sit and a down position with a group of dogs.
The Open Class is more challenging, as all exercises are done off leash.
These include a heeling pattern and figure eight, drop on recall, retrieve on the flat, retrieve over a high jump and a broad jump, and group exercises (three-minute sit-stay and five minute down-stay) with the handler out of the ring.
The Utility Class is the most challenging level of competition.
The dog must do a complex heeling pattern off lead that includes a hand signal exercise and a more rigorous stand for examination.
He must respond to hand signals (only) that direct him to go down, sit, come, and return to heel.
He uses scent discrimination to find two articles handled by his owner out of a pile of several items.
His handler then directs him to retrieve one of three gloves placed in the ring. He's also required to clear a high jump and a bar jump at the handler's direction.
Benefits of Dog Obedience Training
- Dog obedience training for competition provides an opportunity for you and your dog to work as a team.
- It provides mental stimulation and physical activity for a bored pet.
- It provides you with a fun and challenging hobby.
- It strengthens the bond between you and your dog.
- Dog obedience training helps your dog realize his full potential.
- Obedience has useful applications in everyday life with your dog.
- Training for competitions builds on basic dog obedience training.
- Your family, neighborhood and community all appreciate a well-trained dog.
- Dog obedience training allows you to enjoy the fun and excitement of competing in various dog sports.
- Your veterinarian will be glad you taught your dog to stand quietly for examination.
- Dog obedience training is the foundation upon which all dog activities are based, whether conformation, agility, tracking, search and rescue, service dogs, fieldwork, etc.
Dog Obedience Competition Requirements
Any dog registered with the AKC can enter AKC obedience trials, regardless of conformation. Unregistered purebred dogs can also compete in AKC events if they obtain an Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) number.
To qualify, a dog must look like an AKC-recognized breed, be spayed or neutered, and be at least six months old.
The ILP is a great help to those who adopt dogs from animal shelters or rescues or who purchase purebred dogs without registration papers.
If your precious pooch is a Heinz 57 mutt, he can still enter obedience events sponsored by the organizations listed in the next section.
Dog Obedience Titles
Titles are awarded through several organizations. In the United States, these include the American Kennel Club (AKC), the United Kennel Club (UKC), Mixed Breed Dog Club of America (MBDCA), American Mixed Breed Obedience Registry (AMBOR), and Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA).Despite its name, the ASCA allows all breeds and mixed breed dogs into their non-conformation activities.
When a dog earns a title, an abbreviation is permanently affixed as either a prefix or suffix to the dog's registered name.
The titles given by different organizations vary a bit, but most are similar to "CD" (Companion Dog), "CDX" (Companion Dog Excellent), "UD" (Utility Dog), "UDX" (Utility Dog Excellent), and "OTCh" (Obedience Trial Champion).
Golden Retrievers Excel in Dog Obedience Competition
The sport of dog obedience competition in the U.S. dates back to 1933 when the first obedience trial was held to demonstrate how well dogs and owners could work together.The sport has grown by leaps and bounds since then, and today there are over 2,000 trials held in the U.S. every year, with more than 100,000 dogs competing.
Golden Retriever obedience performances have become legendary. They have been a major presence at obedience trials since the beginning.
When the Obedience Trial Champion title was added in 1977, the first three dogs of any breed to attain it were Golden Retrievers.
Since then, more Goldens have earned the title than any other breed.
Why are they so good at this sport?
Well, obedience trials are designed to demonstrate the teamwork of a dog and his handler, as well as the trainability of the dog.
Those are two areas in which Goldens excel, because they love to be with their owners and they enjoy doing whatever makes their partners happy.
Make Dog Obedience Fun!
A Golden Retriever from any background (field, show or pet) can do well because it doesn't matter what he looks like. The important thing is how he focuses on your directions and how happily he responds.If your Golden constantly watches you, waiting for your next signal, he'll do very well in this sport. Teaching him what you want him to do is easy and fun with positive methods like clicker training.
In recent years, a new form of dog obedience competition, known as Rally Obedience, has become very popular.
It's designed to be a "bridge" or casual step between the Canine Good Citizen certification and the more formal obedience trials.
Perhaps adding a little music to your training session might reveal your dog's natural flair for the fun sport of canine freestyle.
Even if you just want to use dog obedience training to help your pooch be a better pet, the relationship you share with your furry friend will be strengthened by working together.
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