Obedience
A dog must be 6 months old before they can be entered for competition. Shows may be specific to a breed, or restricted to local residents. Dogs may only wear a slip chain or a smooth collar when competing in the ring. There are 5 levels of Obedience tests.
Pre-Beginners
At this level extra commands and encouragement is allowed, except during the sit stay and down stay.
1. Heel on Lead - The dog walks by the handler's side on a lead
2. Heel Free - The dog walks by the handler's side off the lead
3. Novice Recall - The novice recall is when the handler commands the dog to wait in either a sit or a down position. The handler walks away from the dog until told to stop by the Judge. The handler will then turn and face the dog and recall on the dog when told to do so by the Judge. When the dog is recalled to the handler, the dog is expected to do so quickly and sit directly in front of the handler facing them, as close as possible. Then on the Judge's command the handler will finish the dog to heel. This can either be a left hand (Continental) finish, where the dog moves its backside 180 degrees until it is sat next to the handler's left leg. Or the right hand (English) finish, where the dog walks around the back on the handler and sits next to the handler's left leg.
4. Sit Stay - The dog must sit still for 1 minute, with the handler in sight, but not next to them.
5. Down Stay - The dog must lay down without moving for 2 minutes, with the handler in sight, but not next to them.
Beginners
At this level extra commands and encouragement is allowed, except during the sit stay and down stay.
1. Heel on Lead
2. Heel Free
3. Novice Recall
4. Retrieve - At this level the handler can use an item of their choice to do the retrieve. The exercise will start with the dog sat next to the handler's left leg. The handler will throw out the item and then send the dog, all on the Judge's command. The dog is expected to run straight out when the command is given and retrieve the item to the handler, without mouthing or playing with it on the way back. The dog will sit directly in front of the handler facing them, as close as possible with the item in its mouth, until the Judge instructs the handler to take the item and finish the dog to heel.
5. Sit Stay - The dog must sit still for 1 minute, with the handler in sight, but not next to them.
6. Down Stay - The dog must lay down without moving for 2 minutes, with the handler in sight, but not next to them.
Novice
At this level extra commands and encouragement is allowed, except during the sit stay and down stay.
1. Temperament Test - The dog is on lead and in the stand position next to the handler. The Judge will approach the dog and run their hand down the dogs back. The dog must not bite or show aggression towards the Judge, nor cower away.
2. Heel on Lead
3. Heel Free
4. Novice Recall
5. Retrieve - Same as Beginner level except the item retrieved is the handlers dumbell.
6. Sit Stay - The dog must sit still for 1 minute, with the handler in sight, but not next to them.
7. Down Stay - The dog must lay down without moving for 2 minutes, with the handler in sight, but not next to them.
Class A
At this level simultaneous command with signal from the handler is allowed, however extra commands will be penalised.
1. Heel Free
2. 'A' Recall - The dog will be in the sit or down position. The Judge will tell the handler "last command", once this is given, the Judge will tell the handler to leave the dog. The handler will walk away from the dog in a straight line, unless told otherwise by the Judge. The Judge will instruct the handler to call the dog to heel, while they are walking away from the dog. The dog and handler will continue walking until the Judge orders them to hault.
3. Retrieve - Handlers dumbell
4. Sit Stay - The dog must sit still for 2 minute, with the handler in sight, but not next to them.
5. Down Stay - The dog must lay down without moving for 3 minutes, with the handler out of sight.
6. Scent - 'A' Scent is set up using 6 cloths, which are 6-10 inches square and weighted in one corner. The cloths are placed in a straight line in any direction 3-5 feet apart by a steward. The handler will put his scent on a cloth provided by the Judge, by rubbing it in his hands. The steward will then take the cloth without putting his scent on the cloth (using tongs) and replace one of the 6 cloths with the cloth, which has the handlers scent on. The dog will not be allowed to see where the scented cloth has been placed. The Judge will then ask the handler to turn the dog around (dog sits next to handler's left leg) and give the dog scent. The handler does this by placing his hand over, or in front of, the dog's nose. The Judge will ask the handler to stand up straight to signal he is ready. Then the Judge will instruct the handler to send the dog. The dog must bring back the correct cloth without mouthing or playing with it in the same way as the retrieve.
Class B
At this level only one command or signal is allowed and extra commands or signals will be penalised. The exception is the Send Away as a simultaneous command and signal is allowed, when sending the dog.
1. Heel Free - This will include a change of pace from the hault position to fast pace and to slow pace.
2. Send Away, Drop and Recall - When directed to do so, the handler will bring the dog to the start position and set the dog up in the direction it will be going. When the handler is ready they will stand up. Then on the Judge's command the handler will send the dog to the designated position, where the dog will drop into the down on command. The handler will then be instructed to recall the dog to heel, while walking away from the dog. The dog will continue walking to heel, until the command is given for dog and handler to hault.
3. Retrieve - The article to retrieve will be provided by the Judge and can be anything that is easily seen and can be easily picked up by the dog. It cannot be anything which could potential harm the dog's mouth.
4. Sit Stay - The dog must sit still for 2 minutes, with the handler out of sight.
5. Down Stay - The dog must lay down without moving for 5 minutes, with the handler out of sight.
6. Scent - 'B' Scent is set up using 6-10 cloths in any pattern set by the Judge. The dog will be finding the handlers scent as in 'A' Scent, but this time, one of the remaining cloths will be marked by a decoy steward.
Class C
At this level only one command or signal is allowed and extra commands or signals will be penalised. The exception is the Send Away as a simultaneous command and signal is allowed, when sending the dog.
1. Heel Free - This will include a change of pace to fast pace and to slow pace. While the handler and dog are walking at normal page the Judge will direct the handler to leave the dog in the Stand, Sit and Down position in any order chosen by the Judge. The handler is required to command the dog and continue walking without hestitation and continue walking as directed by the Judge until level with the dog again, when the dog will rejoin the handler walking forward. Below is the video of the Crufts 2007 Obedience Champion, Linda Rutherford with her dog Flynn.
2. Send Away
3. Retrieve
4. Distance Control - The handler will be instructed to leave the dog and walk 10 paces or more forward, then turn and face the dog. The dog is required to keep in the same position while going through 6 positions. Sit to down, down to stand, stand to sit, sit to stand, stand to down and down to sit, the Judge will tell the handler the order in which to give the commands. If the dog moves more than its own body length in any direction then it will be penalised.
5. Sit Stay - The dog must sit still for 2 minutes, with the handler out of sight.
6. Down Stay - The dog must lay down without moving for 10 minutes, with the handler out of sight.
7. Scent - 'C' Scent is set up using 6-10 cloths in any pattern set by the Judge. The dog will be finding the Judges scent. The other cloths will include decoy/s marked by the steward/s. The steward/s are not allowed to handle the cloths longer than the Judge. The Judge will handle 2 cloths, one will make up the 6-10 cloths and one will be handed to the handler to use to give the dog scent.
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Suggested Reading
The Obedience UK website has information about upcoming Obedience Shows as well as a forum and details of local clubs.
Visit The Kennel Club website for a list of the accredited instructors that specialise in Obedience. Angela White's book 'Happy Dogs... Happy Winners' is a manual for competition obedience
