Obedience Trial Questions

Ok.....So I am thinking about entering Annie next weekend in our first obedience trial! EEE GATS! Anyway I am totaly confused how this all works.

First what "obsticles" are part of the Novice Obedience class?

Second I would assume I would enter Novice A as I have never run an obedience trial and Annie has no title?

And third can I then earn my title in Novice A or do you have to have a qualifying score in Novice A, B, and C to get the title?

I am just sooo dag nab confused!

Oh and this is UKC trial. Thanks from anyone who does obedience in advance for their help!

Well I have done lots of obedience in the past. AKC and UKC. I am sure things have changed somewhat. Have you gone through a training class? In Novice A if it has not changed, you heel your dog on and off leash,there is a recall and also a sit stay and then a down stay with you across the room. It is quite hard to explain if you have never done it before. You should really watch how it is done or find someone in your area to show you the procedures. Good Luck anyway. Some Amer.Pit Bull Terriers are very stubborn. I do know of some people who have done real well with them.

Gloria thank you for the response. I appreciate it. Annie and I have been in obedience class for the last 6 weeks or so. She is very very good at it and LOVES every minute of it. I read back through the rules and the only one I am concerned about is heeling off leash. We will have to really work on that over the next week and a half. :0) But it never hurts to try and see how we do!

Not sure if you found the answer to your Q about titles. But you may earn your Novice title with A or B (or a combination of the two) qualifying scores. These must be earned at three different UKC sanctioned trials under at least two different judges. And generally, if both you and your dog are green like you are, then you will show her under A (neither of you have earned an UD in any org; you are not a professional or amateur obedience instructor, a professional handler/ trainer, a licensed judge). It appears C division is for those times that you wish to do Novice without it counting toward anything (like when your dog has already earned its UD).

Here are the Novice exercises for UKC obed:

1. Honor: dog holds a down stay, off leash, with you across the ring, while another team completes their heel on lead and figure 8 exercises (in order to provide a distraction). You'll then be asked to return to your dog, after the Figure 8 is finished for the other team, going around behind your dog and back into heel position.

2. Heel on leash and Figure 8: pretty self explanatory.

3. Stand for exam: dog is left in a stand-stay, off leash, handler at a distance of approx 6ft away (try to go no less than 6 and no more than 10). The judge will "go over" your dog, which usually just includes them running their hand over the dog's back and sometimes down their leg(s). You'll then be told to return to your dog.

4. Heel off leash: same as the heel on leash, just minus the leash.

5. Recall over high jump: dog is left in a sit stay 8ft+ away from and facing the jump. Two stewards stand facing the jump, at approx arm's length, to serve as a distraction. Once you leave your dog and go to a distance of 8ft+ past the jump, turn and face your dog. You'll then call your dog (be sure to only use one command, like "Annie, come" or "Annie, jump/over." If you say "come, jump" or the like you will be faulted. Your dog should come to you, going over the jump, and sit within easy reach facing you in a sit. Then you'll be asked to finish your dog, at which time they should go back into heel position at your command (using one of the two finish styles).

6. Group Long Sit: Starting with the dogs in heel position, lined up together, you'll be asked to leave your dog (leave your leash and armband behind your dog), and go to the opposite side of the ring. After one minute has passed, the judge will signal you to return, at which point you go back around and into heel position.

That's a pretty basic run-down... you can view more details here: http://www.ukcdogs.com/WebSite.nsf/Rules/DEObediNoviceclassesRulesandexercises

Annie would also be entered in Novice A. She can earn her title competing only in Novice A. However, if you start showing another of your pups, and either dog earns their UCD before the other, the second dog would then need to be moved to the B class. You can find more details on the Novice A, B, and C divisions here: http://www.ukcdogs.com/WebSite.nsf/Rules/DEObediRulesapplyingtolicensedobedienc

Hope that helps.

Angela wrote:(neither of you have earned an UD in any org; you are not a professional or amateur obedience instructor, a professional handler/ trainer, a licensed judge). It appears C division is for those times that you wish to do Novice without it counting toward anything (like when your dog has already earned its UD).

I think my mom meant to write "CD", rather than "UD." Although, a dog that has earned it's UCDX, UUD, UOCH, UDX, OTCH or any other org's or UKC's equivalent or higher title(s) than UCD, can still compete in the Novice C division. Any dog that has not earned a UCD, however, should compete in either A or B division.

Also, Novice C scores do at least count towards one thing... UKC Obedience All Star points.

I think I understand it now! Thanks for all the help! Well we will see how it goes next weekend!

Best of luck, Beth!
PMing you about the WP harness.

Novice includes the recall over a high jump? Is that the same for AKC as well as the UKC?

Kel, approx. how high is the "high jump"? We were working with her and just threw together a makeshift jump. I'd rather be TOO high for our jump than too low but didn't know for sure how high it would be.

Thanks Angela. Oh and thanks Jeff for asking this I hadn't even thought about it! Thus why we make a good team! lol

Jumpin' Duracell wrote:Novice includes the recall over a high jump? Is that the same for AKC as well as the UKC?

No, unlike UKC, AKC does not have any jumping in their Novice class. The recall for AKC Novice is a straight recall across the ring, off leash, but with no jumps, and no steward distractions.