Obedience Shows

Obedience levels and classes.

As dogs and handlers gain experience and expertise in competitive Obedience, they may qualify out of a class to a more difficult level of competition.

A dog must always be entered in the lowest class for which it is eligible, but may also be entered in one other higher class if available – this need not be the next highest, so a dog can be entered, for instance, in Pre-Beginner and Class A (although this is not advisable).

To ensure a fair playing field for less experienced dogs, once a dog has ‘won out’ of a class it can no longer enter the same class at any future shows. This ensures that dogs with the aptitude and dedication can progress – right up to Championship Class C (Crufts)

Introductory Class

This class is to introduce and support newcomers to Obedience Competition. To compete in the Introductory Class a handler or dog must not have won one Introductory Class or have achieved a 4th place or above in Pre-beginners or in any other class.

Pre-Beginner

To compete in Pre-Beginners a handler or dog must not have won a first place in either Pre-Beginners or Beginners nor gained a third place or above in any other Obedience class (Introductory Class excepted).

Beginner

To compete in Beginners a handler or dog must not have won a total of two or more First places in Beginners Class or one First place in any other Obedience class (Introductory Class and Pre-Beginners excepted).

Novice

This is the class where more experienced handlers will start with a young dog. The dog must not have won two First places in Obedience classes (Introductory Class, Pre-Beginners and Beginners excepted).

Class A

Class A is for dogs which have not won three First prizes in Classes A, B and Open Class C in total.

Class B

Class B is for dogs that have not won three First prizes in Class B and Open Class C in total.

Class C

• Championship Class C at Championship Shows – dogs must have won out of Novice, Class A and Class B and have won Open Class C on one occasion and have been placed not lower than third on three further occasions; all Open Class C places and wins must have been won under different Judges at Kennel Club licensed shows.
• Class C for Open Shows, Premier Shows and Open C Classes held at Championship Shows – open to all dogs.
• Limited Shows – open to all dogs except Obedience Certificate winners and dogs which have obtained any award that counts towards the title of Obedience Champion or the equivalent thereof under the rules of any governing body recognised by the Kennel Club.

Obedience tests and exercises

Obedience competitors work at different levels / classes depending on their own and their dog’s experience and previous success. Although each class increases in difficulty, the types of the exercises remain similar for the different levels.

The different exercises which each dog and handler team are expected to do are listed below:

Heelwork

Each judge will design a pattern of heelwork (it looks rather like a rail map) that each dog and handler will complete. The complexity and content is dependent upon the class being judged. It is quite simple and straightforward for the Beginner and Novice classes, straight lines with right left and right about turns. Class B introduces changes of pace, slow and fast. Class C heelwork can involve circles, weaves and multiple turning manoeuvres.

Recall

In Beginner and Novice this is a recall to sit in front of the handler. The dog must wait while the handler walks away, turns and calls the dog to sit neatly in front and then go to heel. In Class A it is a recall to heel. The handler walks away and then calls the dog while continuing to walk forwards. The dog must catch up and walk to heel with the handler as in heelwork until told to stop.

Retrieve

In all classes the dog sits at the handler’s side while an article is thrown. It is then sent to retrieve it, return smartly to sit in front, give up the article and then go to heel. Beginner dogs can retrieve whatever their handler provides, Novice and Class A it is a dumbbell, in Class B and C the judge will provide a similar article for each dog. The stipulations are that no item can be food; it must be clearly visible and capable of being picked up by each dog.

Sendaway

The dog is sent to a designated place within the ring, it must drop to the down, smartly, on command from the handler. The dog must then wait until called to heel. The sendaway area is usually set out by markers and the judge will stipulate where the dog must land within this section. During its career a dog will be expected to cope with a variety of sendaway areas. This test is quite difficult to teach well as it requires the dog to understand but not anticipate the various needs of the test.

Exercises for more Advanced Classes

Scent discrimination

Dogs naturally have a far superior sense of smell to humans. The scent discrimination test is first introduced in Class A where the dog must find a cloth with the handlers scent on it from a line of 5 other blank (non-scented) cloths. In Class B up to 10 cloths can be set out in any pattern but this time one has a decoy scent on it. In Class C the dog must locate the cloth with the judges’ scent on it, multiple decoy cloths may be used at this level.

Distant Control

Distant Control is only found in Class C. The dog is left in a sit, stand or down position while the handler walks away to a distance of between 10 and 20 paces. The dog is then given a combination of 6 positions including sit, stand and down. The dog must not move more than its body length, in any direction, during this exercise.

For more information about competing in a show please ask your trainer.