Obedience


Tega working the Scent Articles in the Utility Exercise.

Obedience is a lot like golf: when it’s done well, it’s a wonderful thing. However, it takes time and persistence to do it well and you definitely end up with more bogies than birdies in the beginning!

The dogs and I take regular lessons from Jackie Hastie, Pauline Baldwin and Jayne Coneybeare (the Obedience Partners in Calgary) as well as occasional privates from Kathie Stoner (Calgary). I’ve also had the privilege of taking seminars from a variety of very talented trainers including: Ann Marie Silverton, Sylvia Bishop, Connie Cleveland, Dee Dee Rose, Bobbie Anderson, and Janice Gunn.


Tega performing the high jump in the Open Exercises

My favorite training books are Terri Arnold, Steppin’ Up to Success, Bobbie Anderson, Building Blocks for Performance, Judy Byron & Adele Yunck, Competition Obedience: A Balancing Act. I also subscribe to Front and Finish.

A perfect score in obedience is 200 points. You must achieve at least 50% in each exercise and 170 total points to qualify. You need 3 qualifying legs for a title.

The exercises for Novice, Open and Utility are as follows:

  • Novice: Heel on Leash, Figure 8 on Leash, Stand for Exam, Heel off Leash, Recall, Group Sit Stay for 1 minute, Group Down Stay for 3 minutes.
    The title for Novice is Companion Dog (CD).
  • Open: Heel off Leash, Figure 8 off Leash, Drop on Recall, Retrieve on Flat, Retrieve over High Jump, Broad Jump, Group Sit Stay for 3 minutes (handlers out of sight), Group Down Stay for 3 minutes (handlers out of sight).
    The title for Open is Companion Dog Excellent (CDX).
  • Utility: Seek back, Scent Discrimination, Signals, Moving Stand, Directed Jumping The title for Utility is Utility Dog (UD). In Canada, this is also the Obedience Trial Champion title (OTCh).


Tega performing the Bar Jump in the Utility Exercises.

The more advanced titles in CKC are the OTCh Excellent title where you must pass both Open B and Utility in the same trial 5 times, Master OTCh title where you must have the OTChEx, have sufficient points from your Open B (points start at 190) and Utility (points start at 185) scores, and have a 1st place from either Open B or Utility, and the Grand Master OTCh which requires 10 legs under different judges where the team achieves not less than 195 in both Open B and Utility in the same trial, and has at least one High In Trial from both classes.