Basic & Competition Obedience at PCOTC

Consider taking obedience training with your dog to a whole new level and help your dog realize his full potential.  

The basic objective of obedience is to recognize dogs that have been trained to behave in the home, in public places and in the presence of other dogs. AKC Obedience Trials demonstrate the usefulness of the dog as a companion to man. It is also essential that the dog demonstrate willingness and enjoyment while it is working and that the handler be smooth and natural; not moving with military precision or using harsh commands.

AKC trials allow exhibitors and their dogs to enjoy companionship and competition as they proudly earn AKC titles.  

Obedience Trials test a dog's ability to perform a prescribed set of exercises on which it is scored. In each exercise, you must score more than 50 percent of the possible points and get a total score of at least 170 out of a possible 200. Each time your dog gets at least a 170 qualifying score, he's earned a "leg" toward his title. Earn three legs and your dog has just earned an obedience title! There are 3 levels at which your dog can earn a title and each is more difficult than the one before it. Each level is divided into "A" and "B" at an obedience trial; "A" classes are for beginners whose dogs have never received a title and "B" classes are for more experienced handlers. 

The three levels of competition in obedience:

NOVICE - For the dog just getting started in obedience. The exercises are:

·        Heel on Leash and Figure Eight - shows whether the dog has learned to walk with his handler and adjust his pace to stay with the handler.

·        Heel Free – demonstrates that even off leash the dog will walk with the handler.

·        Stand for Examination - is of great benefit when the dog needs hands-on care by a veterinarian or grooming.

·        Recall – shows that the dog will stay and then come when called.

·        Long Sit (1 minute) - shows the dog understands this basic command that all good dogs should know.

·        Long Down (3 minutes) – further demonstrates the dog will hold a stay but this time in the down position. 

OPEN - The second level includes more complicated exercises, which teach the dog to do a variety of tasks and to follow commands either by voice or signal. The exercises are:

·        Heel Free and Figure Eight - Same as Novice, but off leash.

·        Drop on Recall - can be a lifesaving command for a dog, since it gives the handler control in potentially dangerous situations.

·        Retrieve on Flat – shows the dog will stay when distracted by the handler throwing an object, then retrieve it when sent.

·        Retrieve Over High Jump – same as above, but an obstacle is in the way that the dog must jump over.

·        Broad Jump – shows that the dog can run and jump but return to the handler after being “ramped up”.

·        Long Sit (3 minutes) - similar to the long sit in Novice, but the position must be held for a longer period of time with the handler out of the dog's sight.

·        Long Down (5 minutes) – also out of sight and the dog must hold the down position. 

UTILITY - The third and highest level of obedience competition. The exercises are:

·        Signal Exercise - shows the dog's ability to understand and correctly respond to the handler's hand signals to heel, stand, stay, down, sit and come. No voice commands are given; only hand signals are allowed.

·        Scent Discrimination - shows the dog's ability to find the handler's scent among a pile of articles.

·        Directed Retrieve - proves the dog's ability to follow a directional signal to retrieve a glove and promptly return it to the handler.

·        Moving Stand and Examination - the dog must heel, stand and stay as the handler moves away. The dog must stay and accept an examination by the judge and return to the handler on command.

·        Directed Jumping - the dog must go away from the handler, turn and sit. Then, the dog must clear whichever jump its handler indicates and promptly return to the handler.   

Obedience Titles

AKC titles can only be earned at an AKC-licensed or member club trial. Port Chester is an AKC member club and holds an obedience trial every year in October at FDR Park in Yorktown Heights. We also hold practice “matches” (mock trials) regularly throughout the year at our facility. The letters below may be added after a dog's registered name when it has been certified by three different judges as receiving qualifying scores in each class at three licensed or member obedience trials.

• Companion Dog (CD) – Novice class
• Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) - Open class
• Utility Dog (UD) - Utility class.

Other obedience titles a dog may earn after completing the first three:

• Utility Dog Excellent (UDX) – Awarded to dogs with UD titles that earn qualifying scores in both Open and Utility, on the same day, at 10 trials.
• Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH) – Awarded to dogs with UD titles that earn 100 points and win three first-place awards, one in Utility and Open, plus a third first-place win in either class, under three different judges.
• National Obedience Champion (NOC) - The AKC awards this prestigious title annually to one dog every year; the dog that wins the AKC National Obedience Invitational. The letters NOC are placed before the dog's AKC-registered name.

While it's best to start young, the old saying "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" is not true. It is never too late to train your dog to do obedience.

 Experience the ultimate in companionship and teamwork. Taste the thrill of competition. Join a PCOTC training class and participate in obedience trials. It is lots of fun, your dog will love you for it as will anyone who comes in contact with your obedient dog!

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