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How to get started in Dog Obedience Competition?

June 06, 2022 by admin

How do I get started training my dog for obedience competitions, and how long will it take to achieve results?

Firstly, your dog must complete basic obedience training where both you and your dog will understand and be able to execute basic skills like: “Heel” (with an automatic sit upon halting), “Stand”, “Come”, “Sit-Stay”, and “Down-Stay”, among others.

It is highly recommended that you attend a few local dog obedience competitions to get a feel for and appreciation of the sport. While you are there try to speak with and get feedback from participants and trainers, to get a more in-depth understanding of what to expect.

Secondly, you’ll want to study and fully understand the local dog obedience rules. Obedience competition and dog club rules may vary from country to country.

Starting with the Pre-Novice Class (the entry level), each handler starts with a total of 100 points. Thereafter, points are deducted for each error the handler makes.

These are the mandatory exercises:

Heel on Leash – Handler must execute a pattern as directed by the judge/steward (45-points)
Stand-Stay – Handler must stand a “leash-length” distance from his dog (10-points)
Recall – Handler must call their dog, to them, from a distance of approximately 12 meters (25-points)
Sit-Stay – Handler must stand with other handlers—for 30 seconds at approximately 5 meters—while their dog maintains its position
Down-Stay – Handler must stand with other handlers—for 60 seconds at approximately 5 meters—while their dog maintains its position
Please find the following video, which illustrates some aspects of dog obedience competitions:

PETAS/DTA
DOG OBEDIENCE COMPETITION RULES

Obedience Trial Exercises: Pre-Novice Class

The exercise for each dog and the maximum points shall be:

1. Heel on Lead – max 45 points

2. Stand Stay on lead – max 10 points

3. Recall – max 25 points

4. Sit Stay 30sec – max 10 points

5. Down Stay 1 min – max 10 points

TOTAL 100 points

1. HEEL ON LEAD – Maximum Points: 45

Principal Feature:

The dog on the lead, and the Handler to work as a team.
Description of Exercise:

On order from the Judge ‘Forward’ the Handler may attract the dog’s attention by saying its name then give a command to heel and, at the same time, commence walking briskly or at the directed pace.

The dog must work on a loose lead. Any tightening or tugging of the lead, any unusual or additional act, signal or command which in the opinion of the Judge gives the dog assistance, must be penalised.

At each order from the Judge to ‘Halt’, the Handler must stop and the dog must sit smartly at heel without command and not move until ordered to do so.

Orders from Judge:

‘Forward’, ‘Right Turn’, ‘Left Turn’, ‘Right About Turn’, ‘Fast Pace’, ‘Slow Pace’, ‘Normal Pace’, ‘Halt’, ‘Exercise Finished’. These orders may be given in any sequence and repeated.

Deductions:

Zero Score: For a dog which is unmanageable.

Over 50%: If the Handler continually tugs on the lead, or adapts his pace to the dog, or continually guides the dog with the lead, or if the dog does not complete the Principal Feature of the exercise.

Minor: For failing to sit; for poor sits; for occasional guidance with the lead; for the use of more than one command; for failure to carry out any of the lesser points of the exercise.

2. STAND STAY- Maximum Points: 10

Principal Feature:

The dog to stand steadily on the lead until completion of the exercise, and not show undue resentment or shyness.

Description of Exercise:

On order from the Judge, the Handler may pose the dog to a stand position or move forward and stand the dog. On further order from the Judge, the Handler may give a command to stay and will walk forward to the front of the dog, turn around and stand facing the dog. The dog should be held at the end of a loose lead with the Handler at least 1 meter directly in front of the dog.

The Judge must approach the dog from the right or left front and not direct front. The Judge will not touch the dog.

The Judge will then give the order ‘Return (Return to Your Dog)’ whereupon the Handler will return to the dog. The dog must remain in a standing position until after the Judge orders ‘Exercise Finished’ and must not show undue resentment or shyness.

Orders from Judge:

‘Position your dog to stand’, ‘Leave (Leave Your Dog)’, ‘Return (Return to Your Dog)’, ‘Exercise Finished’.

Deductions:

Disqualification: For a dog which attacks.

Zero Score: For a dog which shows an obvious tendency to attack, breaks from position.

Minor: For a dog that requires a second command to stand, moves its feet or for poor stands or for failing to carry out any of the lesser points of the exercise.

3. RECALL Maximum Points: 25

Principal Feature:

The dog to sit where left off the lead and promptly obey the Handler’s command to come.

Description of Exercise:

The Judge will give the order ‘Forward’ and then ‘Halt’. On further order from the Judge ‘Leave (Leave Your Dog)’, the Handler may give the command to stay and will leave the dog in a sitting position and walk at least twelve (12) metres away from the dog. On further order from the Judge, the Handler will about turn and halt. On order from the Judge, the Handler may attract the dog’s attention by saying its name once and then give a command to come. The dog must come straight to its Handler at a brisk pace and sit directly in front without further command.

The dog must not move from the sitting position until after the Judge has ordered ‘Exercise Finished.’

Orders from Judge:

‘Forward’, ‘Halt’, ‘Leave (Leave Your Dog)’, ‘About Turn’, ‘Halt’, ‘Call (Call Your Dog)’, ‘Exercise Finished’.

Deductions:

Zero Score: For a dog that breaks from position, or does not come on the first command or for a dog that anticipates the command to come.
Substantial: For slow response to commands, for failure to come at a brisk pace.

Minor: For a dog that fails to sit automatically when the Handler halts; for failing to sit in front of the Handler, or for poor sits. For failure to leave a distinct pause between the dog’s name and the command to come. For failure to carry out any of the lesser points of the exercise.

4. SIT STAY (30 sec) Maximum Points: 10

Principal Feature:

The dog to stay off the lead in a sit position until the completion of the exercise.

Description of Exercise:

This is a Group exercise. The Handlers will take up their positions with their right foot next to a Stay Peg which shall be placed in a line approximately one and a half (1.5) metres apart, and with their dogs sitting in the heel position. On order from the Judge ‘Leave (Leave Your Dog)’, the Handlers may give their dogs a command to stay and will immediately leave and walk approximately ten (10) metres. On order from the Judge or Steward the Handlers will turn to face their dogs and halt.

After 30 sec from the time the Judge has ordered the Handlers to leave, he will give the order ‘Return (Return to Your Dog)’. The Handlers must return to their dogs together. The dogs must not move from the sitting position until after the Judge orders ‘Exercise Finished’.

If a dog gets up and starts to roam, the Judge may instruct a Steward, or Handler, to take the dog away from the other dogs.

Orders from Judge:

‘Leave (Leave Your Dog)’, ‘About turn’, ‘Halt’, ‘Return (Return to Your Dog)’, ‘Exercise Finished’. Judges may delegate a Steward to give the orders ‘About Turn’, ‘Halt’, ‘Return’. (Return to your Dog)’

Deductions:

Zero Score: For a dog which fails to remain in the sitting position or which moves more than half of its body length from where it was left.

Minor: For minor movements, eg. fidgeting, or if Handlers do not leave or return with other Handlers.

5. DOWN STAY (1 min) Maximum Points: 10

Principal Feature:

The dog to stay off the lead in the down position until the completion of the exercise.

Description of Exercise:

This is a Group exercise. The Handlers will take up their positions with their right foot next to a Stay Peg which shall be placed in a line approximately one and a half (1.5) metres apart and with their dogs in the Down position. On order from the Judge to ‘Leave (Leave Your Dogs)’, the Handlers may give their dogs a command to stay and will immediately leave and walk approximately ten (10) metres. On order from the Judge or Steward the Handlers will turn to face their dogs and halt.

After one minutes from the time the Judge has ordered the Handlers to leave, he will give the order ‘Return (Return to Your Dogs)’. The Handlers must return to their dogs together. The dogs must not move from the down position until after the Judge orders ‘Exercise Finished’.

If a dog gets up and starts to roam, the judge may instruct a Steward, or Handler, to take the dog away from the other dogs.

Orders from Judge:

‘Leave (Leave Your Dog)’, ‘About Turn’. ‘Halt’, ‘Return (Return to Your Dog)’, ‘Exercise Finished’. Judges may delegate a Steward to give the orders ‘About Turn’, ‘Halt’, ‘Return (Return to Your Dog)’.

Deductions:

Zero Score: For a dog which fails to remain in the down position or which moves more than half its body length from where it was left.

Minor: For minor movements, eg. fidgeting, or for a dog that lies down in a position which is commonly known as the ‘Dead Dog’ position, or if Handlers do not leave or return with other Handlers.

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