Obedience Class Descriptions
Pre-Beginners
To compete in Pre-Beginners a handler or dog must not have won a First Prize in Pre Beginners or Beginners, nor gained a third place or above in any other obedience class.
Handlers will not be penalised for encouragement or extra commands except in the Sit and Down tests. In these tests at the discretion of the Judge, handlers may face their dogs.
The detailed tests will be:
- Heel on lead.
- Heel free.
- Recall from sit or down position at handler’s choice. Dog to be recalled by handler when stationary and facing the dog. Dog to return smartly to the handler, sit in front, go to heel - all on command of Judge or Steward to handler. Distance at discretion of Judge. Test commences when handler leaves dog.
- Sit one minute, handler in sight.
- Down two minutes, handler in sight.
Beginners
To compete in Beginners a handler or dog must not have won a total of two or more First Prizes in Beginners Class, or one First Prize in any other Obedience Class (Pre Beginners excepted).
Handlers will not be penalised for encouragement or extra commands except on the Sit and Down tests. In these tests at the discretion of the Judge, handlers may face their dogs.
The detailed tests will be:
- Heel on lead.
- Heel free.
- Recall from Sit or Down position at handler’s choice. Dog to be recalled by handler when stationary and facing the dog. Dog to return smartly to handler, sit in front, go to heel – all on command of Judge or Steward to handler. Distance at discretion of Judge. Test commences when handler.
- Retrieve any article.
- Sit one minute, handler in sight.
- Down two minutes, handler in sight.
Novice
For dogs which have not won 2 First Prizes in Obedience Classes (Pre- Beginners and Beginners excepted).
Handlers will not be penalised for encouragement or extra commands except in the Sit and Down tests. In these tests, at the discretion of the Judge, handlers may face their dogs.
The detailed tests will be:
- Temperament Test. Dog to be on the lead, in the Stand position, handler to stand by dog. Judge to approach quietly from the front and to run his hand gently down the dog’s back. Judge may talk quietly to the dog to reassure it. Any undue resentment, cringing, growling or snapping to be penalised. This is not a stand for examination or a stay test.
- Heel on lead.
- Heel Free.
- Recall from Sit or Down position at handler’s choice. Dog to be recalled by handler when stationary and facing the dog. Dog to return smartly to handler, sit in front, go to heel - all on command of Judge or Steward to handler. Distance at discretion of Judge. Test commences when handler leaves dog.
- Retrieve a dumb-bell.
- Sit one minute, handler in sight.
- Down 2 minutes, handler in sight.
Class A
For dogs which have not won 3 First Prizes in Class A, B and Open Class C in total.
Extra commands or signals are penalised.
The detailed tests will be:
- Heel free.
- Recall from Sit or Down position at handler’s choice. Dog to be recalled to heel by handler, on command of Judge or Steward, whilst handler is walking away from dog, both to continue forward until ordered to halt. Test commences following handler’s last command to dog.
- Retrieve a dumb-bell.
- Sit 2 minutes, handler in sight.
- Down 3 minutes, handler out of sight.
- Scent discrimination. The handler’s scent on a marked cloth supplied by the Judge. There must be a total of 6 scent cloths, this total must not include any decoys, but must include the cloth provided by the judge. These 6 cloths must be set out in a straight line, which may be in any direction.
Class B
For dogs which have not won 3 First Prizes in Class B and Open Class C in total.
Extra commands and signals are penalised.
The detailed tests will be:
- Heel free. The dog shall be required to walk at heel free and shall also be tested at fast and slow pace. Each change of pace shall commence from the halt position.
- Send Away, Drop and Recall. On command the handler will send the dog in the direction indicated by the Judge. After the dog has been dropped, handler will call the dog to heel whilst walking where directed by the Judge and both will continue forward until ordered to halt.
- Retrieve any one article provided by the Judge.
- Sit 2 minutes, handler out of sight.
- Down 5 minutes, handler out of sight.
- Scent discrimination. The handler’s scent on a marked cloth supplied by the Judge. There must be a minimum of 6 and up to a maximum of 10 scent cloths, the total must include one decoy cloth, and the cloth provided by the Judge. The pattern of cloths is at the Judge’s discretion.
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 occasions, all Open Class C places and wins under different Judges.
At Open Shows, open to all dogs.
Extra commands and signals are penalised.
The detailed tests will be:
- Heel Work. The dog shall be required to walk at heel free, and also be tested at fast and slow pace. At some time during this test, at the discretion of the Judge, the dog shall be required, whilst walking at heel at normal pace, to be left at the Stand, Sit and Down position in any order as and when directed by the Judge. The handler shall continue forward alone without hesitation, and continue as directed by the Judge until reaching the dog when both shall continue forward together until halted.
- Send Away, Drop and Recall as in Class B.
- Retrieve any one article provided by the Judge.
- Distant Control. Dog to Sit, Stand and Down at a marked place not less than 10 paces from handler, in any order on command from Judge to handler. 6 instructions to be given. Excessive movement, i.e. more than the body length of the dog, in any direction by the dog, having regard to its size, will be penalised. The dog shall start the exercise with its front feet behind a designated point. No penalty for excessive movement in a forward direction shall be imposed until the back feet of the dog pass the designated point.
- Sit 2 minutes, handler out of sight.
- Down 10 minutes, handler out of sight.
- Scent discrimination. The Judge’s scent on a marked cloth supplied by the Judge. There must be a minimum of 6 and up to a maximum of 10 scent cloths, this total must include the Judge’s scent cloth and a decoy or decoys. The pattern is at the Judge’s discretion.