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Dog Obedience Trials
from: Kyle BesserAn obedience trial is a dog sport in which a dog must execute a predefined set of tasks when directed to do so by his handler. The basic objective of obedience trials is to recognize dogs that have been trained to behave in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs in a manner that will reflect obedience at all times and under all conditions.
Training a dog to participate in American Kennel Club (AKC) obedience trials increases a dog's understanding and reliability in responding to commands such as "sit," "down," "stay," "come" and "heel." At an obedience trial, the dog and handler will perform various predefined obedience exercises, which will be evaluated and scored by a judge. The dog must demonstrate basic proficiency to receive a passing score, 170 points out of a possible 200 with at least 50% of the points allocated to each exercise.
Exercises in American Kennel Club obedience competitions are offered at three levels: Novice, Open (intermediate) and Utility (advanced). A dog must complete the requirements at each level before moving on to the next.
A handler may choose to train for higher degrees of accuracy and style to receive more points. For example, on a recall, to receive a perfect score the dog must come at a trot or run directly to the handler without sniffing or veering to one side and sit straight in front of the handler, not at an angle or off to one side or the other.
The dog and handler teams with the four highest scores in a given class will receive placement ribbons. Sometimes there are additional prizes. All dogs that receive a passing score earn a "leg" towards an obedience title. When a dog has accumulated the requisite number of legs for a given title, the AKC will issue a certificate to the dog's owner recognizing the accomplishment.
Obedience Titles are awarded through several organizations in the United States. A purebred dog recognized by the AKC can compete under AKC rules. Dogs not recognized by the AKC can earn titles in the United Kennel Club (UKC), Mixed Breed Dog Club of America (MBDCA), American Mixed Breed Obedience Registry (AMBOR), or Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA).
When a dog earns a title, an abbreviation is permanently affixed as either a prefix or suffix to the dog's registered name. The titles given by the various organizations do vary, but most are similar to "CD" (Companion Dog), "CDX" (Companion Dog Excellent), "UD" (Utility Dog), "UDX" (Utility Dog Excellent), and "OTCh" (Obedience Trial Champion).
Obedience competition provides an opportunity for a person and a dog to work as a highly tuned team. Training for obedience trials can provide much needed mental stimulation and physical activity for a dog that would otherwise be bored and provide a fun and challenging hobby for the dog's owner.
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