Vizsladogs, Ltd.
Obedience Titles
Melissa O Thomas (mottho@tenet.edu) and Maria Zucconi (poquito@zianet.com) wrote the following Obedience Titles article to provide Vizsla owners a brief highlight about titles and what each
class demonstrates.
To receive more information write to:
The American Kennel Club, 51 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010
Regulations are $1.00 per copy.
Request: Obedience Regulations
These regulations provide information in more detail about the trials,
entering classes, a detailed description of classes, requirements for
titles, suggestions for construction of jumps, glossary of terms, etc.
A List of Additional Resources is at the end of the two summaries.
Obedience
Obedience Trials are a sport and all participants should be
guided by the principles of good sportsmanship both in and outside of the
ring. The purpose of Obedience Trials is to demonstrate the usefulness
of the purebred dogs as a companion of man, not merely the dog's ability
to follow specified routines in the obedience rings. While all
contestants in a class are required to perform the same exercises in
substantially the same way and scored, the basic objective of Obedience
Trials is to produce dogs that have been trained and conditioned always
to behave in a home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs
in a manner that will reflect credit on the sport of Obedience.
[taken from AKC Regulations]
Obedience Titles: C.D.; C.D.X.; U.D.; O.T.Ch.; U.D.X.
The First Obedience Title is a C.D., a Companion Dog. You compete in
Novice classes. Novice A is for someone who has never earned a title or
owned a dog with a C.D.; otherwise you enter Novice B.
Novice Class involves 6 exercises:
Heeling on leash and a Figure 8, Stand for Exam, Heel Free (off
leash), Recall and Group Exercises: a 1 minute sit stay and a 3 minute
down stay (your are across the ring).
- Dogs must be not less than 6 months of age and not to have won the
title of C.D. to enter this class.
- You must qualify (170 out of 200 points) 3 times under 3 different
judges. Qualifying with a score of 195 or higher the first 3 attempts
qualifies you for a Dog World Award.
The Second Obedience Title is a C.D.X., Companion Dog Excellent. You
enter the Open Classes after completing your C.D. You may enter Open A
providing you are not an obedience or breed judge or have not earned an
O.T.Ch.
Open Class involves 7 exercises:
Heel Free and a Figure 8 (off leash), a Drop on Recall, Retrieve
on Flat, Retrieve over High Jump, Broad Jump, and Group Exercises: a 3
minute sit stay and a 5 minutes down stay (handler is out of sight).
- You must qualify (170 out of 200 points) 3 times under 3 different
judges. Qualifying with a score of 195 or higher the first 3 attempts
qualifies you for a Dog World Award.
The Third Obedience Title is a U.D., Utility Dog. You enter the Utility
Classes after completing your C.D.X. You may enter Utility A providing
you are not an obedience or breed judges or have not earned an O.T.Ch.
Utility Class involves 6 exercises:
- 1st Exercise is called the Signal Exercise
The handler must give a signal (non-verbal) to the dog "to heel"
as the judge gives a heeling pattern. At the end of the heeling pattern,
the handler will be asked to "stand your dog, leave". The handler walks
across the ring and at the judge's signal, the handler gives a signal for
the dog "to down", "to sit", and "to come"; followed with "finish".
- 2nd & 3rd Exercises are called Scent Discrimination
A dog must retrieve a scented (handler's) metal and leather
article. These are two separate exercises. The dog must be able to
distinguish between the handler's scent and that of a person who has
placed 8 other articles in a cluster approximately 20 feet away.
- 4th Exercise is a Glove Retrieve
Three gloves are placed approximately 15-20 feet away from the
handler and dog. The handler must turn and face the glove that the judge
has indicated and send the dog to retrieve it.
- 5th Exercise is The Moving Stand
The dog must heel with the handler and then is stopped in
standing position. The handler must continue moving (10 feet) and turn
around to face the dog. The judge "examines" the dog and instructs the
handler "call your dog to heel position".
- 6th Exercise is Directed Jumping
It is often referred to as "go outs". The dog and handler are centered
at one end of the ring. The dog is sent out and required to turn and sit
approximately 20 feet beyond the high jump and bar jump. The dog is
given a signal and verbal command to jump a high jump and in the second
half of the exercise the dog is sent out again and must execute the other
jump. It is scored as one exercise.
You must qualify (170 out of 200 points) 3 times under 3 different
judges. Qualifying with a score of 195 or higher the first 3 attempts
qualifies you for a Dog World Award.
In addition to earning a Dog World Award for each obedience title, you
may also qualify to earn a Dog World Award for completing all three
titles in one year.
Obedience Trial Champion, O.T.Ch.
To be an Obedience Trial Champion a dog must earn 100 points from
placements it receives in Open B and/or in Utility B. The team must
place 1st or 2nd to earn points. The team must have at least 3 first
places; one 1st from Utility B, one 1st from Open B, one more 1st from
either class. These 1st places must be earned under 3 different judges.
There is a Point Schedule used to determine points awarded for each
class. This Obedience Title precedes the dog's registered name. After
earning an O.T.Ch., the owner (Very Proud) may only enter "B"classes.
Utility Dog Excellent, U.D.X.
Utility Dog Excellent is a title awarded once a dog has earned
both an Open and Utility Title. The team must earn qualifying scores at
10 separate events, qualifying in both Open B and in Utility B.
The titles: C.D., C.D.X., U.D., and U.D.X. follow the dog's registered
name. In each case, the higher title will supersede the preceding title
in all official AKC records.
The First Triple Champion was a Vizsla. A Triple Champion is a dog that
has a bench championship, a field championship, and is an obedience trial
champion.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
1. Dianne Bauman's "Beyond Basic"
2. Carol Lea Benjamin's "Mother Knows Best" The Natural Way to Train Your Dog
3. Leon Whitney's "Dog Psychology- The Basis of Training"
4. William Kohler's "Dog Training Books"
5. J.Fraser and Amy Ammen's "Dual Ring Dog"
6. Volhard and Fishe's "Teaching Dog Obedience Classes"
7. Karen Pryor's "Dont Shoot the Dog!"
8. Farley Mowat's "The Dog Who Wouldn't Be" * Just a fun Book!
9. Barbara Handler's "Best Foot Forward"
10. Front and Finish , The Dog Trainer's News
(info on books,seminars,regional events and happenings, ads for products, etc.)
subscription: P.O. Box 333, Galesburg, IL 61402-0333
11. MAX 200 Dog Obedience Equipment 1 (800) 446-2920
12. Pipe Dreams (Agility obstacles) 1 (800) 446-2920
13. Marian Coffman's "Versatile Vizsla"
* Patty Ruzzo, Terri Arnold, Berni Brown, Sandra Ladwig, Anne Marie
Silverton, Gary Wilkes, Janice DeMello are some of the many trainers who
are advertised in Front and Finish. Some of you may identify with their
style and it may fit your training.
* We are not advertising for anyone, their book, tape or seminar. It is
important that you do educate yourself. Explore other fields of training
with your Vizsla. Your Vizsla is versatile and you can be,too!>
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