Beginning from a sit at heel, the dog moves briskly forward off leash with its handler. After the team has gone at least ten paces, the handler commands his dog to “Sit!” The dog should stop and sit immediately. Without looking back or hesitating, the handler continues at a normal rate for an additional thirty paces and then turns and faces his dog. After a few seconds, he returns to his dog and walks around it to its right side. If the dog stops, but stands or drops instead of sitting on command, it will lose three points for the exercise.
Beginning from a sit at heel, the dog moves forward briskly off leash with its handler. After the team has gone at least ten paces, they begin to run. After an additional ten paces the dog must, upon command, lie down quickly. The handler continues without changing his pace for approximately forty paces, stops and immediately turns and faces his dog. At the judge’s signal the dog is recalled to the come-fore position, then finished to the heel position.
Beginning from a sit at heel, the dog moves forward briskly off leash with its handler. After the team has gone at least ten paces, the handler commands his dog to “Stand!” The dog should stop, stand and remain in this position while the handler continues walking. The handler continues at a normal rate for an additional thirty paces and then turns and faces his dog. After a few seconds, he returns to his dog and walks around it to its right side.
Immediately from the finish position after the walking stand, the handler and dog begin running. After at least ten paces, the handler commands his dog to “Stand!” and continues running for thirty more paces, stops and then turns and faces his dog. At the judge’s signal, he recalls his dog. The dog should come in quickly and sit close and straight in front of its handler. When commanded to “Heel!” the dog finishes to the heel position.
With the dog sitting at the heel position, the handler throws the dumbbell approximately ten paces out in front of the dog. He may not signal the dog to stay, as in the AKC regulations for this exercise. When commanded to do so, the dog immediately fetches the dumbbell and returns with it to the handler. Once the dog sits straight in front of its handler and presents the dumbbell, the handler takes it and commands the dog to finish to the heel position. The dog will lose points if it drops or plays with the dumbbell, or if the handler moves from his original position during the retrieve.
The handler, with the dog sitting at his side, stands an appropriate distance from the jump. The handler throws the smaller dumbbell over the jump. He then commands his dog to “Hup!” As the dog clears the jump in midair, the handler may give it an additional command to take the dumbbell. The dog should retrieve the dumbbell and with the dumbbell in its mouth come back over the jump, and sit directly in front of the handler. After the handler has taken it, he commands the dog to “Heel!” and the dog finishes to the heel position.
The handler, with the dog sitting at his side, stands an appropriate distance from the wall. He throws the dumbbell over the jump and then commands his dog to “Hup!” As the dog is scaling the wall, the handler may give it an additional command to take the dumbbell. The dog should retrieve the dumbbell, come back over the wall and sit directly in front of its handler with the dumbbell in its mouth. After the handler has taken the dumbbell, he commands the dog to “Heel!” and the animal finishes to the heel position.
The dog and handler move forward briskly. After a few paces, the handler signals straight ahead with his right arm and commands the dog to “Go out!” The dog should move out quickly in a straight path for at least forty paces. When commanded “Down!” the dog should immediately turn toward its handler and drop immediately to the ground. The handler pauses a few seconds, then walks out to his dog and steps to the animal’s right side. The exercise is complete when he commands his dog to “Sit!” Deductions will be made if the dog does not go out the proper distance or does not go straight and rapidly. It will also lose points for dropping slowly or before the command is given.
In this exercise a dog performing obedience exercises is used as a distraction for another obedience competitor. At the beginning of one dog’s obedience exercise, the other dog is placed on a down stay. The handler heels the dog to the place indicated by the judge, commands it to “Down!” and then walks to the designated hiding place at least forty paces away. The dog must remain down through the other dog’s first seven exercises to receive full points. If the dog moves approximately three yards from its original position, no points will be awarded for the entire exercise.
SCORING
To pass the obedience phase of a trial the dog must earn a minimum of seventy points out of 100. The point-total ratings are as follows:
96 to 100 points Excellent (Vorzüglich)
90 to 95 points Very Good (Sehr Gut)
80 to 89 points Good (Gut)
70 to 79 points Satisfactory (Befriedigend)
36 to 69 points Faulty (Mangelhaft)
0 to 35 points Insufficient (Ungenügend)
9
An Overview of the Obedience Phase
