a guide to companion dog events

7/28/2019 A Guide to Companion Dog Events

1/9

A Beginners Guide to

Companion Events

Obedience Rally Tracking Agility


2/9

1

Welcome to the world ofAKC Companion Events!

These events were developed so ANY dogand anyone o any age could show otheir athletic abilities and demonstratethe bond that can develop between a welltrained dog and its owner. CompanionEvents consists o our dierent events:obedience, tracking, agility and rally.Obedience trials are one o the AKC'soldest traditions; it is truly a sport o

nesse, precision and accuracy. Trackingevolved originally rom obedience, butit has grown and developed into its ownevent that demonstrates the dogs naturalability to recognize and ollow a scent.Agility is a ast-paced obstacle course thatrelies on nearly fawless communication between handler and dog.AKC Rally is the newest event to join the Companion Event amilyand it was developed ater rally-style auto racing. The dog/handlerteam must navigate a course made up o directional signs. Eachcourse is unique and dierent; it is great or rst-time competitors oranyone new to Companion Events.

A Beginners Guide to Companion Events

Table of Contents

Welcome

Tips for the First-Time Spectator

Am I Eligible? 2

How Do I Get Started in Companion Events? 2

What is Obedience?

AKC Obedience Trials and How They Work 3Levels of Obedience Competit ion 3

Qualifying Performance 4

What is Rally?

Rally Signs 5

Levels of Rally Competition 6


What is Tracking?

How Do I Get Started in Tracking? 7

Tracking Titles 8

How a Tracking Test Works 8

What is Agility?

Types of Classes 9

Levels of Agility Competition 10

How Agility is Scored 10

Jump Heights 11


Tips for the First-Time Exhibitor 12

Information about AKC Trials 12

The AKC Website 12

Glossary

Tips for the First-Time Spectator However tempting, do not pet a dog without asking or permission rst.

Many trials have vendors and an inormation booth with helpulinormation or the general public.

Bring a chair and arrive early. Trials oten start very early in the morning.

I you have not yet purchased your dog, speak to exhibitors abouttheir breed to gain knowledge o the best dog or your amily. Please beconsiderate and approach them ater they have competed, not beorethey are getting ready to go into the ring. This way they will be able togive you their ull attention.

I you bring a baby stroller to a trial, be careul that you do not runover any dogs tails, and that your child does not grab or poke the dogsit can reach. Avoid having them near ring entrances or exits. Somecrowded trials orbid baby strollers.


3/9

2 3

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible to compete inobedience, tracking, agility or rallytrials, a dog must be:

Registered with the AKC.

Enrolled in the AKC CaninePartners program. A programor mixed-breed dogs and dogsineligible or AKC registrationto participate in obedience,rally and agility. Tracking is notavailable or Canine Partners atthis time.

Enrolled in the PAL (Purebred Alternative Listing)/ ILP program. A programor purebred dogs that cannot be ully registered with the AKC to participatein AKC events.

Be a member o a Foundation Stock Service (FSS) recorded breed.

How Do I Get Started in Companion Events?

The best way to start is to join a local dog-training club. A list o clubs isavailable at www.akc.org. Local clubs requently oer training classes or alldierent types o competition. Even i competition is not your ultimate goal,the relationship that training orms between you and your dog will be veryrewarding. Local clubs also have un matches, where you and your dog cantest your skills in the ring. Training and handling your dog in any CompanionEvent is an exceptional and enjoyable experience. From your rst attempted trialto earning your rst AKC title, you and your dog will develop a bond. Trainingclasses oer the best hands-on way to practice or the ring, and watchingexhibitors at actual trials will gain you expertise. These events bring many hourso un or you and your dog. You will make lots o riends in the sport, and youand your dog will take pleasure in your new hobby or many years to come.

What is Obedience?Consider taking obedience training with your dog to a whole new level! Helpyour dog realize its ull potential by entering obedience trials and earningcompetitive obedience titles. AKC obedience trials demonstrate the useulnesso the dog as a companion to man. Developed in the 1930s it is one o the

AKCs oldest events! Obedience trials showcase dogs that have been trained andconditioned to behave well in the home, in public places, and in the presence oother dogs. AKC trials allow exhibitors and their dogs to enjoy companionshipand competition as they proudly earn AKC titles. You can nd a list o clubsthat oer training classes on the AKC website under Clubs, then Club Search.These clubs also hold the AKC events that you can enter once you and yourdog are ready.

AKC Obedience Trials and How They Work

An obedience club wishing to hold an obedience trial must rst meet all AKCrequirements beore applying or permission rom the AKC. This ensures that theevent will be held under AKC Rules and Regulations and that any scores your dogearns during competition are recorded on the dogs AKC awards record.

To enter an obedience trial, you must submit an ocial AKC entry orm to thetrial secretary or superintendent o the trial. Entry orms can be ound on the

AKC website or in the clubs premium list; the premium list contains all relevantinormation regarding the trial, includingdate, location, classes oered, and judges as well as the entry orm, it is the ocialannouncement o the clubs event. There isalso an online event calendar on the AKCwebsite that contains this inormation.

Ater the entries have closed, a programshowing the schedule or the judging oeach class will be mailed to the owner oeach entered dog.

Levels of ObedienceCompetition

There are three main levels o obedience competition which are listed here,but there are several optional titling classes or non-regular (non-titling) classesthat you can choose rom i you want to try out dierent exercises or just orun! You can nd a complete list o all obedience classes in the AKC ObedienceRegulations.

NOVICE For the dog just getting started in obedience. Exercises include: Heel on Leash and Figure Eight show whether the dog has learned to watch

its handler and adjust its pace to stay with the handler. Heel Free The dog and handler perorm a heeling pattern or the judge with

the dog o-leash.

Stand or Examination The dog must stay in a standing position as itshandler walks a short distance away. The judge will then lightly touch thedog on the head, the body and the hindquarters. The handler then returns tothe dog.

Recall Demonstrates that the dog will come to the handler on command. Long Sit (1 minute) The dog must remain sitting in the presence o other

dogs while the handler stands across the ring. Long Down (3 minutes) dog must remain in a down position in the

presence o other dogs while the handler stands across the ring.

OPEN The second level includes more complicated exercises; the dog must beable to perorm a variety o tasks and ollow commands either by voice or signal.Exercises include:

Heel Free and Figure Eight Same as Novice, but o leash.Drop on Recall The dog must come to the handler when called from across

the ring and on the handlers command or signal drop into a down position andthen on command or signal from the handler resume coming to the handler.


4/9

4 5

Qualifying Performance

A qualiying perormance indicates that the dog has perormed all the required

exercises according toAKC Obedience Regulations and justies the awarding othe obedience title. A qualiying score is earned when more than 50 percent othe points are awarded or each exercise, with a total o at least 170 points. Aperect score in any class is 200. All dogs that have received a qualiying score intheir class receive a dark green ribbon to indicate that they have earned a leg,or qualiying score toward their title.

Retrieve on Flat Demonstrates a dogs ability to retrieve an object oncommand.

Retrieve Over High Jump The dog must jump over an obstacle in orderto retrieve an object and then jump the obstacle again to return it to thehandler.

Broad Jump This exercise shows that the dog is able to jump a width thatis twice as long as the dog is tall.

Long Sit (3 minutes) similar to the long sit in Novice, but the positionmust be held or a longer period o time with the handler out o the dogssight.

Long Down (5 minutes) dog must remain in a down position with thehandler out o sight.

UTILITY The third and highest level o obedience competition. Exercisesinclude:

Signal Exercise shows the dogs ability to understand and correctlyrespond to the handlers signal to stand, stay, down, sit and come. No voicecommands are given; only hand signals are allowed.

Scent Discrimination shows the dogs ability to nd the handlers scentamong a pile o articles.

Directed Retrieve proves the dogs ability to ollow a directional signal toretrieve a glove and promptly return it to the handler.

Moving Stand and Examination the dog must heel, stand and stay as thehandler moves away. The dog must stay and accept an examination by the

judge and return to the handler on command. Directed Jumping the dog must go away rom the handler, turn and

sit. Then, the dog must clear whichever jump its handler indicates andpromptly return to the handler.

What is Rally?

AKC Rally is a companion sport to AKC Obedience. Both require teamworkbetween dog and handler along with similar perormance skills. Rally providesan excellent introduction to AKC Companion Events or new dogs and handlersand can provide a challenging opportunity or competitors in other events tostrengthen their skills. The dog and handler team move at their own pace, verysimilar to rally-style auto racing. Rally was designed with the traditional petowner in mind, but it can still be very challenging or those who enjoy higherlevels o competition. A rally course includes 10 to 20 stations, depending onthe level. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience. Communicationrom the handler to the dog is encouraged and perect heel position is notrequired, but there should be a sense o teamwork and enthusiasm as they gothrough the course.

Rally Signs

The signs may be any color and they include descriptions as well as directionalarrows o exercises. Signs are numbered to make it easy to nd the next stationwhen navigating the course. All signs are placed to the handlers right side. Thesigns are large enough to be easily recognized when going through a course. Theexercises designated on the signs will be perormed in close proximity to thesign itsel, either directly in ront o, or in ront o and to the let o the sign.


5/9

6 7

Levels of Rally Competition

The three levels o competition in AKC Rally:

NOVICE - this is the rst level or those just getting started in competition.

All exercises are perormed with the dog on leash.

There is a requirement o 10-15 stations to complete with no more than vestationary exercises.

The exercises perormed vary rom turning 360 degrees to changing pacesduring the course.

Exhibitors at this level may clap their hands, talk to the dog, and pat theirlegs through the course.

ADVANCED this is the second level, which includes more dicult exercisesthroughout the course.

All exercises are perormed o-leash. There is a requirement o 12-17 stations with no more than seven stationary

exercises.

Exercises include a jump as well as calling your dog to the ront o you insteado to a heel position.

EXCELLENT - this third and highest level o AKC Rally is the mostchallenging.

Exercises are perormed o-leash except or the honor exercise.

There is a requirement o 15 to 20 stations, with no more than 7 stationaryexercises.

Handlers are only allowed to encourage their dogs verbally. Physicalencouragement is not allowed at this level.

The Excellent-level exercises include backing up three steps, while the dogstays in the heel position and a moving stand, while the handler walksaround the dog.


A qualiying perormance indicatesthat the dog has perormed therequired exercises according tothe AKC Rally Regulations. Eachperormance is timed, but times areonly counted i two dogs earn thesame score. All dogs and handlersbegin with a perect 100. A dog andhandler team is awarded a qualiyingscore i it retains at least 70 pointsater the course has been completed.

What is Tracking?Dogs have a very keen sense o smell 100,000 times stronger than humans!Dogs with the help o their noses are oten used to nd lost people and animals,drugs, avalanche and disaster victims, and even to detect cancer! AKC Trackingis a canine sport that demonstrates a dogs natural ability to recognize andollow a scent and is the oundation o canine search and rescue work. Unlikeobedience and rally trials, where dogs respond to the handlers commands,in tracking the dog is completely in charge, or only he knows how to use hisnose to nd and ollow the track. For many, the greatest pleasure o tracking isthe hours spent outside training and interacting with their dogs. The trackingcommunity is known or its camaraderie and they all share in the excitement oa pass and the disappointment o a ail.

How Do I Get Started in Tracking?

Getting started in tracking is easy and you wont nd a more willing participantthan your dog! A puppy instinctively uses his nose training your dog to tracksimply hones his natural ability. And since all dogs have a natural ability toollow a scent, any breed is capable o learning to track. Your rst step is ndinga tracking class or an instructor who is experienced in the sport. Some AKC-aliated clubs oer tracking classes and some are Tracking Only clubs. To nda club in your area, go to the AKC website, Club Search or Training Resources.Tracking requires very little equipment. You just need a harness, a 20-to-40 ootlead, a ew fags to mark your track, and an open grassy area ree o obstaclessuch as roads, ditches or woods. Beore you enter a Tracking Dog Test (TD),you must have the dog certied by an AKC-approved or provisional judge. Thiscertication orm must accompany the entry orm. Once you and your dog areready, nd a tracking event in your area by going to the AKC Events Calendaron the AKC website. There is a great demand or tracking tests and the numbero dogs that can be judged in one day is very limited. As a result, there are moreentries than spaces available. For this reason tracking is not open to dogs listedin AKC Canine Partners at this time.


6/9

8 9

Tracking Titles

A dog can earn three AKC Tracking titles, each with an increased degree odiculty. The TD (Tracking Dog) title must be earned beore competing ora TDX (Tracking Dog Excellent) or VST (Variable Surace Tracker) title.

A Champion Tracker (CT) is awarded only to those dogs that have earned allthree tracking titles TD, TDX and VST. I a dog is awarded the CT title, he isamong the elite o those active in tracking. To earn a tracking title, a dog needsto pass the test in which he is exhibiting only once.

Tracking Dog (TD)

The TD track is rom 440-to-500 yards long with 3-to-5 turns (or change indirection), and aged rom a hal-hour to two hours. A dog must indicate a gloveor wallet placed at the end o the track. Tracks are plotted in an open eld withuniorm cover. There are no obstacles. The start o the track will be markedwith a fag. A second fag is placed 30 yards rom the start fag to indicate the

direction o the rst leg o the track. There are no other fags in the eld.

Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX)

The TDX track is 800-to-1000 yards long with 5-to-7 turns, and aged rom3-to-5 hours. The track also has two sets o cross (diversionary) tracks and hassome o the aorementioned obstacles. The start is marked with a single fag andthe dog must determine the direction o the rst leg. There are our dissimilararticles or each track, one at the start and three more on the track.

Variable Surface Tracking (VST)

A VST track is rom 600-to-800 yards long, with 4-to-8 turns, and aged rom3-to-5 hours. The articles must be one each o leather, cloth, plastic and metal.The VST track must also contain three dierent suraces with one turn on anon-vegetated surace such as concrete. This test demonstrates the utility o thetracking dog to work in an urban environment.

How a Tracking Test Works

For the host club and the two judges, a tracking test is a two-day commitment,regardless o weather. Tracking tests are usually held on Sunday, but the judgesand tracklayers spend most o Saturday plotting a track or each dog. The

judges draw charts o each track indicating landmarks that will allow them tolocate the track with fags that mark the turns. The fags will be removed whenthe tracklayers walk the track the morning o the test. On the morning o thetest, the exhibitors gather or a draw, which determines the order dogs areto exhibit. Ater the tracks have aged the required time, the exhibitor puts theharness on the dog, attaches a 20-to-40-oot lead and begins the track. The dogis not allowed o lead at any time. The dog must ollow the path the tracklayerhas walked and nd the article(s) dropped along the track. Judges ollow thedog and handler to determine i the dog is on or o the track. I the dog is othe track and the judges determine the dog cannot return, one judge will blowthe whistle signaling the dog has ailed. There is no time limit as long as the dogis working. I the dog ollows the track and nds the article(s) placed on thetrack, he earns the tracking title or the level at which he is exhibiting.

What is Agility?Running a dog in an agility trial is the ultimate game or you and your dog andis one o the most exciting canine sports or spectators. In an agility trial, a dogdemonstrates its agile nature and versatility by ollowing cues rom the handlerthrough a timed obstacle course o jumps, tunnels, weave poles and otherobjects. Its an activity that strengthens the bond between dog and handler andprovides un and exercise or both, which might explain why its so enjoyable towatch and has become the astest-growing dog sport in the United States!

Types of Classes

There are several types o classes oered at an agility trial: Standard, Jumperswith Weaves, Fiteen And Send Time (FAST) and Preerred. The Standard classhas contact obstacles, which have yellow contact zones at each end. Contact

obstacles include A-rame, dog walk and seesaw. The dog must place a leastone paw in the contact zone in order not to receive a ault. This encouragessaety in training and in running the course. The Standard class also has avariety o jumps; weave poles, pause table, tunnels and a closed tunnel. The

Jumpers with Weaves class does not have contact obstacles or a pause table toslow the teams orward momentum. This is a very ast course requiring instantdecisions by the handler and close attention rom the dog. The FAST class is anadditional test o strategy, skill, accuracy, speed, timing and distance handling,to demonstrate a dogs athletic ability and willingness to work with its handlerin a ast-paced atmosphere over a variety o agility obstacles. As indicated by thetitle, the Fiteen and Send Time class uses teen (15) point-valued obstaclesand/or obstacle combinations. The course will include a Send Bonus or distanceelement that will award a bonus o twenty (20) points i completed successully.


7/9

10 11

Levels of Agility Competition

There are three dierent levels o competition in agility:

NOVICE or the dog that is just starting in agility. There are 14 to16 obstacles on this course. The ocus o the Novice class is on perormingthe obstacles with minimal handling technique.

OPEN or the dog that has completed the Novice level. There are 16 to18 obstacles on this course. The ocus o the open class is on more dicultobstacle course perormance with more handling skill required.

EXCELLENT or the dog that has completed the Open level. There are18 to 20 obstacles on this course. The ocus o the Excellent A & B class is toprovide the opportunity or dogs and handlers to demonstrate their superiorskills in moving quickly and eciently with close communication and teamworkthrough challenging agility courses. The Excellent B level is the class where

dog/handler teams can earn the title, Master Agility Champion (MACH), in theRegular Classes.

How Agility is Scored

Agility is a time and ault sport where the qualiying requirements are morechallenging as the competition class levels get higher. There are two types oaults: time and penalty. Time aults are given or every second a dog goes overthe Standard Course Time as set by the length o the course.

Below are examples o Penalty Faults that a judge mayassess a handler and dog:

Taking an obstacle out o sequence

Missing a contact zone

Displacing a bar or panel on a jump

Jumping o the pause table beore the judgeis through counting

Running around or reusing the next obstacle

Exceeding the amount o time set by the judgeor running the course

Touching either the dog or any obstacleby the handler while running the course

Outside assistance may be penalized

Handler ailure to control the dog maybe penalized


A perect score in any class at any level is 100. A dog must earn 3 qualiyingscores under two dierent judges. The minimum score to qualiy is 85 in allclasses except in the Excellent B class where the minimum score is 100. Theminimum time allowed to run the course and the number o obstacles tocomplete successully, increase as the level o diculty increases.

Agility Jump Heights

The classes are divided by jump heights in order to make the competition equalbetween the dierent sizes o dogs.

REGULAR CLASS

8" Class dogs up to 11" at the shoulder12" Class dogs over 11" and up to 14" at the shoulder16" Class dogs over 14" and up to 18" at the shoulder20" Class dogs over 18" and up to 22" at the shoulder24" Class dogs over 22" at the shoulder26" Class dogs may be entered at this height at their owners discretion.

A dog may jump in a jump height class higher than his/her shouldermeasurement, but never lower.

PREFERRED CLASS

This class aords an opportunity or a greater variety o dogs, and their handlers,to participate in the sport o agility. Handlers have the option to enter thePreerred classes with modied standards o lower jump heights and moregenerous course times. They must compete at the required jump height.


8/9

12

Tips for the First-Time Exhibitor

Make sure your dog has an AKC number.

Be sure your dog is current on all inoculations.

Learn rom an experienced trainer in order to compete competently and saely.

Join a local training club.

Become amiliar with the AKC regulations or the sport you are interested in.These are available on the AKC website.

Attend trials and become amiliar with the ring procedures.

Dont be araid to ask questions o the experienced exhibitors.

Attend training classes with your dog.

Visit the AKC website at www.akc.org to nd a club in your area.

Information about AKC TrialsThe AKC oers a wide variety o resources to assist anyone interested inCompanion Events, whether you are new to the sport or want to knowhow to oer a trial. Contact AKC Customer Service at 919-233-9767 [email protected] to inquire about the ollowing resources:

Obedience Regulations, Obedience Judges Guidelines, The Steward in ObedienceA comprehensive book giving the regulations and guidelines or AKC obediencetrials at which titles are earned.

Rally Regulations, Rally Judges Guidelines, The Steward in RallyA comprehensive booklet giving the regulations and guidelines or AKC Rallytrials, which titles are earned, and the descriptions and symbols o the rallysigns. The AKC Obedience Regulations are also included in the same booklet.

Tracking RegulationsA comprehensive booklet detailing regulations and guidelines or AKC TrackingTests at which titles are earned

Regulations for Agility Trials andAgility Judges GuidelinesTwo important books or any agility exhibitor to have. These regulations andguidelines or AKC agility trials explain how titles are earned, courses designedand levels o competition.

GlossaryAgility Handling Terms Front cross, cross behind, and blind cross,reer to the handlers position to the dog that is running the course.

Article (Tracking) These are the items the dog must nd. In a TD testone article is used, either a glove or wallet. For the TDX, there are our dierentpersonal articles, one at the start to provide the dog with the scent he shouldollow and three others along the track. For VST, articles consist o our dissimilar,common, everyday items, which can be easily carried by the tracklayer and saelypicked up by the dog. Articles are leather, plastic (rigid or semi-rigid), metal andcloth.

Brisk Keenly alive, alert, energetic.

Course Design (Rally) A set o signs, previously arranged by the judge, that

the dog and handler team will navigate or competition. Each class will have adierent course design.

Crowding A dog that is so close to the handler as to interere with the handlersreedom o motion.

Faults (Agility) Penalties assessed by the judge when a dog or handler doesnot perorm the obstacle correctly.

Gently With kindness, without harshness or roughness.

Indication A change in the dogs behavior when he experiences loss ordiscovery o the track or article.

Leg A term that is used requently or a qualiying score. Unlike obedience, rallyand agility where a leg reers to a qualiying score, in tracking, a leg reers to thestraight portion o the track between two turns.

Natural Not articial; ree o aectation; what is customarily expected in thehome or public places.

Refusals/Runouts Type o ault given in agility when the dog reuses to take

the obstacle as they approach it or they run past the obstacle instead o perormingit.

Scent or Track Scent The substance the dog actually smells that allows himto ollow a track. It is made up o the odor o crushed vegetation, overturned earthand the odor let by a person.

Standard Course Time Judge measures the agility course with a surveyorswheel and determines the Standard Course Time that will be allotted or theparticular course set up or the class.

Track The actual path the tracklayer walked.

Walk-through (Agility, Rally) Handlers are permitted to walk the course,without a dog, prior to the start o the class to plan their strategy. The walk-through gives handlers an opportunity to amiliarize themselves with the course.

Wrong Course Type o ault given when the dog does not take the nextagility obstacle in correct sequence.

The AKC WebsiteThe AKC website, www.akc.org, contains a wealth o inormation about theworld o dogs, including inormation on breeds, AKC registration, caninelegislation, public education and canine health issues. View a complete listing o

AKC-sanctioned shows and trials by accessing the AKC website and then clickingon Events, then click on Events and Award Search. You can select a timerame,competition type, and your home state or several surrounding states. The EventsCalendar is compiled by day and date, and has the club name and location o thetrial. Entry orms or trials may be downloaded rom the AKC website.


9/9

For additional information contact:

American Kennel Club

8051 Arco Corporate Drive, Suite 100

Raleigh, NC 27617-3390919-233-9767

GOCET1 (6/10)

Mission stateMent

The American Kennel Club is dedicated to upholding the

integrity o its Registry, promoting the sport o purebred dogs

and breeding or type and unction. Founded in 1884, the

AKC and its aliated organizations advocate or the purebred

dog as a amily companion, advance canine health and

well-being, work to protect the rights o all dog owners and

promote responsible dog ownership.

a guide to companion dog events

Documents