Obedience

Tammy Boice’s “Darius” Laurel Atlantis Pride To The South CDX BN RM RAE FDC OA OAJ AJP OF XFP CAX4 DCAT TKP performing the broad jump in the open obedience class.

Obedience & Rally

Chair
Stephanie Podejko

Obedience Is for Dals, Too!

An Obedience trial is a competitive test to showcase dog’s intelligence and willingness to work. It demonstrates the dog’s trainability and a deep relationship they have with their owner through a series of exercises that are performed promptly and with precision. The trust in this relationship is shown by the dog’s happy willing attitude and the owner’s naturalness, gentleness, and smoothness.

Imagine the thrill of having your dog stop and lay down while coming to you when you raise your hand or give them the word “down”. How satisfying to see your dog picking out an item with your scent on it from a pile of like items. Obedience trained dogs can do these things quickly and accurately.

Obedience originated with only one class but was quickly expanded to 3 classes consisting of Novice, Open, and Utility and those classes still exist today.

In recent years more classes were added with varying levels of difficulty. There are now alternative titling classes which are Preferred Novice, Preferred Open, and Preferred Utility. Additionally there are optional titling classes of Beginner Novice, Graduate Novice, Graduate Open and Versatility. There are also Non-titling fun classes which are Wild Card Novice, Wild Card Open, Wild Card Utility, Brace, Veterans, and Team Obedience.

Training Articles

Puppy training tips click here

Clicker training for young pups click here

Retrieving and attention work click here

Directed Jumping click here

Are you ready click here

Q & A with Elaine Hamill and Amy Stephens click here

Click here for the Top Obedience and OTCH Dalmatians

Obedience FAQ

Is my dog eligible to compete?

No dog under six months of age may compete. No dog belonging wholly or in part to a judge, or superintendent, or any member of such a person’s household maybe entered in any obedience trial at which such person officiates or is scheduled to officiate. Nor may they handle or act as agent for any dog entered at that obedience trial. Females in season are not permitted to compete. If a female is withdrawn from competition because it came into season and the event secretary is notified no later than one half hour prior to the start of the first class in the trial, the club is required to refund the entry fee. The club may retain a processing fee and must publish this information in the premium list.
What type of collar is permitted?
What are the leash is requirements?

The leash must be made of fabric or leather and need only be long enough to provide adequate slack during the Heel on Leash exercise, unless stated otherwise in the AKC regulations. The Novice Group Exercise – Sit and Down Stay, and the Beginner Novice Sit for Exam must be performed with the dog on a 6-foot leash.
All dogs must be kept on a leash except when in the obedience ring, warm-up ring or exercise area and must be brought into and taken out of the ring on leash. Leashes must be clipped to the collar when dogs are brought in for classes requiring an on-leash exercise, a group exercise and awards. In a class where a leash is not required for the performance of the individual exercises, the dog may be brought into and taken out of the ring on a leash that slips/attaches through the dog’s collar.
What is the minimum score to qualify?

A dog receives a qualifying score when it earns more than 50 percent of the points for each exercise, with a total of at least 170 points. A qualifying score must never be awarded to a dog whose performance has not met the minimum requirements, to a dog that shows fear or resentment, or to a dog that relieves itself at any time while in the ring for judging. Handlers who carry or offer food in the ring or discipline or abuse their dogs in the ring must receive a non-qualifying (NQ) score.
What is highest scoring dog?
What is the highest combined score?
What is the highest combined preferred score?
How many points is a perfect score.
What is a qualifying performance?
Can a team continue to compete after they’ve earned the Utility (UD) title.

Yes. There are 3 ways to continue to compete.

1. After earning after earning a UD there is also the UDX. A qualifying score in Open B and Utility B at the same trial equals 1 UDX leg. There are 10 legs required for a Utility Dog Excellent, “UDX”. Then you can go on to UDX2, UDX3, etc. At the same time you can earn Obedience Master titles. Points are based on scores listed in the AKC Obedience regulations Chapter 7, section 3.

2. Obedience Master title and Obedience Grand Master title points will be recorded for dogs that have earned the Utility Dog title. When a dog earns an Obedience Master title, it may continue to compete and earn points until it is awarded an Obedience Grand Master title. Obedience Master points will be recorded for those dogs earning a score of 190 or better in Open B or Utility B classes, according to the schedule of points established by the AKC Board of Directors. To acquire an Obedience Master title, dogs will be required to earn a total of 200 points based on the points awarded for scores of 190 or better from the Open B or Utility B classes as listed in the point schedule shown in the AKC Obedience regulations. For a title to be earned, 30 percent of the points (60 points) must come from the Open B class and 30 percent of the points (60 points) must come from the Utility B class. The remaining 40 percent of the points (80 points) can come from the Open B or Utility B class, for the total of 200 points.

When a dog earns a total of 200 points based on the point schedule shown (see Chapter 7 Section 3 of the AKC obedience regulations) it will be awarded an Obedience Master title. Obedience Master titles will be awarded for nine levels and upon completion of the 10th level, a dog will be awarded an Obedience Grand Master title. Points accumulated in excess of the 200 points required for each level will be applied towards the next level of award if available. Only one title for Obedience Grand Master will be awarded.

Upon being awarded an Obedience Master title or the Obedience Grand Master title, dogs will be permitted to display the title of Obedience Master (OM#) or OGM after their names.

3. Teams may continue to compete for the title of Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH). Obedience Trial Championship points will be recorded for those dogs that have earned a first, second, third or fourth place ribbon competing in the Open B or Utility B class, according to the schedule of points established by the AKC Board of Directors. When counting the number of eligible dogs in competition, a dog that is disqualified or excused from the ring by the judge will not be included. One (1) Championship point will be recorded for those dogs that earn a qualifying score of 197 or better in the Open B or Utility B class, if they did not earn points based on the Point Schedule. Requirements for the Obedience Trial Champion are as follows:

The dog must have won:

100 points

A first place in Utility B with at least three dogs in competition.

A first place in Open B with at least five dogs in competition.

An additional first place under the conditions of 2 or 3 above.

All three first places under three different judges.

NOTE: Only one of the required first places may have been won at a specialty show or a Junior Obedience Showcase.

Once the requirements are met the AKC will award the Obedience Trial Champion Title (OTCH) which will precede the dog’s name. The letters OTCH will be followed by a numeric designation indicating the number of times a dog has met the requirements of the OTCH title, I.E. OTCH2, OTCH3 etc.. OTCH point values can be found in the AKC Obedience Regulations here
Is there an alternative If my dog cannot jump the specified jump heights.

Yes. Dogs may compete in the Preferred obedience classes can continue to compete and earn points after they complete the Preferred Utility Dog (PUTD) title. Preferred Obedience Champion points will be recorded for those dogs earning a score of 190 or better in Preferred Open or Preferred Utility classes according to the schedule of points established by the AKC Board of Directors. Requirements for the Preferred Obedience Champion (POC) title are as follows:

A dog must achieve a minimum of 750 points and qualifying scores obtained in both the Preferred Open class and the Preferred Utility class at 20 separate licensed or member obedience trials.

Upon completion of the requirements the AKC will permit the use of the letters POC preceding the name of the dog. The letters POC will be followed by a numeric designation indicating the number of times a dog has met the requirements of the POC title as defined in the AKC regulations. (POC2 for 40 qualifying scores and 1500 points, POC3 for 60 qualifying scores and 2250 points, etc.)

The 2016 Dalmatian National Specialty at Grand Oaks Resort in Florida

Rally

Rally trials are a type of obedience that is fun and allows more communication with the dog than formal obedience. It is a competition where the handler and their dog work together as a team to execute the specified set of skills, with the dog remaining under control throughout the entire presentation. A handler and their dog briskly navigate a numbered course with 10-20 signs together (the number depends on the class level), completing the indicated exercise at each sign. The performance is timed for the purpose of breaking ties when more than one team have the same score. At all AKC levels handlers can use verbal commands and hand signals to encourage their dog throughout the course.

Rally originated in 2005 as a result of pieces of exercises that obedience competitors used to warm up their dogs. This practice referred to as doodling is doing a variety of interesting and freestyle warmup exercises. These doodles were usually parts of obedience exercise that taught the skills and improved performances and accuracy.

Rally FAQ

Is my dog eligible to compete?

Dogs must be 6 months old or older and registered with the AKC. Dogs registered with an AKC Limited Registration number and dogs with a PAL (Purebred Alternative Listing) number, and dogs listed with AKC Canine Partners may be entered in these events. These dogs must be Spayed or neutered. Also Dogs approved for entry in the Miscellaneous Class at dog shows and dogs of a Foundation Stock Service recorded breed that meet the eligibility requirements for competition are eligible to compete.
What is high combined?
What is Highest Scoring Triple Qualifying Score?gg Score?

The dog/handler team receiving the highest combined triple score in Advanced B, Excellent B and the Master class will be awarded the ribbon and any prizes offered for this placement after the Advanced B, Excellent B and Master classes have been judged and after the announcement of those final scores.
What is the maximum rally score?

Each participant begins with a perfect score of 100 and points are deducted for errors. A qualifying score must never be awarded to a dog whose performance has not met the minimum requirements, to a dog that shows fear or resentment, or to a dog that relieves itself at any time while in the ring for judging.
What is the minimum score to qualify?

If you retain a score of at least 70 points, you will qualify toward earning a title. As you qualify the required number of times, you will move onto the next level. Handlers who carry or offer food in the ring or discipline or abuse their dogs in the ring must receive a non-qualifying (NQ) score.
What type of collar is acceptable?
Should I enter the A or B class?

To be eligible for entry in the A class division, dogs may not have won an AKC Rally Novice (RN) title or an AKC Companion Dog (CD) title or higher, prior to the close of entries. A handler must own the dog entered or be a member of the owner’s household or immediate family. The handler may not have previously handled any dog that has earned an AKC Rally title or an AKC Companion Dog (CD) title or higher. AKC Virtual Obedience titles do not impact the eligibility for a dog or handler in this class. A person may enter more than one dog in this class. Dogs and handlers who do not meet this criteria may enter the B class division.
Where can I see the Rally sign and descriptions?
Can I continue competing after earning a Rally Excellent title?

After completing the Rally Excellent title a team may go onto earn the (Rally Advanced Excellent) RAE title by earning qualifying scores from the Rally Advanced B class and the Rally Excellent B class at 10 separate licensed or member rally trials. The RAE title will appear at the end of the dog’s name and a numeric designation will indicate the number of times the dog has met RAE, I.E. RAE2, RAE3 etc. Another option to continue competing in rally is pursuing the Rally Championship.
What is the Rally Championship?

Dogs must have completed the Rally Excellent (RE) title to earn points towards their Rally Championship. To earn points a dog must achieve a score of 91 or better in the Rally Advanced B, Rally Excellent B and Rally Master classes. A dog must accumulate a total of 300 points, with a minimum of 150 points from the Master class. Additionally, the dog must receive qualifying scores in Advanced B, Excellent B and the Master class, on the same day at the same trial at 20 separate licensed or member rally trials.

Points are based on scores from each of the 3 classes, Advanced B, Excellent B, and Master Class as follows:

score 91-94 earns 5 points,
score 95-96 earns 6 points,
score 97 earns 7 points,
score 98 earns 8 points,
score 99 earns 9 points,
score 100 earns 10 points

When the Rally Champion title is earned the dog can use the RACH in front of the dogs name. A team can earn multiple levels of the rally champion title and those titles will be designated as (RACH2 for 40 for 60 triple qualifying scores and 900 points triple qualifying scores and 600 points,, RACH3 for 60 triple qualifying scores and 900 points etc.)

Tammy Boice’s “Darius” Laurel Atlantis Pride To The South CDX BN RM RAE FDC OA OAJ AJP OF XFP CAX4 DCAT TKP CGC VXA performing a sign in rally advanced at DCA 2021