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DOG
SPORTS
(A review by Scott Ellis of Southern Michigan Obedience Training Club) The Southern Michigan Obedience
Training Club has sponsored training classes for 50 years. One of the reasons that we have these classes is to provide individuals with
the opportunity to train their dogs at a low cost. We hope that our
classes will inspire our students to pursue obedience training as a hobby
that can involve them with their dog and perhaps earn a title for the dog.
Many of our students have requested information about other activities
they can do with their dogs.
The purpose of this article is to help our students remain active with
their dogs. Many of these activities require that the dog be registered
with a kennel club such as the American Kennel Club (AKC) or United Kennel
Club (UKC). If your dog is a mixed breed, there are still activities
in which you can participate. The UKC and the Australian Shepherd
Club of America (ASCA) are at least two clubs that allow mixed breeds to earn titles.
DOG SHOWS
Many people use the term ‘dog show’ to refer to any activity that involves
dogs in a competition. In a traditional conformation dog show a judge
examines the dogs to determine which one conforms to the breed standard
the best. He will look at the physical appearance and structure (the
way that the dog moves.) Obedience training is not necessary, but
the dog must be trained how to behave in the ring. The dog that earns
a title in this event receives a Champion designation. You will see
a ‘CH.’ in front of his name. The other dog sports earn titles that
are placed after the name.
OBEDIENCE TRIALS
An obedience trial tests the dog’s ability and willingness to
obey the commands of his handler. A judge will give a series of commands
to the handler who then calls out commands for the dog. The judge
will grade the dog and handler team on how well they have completed the
tasks. A dog can earn a title without competing with the other dogs.
Trials are divided into three different classes.
The first is called the Novice class. The tasks are the
same ones we do in our class. It includes the HEEL ON LEASH and the
FIGURE EIGHT. The Off-leash exercises are the HEEL OFF LEASH, the
STAND, and the RECALL, including the FINISH. Each dog and handler
team is graded independently for these exercises. The SITS AND DOWNS
are always done in a group. There is a maximum of 200 points for
these exercises. The dog must pass each exercise and have a total
of at least 170 points to earn a ‘leg.’ After the dog has earned
three legs, he is awarded a title of Companion Dog and a CD will be placed
after his name.
The next two classes are significantly more exacting. The Open
and Utility class will have the dogs jumping hurdles and retrieving
objects. The titles the dogs earn are called Companion Dog Excellent
(CDX), Utility Dog (UD), and Utility Dog Excellent (UDX). At this
level, many dogs are also competing against each other for Obedience Training
Champion (OTCh) points.
SMOTC hosts a trial in the fall usually around the last weekend of September.
Trials sponsored by other clubs are held throughout the year. Our
graduates are eligible for an award from SMOTC if they successfully earn
a title on their dog. There are informal matches called Fun Matches
that can help you evaluate your dog’s skills before actually going into
a ring.
PERFORMANCE EVENTS
Agility Trials:
In Agility trials, the dogs are run one at a time through an
obstacle course and the fastest dog wins. This event is done off-leash
with the dog running through tunnels, jumping through tires, and walking
on balance beams. Agility trials are fast-paced and gaining in popularity
every year.
Titles for Agility Trials: Novice Agility (NA); Open Agility (OA);
Agility Excellent (AX); Master Agility Excellent (MX); Novice Agility Jumper
(NAJ); Open Agility Jumper (OAJ); Agility Excellent Jumper (AXJ); Master
Agility Excellent Jumper (MXJ)
Flyball:
A Flyball event looks like a relay race. The dog jumps
over hurdles in a straight line to reach a box that throws out a tennis
ball. The dog must get the ball and then return over the hurdles.
Once he crosses the starting line, the next dog is released to run the
same course. The fastest team wins the event. These events
are usually loud. The dogs are very excited and obviously enjoy this
race.
Canine Good Citizen:
The AKC sponsors this event to allow any dog to be certified as well
behaved. Many obedience exercises are used.
Therapy Dogs:
To improve the moods of people in hospitals and nursing homes, dog owners
can take their dogs to visit the patients. Pet-A-Pet and Therapy
Dog International (TDI) certify dogs for this service. Some obedience
training is helpful to retain control over the dog in stressful situations.
Field Trials and Hunting Tests:
Both of these events demonstrate the dog’s ability to hunt and retrieve
game. The dogs are judged in their own breeds. The dogs compete
against each other in the Field trial and against a standard of performance
in the Hunting test.
Field Trial titles: Field Champion (FC); Amateur Field Champion
(AFC)
Hunting Test titles: Junior Hunter (JH); Senior Hunter (SH);
Master Hunter (MH)
Tracking Tests:
This event tests the dog’s skill at following a scent. It must
find articles, retrieve them, and return them to the judges.
Titles for Tracking Tests: Tracking Dog (TD); Tracking Dog Excellent
(TDX); Variable Surface Tracking Test (VST); Champion Tracker (CT)
Earthdog Tests:
You may have noticed that many small dogs seem fearless against any
enemy. This trait is deliberate in their breeding. Small terriers
and dachshunds must be willing to follow their prey into tunnels and burrows.
The prey used in the tests are two rats (safely in cages) and the dog must
find them within three minutes in a tunnel.
Titles for Earthdog Tests: Junior Earthdog (JE); Senior Earthdog
(SE); Master Earthdog (ME)
Herding Tests and Trials:
Some dogs have a natural inclination to herd other animals. These
events use livestock (sheep cattle, or ducks) to demonstrate their training
and skill at herding. The event is divided into two different activities;
the test and the trial.
Titles for Herding Tests and Trials: Herding Tested (HT); Pre-Trial
Tested (PT); Herding Started (HS); Herding Intermediate (HI); Herding Excellent
(HX); Herding Champion (HCh)
Lure Coursing:
All the dogs in the sighthound group use their sight to follow their
prey. In this event, they chase an artificial lure. Some courses
are straight lines while other courses follow a pattern. (The greyhound
racetrack is not an AKC-sanctioned event and many dog lovers do not approve
of the conditions in which competing dogs are kept at these establishments.)
Titles for Lure Coursing: Junior Courser (JC); Senior Courser
(SC); Field Champion (FC)
For a list of other training clubs and schools as well as what classes
they offer, look up PET TRAINING in the Yellow Pages or contact
the AKC. The AKC has a website listed below or call Customer Service
at (919) 233- 9767 for information about clubs near you.
Websites for more information:
The Southern Michigan Obedience Training Club
http://www.smotc.org/
The American Kennel Club - Search
http://www.akc.org/dic/events/search/index.cfm?action=results
The United Kennel Clubs
http://www.ukcdogs.com/
Australian Shepherd Club of America, Inc.
http://www.asca.org/
The United States Dog Agility Association,
Inc.
http://www.usdaa.com/
The North American Dog Agility Council, Inc.
http://www.teleport.com/~jhaglund/nadachom1.htm
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