03/24/2015
Obedience Advisory Committee Recommendations
The Board VOTED to approve 75 changes/additions to the Obedience Regulations, effective December 1, 2015. These recommendations originated from an Obedience Advisory Committee (OAC), and were reviewed with the Companion Events Delegate Committee.
A summary of the amendments follows:
JUDGES GUIDELINES, GENERAL, PERFORMANCE AND JUDGING
JUDGES GUIDELINES
1. Move relevant judges guidelines to the sections of the Regulations in which they apply.
2. Revise Exhibiting to: Judges (including provisional) may not handle dogs that are not owned or co-owned by themselves or a family member at obedience and or rally trials.
CLASS BRIEFINGS & START TIMES
3. For classes with briefings, the briefing times will be listed and the class time will be stated “class to follow”.
4. Shorten briefing/walkthrough time to “up to 10 minutes” (instead of 15 minutes).
5. List classes starting after noon as “After Noon” rather than “to follow.”
6. If the judge and ring are available to start earlier than the stated time and all exhibitors have checked-in and agree, allow the judging to start earlier. (May not start a 2nd trial on the same day before the published start time.)
CLUBS
7. Clarify transfer verbiage to make it clear that clubs have the flexibility of accepting transfers prior to the day of a trial (but must be completed at least 30 minutes prior to the start of each trial as it is currently worded).
8. Require clubs to publish, in the premium list, if two trials in one day will be held concurrently or consecutively.
9. Modify the emergency judge policy to allow clubs greater flexibility in finding a replacement judge when a previously approved judge cancels within 72 hours or less; allowing a judge with an event conflict to accept the emergency judge assignment without impacting future assignments.
10. No judge will be assigned to judge for more than eight hours in one day.
11. EVENT SCEDULING: It is strongly recommended that classes with like ring set-ups are grouped together. Put in book which classes are classes with “like set-ups.”
EXHIBITING
12. Allow exhibitors to steward, other than table stewarding, in the same ring under the same judge they will be showing under.
13. Clearly state that a dog may be brought into and taken out of the ring on a leash that slips through the dogs collar in classes in which all the exercise are off leash.
14. Clearly state that leashes must be snapped to the collar when dogs are brought in for classes requiring on leash exercises, group exercises and awards.
15. The judge will call the qualifying handlers back into the ring without requiring the dogs to be brought back in for awards.
16. State exhibitors may leave the ring at any time by politely informing the judge they are doing so. Judges book to be marked “Handler left ring” and carry down an “NQ.”
17. Remove “The judge must report to the AKC any dog that is not brought back for the group exercises.”
NOVICE
18. Dogs which have qualified during the individual exercise will have the option of returning for the group exercise.
19. Require exhibitors to check in for group exercises immediately after completion of the individual exercises.
20. Require leashes to be left on the dogs during the group exercise.
21. Allow judges the option of deciding if the group exercise will be conducted after “X” number of dogs in the class or if all the group exercises will be conducted after the last individual team is judged.
OPEN
22. Dogs which have qualified during the individual exercise will have the option of returning for the group exercise.
23. Require exhibitors to check in for group exercises immediately after completion of the individual exercises.
24. Allow judges the option of deciding if the group exercise will be conducted after “X” number of dogs in the class or if there are more dogs than can be judged in one group, all of the group exercises will be conducted after the last individual team is judged.
UTILITY
25. Scent Discrimination - Allow handlers the option of supplying two different types of sets of articles from three different allowable types of articles: leather, metal or wood.
26. Scent Discrimination - State that it is the handler’s decision if they have the dog watch the articles being put out; it is not required.
27. Scent Discrimination - State when the handler may take an article to scent it.
28. Scent Discrimination – State that the dog will be sitting to begin this exercise.
29. Scent Discrimination - The scoring of this exercise will not begin until the judge gives the order "Choose an article.”
30. Directed Retrieve - Substantial penalty (currently NQ) for the direction not given simultaneously or immediately following.
31. Directed Retrieve – Substantial penalty for lack of directness.
32. Directed Retrieve – Non-qualifying if the dog brings back an incorrect glove.
33. Moving Stand for Exam – Provide specific examination language to judges on how to perform the exam. (Exam verbiage adopted will be similar for Open and Utility.)
34. Post the Glove # 30-45 minutes prior to the start of the class.
REGULAR CLASSES – OTCH
35. A dog that leaves the place where it was left during the first group exercise must be released from the remaining group exercise and should count as a dog defeated.
BEGINNER NOVICE
36. Revise - Dogs with a CD, PCD or less will be eligible for this class.
37. Reduce walk through time from “15 minutes” to “up to 10 minutes.”
38. Sit Stay – State one command to stay, additional command to stay substantial penalty.
39. Revise Recall scoring to clearly state how many commands/signals are they allowed and when.
40. Revise the wording about hands on the recall - not to be used as an aid.
41. State what exhibitors should do with the leash for the recall.
42. Run-Off Procedure – In case of a tie in the Beginner Novice class, the dog and handler will perform the Heel on Leash the same as it is performed in the Beginner Novice Heel on Leash exercise.
43. A dog without any AKC obedience title which was mistakenly entered in a Novice obedience class may have the entry transferred to the Beginner Novice class provided the host club allows transfers and the class and judge are available.
GRADUATE NOVICE
44. Add scoring section for each exercise (instead of referring them to other chapters).
45. Add the dumbbell to the Recall over High Jump exercise. This exercise will be performed in the same manner as the Dumbbell Recall except that the dog must clear the high jump.
46. Change the heeling exercise “Heel on Leash” to “Heel off Leash”
47. Group Stay – Sit or Down, Judge’s option, posted before starting the class, 3 minutes.
GRADUATE OPEN
48. Add scoring section for each exercise.
49. Signal Exercise – Revise to state minimum distance of 10’, which will allow handlers to go further away from the dog.
50. Scent Discrimination – State the handler may choose which type of article is retrieved.
51. Go Out - State the handler must stand no closer than the center of the ring.
52. Change the order of the exercises to:
1. Signal Exercise
2. Scent Discrimination
3. Go Out
4. Directed Jumping
5. Moving Stand and Exam
6. Directed Retrieve
PRE-CLASSES
53. Change the name for all “Pre” classes to “Preferred” classes.
Pre-Novice Preferred Novice
Pre-Open Preferred Open
Pre-Utility Preferred Utility
PREFERRED OPEN & PREFERRED UTILITY
54. Preferred Open - Add scoring section for each exercise.
55. Preferred Open - Clarify the Broad Jump is to be set to cover a distance to twice the height of the Pre-Open High Jump.
56. A dog must have a PCD, CD title or higher title from the Regular classes to enter Preferred Open and Preferred Utility.
57. Add a High in Trial (HIT) and High Combined (HC) award at the club’s option for the Preferred title track.
58. Preferred Open – Use the same 6 orders of exercises that are used in the Regular Class without a group exercise.
59. Preferred Utility – Use the same six orders of exercises that are used in the Regular Class.
60. Preferred Utility Signal Exercise – REMOVE exception that allows the handler to use a verbal command during the signal portion.
61. Preferred Utility – Directed Retrieve. Post the Glove # 30-45 minutes prior to the start of the class.
62. Preferred Utility - Add scoring section for each exercise.
63. Preferred Utility - Scent Discrimination: Revise to 10 articles (not 8).
64. Preferred Utility - Directed Retrieve: State it is the same exercise as in Utility.
65. Change the Preferred Open and Preferred Utility classes to include the same 6 mixed order of exercises allowed in Regular Classes with the same exercises, except no group exercises; and jumps are set to ½ the height of the dog at the withers.
PREFERRED UTILITY: NEW PUDX TITLE
66. PUDX – PUDX scores will be recorded only for dogs that have earned the PUTD title. The dog must receive qualifying scores in both Preferred Open and Preferred Utility at 10 separate licensed or member obedience trials. The AKC will issue a Preferred Utility Dog Excellent certificate and will permit the use of the letters PUDX following the name of each dog that meets these requirements.
67. If the PUDX title is approved revise the Signal Exercise to all signals without the permitted verbal command.
68. Previously earned scores and points for the PUDX and POC titles will be grandfathered to 07/01/13.
NEW PREFERRED OBEDIENCE CHAMPION (POC)
69. Non-competitive champion title; points earned based on scores of 190 or better. To earn the Preferred Obedience Champion title, dogs must earn qualifying scores in both Preferred Open and Preferred Utility at 20 separate licensed or member obedience trials & 750 points (see Point Schedule table below).
70. POC Point Schedule (see table)
71. POC – Recognized Achievement – POC multiples (POC, POC2, POC3, etc.)
NON-REGULAR CLASSES – Removal of these classes does not preclude a club from offering non-regular classes not described in the regulations. These may be approved by AKC by submitting a description of the class with the event application.
72. Remove the Sub-Novice class.
73. Remove the International class.
74. Remove the Advanced Teamwork class.
75. Allow Rally Judges to judge Non-Regular Classes – Wild Card, Brace, Team, Veterans.
