OBEDIENCE TRIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS (CKC)
OPEN CLASS
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Open A
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The obedience Open Class A shall be for purebred dogs of any breed and those breeds as designated on the list of miscellaneous class breeds and of either sex which have earned the title of C.D. (Companion Dog) in Canada but which have not earned the title of C.D.X. (Companion Dog Excellent).
Only one dog per handler is allowed in this class, and that person must handle the dog in all exercises. The handler of any dog in this class must be the owner, co-owner, or a member of their immediate families, and must be eligible to handle under section 10.1.3.
No professional handler or trainer, or any person who has previously exhibited a dog through its U.D. (Utility Dog) title in Canada or elsewhere shall be allowed to handle a dog in this class. A person who receives a consideration (monetary or otherwise) for handling dogs may not enter this class. When a dog is wrongfully entered in this class, any score awarded will be cancelled.
A dog which has earned its C.D.X. title or has earned a comparable title in any other country is not eligible for entry in this class but may only be entered in the Open Class B.
Open B
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The obedience Open Class B shall be for purebred dogs of any breed and those breeds as designated on the list of miscellaneous class breeds and of either sex which shall have earned the title of C.D. (Companion Dog) in Canada.
Dogs in this class may be handled or exhibited by the owner or any other person.
A person may enter more than one dog in this class, but the same handler who handled each dog in the first 5 exercises must handle each dog in the Sit and Down exercises, except that where a handler has handled more than one dog in the first 5 exercises, he must have an additional handler for each additional dog when they are judged in the Group Exercises.
No dog may be entered in both Open Class A and Open Class B at any one trial.
A dog that has earned the title of C.D.X. or a comparable title in any other country must compete in Open Class B. Dogs that have completed the requirements for the title of U.D. (Utility Dog) in Canada may enter this class.
A dog eligible for entry in the Utility Class at any obedience trial held under these rules is also eligible for entry in the Open Class B at the same trial.
Tests, Order of Judging & Scores
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The tests, order of judging, and scores for a perfect performance in the Open A and B Classes shall be:
- (a) Heel Free and Figure Eight 40 points
- (b) Drop on Recall 30 points
- (c) Retrieve on Flat .... 25 points
- (d) Retrieve over High Jump 35 points
- (e) Broad Jump 20 points
- (f) Long Sit 25 points
- (g) Long Down 25 points
- Maximum Total Score 200 points
Companion Dog Excellent Title (C.D.X.)
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The CKC will permit the use of the letters C.D.X., signifying Companion Dog Excellent, to be used in connection with and after the name of each dog that has met the requirements for that title as hereinafter provided.
There need not be any specified number of dogs in competition in the Open Class. To be permitted to use the title Companion Dog Excellent a dog must:
Be registered in the records of the CKC, or if a miscellaneous class breed, holds a CKC Miscellaneous Class Certification number, or if foreign born and owned, the dog shall have a CKC registration number, or an Event Registration Number, or Performance Event Number. Receive a qualifying score of more than 50% of the available points in each of the 7 exercises and a total score of 170 or more points in the Open Class at 3 obedience trials held under these regulations. Receive 3 qualifying scores under at least 2 different judges.
When the foregoing requirements for the title of Companion Dog Excellent are fully met, the owner (who must be recorded as owner in the records of the CKC) shall be entitled to a certificate issued by the CKC certifying that the title has been earned at approved trials held under CKC regulations.
Heel Free
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The orders and scoring for this exercise shall be the same as for the Heel on Leash. Heeling in both Novice Classes and Open Classes is done in the same manner except that all Open Class exercises are done off leash, including the Figure 8.
The principal features and deductions are the same as in Novice.
Drop On Recall
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The orders for this exercise are "Leave Your Dog", "Call Your Dog", "Drop Your Dog", "Call Your Dog", "Finish", "Exercise Finished".
In the Recall exercise, upon order or signal from the judge to "Leave Your Dog", the handler will give his dog the command and/or signal to stay in the sitting position, leave the dog, and go about 12.19m (40'), turn and face the dog. Upon order or signal from the judge to "Call Your Dog", the handler will call or signal the dog which must come straight in at a brisk pace. While the dog is in motion, upon order or signal from the judge, or at a pre-designated point, the handler will command or signal the dog to drop. Upon further order or signal from the judge to "Call Your Dog", the handler will call or signal the dog, which must rise and come straight, at a brisk pace, sitting straight in front of the handler, close enough so that the handler can readily touch the dog's head without moving either foot or having to stretch forward. Upon order or signal from the judge to "Finish", the dog on command or signal should go smartly to heel. In the Finish the method by which a dog goes to heel shall be optional with the handler providing it is done smartly.
The judge may designate the point at which the dog is to drop, by some marker, placed in advance which will be clear to the handler but not obvious to the dog; or the judge may give the handler a signal for the drop, but such signal must be given in such a way as not to attract the dog's attention.
The dog will be judged on the promptness of its response to the command or signal to drop and not on its proximity to a designated point.
The principal features of this exercise, in addition to those listed in the Novice Recall, are the dog's response to the handler's command or signal to drop, and the dog remaining in the down position until called or signaled to come.
A score of zero shall be given any dog that anticipates the drop, does not drop completely to the down position on a single command or signal, or for a dog that drops but does not remain down until called or signaled to come, plus those penalties applicable to the Novice Recall.
Substantial or minor deductions, varying with the degree of error, shall be made for a slow response to the handler's command or signal to drop, or for delay or slowness in response to either of the recalls, plus those penalties applicable to the Novice Recall.
Retrieve On Flat
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The orders of this exercise are "Throw It", "Send Your Dog", "Take It", "Finish", "Exercise Finished".
In Retrieving the Dumbbell on the Flat, the orders given by the judge shall be "Throw It", whereupon the handler may give the command and/or signal to stay and shall throw the dumbbell. The next order shall be to "Send Your Dog", whereupon the handler gives a command or signal to the dog to retrieve the dumbbell. The next order shall be to "Take It", whereupon the handler may command the dog to give it up, then takes it. Upon order or signal from the judge to "Finish", the dog on command or signal should go smartly to heel. The retrieve should be executed at a brisk pace, without unnecessary mouthing or playing with the dumbbell. The dog shall sit straight immediately in front of the handler and close enough for the handler to take the dumbbell without moving either foot or having to stretch forward. The dumbbell shall be made of any rigid or hard material other than metal and must be approved by the judge. It may be painted or varnished but shall have no decorations or attachments. The size of the dumbbell shall be proportionate to the size of the dog. The dumbbell shall be thrown approximately 6.10m (20 feet). If the dumbbell is thrown unsatisfactorily, the judge may request a re-throw.
The principal features of this exercise are that the dog retrieves the dumbbell on command or signal and returns it to the handler.
A score of zero shall be given to any dog which fails to go out on the first command or signal, or which fails to retrieve or goes to retrieve before the command or signal is given, fails to return close enough for the handler to take the dumbbell without moving either foot, fails to give up the dumbbell, plus those penalties applicable to the Novice Recall.
Substantial or minor deductions, depending on the circumstances, shall be made for slowness in going out or returning, slowness in picking up the dumbbell, mouthing or playing with the dumbbell, dropping the dumbbell, for reluctance to release the dumbbell to the handler, or for the handler having to stretch forward to take the dumbbell, plus those penalties applicable to the Novice Recall.
Retrieve Over High Jump
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The orders for this exercise are "Throw It", "Send Your Dog", "Take It", "Finish", "Exercise Finished".
The Retrieve Over High Jump is executed in the same manner as the Retrieve on the Flat, except that the dog must jump the high jump. The handler must stand a minimum of 2.44m (8') from the high jump and remain in the same position throughout the exercise. The dumbbell must be thrown a distance of at least 2.44m (8') beyond the jump. The high jump shall be as nearly as possible the height of the dog at the withers, or 90cm (36"), whichever is less except for dogs of breeds listed in Appendix C, for which the jump shall be as nearly as possible three quarters their height at the withers.
The judge and handler are responsible for making sure the dog jumps the correct height.
The principal features of this exercise are that the dog, on command or signal, jumps the High Jump, retrieves the dumbbell and returns over the jump to the handler.
A score of zero shall be given any dog which fails to go out over the high jump on the first command or signal, climbs the jump, or uses the top of the jump as an aid in going over, or fails to retrieve over the jump, or goes to retrieve before the command or signal is given, or does not return over the jump, or fails to come close enough for the handler to take the dumbbell without moving either foot, or fails to give up the dumbbell, plus those penalties applicable to the Novice Recall.
Substantial or minor deductions shall be given, varying with the degree of error, for touching the jump, or slowness in going out or returning, or slowness in picking up the dumbbell, mouthing or playing with the dumbbell, dropping the dumbbell, or for reluctance to release the dumbbell to the handler, or for the handler having to stretch forward to take the dumbbell, plus those penalties applicable to the Novice Recall.
Broad Jump
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The orders for this exercise are "Leave Your Dog", "Send Your Dog", "Finish", "Exercise Finished".
In the Broad Jump, the handler will stand with the dog at the heel position at least 2.44m (8') from and in front of the jump. When set up, the jump shall be spaced so as to cover a distance equal to twice the height of the high jump, as set for the particular dog, with the low side of each hurdle and the lowest hurdle nearest the dog. See Appendix "C" and "D" for the list and heights for specific breed exceptions.
On order from the judge to "Leave Your Dog", the handler will give the dog the command and/or signal to stay and go to a position facing the right side of the jump about 61cm (2') from the jump, and within the range of the first and last hurdle. On order from the judge, the handler shall give the command or signal to jump and the dog should clear the entire width of the broad jump without touching it and, without further command or signal, return to a sitting position straight in front of the handler as in the Recall. The handler shall change position while the dog is in mid-air by executing a right turn. Upon order from the judge, "Finish", the dog, on command or signal, should go smartly to heel.
The principal feature of this exercise is for the dog to stay where left and to jump promptly on command or signal.
A score of zero shall be given any dog which fails to stay until directed to jump, is given an extra command to stay after the handler leaves, refuses the jump on the first command or signal, walks over any part of the jump, fails to clear the full distance, or fails to come close enough for the handler to touch the dog's head without moving either foot.
Substantial or minor deductions shall be given for the dog being given extra command to stay before the handler leaves, for the handler standing too close to the jump, for the dog that stands or lies down before directed to jump, for touching the jump going over, for the handler not turning while the dog is in mid-air, or for a poor return, plus all penalties applicable to the Novice Recall.
Group Sit & Down Exercises
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The orders for these exercises are "Sit Your Dogs", or "Down Your Dogs", "Leave Your Dogs", "Back to Your Dogs", Exercise Finished".
The Long Sit and Long Down exercises in the Open Classes are performed in the same manner as in the Novice Classes, except that after leaving their dogs the handlers must immediately leave the ring and go to a place designated by the judge out of sight of their dogs, where they must remain until the time limit of 3 minutes for the Long Sit and 3 minutes for the Long Down (from the time the judge gave the order to "Leave Your Dogs"), has expired.
The principal features and deductions are the same as for the Novice Group Sit & Down Exercises.
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