OBEDIENCE TRIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS (CKC)

9 Pre-Novice Class

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9.1 Pre-Novice

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9.1.1 - The Pre-Novice Class is an elective class and earning the title is not a requirement to enter Novice Classes.

9.1.2 - The Pre-Novice Class shall be for any dog of any recognized or listed breed which has not earned the title of P.C.D.

9.1.3 - Dogs in this class may be handled by the owner or any other person.

9.1.4 - A person may enter more than one dog in this class.

9.1.5 - The same handler must handle each dog in all 5 exercises unless he has 2 or more dogs entered. In such cases, he must have an additional handler for each extra dog when they are judged together in the Group Exercise.

9.1.6 - Only dogs that have not earned the title of C.D. may enter the Pre-Novice class.

Tests & Order of Judging & Scoring

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9.2.1 - The tests and order of judging shall be:

    (a) Heel on Leash

    (b) Figure 8

    (c) Sit for Examination

    (d) Recall

    (e) Long Sit

9.2.2 - This class is scored qualify or non-qualify only. No numerical scores are awarded.

9.3 Pre-Novice Title (P.C.D.)

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9.3.1 - The CKC will permit the use of the letters P.C.D. , signifying Pre-Companion Dog to be used in connection with and after the name of each dog which has met the requirements for that title as hereinafter provided.

9.3.2 - To be permitted to use the title of Pre-Companion Dog a dog must:

    (a) be registered with the CKC, or have an Event Registration Number (ERN), a Performance Event Number (PEN) or if listed in the miscellaneous list a Miscellaneous Certification Number (MCN).

    (b) earn a qualifying performance in each of the five (5) exercises at three (3) obedience trials held under these rules

    (c) earn three (3) qualifying performances under at least two (2) different judges.

9.3.3 - When the foregoing requirements for the title Pre-Companion Dog 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.

9.4 Extra Commands or Signals

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9.5 Heel On Leash

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9.5.1 - The principal feature of this exercise is the ability of the dog and the handler to work as a team.

9.5.2 - The orders for this exercise are: "Are you ready?," "Forward," "Halt," "Right turn," "Left turn," "About turn," "Slow," "Normal," "Fast," and "Exercise finished." They may be given in any sequence and may be repeated more than once.

9.5.3 - In the Pre-Novice Class, the handler shall enter the ring with his dog on a loose leash and stand still at the start position, with the dog sitting at heel position. On the judge's order, the handler may give a command or signal to heel, and start walking briskly with the dog on a loose leash. The dog shall walk close to the left side of the handler without forging, lagging or crowding, permitting the handler freedom of motion at all times. At each order to halt, the handler will stop and the dog should sit smartly at heel.The handler may give the dog a verbal command to sit. It is permissible after each halt, before moving again, for the handler to give the command or signal to heel.

9.5.4 - Handlers are permitted to give a maximum of two extra commands to heel provided, in the judge's opinion, the dog would have qualified without them.

9.5.5 - Handlers are permitted to give moderate verbal encouragement while heeling.

9.5.6 - When executing the slow and fast pace, handler and dog must significantly change pace from normal.

9.5.7 - When executing the about turn, the handler will do a right about turn in all cases.

9.5.8 - A non-qualifying performance shall be given to a dog which is unmanageable, or if the handler constantly controls the dog's performance by tugging on the leash, constantly adapts their pace to that of the dog, gives more than two additional commands or signals to heel or gives excessive verbal encouragement.

9.6 Figure 8

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9.6.1 - The principal feature of this exercise is the ability of the dog and the handler to work as a team.

9.6.2 - The orders for this exercise are: "This is the Figure 8 exercise. You may go in either direction. Are you ready?", "Forward", "Halt", and "Exercise finished."

9.6.3 - In the Figure 8 exercise, the handler will stand with the dog sitting in heel position facing the judge, midway between the two stewards, who will stand about 3.66m (12’) apart. The handler may go around either steward first. On the judge's order, the handler, with the dog on a loose leash shall go twice completely around the Figure 8 with one halt at the end of the exercise.The handler may give the dog a verbal command to sit.

9.6.4 - Handlers are permitted to give a maximum of two extra commands to heel provided, in the judge's opinion, the dog would have qualified without them.

9.6.5 - Handlers are permitted to give moderate verbal encouragement while heeling.

9.6.6 - A non-qualifying performance shall be given to a dog which is unmanageable, or if the handler constantly controls the dog's performance by tugging on the leash, constantly adapts their pace to that of the dog, gives more than two additional commands or signals to heel or gives excessive verbal encouragement.

9.7 Sit For Examination

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9.7.1 - The principal feature of this exercise is that the dog sit where left before and during the examination and show no shyness, resentment or aggression.

9.7.2 - The orders for this exercise are " Are you ready" "Sit your dog for examination and leave when ready," "Back to your dog," and "Exercise finished."

9.7.3 - On the judge's order, the handler will command or signal his dog to sit and, without further orders give the command and/or signal to stay, walk away in front of the dog to the end of a 1.83m (6’) leash, turn and face the dog. The leash shall be held clear of the floor when the handler is in position.

9.7.4 - The judge will approach the dog from the front and touch its head only. On the judge's order, the handler will return by walking around behind the dog to heel position.

9.7.5 - The dog shall remain in a sitting position until the judge says “Exercise Finished”.

9.7.6 - The scoring of this exercise shall not start until the handler has given the command and/or signal to stay.

9.7.7 - No additional commands are permitted during this exercise.

9.7.8 - A non-qualifying performance shall be given to a dog which stands, lies down or moves away from the place where left either before or during the examination or displays shyness, resentment, or aggression at any time.

9.8 Recall

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9.8.1 - The principal features of this exercise are that the dog stays where left, comes promptly to the handler when called and allows the handler to clip the leash onto the collar.

9.8.2 - The orders for this exercise are " Are you ready?," "Leave your dog", "Call your dog," "Put your leash on" and "Exercise finished."

9.8.3 - In the recall exercise, the handler will remove the leash from the dog's collar and either hold it in one hand or place it around his neck.

9.8.4 - On the judge's order, the handler will give the dog a command and/or signal to stay in the sitting position, leave the dog, walk about 6.1m (20’), turn and face the dog with his hands hanging naturally at his sides. On the judge's order, the handler will call or signal the dog which should come straight in at a brisk pace and sit in front of the handler.The handler may com- mand the dog to sit. On the judge's order, the handler, without excessive bending or stretching or moving either foot, will clip the leash back on the dog. The dog should remain sitting until the judge says, “Exercise finished”.

9.8.5 - The handler may give the dog verbal encouragement once it has reached the half way point in the recall provided, if in the judge's opinion, the dog would have qualified without it.

9.8.6 - A non-qualifying performance shall be given to any dog which fails to stay where it is left until called, receives an additional command or signal to stay after the handler leaves, fails to come on the first command or signal or does not come close enough for the handler to clip the leash on without excessive stretch- ing or bending or moving either foot.

9.9 Group Sit Exercise

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9.9.1 - The principal feature of this exercise is for the dog to stay and remain in the sit position until the handler returns.

9.9.2 - The orders for this exercise are " Sit your dogs," "Leave your dogs," "Back to your dogs," "Exercise finished."

9.9.3 - All dogs competing in a class will perform this exercise together. If, however, there are more than 8 dogs competing they will be split into groups of not more than 8. Each group will be judged immediately following their individual exercises.

9.9.4 - The dogs must enter the ring on leash and line up in a straight line in catalogue order . Handlers' arm- bands shall be placed behind the dogs.The leash shall remain attached to the dog's collar and placed at the dog's right side.

9.9.5 - On the judge's orders, the handlers shall sit their dogs, give the command and/or signal to stay, immediately leave their dogs, walk about 6.1m (20’), turn and face their dogs.

9.9.6 - The judging of this exercise will not start until the judge orders the handlers to "Leave your dogs".

9.9.7 - The judge shall take a position in the ring where both the dogs and handlers can be observed. Thirty (30) seconds from the time the order to "Leave your dogs" was given, on the judge's order, the handlers must return promptly to their dogs, each walking around behind his own dog to the heel position. The dogs should not move from the sitting position until the judge says “Exercise finished”.

9.9.8 - No additional commands are permitted during this exercise.

9.9.9 - A non qualifying performance shall be given to any dog which at any time during the exercise moves a substantial distance from the place it was left, goes to another dog, barks or whines unreasonably or fails to remain in the sit position until the handler has returned to heel position.

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