Obedience is a sport to demonstrate the Handler's control of her dog.  The team will complete exercises using the basic commands we teach (sit, stay, down, heel, etc.)  The idea is for the team to perform each task with perfection, beginning with a pre-set number of points per exercise.  The goal is to come as close to a score of 200, but nothing lower the a 170.

 Like Agility, there are many different kennel clubs that host obedience trials, but I will be covering AKC's trial requirements.  I am familiar with these since I have not attempted Obedience in another venue.

The Levels:
Novice A & B (Companion Dog) 
Open A & B (Companion Dog Excellent)
Utility A & B (Utility Dog) Novice

Novice:

Novice A is for people that have never titled a dog in obedience.
Novice B is for those that have.

Open:

Open A is for a Dog completing for its Companion Dog Excellent Title
Open B is for Dogs competing for higher honors.

Utility

Utility A is for a Dog completing for its Utility Dog Title
Utility B is for Dogs competing for higher honors.

Novice Exercise Requirements:
On Lead Heel - With the dog on the handler's left side, the Team follows a walking path determined by the judge.  The judge will call a few stops (halts) and the dog must sit.  There will be left, right and "about" turns, plus a "fast" pace, as well as a "slow".  The dog must remain in the "Heel Position" at all times.

Figure 8 - Two Gate Stewards serve as posts.  The Team must Figure 8 it around the posts while the dog is in Heel Position.  He must not break concentration during the exercise.

Stand For Exam - While off lead, the handler "stands" her dog and moves to six feet out.  The judge approaches the dog and touches his head, shoulders, & rear, and walks off.  The handler then returns to her dog.  The dog is not allowed to sit.

Off Lead Heel - This is the same pattern as the On Lead Heel, only it is done while the dog is off lead.

Recall - The team is placed on one side of the ring.  The handler leaves her dog, walks in a straight line to where the judge wants her and turns around.  The judge signals for the handler to call the dog and she does so.  The dog comes in and sits in front of the handler, close enough to touch, but far enough not to be touching the handler's feet.  The judge will signal for a "finish" where the dog returns to a sit on the handler's left side.

One Minute Sit - This is done with a group of dogs.  The line of Teams comes into the ring and lines up.  Everyone removes the lead and at the judge's call, leaves their dogs.  They go to the other side of the ring and wait for one minute.  The dog is required to sit in place.  After that time, the handlers return to their dogs.

Three Minute Down - This is done the same as the Sit, only it is a Down.  The length of time is three minutes.

 Obtaining a Title:
The dog must complete all requirements/Qualify three times.  This is known as a "leg".  Once the three legs are received the dog can be moved up to the next level.
There are also placements (1st - 4th) and ribbons offered to the Qualifying dogs.

Open Exercise Requirements:
Off Lead Heel - This is the same requirement as in Novice.  The Team follows the judge's direction around the ring, completing halts, a fast, a slow, and right, left & about turns.

Figure 8 - This is the same as in the Novice class with the exception that the dog is off lead.

Drop on Recall - Same as the Novice Recall, but while the dog is running toward the handler, the judge will direct the handler to "down" the dog.  Once the dog performs the down, he is called to the handler.  He must sit in front of the handler and then finish off the exercise by returning to the Heel Position.

 Flat Retrieve - Performed with a "dumbbell" ( wood or plastic bar with two ends).  The handler throws the dumbbell and then sends the dog out to retrieve it.  The dog must get it and bring it back to the handler.  The handler takes it and sends the dog back into the Heel Position.

Retrieve over High Jump - Also performed with a Dumbbell.  This exercise is the same as the Flat Retrieve only the dog is sent over a jump to retrieve the Dumbbell and is to take the same jump coming back to the handler.

Broad Jump - In this exercise the dog is required to jump twice his length.  The team sets up in front of the Broad Jump.  The handler leaves the dog and takes a position along side of the jump, then calls the dog over the jump.  The dog comes to the handler and is returned to Heel Position

Three Minute Sit - Also performed like the Novice Sit, but the length of time is for three minutes.  The handlers are also required to leave the ring and "hide" from their dogs.

Five Minute Down - Same procedure as the Sit, only it is a Down and the length of time is for five minutes. 

Obtaining a Title:
The dog must complete all requirements/Qualify three times.  This is known as a "leg".  Once the three legs are received the dog can be moved up to the next level.
There are also placements (1st - 4th) and ribbons offered to the Qualifying dogs.

Utility Dog:
Signals - The team does a short heeling pattern.  The dog is left in a Stand and the handler walks to the other side of the ring.  At the judge's direction, the handler signals (no voice commands) a Down, a Sit, and a Come.  The dog finishes off the exercise by returning to the Heel Position. 

Scent Discrimination - The dog is sent out to retrieve one dumbbell in a pile that contains the most recent handler scent.  (The Dumbbells are marked with numbers on the side so that the judge knows which is the correct one.)  This is performed twice, once using a metal dumbbell, once using a plastic or wooden one. 

 Directed Retrieve - The judge lays out three Gloves at the opposite end of the ring; one in each corner, one in the middle.  The judge then tells the handler which one the dog must get.  The handle sends the dog out to retrieve that particular Glove.  The dog returns to her and finishes off the exercise by returning to the Heel Position.

Moving Stand - The same as the Stand for Exam, only this time the dog is moving and told to wait while the handler walks away.  The judge completes the exam and the handler returns to her dog.

Directed Jumping - There are two jumps, one a Bar Jump, the other a Panel Jump.  The judge dictates which one for the handler to send the dog over.  The dog is then sent out and must sit  The judge directs the handler to call the dog back over the jump.  The exercise is completed as a normal recall.    The team is then tested on the next jump. 

Obtaining a Title:
The dog must complete all requirements/Qualify three times.  This is known as a "leg".  Once the three legs are received the dog can be moved up to the next level.
There are also placements (1st - 4th) and ribbons offered to the Qualifying dogs.

The Titles:
  CD (Companion Dog)
  CDX (Companion Dog Excellent)
  UD (Utility Dog)
  UDX (Utility Dog Excellent)
  OTCh (Obedience Trial Champion) 

High In Trial:
This is a recognized award for the dog with the highest Qualifying Score across all classes.

Original Note:
The Von Braun kids have been training for Agility and at least one is currently being trained and about to be seriously shown in Obedience.  It has been a long time since I have been in the Obedience ring and I am looking forward to the new challenge.  The great thing is that I have learned a new training technique and am more then please with the results of not one dog's work, but a few.

That will be left to Niven, who I have already started training and who at a year of age promises to be the Obedience Dog Crumpet is.  If anything, it will be fun.