Shorthaired Pointers In Obedience

 Obedience is the oldest event and has many levels to challenge the novice and expert alike.Obedience features three major levels of competition that will lead to titles, and several other non-regular classes that are well defined. Most include "Rally-Obedience" under the obedience umbrella, but as of this writing it remains unknown when (or if) "Rally-O" will become a titling class. A new "pre-novice" level has been recommended by the Obedience Rules Review Committee but has yet to be implemented.The Novice level is divided into two classes – "Novice A" and "Novice B". There are detailed rules defining these classes (as is true of every area of obedience!), but put simply, Novice A is intended for "first timers" in obedience competition, while Novice B is where competitors with prior obedience experience should show. Although each class is placed separately, the exercises and standard of perfection are the same.Novice level classes have six exercises worth a combined total of 200 points. A qualifying score is one where a minimum of 170 points is earned, and at least half of the points in each exercise are earned. I’ll include a brief description of each below.

Heel on Leash and Figure Eight - 40 points – These two exercises are combined into one activity. Part 1 requires the dog to heel on leash following a pre-set pattern that will be called out by the judge. Patterns vary, but usually simple "T" or "L" shapes will be used. The dog must heel when the handler starts, and must sit when the handler stops. Other requirements are handling slow and fast paces, performing left, right, and about turns, and performing several stops. The "figure eight" requires the team to circle two people (called "posts") in a figure eight pattern, including two stops commanded by the judge.

Stand for Examination - 30 points – The handler puts their dog into a stand – it can be informal or a full formal conformation stand. The judge touches the dog in three places, and the handler must return to the dog without the dog moving.

Heel Free - 40 points – This exercise mimics part one of the heel on leash, but the dog is off leash. Otherwise the exercise is conducted similarly to the heel on leash.

Recall - 30 points – The handler leaves the dog, walks across the ring, turns, and on command calls the dog for a quick front. The handler then "finishes" the dog – a finish is where the dog returns to the "left side sit" by either swinging to the left into position, or by going behind the handler’s right and sitting on the left.

Long Sit - 30 points – for the Novice sit, a group of dogs are brought into the ring, and all of them are put into a sit. The handlers then cross the ring and turn and wait for one minute before returning to their dogs.

Long Down - 30 points – Similar to the long sit, the long down requires the group of dogs to remain in the down position for 3 minutes.

A total of 44 Novice titles were earned in 2002. The Novice title is represented by a "CD" at the end of the dogs name (Companion Dog), and represents a dog who has achieved a qualifying score in either Novice A or Novice B three different times. As noted about, a qualifying score is a minimum 170 achieved by earning at least half of the possible points in each exercise.

Open is also divided into two parts – Open A is for dogs who have not earned the Companion Dog Excellent, or "CDX" title but have earned the CD title; Open B, for dogs with the CD or CDX title and often has dogs trying to achieve legs or points towards the UDX or OTCH titles. The Open title (CDX) is much more difficult to earn than the Novice title – only 15 GSPs achieved this title in 2002. There are 7 exercises in Open. In Open A they are always done in the order listed below; in Open B the order can be changed and shifted.

Heel Free and Figure Eight 40 points – Similar to the on-lead Novice exercise, this challenge is done off lead throughout the healing and Figure Eight exercise.

Drop on Recall - 30 points – Starting like the Novice Recall, this exercise ups the ante considerably because as the dog comes to the handler, the handler gives a command for the dog to drop into a down immediately. Then, at the judges direction, the dog is recalled to the handler the rest of the way.

Retrieve on Flat - 20 points -- The handler throws a dumbbell across the ring and on command the dog goes out, picks up the dumbbell, and retrieves it to the handler directly. A normal front and finish completes the exercise.

Retrieve over High Jump - 30 points – Like the Retrieve on Flat, the handler throws a dumbbell, but this time it is thrown over a high jump. The dog must go out over the high jump, retrieve the dumbbell, and jump back over the jump to give the dumbbell to the handler.

Broad Jump - 20 points – this odd exercise requires the handler to leave the dog and stand perpendicular to the dog’s path next to a broad jump. The dog jumps the broad jump and turns and performs a front and subsequent finish to complete the exercise.

Long Sit - 30 points – The group exercises require the handler to leave the dog (in a sit or down) and leave the ring and go out of sight. For the long sit, the dog is left for a total of 3 minutes and must remain sitting the entire time.

Long Down - 30 points – Same as the sit, except the handler leaves the dog and goes out of sight for 5 minutes.

Utility is the ultimate set of tests, mixing signaling, retrieve, and considerable work away from the handler. There were only 5 Utility (UD) titles earned by GSPs in 2002. There are six exercises worth 200 points. Like Open, there are A and B classes intended for those seeking the UD title, and those that have the title and are seeking the UDX or OTCH titles. Also like Open, the Utility A exercises are conducted in the order below while Utility B can mix the order.

Signal Exercise - 40 points – This amazing exercise requires the dog to heel with signals only (and off leash), but includes a "leave your dog" command where the handler signals the dog to stand while the handler continues to walk.

Scent Discrimination Article No. 1 - 30 points – In both scent discrimination exercises the handler "scents" one of 10 articles (5 are metal, 5 are leather), which is placed with the other articles in the center of the ring. The dog is sent to the pile and must select the article recently scented by the handler, retrieve it to hand, and complete the exercise with a front and finish.

Scent Discrimination Article No. 2 - 30 points – The other type of article (metal or leather) is used as the scented article and is conducted the same as the previous exercise.

Directed Retrieve - 30 points – Three gloves are placed at the two corners and middle of a side of the ring. The handler turns with the dog and sends the dog to one of the three articles as directed by the judge. The dog must go out, retrieve the glove, and return it to hand, completing the exercise with a front and finish.

Moving Stand and Examination - 30 points – A variation of the Novice Stand for Examination, this exercise requires the dog to be left in a stand as it is heeling with the owner, and the judge performs a much more extensive examination of the dog.

Directed Jumping - 40 points – Seemingly an easy exercise, for some reason this appears to be one of the most difficult in Utility. The dog is sent to the far middle of the ring between a bar jump and a high jump and must sit. The handler then signals either the bar or high jump, which the dog must then take and do a front and finish. The dog is then sent again and the other jump is taken.

The advanced titles are the UDX and OTCH. For the UDX, the team must have the UD title. The team must qualify in both Open B and Utility B on the same day, and do it 10 different times to earn the UDX. There were only 3 GSPs who earned the UDX in 2002.

The Obedience Title Champion title is competitive. Competing dogs must have the UD title, and must compete in Open B and Utility B. Dogs earn points by placing in each of these classes and the number of points earned is dependent on the number of dogs entered in the competition. For example, in Open B, if there were 21-25 dogs competing, a first place would be worth 10 OTCH points, a second would be worth only 3 OTCH points, and a third would be worth 1 OTCH point.

Dogs must earn 100 OTCH points, achieve a first place in Utility B, achieve a first place in Open B, and achieve another first place in either of the classes to become an Obedience Title Champion. Note that all three first place finishes must be under different judges, and only one can be earned at a specialty. There are minimum entry requirements also. This requirement is more difficult when you consider that dogs who continue to compete after they have earned their OTCH (for national point placements, or because they are still trying to earn a UDX title) are in the same class as the OTCH hopefuls. Thus, dogs without championships actually have to compete head to head with obedience champions to earn their points and placements. There were no GSPs earning an OTCH in 2002.

Obedience demonstrates the ultimate in biddability and trainability in the GSP. It can be loads of fun and you get the opportunity to join an elite circle of GSP owners. The small group of successful competitors in this space often forms long-term friendships across the country. Give it a try! We have several active competitors in the club. You’ll have a blast!