Competition Obedience Classes

Heeling, Fronts and Finishes

This 8-week class is an intensive introduction to the three most critical skills required for successfully competing in obedience: heeling, fronts and finishes. Heeling is the single largest source of points at all three levels of competition and a source of difficulty for many teams.

Heeling is taught systematically with an emphasis on attention, minimization of errors, and promoting the dog’s understanding of heel position. Many exercises require fronts and finishes, so their mastery is essential to success in competition. Accordingly, fronts and finishes are taught, with an emphasis on speed and correct position. Various training aids are employed, included platforms, frames, and pivot bowls. While teaching these specific skills, attention is also paid to developing and effective and rewarding working relationship between dog and handler.

Play as a reward, managing the dog’s emotional level, effective use of reinforcement (including marker words), and ring entry/progression are also addressed.

Topics Covered:

• Heeling
• Fronts
• Finishes
• Play
• Ring entry/progression
• Effective use of reinforcement

Note: Students must have a clear intention to compete in obedience or rally. Students must welcome feedback and diligently practice between classes.

Prerequisites: Completion of Family Dog 1 and 2 or permission of instructor. This class should normally be taken before any other upper-level obedience classes. Registration requires permission of the instructor.

Beginner Novice

This 8-week class builds upon the fundamental skills learned in Heeling, Fronts and Finishes by introducing students to beginner novice exercises. Students will learn to sequence heeling maneuvers into full heeling patterns. Upon completion of the 8-week class, students will generally need more practice before competing in Beginner Novice, but will be ready to join a Novice class.

Topics include:

• Beginner Novice heeling patters using rally signs
• Novice heeling patterns called by the instructor
• Sit for exam
• Stand for exam
• Figure 8
• Recall
• Sit-stay

 
Prerequisites: Completion of Heeling, Fronts and Finishes. Note that teams must be able to heel at the start of the class; this class is not appropriate for dogs that have not yet learned to heel; loose-leash walking is not sufficient.

NOVICE

Novice instruction offers students an opportunity to work with instructors who will help prepare them for showing at the Novice level of obedience competition.

Topics Covered:

• Attention
• Heeling with attention automatic sits and turns, and figure eights
• Off-lead heeling
• Off-lead recalls
• On-lead group stays (with distractions)
• Ring etiquette and procedures

Prerequisites:  Completion of Heeling, Fronts and Finishes and Beginner Novice or permission of instructor.

Upper-Level Obedience Skills

The traditional approach to learning Open and Utility skills is to master novice skills before learning Open skills and to master Open skills before learning Utility skills. This approach substantially delays teaching foundational skills, such as retrieving, that could well be taught sooner. Teaching upper-level foundational skills and exercises are fun for both dog and handler and promotes systematic training and extended practice. This class teaches specific upper-level exercises in a manner that sequences component skills in an efficient, highly systematic manner. For example, retrieving skills are foundational to exercises at both the Open level (retrieve on flat, retrieve over high) as well as at the Utility level (scent discrimination, directed retrieve), so taking and holding the dumbbell are taught from the very beginning of the class, while concurrently teaching the scent work aspects of scent discrimination. This is an ongoing class and students may join at any time

Topics include:

• The components of retrieving (proper grip, not mouthing, not dropping, etc.)
• Retrieve on flat
• Retrieve over high jump
• Scent discrimination
• Directed retrieve
• Directed jumping
• Broad jump
• Command discrimination
• Signal exercise
• Moving stand for exam

 
Prerequisites: Completion of Heeling, Fronts and Finishes and 2 legs toward the Novice title or permission of instructor. Ideally this class should be taken before entering an Open or Utility class, but permission is likely to be given to students who have not had the opportunity to take the class sooner. Registration requires permission of the instructor.

OPEN

Open instruction offers students who have completed, or who are completing, a Companion Dog title the opportunity to learn the exercises required in the Open level of obedience competition.

Topics Covered:

• Off-lead heeling and Figure Eight
• Drop on Recall
• Retrieve on Flat
• Retrieve over High Jump
• Broad Jump
• Position Discrimination
• Stay and Get Your Leash

Prerequisites: Two legs toward Companion Dog obedience title or by approval by the Instructor.  

UTILITY

Utility instruction offers students who have completed, or who are completing, a Companion Dog Excellent title the opportunity to learn the exercises required in the Utility level of obedience competition.

Topics Covered:

• Off-lead Heeling
• Hand signals for Heel, Stand, Stay, Sit, Down, Recall, and Finish
• Directed Retrieve
• Scent Discrimination
• Moving Stand and Examination
• Directed Jumping

Prerequisites: Two legs toward Companion Dog Excellent obedience title or by approval by the Instructor.