Fox Valley Dog Training Club

This class is ongoing and is designed to perfect the skills necessary for the handler/dog team to compete at an obedience trial. This class offers critiquing/suggestions, as well as the opportunity to practice those skills in a group environment and individually with "run-throughs". A "run-through" is an opportunity to do all or part of the exercises explained below, with the instructor acting as the Judge.

This class is ongoing, i.e. there is no starting or ending date. It is also a drop-in class, so you do not have to sign-up to attend – just join in. However, this class is not held on the night of a Correction Clinic – please check the Calendar for those dates.

When competing in the Novice class at an obedience trial, the handler/dog team is judged on a series of "exercises" which are executed at the command of the Judge. To obtain an AKC Companion Dog (CD) title, one must receive a score of 170 points (out of 200 maximum) in the Novice class at three different AKC sanctioned obedience trials, with three different Judges.

The handler/dog team is judged on their execution of these exercises:

Heeling on Leash

A change of pace from normal to fast
A change of pace from normal to slow
About turns
Left turns
Right turns
Halts
A Figure-Eight (with two people acting as the posts)

Stand for Exam

Standing the dog off leash
Leaving the dog with a Stay command
The dog allowing the Judge to approach and place hands on them (without any signs of discomfort or movement)
The handler returning to heel position
Releasing the dog on the handler's command (and not before)

Heeling off Leash

A change of pace from normal to fast
A change of pace from normal to slow
About turns
Left turns
Right turns
Halts

Recall

Leaving the dog on a Sit/Stay and walking to the opposite side of the ring
Calling the dog
Having the dog sit in front of you (automatically, without any guidance)
Having the dog return to heel position, using either the "around" or the "swing" finish

Group Exercises

The dogs and handlers are brought back into the ring to execute the Sit and Down Stay exercises. A maximum of 12 dogs is brought into the ring together to do these exercises. The handlers are on the opposite side of the ring, facing their dogs.
The two exercises are:
1. Sit/Stay - for 1 minute
2. Down/Stay - for 3 minutes

Fox Valley Dog Training Club
PO Box 992
St. Charles, Illinois USA 60174
(630) 575-WOOF