Classes and Scorecards

COUNTY OPTIONAL CLASS: PRE-BEGINNING NOVICE EXERCISES A&B

All exercises must be performed on a 6-foot leash. Dogs must heel; figure 8; sit for examination; come on recall - no finish; long sit for one minute. During the sit exercise, the leash must be held by the handler. 

Division A – Both handler and dog are in their first year of county, state, or any other dog experience. Dogs being shown may not have completed an AKC “leg” toward a “CD” degree. 
 

Division B – Exhibitor or dog are beyond first year of competition. This class also includes dogs that have been shown previously by others but have not moved past the pre-beginning novice level. 
 

Advancement through Obedience Levels with Pre-Beginning Novice A & B – County Only

• Pre-Beginning Novice (PBN) A & B – it is recommended that an exhibitor enroll in this class when they begin showing. Under General Guidelines in Obedience #9, we recommend that handlers choose the lowest level in their first year because once they show at a level they may not move to a lower level. 
  • PBN A is allowed for one year (first year exhibitor and first year dog). 
    • Exhibitors who participate in PBN A at the county fair and choose to show at State Fair in the same year will advance to Beginning Novice A. However, once they show in Beginning Novice at State Fair, they cannot go back to PBN B at the county fair the next year and must show in Beginning Novice. Exhibitors with the same dog beyond their first year of showing should go into Beginning Novice C.
  • PBN B is a second-year pre-beginner novice class for exhibitors that seek to gain another year of experience at a pre-beginner level.
    • Exhibitors receiving a second purple (A & B together), are required to move up to Beginning Novice C unless youth is using a new dog then they could select Beginning Novice B (#10 under General Regulations). The addition of the PBN A & B at the county level is for youth to gain show experience and be comfortable with showing obedience in the show ring. It is recommended leaders should encourage youth to move up to Beginning Novice after the first year or two regardless of results.

Heel on Leash
 

The principal feature of this exercise is the ability of the dog and handler to work as a team. The orders for this exercise will be “Forward” “Right Turn”, “Left Turn”, “About Turn”, “Fast, “Slow”, “Normal”, “Halt,” and “Exercise Finished.” The Judge will call out the commands as the handler works through the exercise. Rally signs will be used for this exercise and will be placed to the right of the handler’s path except for those indicating a change in direction, in which case the sign will be directly in front of the team to aid in that change. Signs to be used are “Right turn, Left turn, About turn, Slow, Normal, Fast” and “Halt/Sit.” “Fast” means that the handler must run, and the handler and dog must move forward at a noticeably accelerated speed. Turns will be used only when the handler is moving at a normal speed. Turn signs may be placed in any sequence and may be repeated if necessary. The “Start” sign, while not required, may be used to signify the starting point for the heel on leash exercise. 
 

Both change of pace signs must be followed by a normal sign. Turn signs may be placed in any sequence and may be repeated. Two of each turn sign must be available for the judge’s use. The “Halt/Sit” sign will be used once at the end of the exercise. 
 

The handler will enter the ring with the dog on a loose leash and stand with the dog sitting in the heel position. The judge will ask if the handler is ready before giving the order “Forward.” The handler may give a command or signal to heel and will walk briskly and naturally with the dog on a loose leash. The dog should walk close to the handler’s left side without swinging wide, lagging, forging, or crowding. The dog must not interfere with the handler’s freedom of motion at any time. At the “Halt/Sit” sign, the handler will stop. The dog shall sit straight and promptly in the heel position without command or signal. The judge will order “Exercise finished” at the completion of this exercise.
 

A one-time single phrase of praise or encouragement by the handler to the dog will be allowed without penalty. (Good, yes, nice, super, great, and atta boy/girl, are some examples of praise that would be allowed.) Minor deductions will be made for additional commands or signals to heel or for failure of dog or handler to speed up noticeably for the fast or slow down noticeably for the slow.

BEGINNING NOVICE A, B, & C
 

All exercises must be performed on a 6-foot leash. Dogs must heel including figure 8; stand for
examination; come on recall; long sit for one minute and long down for three minutes. During the sit 
and down exercise, the leash must be held by the handler.

Division A – Both handler and dog are in their first year of county, state, or any other dog experience. Dogs being shown may not have completed an AKC “leg” toward a “CD” degree.
 

Division B – Exhibitor or dog is beyond first year of competition. This class also includes dogs that have been shown previously by others but have not moved past the beginning novice level.
 

Division C – Exhibitor and dog are beyond first year of competition.

NOVICE A & B
 

Dogs must heel on leash including figure 8; stand for examination off leash; heel free; come on recall off leash; long sit for one minute off leash and long down for three minutes off leash with handler across the ring.
 

Division A – An exhibitor and dog have received a purple in Beginning Novice and are in first year of Novice Class competition.
 

Division B – An exhibitor and dog are beyond first year of Novice Class competition.

GRADUATE NOVICE
 

Dogs must heel on leash; stand for examination off lead, heel free including figure 8; drop on recall off leash; long sit off leash for 3 minutes with handler out of sight and long down off leash for 5 minutes with handler in sight.

ADVANCED GRADUATE NOVICE
Dogs must heel on leash and figure 8 (off leash), drop on recall, dumbbell recall, recall over highjump,
recall over broad jump, and long down.

OPEN
 

All exercises off leash. Dogs must: heel free and figure 8; drop on recall; retrieve on flat; retrieve over high jump; broad jump; long sit for 3 minutes and long down for 5 minutes, both with handler out of sight. For more information, refer to the Jump Heights section in this guidebook. Youth are to be responsible for talking with the show office to see if the necessary equipment must be provided by the youth or will be provided by the show office. Necessary equipment includes high jump, broad jump, and dumbbell (dumbbell must always be brought by the exhibitor).

GRADUATE OPEN
 

Graduate Open includes signal exercise, scent discrimination, directed retrieve, moving standard examination, go out, and directed jumping. Youth are to be responsible for talking with the show office to see if the necessary equipment must be provided by the youth or will be provided by the show office. Necessary equipment includes high jump, broad jump, and dumbbell (dumbbell must always be brought by the exhibitor).

UTILITY
 

All exercises must be off leash. The dogs will perform five exercises; the signal exercise; the scent discrimination exercise with leather and metal objects; the directed retrieve; moving stand and examination’ and directed jumping. Exhibitors must supply their own scent articles and gloves for the directed retrieve. Youth are to be responsible for talking with the show office to see if the necessary equipment must be provided by the youth or will be provided by the show office. Necessary equipment includes high jump, broad jump, and dumbbell (dumbbell must always be brought by the exhibitor).