AKC Title Paths and IPOC Classes
Obedience trials showcase a capacity to adhere to specific routines in the ring highlighting their value as companions to humans.
The goal of obedience trials is to identify dogs that have been trained to behave appropriately at home, in public spaces, and around other dogs, showcasing the sport of obedience positively in all situations. All dogs are invited to participate.
AKC Novice Title Expectations
For the dog just getting started in obedience that can work on- and off-leash. Exercises include:
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Heel on Leash and Figure Eight — this exercise is performed the same as in the Beginner Novice class.
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Stand for Examination — for this off-leash exercise the dog must stay in a standing position as its handler walks about 6 feet away. The judge will then lightly touch the dog on the head, body and hindquarters. Like in the Sit for Exam, the dog must not display any resentment.
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Heel Free — dogs will heel off-leash doing the same routine as they did on-leash, except they will not perform the Figure Eight.
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Recall — demonstrates that the dog will come to the handler on command.
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Sit Stay – Get Your Leash — this exercise is to demonstrate that the dog will remain in the sit position, while the handler goes to get the dog’s leash.
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Group Exercise – Sit & Down Stay — this exercise will demonstrate the dog’s ability to remain in the sit and down position, with other dogs in the ring and is performed on-leash.
Classes:
Wednesday
6:00pm-7:00pm
Beginner Novice
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Beginner Novice focuses on the fundamentals of each Novice exercise. Within each class session, handler teams will practice trial warm-ups, gate entrance, and elements of loose lead heeling, sit stays, as well as recalls.
Class goals are for both handler and dog to acquire a working understanding of the AKC's Beginner Novice optional class expectations, rules, and requirements for
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Heeling pattern (on lead),
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Figure 8 heeling (on lead)
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Sit for Exam (on lead)
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Sit Stay (off lead)
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Recall (off lead)
The prerequisites are
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pass Advanced Basic,
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have your instructor's recommendation,
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be able to demonstrate competency in on-lead skills:
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loose lead heeling,
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heel position,
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stay position,
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etc.
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Required equipment
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well-fitted training collar,
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6 foot competition approved lead,
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high value rewards,
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crate,
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optional:
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20 to 25 foot long line,
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retractable leash.
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Competitive Novice
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In Competitive Novice you will learn, proof, and work to perfect the AKC Novice exercises. There will be special focus on attention, footwork, and handling skills.
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To join this class, the dog
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should be able to walk on a loose leash,
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should have a relatively solid sit,
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a solid down stay, and
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a good start to the recall exercise,
and the handler
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should have an understanding of the AKC Novice Exercises (Safari users: Advance by hand to page 59)
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and the desire to compete in AKC Trials to earn the AKC Obedience Novice title -- the CD​
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View video of the AKC Novice Exercises
AKC Open Title Expectations
This level includes more complicated exercises; the dog must be able to perform a variety of tasks and follow commands either by voice or signal. Exercises include:
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Heel Free and Figure Eight — this exercise is performed the same as Novice, but the dog is off-leash.
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Command Discrimination (Stand, Down, Sit) — this exercise is all about the dog responding correctly to the handler’s commands and/or signals. Handlers will be instructed by the judge to stand, down or sit their dog from varying distances. Handlers will be instructed by the judge to have their dog change positions three times. The second and third position change are with the handler 15 and 30 feet from the dog.
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Drop on Recall — the dog must promptly come to the handler when called from across the ring and on the handler’s command or signal to drop and remain in a down position until on a command or signal from the handler to resume coming to the handler.
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Retrieve on Flat — demonstrates a dog’s ability to retrieve an object from at least 20 feet promptly and return to the handler on command.
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Retrieve Over High Jump — the dog must go out over a jump, in order to retrieve a dumbbell and then promptly return to the handler with the dumbbell going back over the jump.
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Broad Jump — this exercise shows that the dog will stay in the position it is left until directed to jump. The dog must clear the jump on a single command or signal and return to the handler once the jump is complete.
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Stand Stay – Get Your Leash — – the principal feature of this exercise is that the dog stand and stay in position until the handler has returned to heel position.
Beginning/Intermediate Open
The Intermediate/Beginning Open class is for dogs who have completed their Novice Title (CD) or who are able to pass a Novice skills test.
Dogs entering the Intermediate/Beginning Open Class should be able to:
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Heel Free (heel off leash), without a lure.
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Do a Recall with a Front.
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Do an on leash Figure 8 without luring.
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Perform the Stand-Down-Sit position changes either beside or directly in front of the handler with hand and voice commands
The goals of the Open class are:
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Drop on Recall, with voice and/or hand signal.
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Heel Free (heel off leash), without constant luring and talking to the dog.
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When a dumbbell is placed in the dog's mouth, she should willingly take the dumbbell and
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walk with it in her mouth,
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perform a Recall and come to a Front,
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perform a Recall over a jump and come to a Front,
without dropping it.
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The dog will perform a Recall over the Broad jump.
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The dog will perform a Command Discrimination exercise (Stand-Down-Sit) from 1-6 ft, or at the end of a 6 ft leash.
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Advanced Open/Proofing
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The Advanced Open/Proofing class is for students who plan to compete in the Open Obedience ring. This class will polish and proof the skills necessary to be successful in the Open Class at an Obedience trial.
The prerequisites for Advanced Open/Proofing are:
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The dog has a Graduate Novice title (GN), Open title (CDX), or is able to pass an Open skills test.
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The dog Heels Free and stays in heel position, without constant verbal or physical corrections and without luring.
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The dog correctly performs a Drop On Recall, without moving more than one body length after being given the command to Drop.
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The dog Retrieves a dumbbell of the Flat, without dropping it and comes to Front while willingly holding the dumbbell.
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The dog willingly Retrieves the dumbbell over the High Jump and comes to Front position, without dropping the db.
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The dog performs the Command Discrimination exercise at the end of a 6 ft leash, without excessive commands.
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The dog correctly performs a Broad Jump.
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The dog Stands while the handler goes outside the ring, gets the leash, and returns to heel position by the dog.
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No food will be used for luring. Food may be given only between exercises.
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View videos of the AKC Open Exercises
AKC Utility Title Expectations
This is the next level of obedience competition. Exercises include:
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Signal Exercise — shows the dog’s ability to understand and correctly respond to the handler’s signal to stand, stay, down, sit and come. No voice commands are given; only hand signals are allowed.
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Scent Discrimination — this exercise is done twice. Showing the dog’s ability to find the handler’s scent among a pile of articles and promptly return the correct article to the handler.
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Directed Retrieve — the features of this exercise prove the dog’s ability to follow a directional signal from the handler to retrieve a glove and promptly return it to the handler.
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Moving Stand and Examination — for this exercise the dog must heel, stand and stay as the handler moves away. The dog must stay and accept an examination by the judge and return to the handler on command.
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Directed Jumping — the dog must go away from the handler, turn and sit. Then, the dog must clear whichever jump its handler indicates and promptly return to the handler.
Utility Show Prep
​The Beginning Utility class is for dogs and handlers who are ready to start learning the AKC Obedience Utility class exercises with the goal of earning the AKC Obedience Utility title -- the UD -- at obedience trials and also for dogs and handlers who merely wish to continue training the Utility exercises:
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​Scent Discrimination, Send directly
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Scent Discrimination, Send After a sit
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Go Outs
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Directed Jumping, Bar Jump
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Directed Jumping, High Jump
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Handlers and dogs will learn the rules of the Utility ring, while building a stronger team partnership.
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View our rulebooks page to read or download the current AKC Obedience Regulations for the Utility class.
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UDX (full run-through)
(Advanced/Open) Utility
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The Advanced Utility class is for dogs and handlers who are preparing to compete for the AKC's UDX title in the AKC's Open B and Utility B classes.
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Handler and dog teams practice and proof exercises to enable dogs to understand instead of merely knowing the Open and Utility classes' exercises.
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View our rulebooks page to read or download the current AKC Obedience Regulations for the Open and Utility classes.
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