Why Train?
To deepen the bond between you and your dog, and to increase the enjoyment, companionship and satisfaction of the relationship with your dog.
To provide for the safety and happiness of your dog.
To develop a good canine citizen for the benefit of your family, neighborhood and community.
To enjoy exhibiting in Obedience and/or Tracking, to earn titles offered by the American Kennel Club and to participate in other AKC club competitions.
Choose Your Goals!
- A well behaved family pet and outstanding companion.
- An Obedience titled competition dog.
Train Your Best Friend
Dogs, by nature, are pack animals with a well defined social order. When you train your dog, you assume the alpha role (pack leader), his master. It is not cruel to train a dog. It is actually unkind to deprive him of the discipline he would receive from his pack leader.
Your dog needs to know the rules of the house in order to become a part of your family circle and to bond with his master.
Learning the basic commands sit, stand, down, walk at heel on leash, come and stay are essential for the dog to become an enjoyable, well mannered companion. These commands are the foundation of the advanced training exercises needed for other dog/handler activities.
Every dog is different. some are hyperactive, others are laid back, a few are shy and need more self-confidence, while others have too much confidence. Some are serious while others are silly, and some have common behavior problems such as jumping up on people, digging barking, chewing and mouthing, etc.
Start training early! Training a puppy is easier than training an adult dog because he is open to new ideas and has not developed "bad habits."
The old saying, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," is only partially true. It is never too late, but it may take longer because you will probably have to spend some time retraining to eliminate undesirable habits.
A well trained dog is a happy dog, and the time taken to train your dog is small considering that the training learned will last him the rest of his life.
Your reward a special companion for life!
Training Classes
Most AKC clubs conduct a variety of classes offering different levels of training, instructed by trainers who love dogs and training, have competed and won awards in Obedience competition with their own dogs.
Additionally, these clubs keep up-to-date on the latest training techniques, have experience with the training of all-breed classes and can help solve behavior problems.
Classes are usually eight week courses held on weekday evenings throughout most of the year. You attend with your dog, are taught to teach your dog in class and are expected to practice daily at home.
Most clubs accept all types of dogs, mixed breeds and purebreds. Prospective students are usually welcome to obsrve a class before signing up for a training course.
Types Of Training Classes
Puppy Class - a basic developmental training course for the 3-5 month old puppy. Emphasis is on socialization with people and other puppies, and introduction to Obedience work with exercises tailored to the younger dog. Information on growth, nutrition, grooming and problem solving is usually offered.
Basic Class - a basic training course for dogs 5-6 months and older, aimed at training you to train your dog. Emphasis is on the basic training needed to make the dog a good companion: heel on a loose leash, sit, stand, down, stay in position, and come when called. Information on nutrition, grooming and problem solving is usually offered.
Canine Good Citizen Class - is offered by some AKC dog clubs and other organizations. Your dog will need to know all the exercises taught in a basic training class to qualify for a passing score in the Canine Good Citizen Test.
Novice Class - continues basic training with emphasis on attaining off-lead control at home and in public dog events.
Advance Novice Class - perfecting of Novice Obedience exercises to prepare you to enter Obedience Trials with the goal being to achieve the Companion Dog: (C.D.) title.
Open and Utility Classes - offers the additional fun and challenge of training your dog for the appropriate Obedience exercises needed by the exhibitor who wishes to attain the "Companion Dog Excellent" (CDX) and "Utility Dog" (U.D.) titles.
Training for Tracking - to further develop your dog's natural ability to recognize and follow human scent, a skill that is useful in the service of mankind. Tracking, by nature, is a vigorous, noncompetitive outdoor sport. Some Obedience and All-Breed clubs put on Tracking Tests and have members who are involved in Tracking and can help you get started.
Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certification Test
The CGC is for purebred as well as mixed breed dogs, and is offered by AKC clubs and other dog organizations. It is a one time, pass or fail, set of 10 tests demonstrating confidence and control. This test of your dog's manners and training is not a competition, and does not require that you and your dog perform with precision.
Fun Matches
Clubs occasionally offer informal "Fun Matches" with Obedience competion. They are not sanctioned by the American Kennel Club and no credits are earned toward any AKC titles. They are usually open to mixed breeds, nonregistered and AKC registered purebred dogs, may be offered as fund raisers for the club and are a training/practice place for exhibitors.
AKC Matches, Trails and Tests
Sanctioned Matches are informal events "Sanctioned by the American Kennel Club," but scores awarded at Sanctioned Matches Do Not Count as credit toward any AKC Obedience titles; and they will accept enteries form members and non-members. They are conducted by AKC clubs in accordance with AKC rules, thereby giving the dog clubs, Judges, Stewards, and Exhibitors the experience needed for licensed events.
AKC Trials and Tests are held by Obedience, Tracking, All-Breed and Breed Specialty clubs that meet all the requirements of the American Kennel Club. Qualifying scores awarded at these events are entered in AKC records and count toward titles.
Purpose Of AKC Obedience Trails
To demonstrate the usefulness of the purebred dog as a companion to man and not merely the dog's ability to follow specified routines in the Obedience ring. While all contestants in a class are required to perform the same exercises in substantially the same way so that the relative quality of the various performances may be compared and scored, the basic objective of Obedience Trials is to produce dogs that have been trained and conditioned always to behave in the home, in public places, an in the prescence of other dogs in a manner that will reflect credit on the sport of Obedience.
To Earn AKC Obedience Titles
A qualifying score is comprised of more than 50% of the available points in each exercise, and a final score of 170 or more points earned in a single Regular Class at a Licensed or Member Obedience Trial. The dog must have earned qualifying scores under three different judges at Licensed or Member Obedience Trials with the required total number of dogs present in the class at each trial. In the Open and Utility classes the dog must have earned the required titles before entering these classes.
AKC Obedience and Tracking Regulations
Companion Dog (C.D.) NOVICE: Heel on Leash & Figure Eight, Stand for Examination, Heel Free, Recall, Long Sit (1 minute) and Long Down (3 minutes).
Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) OPEN: Heel Free & Fiqure Eight, Drop on Recall, Retrieve on Flat, Retrieve over High Jump, Broad Jump, Long Sit (3 minutes) and Long Down (5minutes). Requires a C.D. title.
Utility Dog (U.D.) UTILITY: Signal Exercise, Scent Discrimination, Directed Retrieve, Moving Stand and Examination, Directed Jumping. Requires a CDX title.
Utility Dog Excellent (UDX): For dogs with U.D. titles. Must earn qualifying scores in both Open B and Utility B at 10 Trials.
Obedience Trial champion (OTCh.): for dogs with UD titles. Must win 100 points and a first place in Utility and Open, plus a third first place win in either class, under three different judges.
Tracking Titles: The AKC offers three Tracking Tests. Unlike Obedience competition, the dog need only pass one time to earn a Tracking title.
Tracking Dog (T.D.), is the entry level test, while Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) and the Variable Surface Tracking Test (VST) are increasingly difficult Tests.
Dogs that earn all three titles are awarded the "Champion Tracker" (C.T.) title.
AKC Obedience Clubs
The AKC Obedience Clubs are not for profit or personal gain. The purpose is to further dog Obedience training, conduct Obedience Trials and Tracking Tests in accordance with AKC rules, and to offer other activities consistent with these purposes. The clubs are normally involved in many dog related activities and community services.
For additional information visit the AKC website.
Photo shown:
CH. Sarkel's Sweeping Changes, CD, AGN, HIC, CGN "Lobo". Thank You Marta Nettelfield for the use of this photo.
