Introduction to Obedience
All dogs at any age are able and encouraged to participate in basic obedience training. It helps to create safer, socially responsible pets, who will respond to your commands and build a stronger bond between you and your dog. It will also give you a solid foundation for moving into other dog sports as your progress.
Puppies can begin attending an obedience club two weeks after their final vaccinations (as they are not fully protected against the various contagious diseases that affect dogs until then). There are a number of clubs affiliated with Dogs SA, with instructors who will help you to train your dog. Puppies usually begin in a special puppy class until around 6 months of age, before progressing through various levels and graduating at each required level of competence. Dogs can begin at any age and will be placed in the appropriate level. Dogs are taught to heel, sit, stay, drop, stand and come when called. You may also choose to learn obedience with a private trainer instead. The Border Collie Club has compiled a list of clubs and trainers recommended by our members, which is available within our Members group or by request.
Lessons are taught using reward based training which means dogs are rewarded by food or praise when they correctly respond to commands.
As you progress through the levels, your competence and confidence as a handler will increase, as will your dog’s ability to perform commands both on and off leash. You may then consider participating in trials with your dog, to test your dog’s ability to understand and obey the commands you have been practicing. Multiple successful trial passes in various grades will reward you and your dog with ‘titles’ that can be added to their names forever - celebrating your work together.
Puppies can begin attending an obedience club two weeks after their final vaccinations (as they are not fully protected against the various contagious diseases that affect dogs until then). There are a number of clubs affiliated with Dogs SA, with instructors who will help you to train your dog. Puppies usually begin in a special puppy class until around 6 months of age, before progressing through various levels and graduating at each required level of competence. Dogs can begin at any age and will be placed in the appropriate level. Dogs are taught to heel, sit, stay, drop, stand and come when called. You may also choose to learn obedience with a private trainer instead. The Border Collie Club has compiled a list of clubs and trainers recommended by our members, which is available within our Members group or by request.
Lessons are taught using reward based training which means dogs are rewarded by food or praise when they correctly respond to commands.
As you progress through the levels, your competence and confidence as a handler will increase, as will your dog’s ability to perform commands both on and off leash. You may then consider participating in trials with your dog, to test your dog’s ability to understand and obey the commands you have been practicing. Multiple successful trial passes in various grades will reward you and your dog with ‘titles’ that can be added to their names forever - celebrating your work together.
Obedience Titles
There are five different trialling classes in Obedience, ranging from very basic skills and exercises on lead through to high level off-lead performance.
Obedience Trials demonstrate the dog and handler’s ability to work together with precision and publicly showcase the training that has been undertaken to achieve this. Classes are designed to be progressive, allowing the dog and handler to grow in skill and experience as titles are earned. The performance of the dog and handler in the ring must be accurate and correct according to the rules and regulations. It is also essential that the dog demonstrates willingness and enjoyment while it is working and that the handler demonstrates smooth and natural handling without using harsh commands.
Titles are awarded in performance disciplines to dogs who achieve the required number of qualifying passes at each level and appear after the dog's name as a suffix. Only the highest title awarded to the dog will be used after their name, with each achievement superseding the one prior.
Champion and Grand Champion titles can be awarded to dogs who have achieved their titles within the required Utility or UDX classes (see below) and go on to achieve the required number of (or more) extra qualifying passes in these classes. These titles will appear before the dog's name as a prefix.
The titles represent and celebrate the hard work and training that has gone into achieving multiple qualifying pass results and the bond that has been built between dog and handler along the way.
Obedience Trials demonstrate the dog and handler’s ability to work together with precision and publicly showcase the training that has been undertaken to achieve this. Classes are designed to be progressive, allowing the dog and handler to grow in skill and experience as titles are earned. The performance of the dog and handler in the ring must be accurate and correct according to the rules and regulations. It is also essential that the dog demonstrates willingness and enjoyment while it is working and that the handler demonstrates smooth and natural handling without using harsh commands.
Titles are awarded in performance disciplines to dogs who achieve the required number of qualifying passes at each level and appear after the dog's name as a suffix. Only the highest title awarded to the dog will be used after their name, with each achievement superseding the one prior.
Champion and Grand Champion titles can be awarded to dogs who have achieved their titles within the required Utility or UDX classes (see below) and go on to achieve the required number of (or more) extra qualifying passes in these classes. These titles will appear before the dog's name as a prefix.
The titles represent and celebrate the hard work and training that has gone into achieving multiple qualifying pass results and the bond that has been built between dog and handler along the way.
Class: Community Companion Dog
Skills Tested: Heel on lead (30 points), stand for examination on lead (20 points), recall (20 points), 1 minute sit stay (15 points) and 2 minute down stay (15 points).
Title Suffix: CCD
Requirement: Three qualifying passes of 85 points (out of 100) or more under at least two different judges.
This is a great entry level class for dogs six months and over where handlers are able to give some spoken commands and the dog works on a loose lead. The majority of the exercises have handlers and their dogs working in the ring on their own with the judge, however the stays in all classes are a group exercise where all competitors return to the ring (unless they have decided not to participate in the stays portion of the trial) and take up position next to a marker. Stays at the CCD level are at a distance of approximately 5 metres, whilst the recall (individual exercise) is at least 12 metres.
Class: Novice
Skills Tested: Heel free (40 points), stand free for examination (30 points), recall (40 points), retrieve on the flat OR change of position (30 points), 1 minute sit stay (30 points) and 3 minute down stay (30 points).
Title Suffix: CD (Companion Dog)
Requirement: Three qualifying passes of 170 points (out of 200) or more under at least two different judges.
This class for dogs six months and over recognises the ongoing training of your dog and is the first class that tests your ability to work together off-lead (free) for the whole class. Retrieving is performed with a dumbbell thrown by the handler at least 4 metres away whilst the dog is in a stay until the judge gives the signal to send the dog to retrieve. Change of position is an exercise where the dog is placed in a stay, the handler continues on approximately 3 metres and the dog will then be given the 'down' command and must remain there until the handler has returned and the exercise is finished. Recalls are done from at least 15 metres away, while stays are at a distance of approximately 10 metres.
Class: Open
Skills Tested: Heel free (40 points), stand free for examination (20 points), drop on recall (30 points), retrieve a dumbbell on the flat (30 points), retrieve dumbbell over a solid jump OR directed retrieve (30 points), broad jump OR distance control (20 points) and a 3 minute down stay with the handler out of sight (30 points).
Title Suffix: CDX (Companion Dog Excellent)
Requirement: Three qualifying passes of 170 points (out of 200) or more under at least two different judges.
This class is for dogs who have achieved their CD title and are continuing to progress, with exercises designed to be more challenging. Dogs are tested on their ability to work off-lead, perform commands at a distance from the handler, and stay without being able to see their handler.
Class: Utility
Skills Tested: Seek back (30 points), directed jumping (40 points), scent discrimination (45 points), silent/signals-only heel work (30 points), speak on command OR food refusal OR directed retrieve (20 points), group examination (10 points) and a 5 minute down stay with the handler out of sight (25 points).
Title Suffix: UD (Utility Dog)
Requirement: Three qualifying passes of 170 points (out of 200) or more under at least two different judges.
This class for very advanced dogs who have achieved their CDX titles and builds upon those exercises whilst also including elements of scent work and other skills such as finding and retrieving an article, selecting correct articles by scent, working at a distance, barking on command, refusing offered food, and a group stand for examination exercise with the handler facing their dog at a distance of approximately 5 metres.
Class: UDX
Skills Tested: Seek back with decoy article (30 points), positions in motion (40 points), scent discrimination with judges scent (30 points), directed sendaway and recall (30 points), distance control (30 points), multiple retrieves (30 points) and a group examination (10 points).
Title Suffix: UDX (Utility Dog Excellent)
Requirement: Three qualifying passes of 170 points (out of 200) or more under at least two different judges.
This class for dogs who have achieved their UD titles and is the highest possible competitive obedience class. Skills tested are at an increased level from Utility, with decoy articles introduced, sit, stand and down positions performed by the dog while the handler keeps moving, retrieving multiple designated items and a group stand for examination exercise with the handler facing away from the dog at a distance of approximately 10 metres.
Obedience Champion
Title Suffix: O. CH.
If a dog having gained its UD title achieves 5 more passes of 185 or more points in the Utility ring under at least three different judges, they are eligible for the prefix title of Obedience Champion.
OR
If a dog having gained its UDX title achieves 2 more passes of 185 or more points in the UDX ring under at least two different judges, they are eligible for the prefix title of Obedience Champion.
Obedience Grand Champion
Title Suffix: O. GR. CH.
If a dog having gained both their UDX title and O. CH. title achieves a further 5 passes of 185 or more points in the UDX ring under at least three different judges, they are eligible for the prefix title of Obedience Grand Champion.
Skills Tested: Heel on lead (30 points), stand for examination on lead (20 points), recall (20 points), 1 minute sit stay (15 points) and 2 minute down stay (15 points).
Title Suffix: CCD
Requirement: Three qualifying passes of 85 points (out of 100) or more under at least two different judges.
This is a great entry level class for dogs six months and over where handlers are able to give some spoken commands and the dog works on a loose lead. The majority of the exercises have handlers and their dogs working in the ring on their own with the judge, however the stays in all classes are a group exercise where all competitors return to the ring (unless they have decided not to participate in the stays portion of the trial) and take up position next to a marker. Stays at the CCD level are at a distance of approximately 5 metres, whilst the recall (individual exercise) is at least 12 metres.
Class: Novice
Skills Tested: Heel free (40 points), stand free for examination (30 points), recall (40 points), retrieve on the flat OR change of position (30 points), 1 minute sit stay (30 points) and 3 minute down stay (30 points).
Title Suffix: CD (Companion Dog)
Requirement: Three qualifying passes of 170 points (out of 200) or more under at least two different judges.
This class for dogs six months and over recognises the ongoing training of your dog and is the first class that tests your ability to work together off-lead (free) for the whole class. Retrieving is performed with a dumbbell thrown by the handler at least 4 metres away whilst the dog is in a stay until the judge gives the signal to send the dog to retrieve. Change of position is an exercise where the dog is placed in a stay, the handler continues on approximately 3 metres and the dog will then be given the 'down' command and must remain there until the handler has returned and the exercise is finished. Recalls are done from at least 15 metres away, while stays are at a distance of approximately 10 metres.
Class: Open
Skills Tested: Heel free (40 points), stand free for examination (20 points), drop on recall (30 points), retrieve a dumbbell on the flat (30 points), retrieve dumbbell over a solid jump OR directed retrieve (30 points), broad jump OR distance control (20 points) and a 3 minute down stay with the handler out of sight (30 points).
Title Suffix: CDX (Companion Dog Excellent)
Requirement: Three qualifying passes of 170 points (out of 200) or more under at least two different judges.
This class is for dogs who have achieved their CD title and are continuing to progress, with exercises designed to be more challenging. Dogs are tested on their ability to work off-lead, perform commands at a distance from the handler, and stay without being able to see their handler.
Class: Utility
Skills Tested: Seek back (30 points), directed jumping (40 points), scent discrimination (45 points), silent/signals-only heel work (30 points), speak on command OR food refusal OR directed retrieve (20 points), group examination (10 points) and a 5 minute down stay with the handler out of sight (25 points).
Title Suffix: UD (Utility Dog)
Requirement: Three qualifying passes of 170 points (out of 200) or more under at least two different judges.
This class for very advanced dogs who have achieved their CDX titles and builds upon those exercises whilst also including elements of scent work and other skills such as finding and retrieving an article, selecting correct articles by scent, working at a distance, barking on command, refusing offered food, and a group stand for examination exercise with the handler facing their dog at a distance of approximately 5 metres.
Class: UDX
Skills Tested: Seek back with decoy article (30 points), positions in motion (40 points), scent discrimination with judges scent (30 points), directed sendaway and recall (30 points), distance control (30 points), multiple retrieves (30 points) and a group examination (10 points).
Title Suffix: UDX (Utility Dog Excellent)
Requirement: Three qualifying passes of 170 points (out of 200) or more under at least two different judges.
This class for dogs who have achieved their UD titles and is the highest possible competitive obedience class. Skills tested are at an increased level from Utility, with decoy articles introduced, sit, stand and down positions performed by the dog while the handler keeps moving, retrieving multiple designated items and a group stand for examination exercise with the handler facing away from the dog at a distance of approximately 10 metres.
Obedience Champion
Title Suffix: O. CH.
If a dog having gained its UD title achieves 5 more passes of 185 or more points in the Utility ring under at least three different judges, they are eligible for the prefix title of Obedience Champion.
OR
If a dog having gained its UDX title achieves 2 more passes of 185 or more points in the UDX ring under at least two different judges, they are eligible for the prefix title of Obedience Champion.
Obedience Grand Champion
Title Suffix: O. GR. CH.
If a dog having gained both their UDX title and O. CH. title achieves a further 5 passes of 185 or more points in the UDX ring under at least three different judges, they are eligible for the prefix title of Obedience Grand Champion.
