Kennel Club Obedience classes

Pre-beginners:

To compete in this class a dog and handler must not have won a first place in either pre-beginners or beginners nor gained a third place or above in any other obedience class. The tests are:

  • Heel on lead,
  • Heel free,
  • Recall with finish,
  • Sit stay I minute Handler in sight,
  • Down stay 2 minutes Handler in sight.

Beginners:

To compete in beginners a handler or dog must not have won a total of two or more first prizes in Beginners class or one first prize in any other obedience class (Pre-Beginners excepted) The tests are:

  • Heel on lead,
  • Heel free,
  • Recall with finish,
  • Retrieve any article,
  • Sit stay I minute Handler in sight,
  • Down stay 2 minutes Handler in sight.

Novice:

For dogs that have not one two first prizes in obedience classes (Pre-beginners and Beginners excepted) The tests are:

  • Temperament test,
  • Heel on lead,
  • Heel free,
  • Recall with finish,
  • Retrieve a dumb-bell,
  • Sit stay I minute Handler in sight,
  • Down stay 2 minutes Handler in sight.

Class A:

For dogs that have not won 3 first prizes in Class A, B and Open Class C in total. No additional commands must be given. The tests are:

  • Heel free,
  • Recall to heel,
  • Retrieve a dumb-bell,
  • Sit stay 2 minutes Handler in sight,
  • Down stay 3 minutes Handler out of sight,
  • Scent discrimination.

Class B:

For dogs which have not won 3 first prizes in Class B and Open Class C in total. The tests are:

  • Heel free including slow and fast pace,
  • Sendaway,
  • Drop and Recall to heel,
  • Retrieve any article provided by the judge,
  • Sit stay 2 minutes Handler out of sight,
  • Down stay 5 minutes Handler out of sight,
  • Scent discrimination to include a decoy cloth. Handlers scent on a cloth provided by the judge.

Class C:

Open to all dogs. All extra commands are penalised The tests are:

  • Heel free with changes of pace and taking stand down and sit whilst handler keeps moving.
  • Sendaway,
  • Drop and recall,
  • Retrieve an article provided by the judge,
  • Distant control,
  • Sit stay 2 minutes Handler out of sight,
  • Down stay 10 minutes Handler out of sight, Scent discrimination to include a decoy cloth. Judges scent on a cloth provided by the judge.

For more information refer to to The Kennel Club Year Book Regulation G