Intermediate Obedience
I. CONDITIONS
- The general rules for competition apply to all CKC events.
Please refer to separate publications for more details.
- During all Intermediate competition, only one command may be
used, either visual, verbal, or whistle command. The same style command must be
used throughout the entire competition for like exercises. If a different type
command is used, it will be considered an additional command, and a point
deduction will be made as such.
- To obtain a title at this level, three passing scores on
three separate days are required.
- Dogs competing at this level will wear either a flat collar
or may compete without a collar. No other type of collar shall be worn.
- Each dog will start off with 110 total points. The minimum passing score is
90 points. Deductions will be made based on the severity of the error, and in
accordance with the current CKC Score Sheet.
- The dog must compete off lead and may heel to either side of the handler.
Prior to moving to the starting point, the handler will remove the lead and put
it away. Once at the start point, he may not touch his dog during any exercise.
He may give mild praise between exercises, as long as it does not hinder the
trial.
- “Heel” position consists of the dog’s shoulders at the handler’s legs, with
a 1ft. lead way. If a dog falls out of position during the “Heel,” the
appropriate points will be deducted.
- The order in which these tasks are conducted is at the sole discretion of
the judge. The judge shall not reveal the course until the handler’s meeting on
the day of the trial. It is recommended that the judge walk the exhibitors,
without their dogs, through the course.
II. TASK
- HEELING— (15 points) The heeling will be judged
continuously as the team moves between exercises. The judge will insure that
there is at least 2 right turns, 2 left turns, and 3 halts in the heeling
pattern. There should be at least 50’ between exercises to effectively evaluate
the dogs heeling ability.
- CHANGE OF PACE— (10 points, 5 points each) There will be
2 changes of pace during the heeling pattern. There will be 1 change to fast and
1 change to slow. Both changes must be a noticeable change in speed. Each change
of pace will always begin and end with a normal pace.
- ABOUT-TURNS—(20 points, 10 points each) There will be 2
about-turns, one to the right and one to the left. In both turns, the handler
will turn on his own axis and head directly down the path from which he came.
The side to which the dog is heeling will determine the dog’s actions during the
turns. In the turn that is toward the dog, the handler will pivot toward the
dog, while the dog continues to move in his direction of travel, moving around
the handler, and back into the heel position. In the turn that is away from the
dog, the handler will pivot away from the dog, while the dog remains in the heel
position throughout the entire turn.
- DOWN IN MOTION — (15 points) While moving in a straight
line, on signal from the judge, the handler will command his dog into the down
position, without altering his forward momentum. The handler must continue to
walk forward, without looking back to check his dog. The handler will move to a
designated spot, approximately 15 paces, and turn to face his dog. On signal
from the judge, the handler will return to his dog, moving into the basic
position.
- FOOD REFUSAL (Baited field) — (10 points) The food
refusal exercise will be conducted the during one leg of the heeling pattern.
The field will be “baited” in this one area. There must be 8 - 10 pieces of bait
placed in the direct path the dogs will travel. The bait should be a meat or
cheese, approximately the size of a hotdog; it should contain no bones or
harmful items, and it should be changed if it should dry out.
- SWITCHES— (10 points, 5 points each) A “switch” is a
heeling exercise in which the dog, on command, moves behind the handler and
begins to heel on the opposite side of the handler; then on command, returns to
the original heeling side. At designated places on the field, the handler will
command his dog to switch sides and then back to the original side. There will
be 2 complete switches (four changes) during the exercise, and may be done at
separate times.
- STAND FOR EXAMINATION— (10 points) With the dog in the
basic position, the handler, on signal from the judge, will command his dog to
stand. The handler may only offer minor assistance to the dog. Once the dog is
in a standing position, the handler will move to a point next to the judge, and
face the dog. Once the handler is in this position, the judge will move to the
dog and touch the dog on his head, the center of the back, and on his hips. The
judge may only apply light pressure while touching. The judge will then return
to his position next to the handler. On signal, the handler will return to his
dog and return his dog to the basic position. Moving any foot will be penalized.
Taking a step or moving two feet will be heavily penalized. More than 2 feet
moved or more than one step is disqualifying.
- RETRIEVE— (10 points) The handler will stand at a
designated place on the field. The assistant will hand the object to the handler
behind his back, without allowing the dog to see the object. The judge will
select an object made of any soft material, (not ridged) that is a size
appropriate for the size of the dog, and of a weight suitable for the size of
the dog. On signal from the judge, the handler will throw the object beyond a
mark designated by the judge, that is at least 25’ but not more that 40’ from
the team. The dog may not be shown the object before it is thrown. On signal
from the judge, the handler will send his dog to retrieve the object. The dog
has 1 minute to retrieve the object, return it to the handler, and release it in
the handler’s hand. Points will be deducted for not bringing the object directly
to the handler, for dropping the object, or for not releasing the object on the
first command. No more than 3 release commands are allowed. The handler can give
a recall command once the dog finds the object. Additional commands to return
will be penalized. Dogs that leave prior to the command will also be penalized.
- DOWN/STAY-OUT OF SIGHT WITH RECALL— (10 points) The
handler will move his dog to a designated area. The area will be at least 20’
and not more than 40’ from an area suitable to hide the handler. The dog will be
positioned in the designated area facing away from the hiding spot. On signal
from the judge, the handler will command his dog to down and stay. He will then
proceed to the hiding place and remain there for 3 minutes. The time will start
when the handler steps away from his dog. When the time has elapsed and on
signal from the judge, the handler will move to a point approximately 20’ in
front of his dog, turn and face the dog. On signal from the judge, the handler
will recall his dog. The dog may perform a service finish or a front and finish
at the handler’s discretion.
CONTINENTAL KENNEL CLUB PEFORMANCE
CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
CKC offers two different options to achieve Performance Championship Titles.
The first option is to earn a championship in one of the individual disciplines.
If you choose this option, you can obtain a CKC Championship in Obedience
(OBCh), Agility (AGCh), or Tracking (TRCh) by first successfully completing the
Advanced title in that discipline. Then you must obtain 10 more passing scores
in that discipline, competing at the advanced level. A dog may compete no more
than twice on any event in one day.
CKC also offers a more rounded series of Championships called “Performance
Championships.” To obtain a Novice Performance Championship (NCh), the dog must
obtain a Novice level 3 title in all three levels of the Novice Performance
disciplines (obedience, agility and tracking). To obtain an Intermediate
Performance Championship (ICh), the dog must obtain the Intermediate titles in
all three of the Intermediate Performance disciplines (obedience, agility and
tracking) . To obtain an Advanced Performance Championship (ACh), the dog must
obtain the Advanced titles in all three of the Advanced Performance disciplines
(obedience, agility and tracking). To obtain a Master Championship (MCh), a dog
must pass the Master’s Performance Program three times, at no less than three
trials, on at least three separate days.
For information on competing or
hosting events contact
CKC Events Department at 1-888-CKC– 8042 or visit us at
WWW.CKCUSA.COM
Continental Kennel Club, Inc. reserves the right to
amend these rules at any time.
© 2006 Continental Kennel Club, Inc. All rights reserved
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