This document is an overview of the UKC Obedience Program and is intended to be used for informational and casual educational purposes only. It is not expected to replace the UKC Obedience rules published by the United Kennel Club and I strongly urge anyone intending to enter a UKC Obedience Trial to obtain a copy of the rules and read them in their entirety. A copy of the UKC Obedience Rules for 1996 can be obtained for $4.50 by writing:

United Kennel Club Inc.
100 E. Kilgore. Rd.
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001-5596

Main Reference for this document: Bloodlines 1996 Special Rules Issue

The Novice Class

Class Divisions

Novice C is for dogs that have already obtained the U-CD title but have not earned any legs toward their U-CDX title.

Novice B is for dogs or handlers that have already obtained a U-CD title or its equivalent in another registry (American and/or Canadian Kennel Clubs), for handlers that are handling a dog that is not owned by them or their immediate family or that is co-owned by someone that has obtained the U-CD title or its equivalent in another registry, for handlers that currently are or have instructed obedience at the Novice level and for handlers that are or have been professional trainers.

Novice A is for handlers and dogs that have not obtained any obedience titles in UKC or another registry. Dogs exhibited in this class must be owned by the handler or the handler's immediate family.

Each exercise begins when the handler responds affirmatively to the judge's question, "Are you ready?" and ends when the judge says, "Exercise finished".

This exercise tests the ability, willingness and training of the dog to remain in the same place and position as commanded by the handler while the handler is in sight but across the ring approximately 30 feet away and another dog is working close by.

In this exercise the honoring dog is brought into the ring before the working dog. The dog is heeled on lead to the spot designated for the honoring dog. The handler takes the leash off the dog, places it and the armband behind the dog and waits for the judge's order to down the dog. On the judge's order to "down your dog", the handler gives the command and/or signal to the dog to lie down. The dog must go down on the first command and/or signal or receive a deduction of points. After the dog is down and upon the order from the judge to "leave your dog", the handler may give the dog a "stay" command and/or signal and then must promptly leave the dog. The handler walks to the opposite side of the ring, turns and faces the dog. The dog must remain in place and down, close to the path of the working dog while the working dog is performing the Heel On Lead and Figure 8 exercise, after which, the handler is given an order by the judge to "return to your dog". The handler returns to heel position by walking across the ring and around the back of the dog counterclockwise. The dog must remain in the down position until the judge gives the order, "Exercise finished" at which time the handler may release the dog. The handler then puts the leash on the dog and leaves the ring.

The dog will NQ on this exercise if it "breaks" the down position before the handler returns by lifting both front elbows off the ground, moving a substantial distance from where it was left by crawling, or barking or whining uncontrollably.

See the Novice Ring Setup Imagemap.

Heel On Lead: 35 Pts. [See also: Heel Off Lead]

Note: The same heeling pattern is used for both Heel On Lead and Heel Off Lead.

This exercise tests the ability, willingness and training of the dog to remain in "heel position" while on lead.

When performed correctly, on lead heeling can be compared to ballroom dancing with the dog as the handler's partner and the team appearing to perform as one.

The judge determines what the heeling pattern will be before the first dog enters the ring and it shall remain the same for every dog thereafter for that particular class. The heeling pattern can be anything the judge decides but must include the following orders: Forward, Halt, Right Turn, Left Turn, About Turn, Fast and Slow.

A dog will NQ on this exercise by not remaining in heel position a majority of the time while heeling, or by losing more than half of the available points on this exericse for lagging, heeling wide, forging, barking or whining, bumping the handler.

See the Novice Ring Setup Imagemap.

Figure 8 On Lead: [included in Heel on Lead Pts.]

This exercise is actually a continuation of the Heel On Lead exercise and points are deducted for deviations of the dog not remaining in "perfect heel position". After the heeling pattern is completed, two stewards, who act as "posts" for the handler and dog to perform the figure around, take their position facing each other approximately 8 feet apart with their arms crossed in front of them.

This exercise tests the ability, willingness and training of the dog to remain in heel position with the distraction of people serving as posts and is intended to show that the dog will speed up and slow down on his own to remain in heel position when circling with the handler around the "posts". The dog is expected to remain in heel position during each of two complete figure 8 figures with a halt called at the judge's discretion anywhere after the first figure 8 has been completed. The dog is expected to sit automatically without an extra command during the halts.

The dog and handler line up opposite and facing the judge in between the two "posts" but back a few feet from them. The judge orders "forward" and the handler begins the figure 8 by commanding OR signaling the dog to "heel". The handler/dog may choose to go around either post first but must complete an entire figure 8 before the judge orders a "halt". The second figure 8 is then executed in the same manner. There are no slow or fast orders from the judge on the figure 8 portion of the Heel On Lead exercise.

See the Novice Ring Setup Imagemap.

Stand For Exam: 30 Pts.

This exercise tests the dogs ability, willingness and training to remain standing and stay while the judge examines the dog.

The dog is heeled into position for the Stand For Exam Exercise. The Steward takes the leash from the handler. The judge orders the handler to "Stand your dog and leave when ready". This is the only UKC obedience exercise that does not begin until the handler gives the command and/or signal for the dog to "stay". The handler may assist the dog into a standing position by touching and positioning the dog for the exam as well as giving a command and/or signal for the dog to stand. When the handler is ready, he/she gives the dog a command and/or signal to "stay", leaves the dog, walks six feet away, turns and stands facing the dog. The judge then examines the dog by touching the dog's head and back. After the exam the judge will order the handler to "Return to your dog". The handler returns to heel position by walking counterclockwise around the dog and releasing the dog when the judge orders, "exercise finished".

The dog will NQ this exercise by moving a substantial distance out of position, sitting or laying down, growling or snapping at the judge, showing shyness or resentment before or during the exam.

See the Novice Ring Setup Imagemap.

Heel Off Lead: 35 Pts....[See also: Heel On Lead]

Note: The same heeling pattern is used for both Heel On Lead and Heel Off Lead.

This exercise tests the ability, willingness and training of the dog to remain in "heel position" while off lead.

When performed correctly, off lead heeling can be compared to ballroom dancing with the dog as the handler's partner and the team appearing to perform as one.

The judge determines what the heeling pattern will be before the first dog enters the ring and it shall remain the same for every dog thereafter for that particular class. The heeling pattern can be anything the judge decides but must include the following orders: Forward, Halt, Right Turn, Left Turn, About Turn, Fast and Slow.

A dog will NQ on this exercise by leaving the ring, not remaining in heel position a majority of the time while heeling, or by losing more than half of the available points on this exericse for lagging, heeling wide, forging, barking or whining, bumping the handler.

See the Novice Ring Setup Imagemap.

This exercise tests the ability, willingness and training of the dog to come when called by the handler even when there is a barrier between the handler and the dog.

UKC Jump Heights

The jumps in UKC obedience are set to the closest 2 inch increment to the dog's height at the withers with a maximum height of 24 inches and a minimum height of 8 inches. Examples: If a dog measures 22 inches, the jump will be set to 22 inches. If a dog measures 21 inches, the jump will be set to 20 inches. If a dog measures 36 inches, the jump will be set to 24 inches. If a dog measures 7 1/2 inches, the jump will be set to 8 inches.

Two stewards take their position on either side of the High Jump at least two feet from the side of it before the exercise begins.

The dog is taken, off lead, into position for the Recall Over The High Jump, facing the jump and at least 8 feet away from it. The handler may lead the dog, gently, by the collar in between exercises but may not physically position the dog in any other way. On the judge's order to "leave your dog" the handler may give the dog a command and/or signal for the dog to sit/stay, promptly leaves the dog and walks around the right side of the jump and at least 8 feet away from the other side of the jump, turns and faces the dog. On the judge's orders to "Call your dog", the handler gives the dog a command and/or signal for the dog to come to front position. The dog must, on the first command and/or signal, come promptly to the handler by jumping the jump and sitting in front of the handler. When the dog reaches front position, the judge will give the order to "finish". The handler will then give a command and/or signal for the dog to return to heel position.

The dog will NQ this exercise by not coming to the handler or staying where left on the first command and/or signal to "come" or "stay", anticipating the command and/or signal to "come", for going around the jump or sitting out of the handler's reach. The team will also NQ if the handler gives the dog more than one command and/or signal to "come" or "stay".

Group Long Sit (for 1 minute): 30 Pts.

This exercise tests the ability, willingness and training of the dog to remain in the same place and position as commanded by the handler while the handler is 30 feet away in a group of other dogs.

The high jump is removed from the ring after the last dog has completed the individual exercises. All the dogs and handlers are then assembled outside the ring in catalog order. When the judge is ready, the handlers are escorted by the steward into the ring with all dogs heeling on lead to a position designated by the judge along one side of the ring. The handlers and dogs line up facing the middle of the ring, remove their leashes and armbands and place them behind their dogs. When the judge gives the order to "sit your dogs", the handlers may then give a command for their dogs to "sit". The judge will then give the order to "leave your dogs". The handlers will give their dog a command and/or signal to "sit/stay" and promptly walk across the ring, turn and face their dog. The dogs must sit and stay for a period of one minute. After the time is up, the judge orders the handlers to "return to your dogs". The handlers return to their own dog by walking across the ring and around the back of their dog counterclockwise, returning to heel position. When all handlers have returned to heel position, the judge will order "exercise finished" at which time the handlers may release their dogs, put their leashes back on, pick up their armbands and leave the ring.

There will be no more than 11 dogs/handlers in a group. If there are 12 or more dogs, the judge will then divide the group into two or more groups and the exercise will be performed by no less than six dogs in each group. If there are less than 6 dogs competing in both the Open A & B classes, then the dog or dogs will be judged in a group of less than 6. If there are less than 12 dogs in the Novice A, B & C classes, the classes may be combined.

A dog will NQ this exercise by breaking the sit position, by going down or standing before the handler returns to heel position or by repeatedly whining or barking during the exercise. A minor move when the handler is returning and is behind the dog, it is a deduction but still qualifying providing all other criteria for qualifying is met.

See the Novice Ring Setup Imagemap.