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 can be obtained 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 Open Class

Class Divisions

Open B is for dogs that have already obtained the U-CDX title or it's equivalent in another registry (American and/or Canadian Kennel Clubs), for handlers that are or have instructed obedience at the open level and for handlers that are or have been professional trainers.

Open A is for dogs that have obtained the title of U-CD but not U-CDX or it's equivalent. 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 judges 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 out of sight and another dog is working close by.

In this exercise the honoring dog is brought into the ring before the working dog. The leash is removed at the ring gate and carried by the handler. The dog is heeled off lead to the spot designated for the honoring dog. The handler places the leash and 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 ring. The steward escorts the handler to a spot, out of sight of the dog, that has been previously designated by the judge. The dog must remain in place and down, close to the path of the working dog while the working dog is performing the Heel Off Lead and Figure 8 exercise, after which, the steward is given a signal by the judge to escort the honor handler back into the ring. The handler returns to the ring and waits, across the ring from the dog, for the judge to order the handler 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 Open Ring Setup Imagemap.

Heel Off Lead: 40 Pts.

This exercise tests the ability, willingness and training of the dog to remain in "heel position" while off lead. The dog should ignore the distraction of a stranger passing them in the opposite direction during the open heeling pattern.

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 steward walks the reverse of the heeling pattern during the heel off lead as a distraction to the "working dog". The steward begins to walk on the judges first "Forward" order to the handler but continues to walk without changing pace or halting when the judge issues orders to the handler.

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 Open Ring Setup Imagemap.

Figure 8 Off Lead: [included in Heel off Lead Pts.]

This exercise is actually a continuation of the Heel Off 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 Off Lead exercise.

See the Open Ring Setup Imagemap.

Drop On Recall: 30 Pts.

This exercise tests the ability, willingness and training of the dog to come when called on the first command, to stop and drop when commanded by the handler, remain in the down position at the approach of a stranger and to come in promptly when called again by the handler.

The dog is heeled into position for this exercise. The judge orders the handler to "leave your dog" and the handler gives a command and/or signal to the dog to "sit/stay". The handler promptly leaves the dog and walks to the other end of the ring opposite the dog and turns to face the dog. The steward is positioned next to the handler. On the judge's signal, the handler will command and/or signal the dog to "come". The dog must promptly begin to come to the handler. At a point before the dog reaches the handler, the judge will give the handler another signal to "down" the dog (or will have previously designated a point in the path of the dog for the handler to drop the dog), at which time the handler will give the dog a command and/or signal to down. The dog must go into the down position promptly and stay down while the steward "walks" past the downed dog. ( The steward is also given a signal to "walk" by the judge.) When the steward is past the dog, the judge will give the handler a signal to call the dog to front position. The handler will then command and/or signal the dog to come and sit in front of him/her. The dog must do so promptly and sit within reach of the handler. When the dog reaches front position, the judge will then order the handler to "finish". The handler will then give the dog a command and/or signal to return to heel position.

The dog will NQ this exercise by not coming or dropping on the first command and/or signal, by anticipating the commands to come or drop or by breaking the down position as the steward approaches.

See the Open Ring Setup Imagemap.

Retrieve On The Flat: 20 Pts.

This exercise tests the ability, willingness and training of the dog to retrieve a thrown object to the handler's hand.

The dog is heeled into position for the retrieve. The judge orders the handler to "throw it". The handler may then give a stay command and/or signal to the dog to "stay" and throws the dumbbell to an area previously designated by the judge. On the judge's order to "send your dog" the handler gives a command and/or signal to the dog to retrieve the dumbbell. The dog must not leave before the command to retrieve but must leave on the first command and/or signal and must retrieve the dumbbell to the handler's hand by first sitting in front of the handler and holding the dumbbell until the handler takes it. When the dog returns with the dumbbell and sits in front of the handler, the judge will order the handler to "take it" at which time the handler should take the dumbbell from the dog's mouth. The judge will then order the handler to "finish". The handler will command the dog to return to heel position.

The dog will NQ on this exercise for failing to retrieve on the first command and/or signal, failing to go out on the first command and/or signal, going before the command and/or signal is given to retrieve or for sitting out of reach of the handler upon returning with the dumbbell.

See the Open Ring Setup Imagemap.

Retrieve Over The High Jump: 30 Pts.

This exercise tests the ability, willingness and training of the dog to retrieve an thrown object to the handler's hand even when there is a barrier and when the dog may not be able to see where the object lands.

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UKC Jump Heights

The jumps in UKC obedience are set to the closest 2 inch increment to the dogs 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.

The dog is heeled into position for the retrieve over the high jump facing the jump at least 8 feet away from it. The judge orders the handler to "throw it" and the handler may then give a "stay" command and/or signal to the dog to stay. The handler then throws the dumbbell over the jump to an area designated by the judge. On the judge's order to "send your dog", the handler gives a command and/or signal to the dog to retrieve the dumbbell by taking the jump on the way out and upon returning with the dumbbell. The dog must not leave before the command to retrieve but must leave on the first command and/or signal to do so and must retrieve the dumbbell to the handler's hand by first sitting in front of the handler and holding the dumbbell until the handler reaches for it. When the dog returns with the dumbbell the judge will order the handler to "take it" at which time the handler should take the dumbbell from the dog's mouth. The judge will then order the handler to "finish" and the handler will command and/or signal the dog to return to heel position.

The dog will NQ on this exercise for failing to retrieve, failing to go out on the first command and/or signal or anticipating the command and/or signal to retrieve, not jumping either going out or returning or both or for sitting out of reach of the handler upon returning with the dumbbell.

See the Open Ring Setup Imagemap.

This exercise tests the ability, willingness and training of the dog to jump a flat and wide obstacle and return to the handler.

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UKC Broad Jump Description & Distances

Description: The UKC Broad jump is a set of 4 telescoping boards that are 8 inches wide, five feet long and graduate from 1-6 inches high. Distances: The amount of boards used (1-4) and the distance the jump is set depends on the shoulder height of the dog. The dog jumps a broad jump distance twice it's height as measured at the withers to the nearest 1 inch increment, with a minimum of 16 inches (dogs that are 8 inches or under at the withers) and a maximum of 72 inches (dogs that are 36 inches or greater at the withers). The two lowest boards are used for dogs jumping distances 16-26 inches. Three boards are used for dogs jumping distances of 28-46 inches. All four boards are used for dogs jumping distances of 48-72 inches. Example Of Computing Distance Of Broad Jump: For a dog that measures 17 inches at the withers: 2 X 17=34 inches. This dog will jump a distance of 34 inches over three broad jump boards.

The dog is heeled into position for the broad jump exercise facing the lowest broad jump board at least 8 feet from the jump. On the judge's order to "leave your dog" the handler gives the dog a command and/or signal to "sit/stay", leaves the dog and goes to the right side of the broad jump, stands at least two feet from the side of the jump anywhere between the first and last board with their left shoulder facing the dog. On the judge's order to "send your dog", the handler gives a command and/or signal for the dog to jump the jump. The dog must leave promptly and clear the jump completely without walking on, around or touching the jump and after landing must return to the handler who has, while the dog is in the air, pivoted a quarter turn to the right to meet the dog. The dog must sit in front of the handler until the judge gives the order to "finish". The handler then gives the command and/or signal for the dog to return to heel position.

See the Open Ring Setup Imagemap.

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 out of sight in a group of other dogs.

All jumps are 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 and then follow the steward out of the ring to a spot out of sight that has been previously designated by the judge. The dogs must sit and stay with the handlers out of sight for a period of three minutes at which time the judge signals the steward to return with the handlers. The handlers return to the ring. When all the handlers are back in the ring and lined up opposite their own dog the judge will order them 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 both the Open A & B 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, is a deduction but still qualifying providing all other criteria for qualifying is met.

See the Open Ring Setup Imagemap.