Obedience

Dog obedience is a competition, where you and your dog enter a ring with a perfect score of 200, and follow the commands given by a judge, and lose points whenever you or your dog do something wrong. The lowest passing score is 170. German Shepherds Dogs are well suited for obedience competition because of their loyalty, athleticism and intelligence. To prepare for this dog show you and your dog should go to training classes. There you both learn what to do and how to get along together in the ring. The classes are fun and you meet others trying to gain control of their dog and you grow in knowledge and ability together. Your dog becomes a canine good citizen (there is even a certificate for this) and you become familiar with training techniques that will be used throughout your life with your pets.

Showing dogs in obedience is a team sport. You must learn what to do and so must your dog. There are three levels of classes as follows:

• Novice - This is the level that a beginner would start at. Your dog must walk by your left side (called heeling) both on and off leash, sit when you stop, and keep up with you when you go fast or slow. The dog has to stay in a sitting position or down position while you leave it, and come when called, and stand for exam by the judge. When you pass this test, you have acquire one leg, and when you have three legs, you will have completed the requirements for the Novice title and the letters CD (companion dog) will be placed after your dogs name in its AKC registration certificate.
• Open - This level follows Novice and results in your dog earning a Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title. The exercises are similar to Novice, but off-leash and for longer periods. Additionally, there are jumping and retrieving tasks.
• Utility - This is the final level and results in a Utility Dog (UD) title. In addition to more difficult exercises, the dog also must perform scent discrimination tasks.
• Advanced Titles - Dogs that excel at obedience can go on to compete for the Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH) and Utility Dog Excellent (UDX) titles as well as the prestigious NOC (National Obedience Champion).

White German Shepherds can compete in obedience competitions in the American Kennel Club (AKC) as well as other clubs and organizations such as the United Kennel Club (UKC). For more information on obedience competitions, you can request a free booklet from the AKC that explains the obedience requirements for each class. Request it by writing to them at: The American Kennel Club, 5580 Centerview Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606-3390 or go to their web site at http://www.akc.org/dic/events/obedience/. Just remember that obedience trials are a sport and all participants should be guided by the principles of good sportsmanship both in and out of the ring.