OBEDIENCE TRAINING
OBEDIENCE TRAINING
Are you ready to start training your dog or puppy? Proper training and socialisation are among your dog's basic needs. It's important to start training your dog as soon as possible.
Do you want to stop your dog jumping up, digging, pulling on the lead, refusing to come when called etc? Well, dog obedience training is what you and your dog may need! There are many dog obedience training clubs that can help you enjoy this activity with your dog. Most clubs train weekly and they welcome all pure breeds and mixes of all shapes and sizes.
They can help you teach your dog to do fun things like retrieving, jumping obstacles on command, responding to hand signals and much more. The aim of obedience training should be to provide ongoing quality companion obedience training, socialisation and problem solving techniques for your dog or pup, using positive, reward based motivational training methods.
At first, dog trainig can seem pretty overwhelming, especially if this is your first dog. The truth is that training your dog is a very big project. If you take it step by step, you will find the task to be far less daunting. Here is some information to help get you started:
It is important however that you join a club or use an obedience trainer who is approved and registered.
OBEDIENCE TRAINING ORGANISATIONS
Approved obedience training organisations
These organisations have been approved by the Minister for Agriculture as approved obedience training organisations in line with the requirements of Section 5B of the Domestic Animals Act 1994:
- Australian Association of Professional Dog Trainers Inc
- The Kintala Dog Club Association Inc.
- Delta Institute
The organisations are required to produce an annual report and have a code of ethics that promotes responsible pet ownership in compliance with the Act and its related codes of practice. It is expected that the organisation will take disciplinary action against members who do not comply with the organisation's code.
As an approved obedience training organisation, the Minister may approve an assessment program if the organisation assesses a dog in the following skills:
- heeling or walking with handler
- sociability with other dogs
- staying on command (known as the stay test)
- coming to handler on command (known as a recall test)
- absence of aggression towards humans or other animals.
For the purpose of the Schedule of the Act, dogs that have undergone obedience training that comply with the regulations will receive a reduced registration fee with their council.
Qualified obedience trainer
A qualified obedience trainer is a person who is a current member of one of the organisations approved by the Minister. The trainer must have completed a training course administered by that organisation and approved by the Minister — to the satisfaction of that organisation.
The Minister may approve a training course if it provides for:
- training in appropriate equipment used to train dogs
- practical obedience training of dogs
- a written or oral examination on the theory of dog training
- a practical examination of a person's dog training skills
- a probationary or learning period of at least 100 hours in which the trainee is under the supervision of a qualified dog obedience trainer.
Dog training establishments
All Dog Training Establishments must register as a Domestic Animal Business with the local council in the municipality that it resides. Note that not all Dog Training Establishments are also 'Approved Obedience Training Organisations'.
By clicking on the links of the approved Obedience Training Organisations, you will be able to find a list of accredited members.
COMPETITION
Obedience trialling is an international sport enjoyed in countries such as the USA, UK, Europe and Japan. The five levels of tests offered by the ANKC are not only standard nationally but are substantially the same as those contested around the world. The tests are:
1. Community Companion Dog (CCD)
This test is a recent addition to the sport of obedience. It was designed specifically to encourage new people into the sport by allowing all of the heelwork to be performed on lead. Heelwork is generally acknowledged as one of the more difficult exercises for novice dogs and handlers to perform well. By having an entry-level test where heelwork could be performed on lead, many more owners could be encouraged to compete. The exercises in the CCD Award are:
Heel on lead: 30 points
Stand for examination on lead: 10 points
Recall (come): 20 points
1 min sit stay: 20 points
2 min down stay: 20 points
TOTAL: 100 points
To gain a CCD title, a dog must score over 75 points at three separate events.
2. Companion Dog (CD)
To achieve the Companion Dog title, the dog must perform the same behaviours as in CCD, but all heelwork is off lead, the down stay is longer and there is a choice of retrieving a dumbbell or a position change at a distance. From this point on, the dog must achieve a score of 170 or higher out of a possible 200 points (at least 85%) to qualify at that level. Three performances at three separate events are once again required to gain the CD title.
3. Companion Dog Excellent (CDX)
At this level, all heelwork is off-lead, the dog is required to retrieve a dumbbell, to jump, to drop when running towards the owner on a recall, and to perform longer sit and down stays with the owner out of sight for up to five minutes. The same pass rate as for CD is required.
4. Utility Dog (UD)
A whole new set of skills is required of dogs in the Utility class, many of which are enjoyable and stimulating for the dog. Two exercises challenge the dogs scenting abilities. The first is called the seek back, and it requires the dog to retrace the handlers steps to find a dropped article and return it swiftly to the owner.
The second, the scent discrimination exercise, requires the dog to find three articles one made from wood, one from metal and one from leather which have been touched by the handler. The three scented articles are then placed among 12 similar articles that have not been touched by the handler. The dog must select the scented articles without picking up any of the unscented articles and deliver them promptly to the owner. UD exercises may also involve a send-away from the owner, directed jumping, refusing offered food while the handler turns his back, position changes at a distance and speak on command.
5. Utility Dog Excellent (UDX)
This class is also a recent addition to the obedience competition schedule designed to offer further challenges for top obedience dogs. It builds on skills from the UD ring, such as adding a decoy to the seek back exercise, offering multiple retrieves and increasing distance control.
Successful completion of each class gains a different title that is then permanently recorded on the dogs pedigree or registration papers. Outstanding obedience dogs who have already attained a UDX title and who repeatedly gain high scores may also achieve an Obedience Champion title, the ultimate accolade for any dog and handler team.
https://www.dogslife.com.au/dog-news/dog-training/obedience-dog-trials