Obedience
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Obedience [ əˈbiːdɪəns ] ("obedience") is a dog sport in which it is particularly important to carry out the exercises harmoniously, quickly and precisely. Obedience is also known as the "high school" of subordination. A well-rehearsed, good human-dog team is a basic requirement. Obedience exams are not just about dog obedience. His social compatibility with other people and dogs also plays a major role. Like agility , this dog sport originated in England.
Description of the sport
In open obedience competitions, anyone can take part regardless of the dog's size, breed or ancestry. In contrast to many other dog sports, obedience is also accessible to disabled people and dogs. For example, there are wheelchair users who practice this dog sport. No exceptional athleticism is required for the dog handler. Older or slightly disabled dogs can also participate, as their limitations are taken into account in the evaluation. There is practically no physical stress for both dog and owner at Obedience.
A big difference to other dog sports is that the dog handler is led through the test by a ring steward , known in Switzerland as a competition leader . The ring steward gives the handler precise instructions on what to do next. Such instructions are necessary because obedience does not have a set schedule for exams. On the one hand, being guided by the steward is an advantage for nervous dog handlers, on the other hand, the dog handler has to give his hearing and visual signals immediately after the steward has given his approval, which is to be regarded as an additional difficulty. The steward shall, in cooperation with the Judges determined the running scheme for the leash and the leash heeling and the entire conduct of the examination. This means that the dog handler only learns during the test which exercises are to be completed and how.
Like other dog sports, obedience originated in the UK . At first obedience was only part of the so-called “working trials” (a kind of versatility test, introduced in 1919 by the British breeding association for German Shepherds), but just a few years later there was the possibility of enrolling in such trials in pure obedience classes. It only became a recognized sport around 1951 when Crufts Obedience was first presented to a large audience at the British dog show . In Germany, the first, now revised, examination regulations were published on July 1, 2002 after a one and a half year pilot project.
In many exercises obedience is similar to the obedience part of the rescue dog and protection dog tests (in Great Britain obedience is a substitute for protection dog sport). For example, walking "at your feet" with and without a leash, "sitting", "sitting down" and "standing" while moving, "staying" exercises with and without visual contact, calling up, that Forwarding, retrieving and odor identification from several woods . The distance control is also part of the test, in which the dog is supposed to carry out a series of position changes ("sit", "sit down", "stand") at a great distance from its owner without moving from the place. In contrast to the protection dog sport, the execution of the commands is more precise and elegant. The test area is much quieter, it is guided “softer” and the level is, from the point of view of obedience, a lot higher.
Obedience has prevailed in Great Britain because training to become a guard dog is forbidden for laypeople there. Obedience is also more than an equivalent substitute for the obedience part of protection dog sport.
In obedience, the human-dog team doesn't just have to be able to perform the exercises, it also has to look good. This harmony can only be achieved if the dog trusts its human being and enjoys working together. In the beginner classes, 1 and 2, the "human-dog handling" is rated as a separate exercise, which depends on the dog's joyful work and good communication between the dog and the handler. There is no such exercise in class 3; instead, the form in which individual exercises are carried out is directly included in their evaluation.
Obedience is basically suitable for every dog, regardless of age and size, as the judges take into account the characteristics of the dog and the breed when evaluating. In addition to the most well-known obedience exercises from the companion dog test, such as "walking", "sitting" from movement and "down" with retrieval, there are a few other exercises in obedience, such as
- Retrieving (also of metal objects)
- Self-identification (differentiation of smells on objects)
- Change of position at a distance (change between sitting, down, standing)
- Send in a box (square of 4 pylons )
- Strength of character, especially towards other dogs
- Filing (all dogs are filed at the same time, or individually in the higher classes)
added.
exams
General
There are different examination regulations for obedience. In German-speaking countries, these are the international examination regulations of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and the examination regulations of the respective member countries for the classes below the international class. The examination regulations of the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH) provide for four classes, each with increasing requirements: Beginner class according to German regulations, class 1, class 2 and class 3 are tested according to the FCI regulations. In Switzerland, obedience competitions in the beginners performance classes are tested according to Swiss regulations, class 1, class 2 and class 3 are tested according to the FCI regulations. In Austria the exams are called Obedience Examination (GH), and they are available as GH-1, GH-2 and GH-3, but Austria also judges classes 1–3 according to the FCI regulations.
Since 2016 there is only one national beginners class (each country has its own regulations) and then classes 1 to 3 according to the FCI regulations.
From 2021 a new FCI regulation will come into force, it has not yet been published at the moment - December 2019.
Various requirements have to be met in order to take part in the obedience tests. "In order to be able to take part in an international obedience class or in a European or world championship, the dog must be at least 15 months old and registered in a stud book recognized by the FCI" or in its appendix register. The FCI member countries regulate separately which national tests are admission requirements for international tests.
According to the VDH examination regulations, the dog must be at least 15 months old to participate in the beginner class or in class 1. In class 2 the dog must be 16 months old and in class 3 17 months old. The companion dog test must be taken before the first obedience test . Participation in examinations in the next higher class is possible if a class has achieved an excellent score . In order for an exam to be conducted, at least 8 teams must participate. The qualification conditions in the VDH mean that dogs must be 17 months old in order to be able to start in the international class, because they must have successfully completed class 3 beforehand.
From January 1, 2016, a new FCI regulation for classes OB1, OB2, OB3 will apply.
rating
The evaluation of the exercises carried out by the Judges based on the examination regulations and the Judges Guide.
In the International Examination Regulations, scores are provided for the individual exercises in the examination. The judge awards 10 points for a perfect performance. In gradations of half a point each, ratings up to 5 points are possible. A failed exercise is awarded zero points.
The exercises are of different importance for the overall assessment of the exam, which is expressed by coefficients. The number of points awarded by the judge is multiplied by the coefficient of the exercise in question to determine the number of points for the overall evaluation. In this way, 320 points can be achieved in the international class for the exam. The evaluation is based on the number of points achieved:
- Excellent (v): 320 - 256 points
- Very good (sg): 224 - under 256 points
- good (g): 192 - under 224 points
The VDH examination regulations provide for an analogous evaluation system for the other performance classes. The coefficients of the individual exercises change depending on the exam class. When evaluating individual exercises, the judge uses the following scoring scheme:
- Excellent 8-10
- Very good 7 - 7.5
- Good 6 - 6.5
- Poor 5 - 5.5
The judges' guide stipulates how many points are to be deducted from the assessment for certain deficiencies in the exercise. Overall, the judge rates an exercise to reflect the performance of the exercise. At least one good result must be achieved in order to pass the exam.
The beginner class according to the regulations of the VDH
Eleven different elements are tested in the beginner class. Each exam is divided into group work and individual exercises. In the group work in the beginner class, the focus of assessment is on the dog's social behavior. It contains the exercises behavior towards other dogs, standing and touching and laying down in the group. In group work, all starting teams in the group (at least three human-dog teams) are on the test site at the same time and complete the exercises together.
The individual exercises begin and end in the basic position . The dog sits close to the handler's left side and has eye contact with him. The dog's shoulder is at the handler's knee, the body axes of the dog and handler are exactly parallel (the dog sits “straight” forward).
First, the behavior towards other dogs is checked. Here all human-dog teams stand in a row. The teams go one after the other in front of and behind the other teams, at a maximum distance of one meter. The dogs should be friendly or indifferent, but not aggressive. If a dog stands out due to behavior that can be assessed negatively during this exercise, this team must be excluded from the test.
The next part of the exam is standing and touching . At the beginning the dog handler steps out of the group with his dog at the request of the ring steward. The dog handler decides for himself whether he wants to take this part of the test with or without a leash. The team stands in the basic position. The dog is brought to a standing position as instructed by the steward. Then the dog handler goes diagonally next to his dog. If the dog is kept on a leash, the leash should be slack. The dog may be calmed down by the dog handler, but no commands such as "stay" may be given. The dog must now be touched from all sides by the steward and must stand still. Then the dog handler goes back to his dog and takes it back into the basic position. The focus of evaluation in this exercise is the behavior of the dog. Assistance from the dog handler for the dog leads to point deductions.
This is followed by dropping off in the group . For this part, all test participants stand in a row at a distance of about 3 meters from each other. The dogs are leashed and then brought into the "down" position one after the other. The handlers move about 20 meters away from their dogs and then turn to face them. This position should be held for 2 minutes. The dog is not allowed to stand up or change its position. He may crawl forward a maximum of his own body length in order to still pass the exercise. At the steward's instructions, all dog handlers go back to their dogs at the same time after the time has elapsed, whereby they remain in their place. One after the other and on the instructions of the steward, the dogs get up in the basic position. The commands must be given by the dog handler so that other dogs are not disturbed. The dog has to learn to only obey the commands of its own dog handler. The judge makes sure that the dogs do not change their position and that no additional commands are given.
The first individual exercise is then the free heel. When guiding in the foot, the dog walks so that it runs close to the handler's left side. The dog should follow the dog handler in such a way that it does not obstruct the handler while walking. The dog's shoulder is at the handler's knee, with the dog maintaining eye contact with the handler. The steward gives the instructions “forwards”, “right turn”, “left turn”, “turn right”, “turn left” and “stop” in any predetermined order. The right and left turns must be shown at an angle of 90 degrees. The halt should be executed unexpectedly and without a command.
In the exercise sitting while moving , the dog handler starts walking with his dog that is not on a leash from the basic position. After about 10 meters, the handler gives the dog the command to sit, which it should execute quickly. The handler must not interrupt his gait or turn around. After a further 10 meters the handler stops and turns to his dog. As instructed by the steward, the handler returns to his dog on the right side and puts it back on the leash. Points may be deducted in this exercise if the dog is not sitting upright, the handler helps to sit down or the dog is still following him. If the dog is in the wrong position (not sitting ), the exercise is not passed.
In the exercise sending ahead in a square , the dog is sent into a delimited 3 × 3 meter square 10 meters away. It consists of pylons at the corners and a tape or mark on the floor as a demarcation. The dog must be brought into a lying position in the square with a command before the dog handler goes to the dog and takes the basic position with it. The handler then moves about 20 to 25 meters away from his dog to a given point. There the handler turns to his dog and calls it. The dog must come quickly and in a straight line and sit in front of or next to the handler. Points will be deducted if the dog comes before the handler's command or only after being asked several times.
The eighth exercise is the retrieval on level ground , where the handler is 5 meters away from the dog and places the object to be retrieved on this route. The dog may only retrieve the object after the command. The dog should not chew on the object or follow it up several times. There are two options for handing
out the item : Version 1: The dog must sit down with the object in front of the handler and must continue to hold the object. The dog only lets go of the object on command and returns to the basic position after another command.
Variant 2: The dog immediately goes into the basic position and has to hold on to the object and gives it out on command.
The dog must not drop the object and should not be given any additional commands.
In the last exercise, the control at a distance , the dog handler first brings his dog into a lying position and then moves away from it about 5 meters. After an instruction given by the steward via a display, he brings the dog first into a seated position and then, after repeated instruction, into a lying position using audio and hand signals. The steward gives his instructions regardless of the action of the human-dog team, which he cannot observe during this exercise.
Finally, the relationship between humans and dogs is assessed. For example, the performance judge assesses whether the dog has successfully completed the program. This is observed throughout the test.
In short, there is the following program for the beginner class:
- Behavior towards other dogs
- Standing and touching
- Lie for 2 minutes with visual contact
- Free heeling
- Sit and relax while moving
- Send ahead in a square
- Recall
- Retrieval on the ground
- Control at a distance (5 m distance, 2 changes)
- To send a pylon
- Overall impression
class 1
- 1 minute sitting in sight
- Free heeling
- Stand out from the movement
- Recall
- Sit or down while moving
- Send ahead in a square (15 m away)
- Retrieval on the ground (wood)
- Control at a distance (5 m distance, 4 changes)
- Jump back over the hurdle
- Send to a pylon
- Overall impression
2nd grade
- 2 minutes lying out of sight
- Free heeling
- Stand, sit, take a seat while moving
- Retrieve with standing
- Send ahead to a square with space and retrieval (23 m away)
- Retrieving with directions
- Differentiation of smells from 6 objects
- Control at a distance (10 m distance, 6 changes, 3 positions)
- Metal repeat over a hurdle
- Overall impression
Class 3
- Sitting out of sight for 2 minutes
- 4 minutes lying out of sight with distraction
- Free heeling
- Stand, sit and take a seat while moving
- Retrieve with standing and seat
- Forward with directions, filing and retrieving
- Retrieving with directions
- To send a pylon with sit, down or stand, and a wooden repeat over a hurdle
- Identify (odor control) from 6 items
- Distance control (15 m distance, 6 changes)
Web links
- VDH: Examination Regulations Obedience (PO) (incl. FCI PO Class 3) (valid since January 1, 2016; PDF; 1.23 MB)
- Obedience examination regulations of the ÖKV
- Obedience regulations in Switzerland
- Obedience information from the German Association of Working Dog Sports Clubs
- VDH Judges' Guide Obedience (PDF; 310 kB)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Obedience , Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen, accessed on November 5, 2018
- ^ Obedience Deutscher Hundesportverband eV Accessed on November 5, 2018
- ↑ Imke Niewöhner: Obedience training step by step . P. 12 ff, Basic Things, Kynos Verlag 2006 ISBN 3-938071-17-6
- ↑ Obedience regulations ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. the TKAMO of the SKG p. 50
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Obedience examination regulations of the VDH (PDF; 829 kB)
- ↑ Circular 33/2010 ( Memento of the original dated September 23, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 88 kB) of the FCI from April 6, 2010: World and section title events of the FCI: Entitlement to start registration dogs [n]
- ↑ a b c d e f g ' Guide for obedience judges and trainers. Annex to the VDH Obedience Examination Regulations (Valid from January 1, 2013; PDF; 415 kB)
