Obedience Trials are a sport and all participants should exhibit the principles of good
sportsmanship. The purpose of these trials is to demonstrate the usefulness of your dog as a companion,
not merely the dog's ability to follow specified routines in the obedience ring. Training for these trials
produces dogs that have been conditioned to always behave in the home, in public places, and in the
presence of other dogs, in a manner that will reflect credit on the sport of obedience.
We want our members to enjoy all of the canine performance sports open to them,
whether they share their homes with AKC registered dogs, mixed breeds, or any one
of the numerous "designer" mixed breeds that are becoming nore and more
popular - Labradoodles, Puggles, Morkies, to name just a few.
AKC Performance Events - competing with your dog!
Did you know that your dog can compete in AKC performace events like obedience, rally, and
agility even if he or she is a mixed breed dog? Enroll your best friend in the AKC Canine Partners
program, and show everyone that it doesn't take a fancy pedigree to make a smart capable
working dog! For more information and to learn how to sign up, visit the AKC website.
Fun Matches - fun for you and your dog!
Fun matches are patterned after AKC Obedience Trials. They provide an excellent venue
for practice, as well as for competition, and mixed breeds and designer mixed breeds are welcome.
There are even sub-novice classes available for beginners, where all exercises are performed
entirely on leash. Exercises are performed in front of an experienced handler, acting as
"judge" for the day, dogs and handlers are awarded points on the basis of their performances,
and ribbons and trophies are given to the dog and handler team with the highest scores
(First through Fourth Place). One lucky person goes home with the "High in Match" trophy,
and there are often special prizes for juniors and for club members.
Some canine obedience clubs offer "Show and Go"s. A Show and Go is a great environment to
find out just how prepared your dog is for formal AKC competition, but it is purely a training venue.
There is no competition for placements and ribbons. At a Show and Go, dogs and handlers
perform the same exercises in the same manner as they would in an AKC obedience
trial, but without the added pressure of competition.
A Fun Match is a great place to spend the day with your dog, your family, and your dogloving
friends. As a beginning handler, you will benefit by watching other handlers and learning from
their mistakes, and you will be inspired by the precision and teamwork of some of the more
experienced teams. Most important, going to fun matches is something that you and your
dog can enjoy together.
To find a match, show and go, training seminar, or clinic, visit the following sites.
