Obedience Open

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For dogs one year and older

Class is Live Online conducted using Zoom and will require a high-speed internet connection and a computer or mobile device. 

This class is $130 for four sessions in total. Each session is approximately 50 minutes.

Prerequisite: Must have secured an AKC title in Obedience Competition Advanced.

Obedience trials demonstrate the dog's ability to follow specified routines in the obedience ring and emphasize its usefulness as a companion to humankind. The Open class demonstrates the same good canine companion skills as with the Novice class. Still, more challenging exercises are done off-leash, and retrieval and jumping challenges are added. 

This class will begin to prepare you for AKC Open trials, a big step for both handler and dog.  Your dog will be off-leash for all exercises. For more information, reference the AKC Obedience Regulations.

• Heel Off-Leash and Figure Eight. The dog needs to stay with the handler on the left side off-leash.
• Command Discrimination (Stand, Down, Sit). The dog is left in a stand. The handler steps a distance away and tells the dog to down than to stay; the handler goes another distance away and tells the dog a sit. The handler then returns to the dog.
• Drop on Recall. The handler leaves the dog, goes to the other side of the ring, calls the dog, drops the dog halfway, and calls the dog again to the front of the handler, then the dog heels to the left.
• Retrieve on Flat. The handler throws the dumbbell across the ring, sends the dog, the dog goes retrieve the dumbbell, brings it to the front of the handler, and goes to heel.
• Retrieve over High Jump. Same as above, the only difference the dog goes over a jump, retrieves then returns over the jump.
• Broad Jump. A flat, wide jump. To the dog, it looks like a ramp.
• Stay – Get Your Leash (Sit, Down). The dog stays while the handler goes and gets the leash and returns to the dog.

The biggest exercise is the retrieve and teaching your dog to jump correctly. When you teach your dog to retrieve, it takes daily work and much patience; this is a slow process. Dogs usually like to jump, so we instruct the handler on working on this obstacle the correct way. 

Obedience Open is a huge step from Competition Novice as there are many more skills to teach the dog and handlers. Perfecting these skills will take time.

Four training sessions will start you on your way to competition success. More sessions are necessary to train and perfect Open Obedience skills.  

Bring training treats to class for use as lures and rewards while training. It's also a good idea to have some high-reward treats to reward your dog for their best performance. Small, bite-sized treats are ideal.

• Collar. Choker chain
• Leash. Leather, any length
• Dumbbell. Properly fitted to your dog's mouth. Available for purchase from Topnotch Training.
• Set of Obedience Jumps. Source: J&J Dog Supplies

Age: One year and older. 

Prerequisite: Must have secured an AKC title in Obedience Competition Advanced.

Class is Live Online conducted using Zoom (click for link) and will require a high-speed internet connection and a computer or mobile device.  

This class is $130 for four sessions. Participants are encouraged to register for sequential sessions to continue training. Each session is approximately 50 minutes long. All class times are on Pacific Standard Time.