Obedience Utility

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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. Each session is approximately 50 minutes.

Prerequisite:   Trained to a competitive level of Obedience Open or earned CDX title. 

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 Utility class demonstrates the same good canine companion skills as with the Open level. More challenging exercises are done off-leash, scent discrimination, directed retrieves, jumping, and silent signal exercises, the most challenging class. 

This class is for advanced training in Obedience; AKC looks at this class as the top class in this venue. Reaching the Utility level takes many hours of practice. For more information, reference the AKC Obedience Regulations.

• Signal Exercise. Shows the dog's ability to understand and correctly respond to the handler's signal to stand, stay, down, sit, and come. No voice commands are allowed; only hand signals may be given. 
• Scent Discrimination. This exercise, performed two times, shows the dog's ability to find the handler's scent among a pile of articles and promptly return the correct article to the handler. 
• Directed Retrieve. This exercise's features prove the dog's ability to follow a directional signal from the handler to retrieve a glove and promptly return it to the handler.
• Moving Stand and Examination. For this exercise, the dog must heel, stand, and stay as the handler moves away. The dog must stay and accept an examination by the judge and return to the handler on command.
• Directed Jumping. The dog must go away from the handler, turn, and sit. Then, the dog must clear whichever jump its handler indicates, and promptly returns to the handler. The exercise is repeated to the other jump and promptly returns to the handler.

You'll work on a few exercises each class as this will take time to get the dog to understand what you want them to do. The dog has not worked at a distance before in obedience. It takes practice with many steps to get to the final results. 

Once trained on the course curriculum, this caliber of dog and handler will be eligible to work toward a Utility degree from AKC.

Obedience Utility is another significant step from Competition Open. There are even more challenging skills to teach the dog and handler. Perfecting these skills will take time.

Four training sessions will start you on your way to continuing your competition success. More sessions are necessary to train and perfect Obedience Utility 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
• Gloves. Work gloves, White 
• Articles 10. 5 each of any two (Leather, metal, wood). Consult Topnotch Training for sizing before ordering. Source: J&J Dog Supplies 
• Obedience Jumps. One Set of Jumps. Source: J&J Dog Supplies 

Age. Dogs one year and older

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

Length: 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.