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This site will hopefully provide an insight into what UK Competitive Obedience is all about and to give anyone interested in joining the sport an idea of just what is involved and equally importantly how to get involved.
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Sadie's Shetland Sheepdog Thomas with his display of trophies and rosettes from Competitive Obedience Shows
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- This site is primarily explaining what happens at a licensed Kennel Club Open, Capped or Championship Obedience Show (note: anyone starting out can enter their lowest classes at Capped, Open or Championship Shows), other types of shows sometimes holding obedience competition classes are: Companion Shows, Limit Shows and some unlicensed events (See 'What to Expect at a Show' for more information)
Thank you very much to Les Perry for permission to use the obedienceuk name
and to all those who kindly supplied photos and videos
for me to use in producing this site - also to Alisa and Joanne for giving
me a list of questions that those starting out in this sport might want to know
all these things helped to make the site what it is - thank you
and to all those who kindly supplied photos and videos
for me to use in producing this site - also to Alisa and Joanne for giving
me a list of questions that those starting out in this sport might want to know
all these things helped to make the site what it is - thank you
So What is Competitive Obedience (in the UK) all About?
The governing body of licensed Obedience Shows is The Kennel Club.
The Kennel Club produce a year book including all the Kennel Club dog sports rules and regulations. The Rules and Regulations for Obedience are often referred to as the 'G' Regs.
The Kennel Club produce a year book including all the Kennel Club dog sports rules and regulations. The Rules and Regulations for Obedience are often referred to as the 'G' Regs.
The origins of Competitive Obedience came from the sport of Working Trials many years ago and has developed over the years into how it is today.
The basic idea of Competitive Obedience is to publicly showcase the training you and your dog have achieved.
The 'showcasing' happens at various large shows across the UK during the year, there is a licenced Kennel Club Obedience show somewhere in the UK most weekends from May until October.
On some weekends there are two shows held at the same venue (could be run by the same club or by two separate clubs). These 'double' weekends as they are called attract a larger entry and alot of competitors are set up to either stay the weekend in a caravan or in a tent. Hardy lot us dog enthusiasts!
The amount of people/dogs attending these shows does vary, but can be anything from 400 to 1,000 at each show - so when first attending a large show it can be quite an unusual sight to see so many dogs and people involved in a sport.
The basic idea of Competitive Obedience is to publicly showcase the training you and your dog have achieved.
The 'showcasing' happens at various large shows across the UK during the year, there is a licenced Kennel Club Obedience show somewhere in the UK most weekends from May until October.
On some weekends there are two shows held at the same venue (could be run by the same club or by two separate clubs). These 'double' weekends as they are called attract a larger entry and alot of competitors are set up to either stay the weekend in a caravan or in a tent. Hardy lot us dog enthusiasts!
The amount of people/dogs attending these shows does vary, but can be anything from 400 to 1,000 at each show - so when first attending a large show it can be quite an unusual sight to see so many dogs and people involved in a sport.
Below is a Post by Sandra Spruce which sums up the inclusiveness of obedience (post copied with Sandra's permission)
Here are some of my thoughts of why I love obedience, and why I switched over from doing agility. My main reason is the INCLUSIVENESS that already exists in the sport.
- It doesn't matter if you are 8 or 80, you can still be competitive at the very top levels (you've only got to look at competitors at Crufts)
- It doesn't matter if you 8 or 18 stone or how fit you are (I would say that most rounds are doable by everyone even those with disabilities) you can still compete at the top level.
- It doesn't matter how rich or poor you are, you can still train your dog. Club classes are relatively cheap compared to other sports, and even private 1-2-1's are (on the whole) cheaper than any other dog sports I know
- You don't need any fancy equipment to be able to train (well besides maybe a dumbbell) and you don't need acres of land to practice on.
- It doesn't matter that you work full-time and don't have oodles of free time. You can fit it when you do, e.g. 5 mins spent training whilst the kettle boils.
- You don't have to travel miles to get to a venue to train, only to find that it's chucking it down. You can train in your front lounge, garden, park, on a walk, wherever as and when it suits you.
- You can train with any breed of dog from dachshund to Borzoi, I've seen them all compete (or x-breed) and it's not going to be injurious to their health or safety. Yes, they are not all going to become champions, but there are always exceptions. There are currently Jack Russell's competing in ticket (as at 2019 - ticket being the very highest class possible), and have been Shelties and many other small dogs in the past. Not every dog or human (even collies) have the right mindset for this type of work. It's why we love dogs and the breeds that we choose for their diversity. If I could enter my collie in a gundog trial, I'm sure she wouldn't be looked upon favourably when she tried to pull the stuffing out of a dummy, or refused to retrieve something out of water because it was too cold. I wouldn't expect the exercises to be changed for her though. But as it is, she's not even allowed to compete (maybe I should petition the KC to change their rules!).
- The working life of my dog taking part in the sport is so much longer than other sports. The majority of agility dogs are retired from top competition by the age of about 8-9 as they can't compete at top level anymore. Majority of obedience dogs are working at their best at this age, as they know their jobs inside out.
Main Information Sites for UK Obedience:
Below is a video promoting UK Competitive Obedience (by Lorraine Bennett):
Site owner/admin is: Shirley Budgen - Training Website
All site content has been supplied by Shirley Budgen (unless otherwise stated)
All photos, videos have been posted with the owner/originators permission.
ObedienceUK, Competitive Obedience, Obedience Shows, Dog Training, Obedience Competition,
Dog Shows, Dog Sports, Dog Activities, The Kennel Club, Heelwork, Retrieve, Recall, Sendaway, Scent, Distant Control
Dog Shows, Dog Sports, Dog Activities, The Kennel Club, Heelwork, Retrieve, Recall, Sendaway, Scent, Distant Control
