|
|
|
ANNUAL OBEDIENCE & RALLY TRIALS |
In March each year, The Dog Owners’ Training Club of Maryland holds a Dog Obedience Trial under American Kennel Club (AKC) rules and regulations. When AKC Obedience competition began in 1933, the concept behind obedience training was to develop a close working relationship with dogs, demonstrate dogs' willingness, capabilities, and enjoyment of working, and especially, working in partnership with humans. This concept remains as important today as it was when the program was developed. Our annual trial is a testament to how we still value that concept today, while having fun and enhancing our relationship with our dogs.
|
|
Picture of a Typical DOTC Obedience Trial Trophy Table |
|
There are several levels of obedience, such as the long-standing titling classes of Novice, Open, and Utility. A higher level of competition was added in recent years, which includes Utility Excellent and Obedience Trial Champion. The newest title is to be awarded to the winning dog at the AKC National Obedience Invitational. The dog that wins this National Obedience Invitational becomes the National Obedience Champion for the year. This is the only dog that can carry that distinction. In 2005, a whole new set of introductory and fun obedience titling classes called “Rally Obedience” was developed by AKC. DOTC offered the new Rally titling classes that year and each year thereafter.
The AKC “GAZETTE” publishes a variety of dog obedience trial rankings and statistics annually. For the year 2007 (most recent published figures), DOTC's annual Obedience trial was tied with a New Jersey club’s trial for 1st in the country in with 212 trial entries. DOTC’s Rally Trial also ranked 1st in the country that year with 200 entries topping the next closest trial by 48 entries.
For 2009, our 72nd Obedience and 5th Rally Trials will be held on Sunday, March 15th at the Howard County Fairgrounds in the spacious Main Exhibition Building where we have held our trial for many years. Although trial hours are listed as 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m., judging starts at 8:30 and most major classes are completed by around 3:00 p.m.
|
|
DOTC Volunteers Preparing Trial Notices for Mailing - Part 1 |
Our Obedience Trial offers the A and B classes of Novice, Open, and Utility, and also the new Optional Titling classes of Graduate Novice, Graduate Open, and the Versatility Class, plus the Non-Regular Brace and Veterans classes. Obedience class entries for 2009 will be limited as follows: Novice – 72; Open – 64; Utility – 56. Our Rally Trial offers the A and B classes of Novice, Advanced, and Excellent. Rally classes will be limited to a total of 176 entries for all classes combined. DOTC again anticipates outstanding entries for our 2009 trials.
It is largely through the efforts of its members' volunteering their services that DOTC’s annual trials are always such a huge success. Our hard-working Trial Chair, Ms. Betsy Geishen Scott, is ever grateful for the dedication, commitment and hard work of the committee chairs and the volunteers who work throughout the year preparing for the trials. Thanks also go to our seasoned, as well as our new, trial ring stewards and all others who graciously pitch in to help with the many activities. Plan to bring the family to our trials in March and join the many spectators enjoying the sport of dog obedience competition and see where training could lead you and your dog. Admission is Free.
(Please note that the only dogs allowed on the trial grounds are those pre-entered in the trial. So leave the family pet home, sign up for training with DOTC, and enter your dog next year.)
|
|
DOTC Volunteers Preparing Trial Notices for Mailing - Part 2 |
|
