Obedience With Your Dog:
Most handlers start off at their local Obedience Club and trial when their dog reaches a suitable level. Titles available are Community Companion Dog (CCD), Companion Dog (CD); Companion Dog Excellent (CDX); Utility Dog (UD), and from January 1st 2000, the title of Obedience Champion will be offered to dogs which compete in Utility at a high standard. In Victoria.
To earn a title, a dog must gain three passes at that level, a pass is a minimum score of 175 from a possible 200 and all exercises in the test must be passed also.
Dogs which have CDX and UD may compete at those levels at their pleasure.
Contacts: You are welcome to contact a Committee Member of the BCCV Inc for further information, also DOGS Victoia can assist in all matters canine.
Rally With Your Dog:
Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a course that has been designed by the rally judge. The judge tells the handler to begin, and the dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (10 - 20, depending on the level). Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience.
The team of dog and handler moves continuously at a brisk, but normal, pace with the dog under control at the handler's left side. There should be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler both during the numbered exercises and between the exercise signs; however, perfect "heel position" is not required. Any faults in traditional obedience that would be evaluated and scored as a one-point deduction or more should be scored the same in Rally, unless otherwise mentioned in the Rally Regulations. After the judge's "Forward" order, the team is on its own to complete the entire sequence of numbered signs correctly.
Unlimited communication from the handler to the dog is to be encouraged and not penalized. Unless otherwise specified in these Regulations, handlers are permitted to talk, praise, encourage, clap their hands, pat their legs, or use any verbal means of encouragement. Multiple commands and/or signals using one or both arms and hands are allowed; the handler's arms need not be maintained in any particular position at any time. The handler may not touch the dog or make physical corrections. At any time during the performance, loud or harsh commands or intimidating signals will be penalized.
Contacts: You are welcome to contact a Committee Member of the BCCV Inc for further information, also DOGS Victoia can assist in all matters canine.