15 Swedish Obedience Trials
Description
This article is from the Obedience Trials, by Cindy Tittle Moore with numerous contributions by others.
15 Swedish Obedience Trials
Contributed by Lars Kaskija
The Swedish Kennel Club has sponsored competitive obedience since the
late 60s (imported from England?). Obedience was not particularly
popular to start with, but it has become more and more popular,
particularly during the last 10 years. Today there are approx. 24,000
obedience trials carried out each year, which is quite a lot
considering the small size of the country. Agility was introduced
around 1986, and is now extremely popular, especially among young
people. Most recent is Flyball, introduced 2-3 years ago.
The Swedish Working Dog Association (SBK, Svenska Brukshunds-Klubben)
also organizes competitive obedience - which it has done for a very
long time. This form of obedience is only slightly different from that
organized by the [Swedish] Kennel Club. Any competition, whether in
trecking, or schutz-training etc., also includes obedience. Obedience
is thus compulsory, no matter what special branch you are competing
in.
Levels of Obedience
There are four different levels of Kennel Club obedience: Level I,
Level II, Level III and Elite Level.
In levels I and II a dog has to earn 160-200 points for 1st place,
140-159,5 for 2nd place, and 100-139,5 for 3rd place.
In levels III and Elite a dog has to earn 255-300 points for 1st
place, 224-254,5 for 2nd place, and 192-223,5 for 3rd place.
A dog that has achived a 1st place in level I can move up and compete
in level II, or, continue to compete in level I until it has three 1st
places, in which case it will receive an "obedience diplom" (Lp-1).
After three 1st places in level II the dog receives an "Lp-2", and in
level III an "Lp-3". To become an obedience champion a dog must win
three 1st places at elite-level, and on top of that the dog must have
the figure 2 from a conformation class (i.e. it must conform to the
standard of its breed). Border Collies can only become obedience
champions if they have passed a general test for herding dogs, i.e.
they must be approved herding dogs.
To participate the dog has to be at least 10 months old (for the elite
class, 15 months old). Any dog old enough may participate, even
non-registered dogs, mixed breed dogs, and male dogs with only one
testicle. However, to become an obedience champion or to receive a
CACIOB (the best 1st-place winner in an international competition) the
dog has to be registered and non-cryptorchid.
A dog that has received an obedience championship is called Svensk
Lydnads Champion (SLCH). A dog that has become champion in any of the
working dog branches, such as tracking, is called Svensk Bruks
Champion (SBCH). To be a Swedish Champion because of exterior merits,
i.e. from participation in conformation classes, is called Svensk
Utstallnings Champion (SUCH). Especially talented and beautiful dogs
can thus become Trippel-Champions, and this is really something.
General obedience (Swedish Kennel Club style)
Level I.
Long Down (2 min) - 30 pts (dogs 5m apart, handlers 20m away)
Teeth Examination - 10
Heel On Leash - 20
Heel Off Leash - 40
Down During Heel Off Leash - 20 (handler walks 10m away then returns)
Recall - 20 (from 15m)
Stand During Heel Off Leash - 30
High Jump With Heel O.L. - 20
General Impression - 10
___
Maximum Total Score 200 pts
Level II.
Long Down (3 minutes) - 40 pts (handlers out of sight)
Heel Off Leash - 30
Down During Heel Off Leash - 10
Stand On Recall - 30
Retrieve - 20 (dumbbell?)
Signal Exercise - 20 (sit/down on signals, handler at 5m)
High Jump - 20 (jumps, sits on other side and recall)
General Impression - 10
___
Maximum Total Score 180 pts
Level III.
Long Down (6 minutes) 40 pts (handlers out of sight)
Heel Off Leash - 30 (includes two steps backwards)
Down During Heel Off Leash - 20 (handler is running when command given)
Stand and Drop On Recall - 40
Sending with Down and Recall - 40
Retrieve Over High Jump - 30
Retrieve (metal object) - 20
Scent Discrimination - 40 (five identical objects, one scented)
Signal Exercise - 50 (sit/down/stand, handler at 15m)
General Impression - 10
___
Maximum Total Score 320 pts
Elite Level
Long Sit (2 min) - 30 pts (3m/dogs; handler out of sight)
Long Down with Disturbance - 30 (4 min, steward weaves between dogs)
Heel Off Leash - 30
Stand/Sit/Down During HOL - 30
Stand and Drop on Recall - 50
Go-Out, Down, Recall - 40
Retrieve over High Jump - 30 (heavy metal object)
Scent Discrimination - 30
Signal Exercise - 40 (down/sit/stand)
General Impression - 10
___
Maximum Total Score 320 pts
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