This post is to remind you that per AKC Board Policy, all judges are required to complete the Stewards of ChildrenÂź course from Darkness to Light every three years. Failure to complete the course will block your approval on future judging panels. To avoid any interruption and undue hardship on clubs who may hire you, please be sure to complete the course prior to November 30, 2024.
To complete the course please visit Darkness to Light using the link:
If you should have any additional questions concerning the course, you are encouraged to contact judgecompliance@akc.org.
When an exhibitor enters the ring with any type of medical equipment to assist with mobility, e.g., a walker, cane, etc. please implement the standard judging procedure that is typically provided to any ADA exhibitor, which exempts the handler from having to perform the fast pace. As is stated in the regulations and letters provided to the handlers, âdogs handled by such handlers will be required to perform all parts of all exercises as described in these regulations and will be penalized for failure to perform any part of an exercise.â
Confused? Let us be clear. The point of this blog post was to convey that a handler using any type of medical equipment obviously falls into the physically challenged category and does not need a letter of accommodation/exemption stating that the handler is not required to perform the fast.
As judges, you are expected to know and to follow the information in the “Physically Challenged Handlers” sections in both Regulation books – Chapter 2, Section 14 in the Obedience Regulations, and Chapter 2, Section 12 in the AKC RallyÂź Regulations. Please review those sections.Â
In summary, accommodations are made for the handler. An accommodation letter is necessary when a handlerâs physical limitations are not obvious. These requests are handled through the AKC Legal Department. The Regulations (and the accommodation letter) state that dogs handled by such handlers will be required to perform all parts of all exercises/signs as described in the Regulations and will be penalized for failure to perform any part of an exercise/sign. Remember, the dog is not required to change its gait, but only the speed of its pace. In the Obedience Regulations Chapter 3, Section 5, “fast” is defined as meaning that the handler must run, and the handler and dog must move forward at a noticeably accelerated speed. In the AKC RallyÂź Regulations, the description of Sign18. Fast Pace is that “the dog and handler must speed up noticeably.”
Through the years, when judging the fast with physically challenged handlers, many judges have applied sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation – in other words, through using their common sense. The physically challenged handler is not required to run; and, if there is forward movement that shows a noticeable change of speed by the dog, no points are lost.
The Companion Events Team
NOVICE â Chapter 3, Section 14. Group Exercises â Sit and Down Stay
Remember, only handlers who have qualified during the individual exercises have the option of returning for the group exercise.
- If an exhibitor has not qualified, they do not return; this includes dogs that have been Released or Excused, and if the handler left the ring during an individual exercise (HLR).
- After the last individual exercise, keep the handler informed with the following communication: âYou have qualified so far, will you be returning for the group exercise?â or âYou didnât qualify today so you are released from the group exercise.â
The group exercise will be conducted after the last team is judged in the class or classes if combined.
- Novice A and B groups can be combined if the same judge is judging both, the classes are scheduled to follow each other, and the combined total of the dogs returning for the group exercise can be judged in one group without exceeding the limit of dogs.
- If a dog NQs the first stay exercise, then they must be released from participating in the second stay exercise.
One of Two Options Must be Followed:
BACK-TO-BACK STAYS: Judges will position the dogs in the approximate center of the ring back-to-back in two rows, a minimum of four (4) feet from the ring barriers, a minimum of six (6) feet between each dog/handler team, and six (6) feet between the rows. If back-to-back is used, it must be used for all groups in the class. Please Note: This means the dogs are set up back-to-back (see Figure 1A). When the handlers go to the end of the leash and turn, they will be facing the other handlers (see Figure 1B). The judge should be positioned slightly to the rear of the dogs at one end of the rows of dogs (see Figure 1B).
ONE ROW STAYS: Judges will position the dogs in the approximate center of the ring in one row, a minimum of four (4) feet from the ring barriers and a minimum of six (6) feet between each dog/handler team. The judge should be positioned slightly to the rear of the dogs at one end of the row (see Figure 2).
Using the 50â side of the ring, the maximum number of dogs allowed in a single row would be six (6); with the back-to-back method, the maximum # of dogs allowed would be twelve (12), with six (6) in each row.
| RING LENGTH | MAX # OF DOGS ALLOWED IN THE RING IN SINGLE ROW | MAX # OF DOGS ALLOWED IN THE RING BACK-TO-BACK |
| 50 feet | 6 | 12 |
| 45 feet | 5 | 10 |
| 40 feet | 4 | 8 |
| 35 feet | 4 | 8 |
| 30 feet | 3 | 6 |
- Armbands remain on the left arm.
- The 6-foot leash will remain clipped to the dogâs collar.
- The leash must remain loose with slack throughout the entire exercise.
- Sit stay and down stay are both 1 minute long.
- Remember, if any dog NQs the Sit Stay, they are released from the Down Stay portion of the exercise.
- If there are any signs of aggression or potential problems, even if noted outside the ring, excuse the dog from the Group exercise and mark the judgeâs book âexcusedâ and state the reason.
Figure 1A:
Figure 1B:
Figure 2:
If you are a Rally Judge and NOT an Obedience Judge, you are not required to take the Obedience Judges’ Education program. If you received an email this morning causing this confusion, we apologize. That email was only to go out to about our Obedience Judges only.
Thanks for your patience and understanding,
The Companion Event Team
The Obedience Judges’ Education program is complete and newly published!
What does this mean to you as an Obedience Judge?
- As of this morning, everyone who has taken the course up to this date has been marked incomplete.
- Stay Calm â you do not need to retake any modules or sections that you have completed.
- However, everyone must take (and pass) Exam # 1 at the end of the Open course to be marked complete through Open. The exam is available after the Graduate Novice module.
- Additionally, judges who are approved to judge Utility classes must complete all modules and sections in the Utility course and take (pass) Exam # 2.
- All current regular status Utility class judges will have until September 30, 2025, to complete the required educational program.
- All current provisional judges must complete the required modules and sections by January 1, 2025.
- If the required educational program is not completed as stated above, your judging status will be marked as inactive.
- Those who submit requests for regular status and/or are applying for the next class level, must complete the required modules and sections prior to the form being submitted.
- Once you have purchased the course, the program will be available to you at no additional expense for three years from the date of completion.
As previously published, the Obedience Judgesâ Education course is available through ĂÛÌÒÊÓÆ” Canine College, here is the link: . Once you are in the course, please be sure to use the tools in the left pane titled âHow to Navigate Canine College,â and âHow to Navigate the Course.â If you have problems accessing your account or technical issues, please contact Canine College directly, akccaninecollege@akc.org or 919-816-3498.
This educational course is required for all obedience judges and aspiring obedience judges; however, anyone may take the course.
Obediently yours,
The Companion Events Department
Hello Judges,
Later this week you will be receiving an email about completing the Stewards of Children Âź training. The email will include information about how to register for the course. An email address will also be included should you have any questions.
As always, we appreciate your dedication to our sports!
Sincerely,
The Companion Events Department
When performing the Beginner Novice, Novice, and Utility examinations, please do not hold out your fingers and/or hand to the dogs prior to approaching them; this can cause the dog to move towards you to sniff your fingers/hand.
For the Beginner Novice and Novice examinations, always approach the dog from the front. Using the fingers and palm of one hand, in Beginner Novice, touch only the dogâs head; in Novice, touch the dogâs head, body, and hindquarters. In both classes, at the conclusion of the examination, step away and order âback to your dogâ.
When conducting the Utility examination, always approach the dog from the front. Again, gently using both hands in a single smooth motion beginning at the sides of the dogâs neck, proceed along the body and end at the dogâs croup. The examination does not include the head, teeth, legs, testicles, or tail. When conducting Utility examinations, at the conclusion of the examination, step away and order âcall your dog to heelâ.
As many of you know, next month ĂÛÌÒÊÓÆ” Companion Events Team is hosting two big national events in Ohio, the Rally National Championship and the National Obedience Championship. Of the 30 NOCâs AKC has hosted, Iâve attended everyone except for two, either as an exhibitor or as an employee. This year, for the first time in 19 years, I wonât be there as part of the AKC team hosting these events. I will be unable to travel because I have been diagnosed with breast cancer and am having surgery at the end of this week. I have a wonderful medical team and the cancer has been caught early. So ladies, get those yearly mammograms, and pay attention to any significant changes (men pay attention too!). Know your risks and talk with your doctor about the best tests available for you. Sharing is caring, though this isnât a ride I wanted to share, Iâd rather you be sitting next to me in my little red sports car đ If I can be of help to anyone facing similar circumstances, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Diane Schultz, Director of Obedience, Rally, and Tracking
