CD, CDX, and UD are all Obedience titles any dog can earn with enough training and time. To get any title, you must get a qualifying score of 170 out of 200 points and do that under at least 3 different judges. You might get a score of 170, but not qualify, so be aware.
The first level of training is a CD or Companion Dog title. You should find a good training center in your area, or get a good book (though this is much harder to do without other people to help you) and start your training.
When competing for your CD, you will enter what is called the Novice Class. If you have NEVER titled a dog in obedience before, you enter Novice A, if you have gotten a CD on a dog before, you enter Novice B. This is set up to allow first time dog show people the chance at ribbons, placements, etc and to allow the judge to be a little less "picky". The scores in Novice B are usually higher and the judging tougher. You are not likely to get any ribbons unless you are REALLY good!!
To qualify, you must get a score of 170 out of 200 or higher and not get disqualified anywhere during the trial. This is not easy to do. Remember, there are dogs everywhere, people everywhere, so lots of distractions to make your dog forget everything he/she ever learned.
What does your dog need to do at the show to get a qualifying score?
 | Heel on leash (with two
change of pace, fast and slow, at least 1 halt sit, and 1 about turns) and
complete a figure eight pattern with at least 2 halt sits.
| Stand for examination.
Handler stands the dog, moves at least 6 feet away, allows the judge to examine
the dog, and returns around the dog, back into heel position, once the judge
gives the word.
| Heel free (off the
leash with the same pattern as on leash above).
| Recall: After staying
on command while the handler walks away across the ring and faces the dog,
the dog must come and sit facing the handler when called, then go to heel
position once told.
| Long Sit: While a dog
stays in heel position, the handler leaves the dog and walks to the other
side of the ring to face the dog. The dog must then stay for one
minute, until handler is back in heel position.
| Long Down: While the
dog lies down, the handler leaves the dog and goes to the other side of the
ring to face the dog for 3 minute. The handler then goes back to the dog,
which must remain down until judge orders the end of the exercise. | |
There are many places your dog can mess up doing the above. It is easy to loose points for lagging behind, not sitting on the halts or being to slow to sit, forging ahead, bumping into the handler, etc, etc, etc. It is also easy to disqualify yourself. Dogs who wander off when they are suppose to be heeling, not coming when called, laying on the sit stay, or sitting on the down stay, or simply moving, sniffing, or getting up to come see you during the stays. You dog can move it's feet during the Stand for Exam and also get Disqualified. You can also disqualify by talking to your dog, giving your dog extra commands, either verbal or signal, etc. It is not an easy thing, getting a CD title. Visit the AKC website for full rules and regulations for Obedience titles:
Next level is Open A, where your dog competes for the CDX or Companion Dog Excellent title: There is also a class called Open B, but that is for those who have their CDX but are either not ready for their UD or have already got their UD and are working on their OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion) title.
Open Class | Heel free (no leash)
and complete a figure eight.
| Drop On Recall: From
the heel position, the handler commands the dog to stay, then leaves the dog
and walks to the other side of the ring to face the dog. The handler calls
the dog to come, then halfway to the handler, the dog must drop down on
command. Finally, the handler recalls the dog, who sits and faces the
handler as in the Novice Recall. Dog must return to heel when told.
| Retrieve On Flat: On
command the dog must retrieve a dumbbell and return to the handler, sit in
front, close enough for the hander to take the dumbbell. Handler takes
the dumbbell from dog, and commands the dog to return to heel.
| Retrieve Over High
Jump: Dog must go over jump, retrieve dumbbell and return with it, again
over the jump, sitting in front, as before, and returning to heel when told.
| Broad Jump: Dog must
stay where left until signaled to jump over two to four hurdles (depending
on the size of the dog), then dog must return to handler as in Novice Recall,
sitting in front, and returning to heel once told..
| Long Sit: Similar to
above, except handler walks out of sight and the sit period is 3 mins.
| Long Down: Similar to
above, except handler walks out of sight and dog must remain down for 5 mins. | |
Oh, this doesn't sound that bad. HA! Some dogs don't like to retrieve. Some dogs like to retrieve, but don't like to retrieve a wooden or plastic dumbbell. Some dogs like to retrieve, but forget that they MUST bring it back!! Some dogs forget to take the jump, and go straight for the dumbbell, bypassing the jump. The list is endless. You usually don't loose a lot of points here, you just qualify with a nice score or you disqualify yourself, because it is so easy to do. Remember, the dog is NEVER on leash once you enter the ring.
The last level of training is Utility Class where you go for your UD or Utility Dog title. This is so far beyond my current level of training, I can't even begin to imagine. We will hopefully get to this point someday, but for now, here is what you must do to attain a UD on your dog:
Utility Class | Signal Exercise:
Handler signals dog to Heel, Stand, Stay, Drop, Sit and Come. NO VOICE!
| Scent Discrimination:
Dog must select handler's article from among other articles by scent alone,
then promptly return the right article to the handler. The dog performs this
exercise twice.
| Directed Retrieve: The
handler instructs the dog to stay until directed to retrieve, then the dog
must go to the designated glove, and retrieve it promptly.
| Moving Stand And
Examination: Dog must heel, stand, and stay on command and be examined by
the judge.
| Directed Jumping: Dog
must go away in the direction indicated by the handler, stop, turn and sit,
wait for the signal to jump as directed, and return as in Recall. This
is done twice, over a solid jump and a bar jump. | |
Oh let me count the ways to mess up here. This is not the highest title for no good reason! Very few dogs can make it to this level of training. Some dogs just can't do it. It takes years of training to get a UD on a dog. Some people have gotten very close to this, only to have their dog become sick, lame, or die before they can complete the title. This level of training is for the dedicated.
Hope you enjoyed this explanation of Obedience titles.