Rules – Open Class

The Open A class will be for dogs that have won the CD title but have not won the CDX title. Anyone who has trained or exhibited a dog that has earned an OTCH may not enter or handle dogs in this class. Each dog must be handled by its owner or by a member of the owner’s household or immediate family. Owners may enter more than one dog in this class. The same person who handles the dog in the first five exercises must handle the dog in the group exercises. However, if a person has handled more than one dog in the first five exercises, that person must provide a handler for the additional dog in the same group exercises. The additional handler for the group exercise need not be a member of the owner’s household or immediate family.

Open Exercises and Scores.
The exercises and maximum score in the Open A class:

1. Heel Free and Figure Eight 40 points

2. Drop on Recall 30 points

3. Retrieve on Flat 20 points

4. Retrieve over High Jump 30 points

5. Broad Jump 20 points

6. Long Sit 30 points

7. Long Down 30 points

Maximum Total Score 200 points

Companion Dog Excellent Title.
The letters CDX may be added after the name of each dog that has been certified by three different judges to have received qualifying scores in Open classes at three licensed or member obedience trials. That dog will receive a Companion Dog Excellent certificate from the Puppycom

Heel Free and Figure Eight, Performance and Scoring.
This exercise will be executed in the same manner as the Novice Heel on Leash and Figure Eight exercise, except that the dog will be off leash. Orders and scoring are the same as in Heel on Leash and Figure Eight.

Drop on Recall.
The principal features of this exercise, in addition to those listed under the Novice Recall, are the dog’s prompt response to the handler’s command or signal to drop and the dog’s remaining in the down position until again called or signaled to come. The dog will be judged on the promptness of its response to the command or signal. The judge will order “Leave your dog,” “Call your dog,” then give a clear signal to drop the dog, followed by “Call your dog” and “Finish.” On order from the judge, the handler may give a command and/or signal for the dog to stay in the sit position. The handler will walk forward to the other end of the ring, then turn, face the dog, and stand naturally. On the judge’s order or signal, the handler will either command or signal the dog to come. The dog must come directly at a brisk trot or gallop. On the judge’s arm or hand signal, the handler shall give the command or signal to drop, and the dog must drop immediately to a complete down position. The dog must remain down until the judge gives the order or signal for the handler to signal or command the dog to come. The dog completes the exercise as in the Novice Recall.

Drop on Recall, Scoring.
A non-qualifying (NQ) score must be given to any dog that does not drop completely to the down position on a single command or signal or to a dog that does not remain down until called or signaled. Minor or substantial deductions, up to a non-qualifying (NQ) score, shall be made for delayed or slow response to the handler’s command or signal to drop and for slow response to either of the recalls. All applicable penalties listed under the Novice Recall shall apply.

Retrieve on Flat.
The principal feature of this exercise is that the dog retrieve promptly. Orders are: “Throw it,” “Send your dog,” “Take it” and “Finish.” The handler will stand with the dog sitting in the heel position in a place designated by the judge. On the judge’s order “Throw it,” the handler will give the command and/or signal to stay. If the handler does use a signal, that signal may not be given with the hand that is holding the dumbbell. After the dumbbell is thrown at least 20 feet, the judge will order the handler to “Send your dog.” The retrieve should be executed at a brisk trot or gallop. The dog will go directly to the dumbbell and retrieve it, returning directly to the handler as in the Novice Recall without unnecessary mouthing or playing. On order from the judge to “Take it,” the handler will give command or signal and take the dumbbell. The finish will be executed as in the Novice Recall. The dumbbell, which must be approved by the judge, will be made of one or more solid pieces of wood or non-wooden material similar in size, shape and weight to a wooden dumbbell. Metal dumbbells are not permitted. Dumbbells will not be hollowed out. They may be unfinished, coated with a clear finish or may be any color. They may not have decorations or attachments but may bear an inconspicuous mark for identification. The size of the dumbbell will be proportionate to the size of the dog. The judge will require the dumbbell to be thrown again before the dog is sent if it is thrown less than 20 feet, too far to one side or too close to the ring’s edge.

Retrieve on Flat, Scoring.
A dog must receive a non-qualifying (NQ) score if it fails to go out on the first command or signal, goes to retrieve before the command or signal is given, fails to retrieve, or does not return with the dumbbell sufficiently close that the handler can easily take the dumbbell as described above. Minor or substantial deductions will be made for a dog’s slowness in going out, returning or picking up the dumbbell, not going directly to the dumbbell, mouthing or playing with the dumbbell, and reluctance or refusal to release the dumbbell to the handler. Depending on the extent, minor or substantial deductions will be made for dropping the dumbbell. All other applicable penalties listed under the Novice Recall will apply.

Retrieve Over High Jump.
The principal features of this exercise are that the dog go out over the jump, pick up the dumbbell and promptly return with it over the jump. Orders are: “Throw it,” “Send your dog,” “Take it,” and “Finish.” This exercise will be executed in the same manner as the Retrieve on Flat, except that the dog will clear the high jump both going and coming. The handler will stand at least 8 feet (or any reasonable distance beyond 8 feet) from the jump, will remain in the same spot throughout the exercise, and will throw the dumbbell at least 8 feet beyond the jump. (These 8-foot distances should be clearly marked.) Jump heights shall be set in multiples of 2 inches with no dog jumping less than 4 inches or more than 36 inches. A jump height is determined by the height of the dog at the withers (see table below for standard jump heights). The actual height of the dog shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of 2 inches to determine the minimum jump height, with the exception of dogs eligible for the 4 inch jump height. Dogs eligible for the 4 inch jump height must be less than 71⁄2 inches at the withers. Handlers who choose to have their dogs jump more than the minimum required height will neither be penalized nor receive extra consideration.

The minimum jump height for breeds listed in Appendix A shall be set to three-quarters the dog’s actual height at the withers. This jump height shall also be rounded to a multiple of 2 inches. The minimum jump heights for approved breeds will be set in accordance with the table listed in Appendix A. Handlers of these breeds may choose to have the dog jump higher than listed in the table. The stewards, based on the jump height listed, will preset the jumps. The judge will make certain the jump is at least the minimum required height for each dog and must also be aware that the jump may be set at a higher height if requested by the handler. Judges may, at their discretion, verify the height of any dog at the withers. The high jump will be 5 feet wide and built to be set at a height of 4 inches and adjustable at 2-inch increments from 8 inches to 36 inches. The uprights of the high jump will be 4 feet high. In addition, four 8-inch boards, one 4-inch board and one 2-inch board should be available for use. The jump will be a flat white. The height of each board will be indicated in black 2-inch numbers.

Retrieve Over High Jump, Scoring.
A dog that fails to go over the full height of the jump in either direction, that uses the jump for any aid in going over, or that returns over the jump without the dumbbell must receive a non-qualifying (NQ) score. Depending on the specific circumstances, minor or substantial deductions shall be made for a dog that touches the jump when going over it or for a dog that displays any hesitation in jumping. All other penalties listed under the Retrieve on Flat apply.

Broad Jump.
The principal features of this exercise are that the dog stay where left until directed to jump, that the dog clear the jump on a single command or signal, and that the dog return to its handler after it has jumped. Orders are “Leave your dog,” “Send your dog,” and “Finish.” The handler will stand with the dog sitting in the heel position at least 8 feet from the jump facing the lowest side of the lowest hurdle. (This 8-foot distance must be clearly marked.) On order from the judge to “Leave your dog,” the handler will give the command and/or signal to stay and go to a position facing the right side of the jump. Handlers may stand anywhere between the lowest edge of the first hurdle and the highest edge of the last hurdle with their toes about 2 feet from the jump. On the judge’s order, the handler will give the command or signal to jump. While the dog is in midair, the handler will execute a 90-degree pivot, but will remain in the same spot. The dog will clear the entire distance of the hurdles without touching them and, without further command or signal, immediately return to a sitting position in front of the handler, finishing as in the Novice Recall. The broad jump will consist of four white telescoping hurdles, all about 8 inches wide. The largest hurdle will measure about 5 feet long and about 6 inches at the highest point. In the ring, they will be arranged in order of size, evenly spaced, covering a distance equal to twice the height of the high jump setting for each dog. Four hurdles will be used for a jump of 48 to 72 inches, three for 28 to 44 inches, two for a jump of 16 to 24 inches, and one for 8 inches. When decreasing the number of hurdles in the jump, the highest hurdle will be removed first. It is the judge’s responsibility to see that the distance jumped by each dog is in accordance with these regulations.

Broad Jump, Scoring.
A dog that fails to stay until directed to jump, refuses the jump on the first command or signal, or steps on or between the hurdles must receive a non-qualifying (NQ) score. Depending on the circumstances, minor or substantial deductions will be made for a dog that does not return directly to the handler, that displays any hesitation in jumping, or that touches the jump. All applicable penalties listed under the Novice Recall shall apply.

Open Group Exercises, Performance and Scoring.
During these exercises the judge will stand so that all the dogs are clearly visible. Without having to turn around, judges should be able to see all the handlers as they leave and return to the ring. These exercises are performed in the same manner as in the Novice classes, except that the handlers must cross to the opposite side of the ring then leave in a single file and go completely out of the dogs’ sight. Counting from the judge’s order to “Leave your dogs,” the handlers must remain in the place designated by the judge until three minutes have passed for the Long Sit and five minutes for the Long Down. On the judge’s orders, the handlers will return to the ring in reverse order, line up to face their dogs at the opposite side of the ring, and return to their dogs. Orders and scoring are the same as in the Novice group exercises.