I knew I had a book with the first ever set of AKC obedience regulations in it floating around here somewhere, and it has finally come to light....
Before obedience became an official AKC sport, there were several demonstrations. In 1933, Standard Poodle breeder Helene Whitehouse Walker came up with a series of exercises based on tests put on by an English organization called the Associated Sheep, Police, and Army Dog Society. The first formal Obedience Test was held in October of 1933, in Mount Kisco, NY, with two Labrador Retrievers, three Poodles, two English Springer Spaniels and a German Shepherd Dog competing.
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After holding several more tests around the country (some in conjunction with large conformation shows), and petitioning the AKC, the first AKC Obedience regulations, all 8 pages of them, were approved in 1936.
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Titles were earned with two passes in each class, with a minimum score of at least 80% in Novice and Open and 70% in Utility (Utility dogs also needed to pass a tracking test). In addition, for a passing score to count towards a title, there had to be at least six dogs competing in Novice, four in Open, and three in Utility. The first AKC licensed Obedience Test took place in June 1936 at the North Westchester Kennel Club show in Mount Kisco, NY. The only class offered was Novice, and the first six CD titles were awarded that weekend to five Standard Poodles and a Miniature Schnauzer.
After a six month trial period was over, the rules were refined somewhat, with the A and B divisions being added with A for amateurs only, and B for both amateur and professional trainers. The Speaking on Command exercise was moved to Utility, and a Stand for Exam was added to Utility. The retrieve over a Hurdle was moved from Utility to Open.
Further refinements to the rule in 1938 broke the exercises down into parts, and showed the number of points to be award for each part. Additionally, dogs where now required to clear, rather than climb, jumps, and exceptions were made in jump heights for certain breeds. The requirement for legs earned under two different judges was added. The word "Test" was exchanged for "Trial", and they have been called Obedience Trials ever since.
In 1941, the Hurdle and Bar Jump were added to the Utility class. Initially, these were done with the dog heeling while holding a dumbbell. In 1947, they were changed to the beginning of the Directed Jumping as we know it today, with the dog sitting in front of the jumps holding a dumbbell, the handler standing midway between the jumps and the dog taking the cued jumps and presenting the dumbbell.
Also in 1947, the tracking requirement was dropped from Utility, the highest score in each class was set to 200, and dogs had to earn at least 50% on all exercises with a minimum score of 170. Although tracking was no longer required for Utility, dogs still needed at leas a CD to enter a tracking test. The speaking on Command exercise was dropped from Utility, and replaced with the Signal Exercise.
In 1950, the Hurdle and Bar Jump exercises were replaced with the current Directed Jumping exercise, and it was stipulated that no deduction smaller than 1/2 points could be made in scoring. Previously, judges were making 1/5 and even 1/10 point deductions.
Also in 1950, it was required to have three legs under three different judges. That was eventually changed to three legs under two different judges, but I'm not sure when, but certainly by the time I was competing with Ilka in 2012.
During the 1980s, a Group Stand For Exam Utility exercises was replaced with the current Moving Stand for Exam.
Further changes have been made in recent years, including modifications to the Novice Group Sit and Down Stay exercises, and the elimination altogether of the Group Exercises in Open. In lieu of the Open stays, there is now a Command Discrimination Exercise.
I have a book called The Pearsall Guide to Successful Dog Training that has a complete copy of the regulations as of the time it was published in 1972, but like my just unearthed AKC book, it's not where it belongs, either. I do know that the Utility Group Stand For Exam is in it.
The current AKC obedience regulation book is 139 pages long, and includes the original Regular Titling classes of Novice, Open, and Utility, (including the further titles of Obedience Trial Champion and Obedience Master) as well as the Alternative Titling classes of Preferred Novice, Open, and Utility, and the Optional Titling classes of Beginner Novice, Graduate Novice, Graduate Open, and Versatility.
Before obedience became an official AKC sport, there were several demonstrations. In 1933, Standard Poodle breeder Helene Whitehouse Walker came up with a series of exercises based on tests put on by an English organization called the Associated Sheep, Police, and Army Dog Society. The first formal Obedience Test was held in October of 1933, in Mount Kisco, NY, with two Labrador Retrievers, three Poodles, two English Springer Spaniels and a German Shepherd Dog competing.
After holding several more tests around the country (some in conjunction with large conformation shows), and petitioning the AKC, the first AKC Obedience regulations, all 8 pages of them, were approved in 1936.
Titles were earned with two passes in each class, with a minimum score of at least 80% in Novice and Open and 70% in Utility (Utility dogs also needed to pass a tracking test). In addition, for a passing score to count towards a title, there had to be at least six dogs competing in Novice, four in Open, and three in Utility. The first AKC licensed Obedience Test took place in June 1936 at the North Westchester Kennel Club show in Mount Kisco, NY. The only class offered was Novice, and the first six CD titles were awarded that weekend to five Standard Poodles and a Miniature Schnauzer.
After a six month trial period was over, the rules were refined somewhat, with the A and B divisions being added with A for amateurs only, and B for both amateur and professional trainers. The Speaking on Command exercise was moved to Utility, and a Stand for Exam was added to Utility. The retrieve over a Hurdle was moved from Utility to Open.
Further refinements to the rule in 1938 broke the exercises down into parts, and showed the number of points to be award for each part. Additionally, dogs where now required to clear, rather than climb, jumps, and exceptions were made in jump heights for certain breeds. The requirement for legs earned under two different judges was added. The word "Test" was exchanged for "Trial", and they have been called Obedience Trials ever since.
In 1941, the Hurdle and Bar Jump were added to the Utility class. Initially, these were done with the dog heeling while holding a dumbbell. In 1947, they were changed to the beginning of the Directed Jumping as we know it today, with the dog sitting in front of the jumps holding a dumbbell, the handler standing midway between the jumps and the dog taking the cued jumps and presenting the dumbbell.
Also in 1947, the tracking requirement was dropped from Utility, the highest score in each class was set to 200, and dogs had to earn at least 50% on all exercises with a minimum score of 170. Although tracking was no longer required for Utility, dogs still needed at leas a CD to enter a tracking test. The speaking on Command exercise was dropped from Utility, and replaced with the Signal Exercise.
In 1950, the Hurdle and Bar Jump exercises were replaced with the current Directed Jumping exercise, and it was stipulated that no deduction smaller than 1/2 points could be made in scoring. Previously, judges were making 1/5 and even 1/10 point deductions.
Also in 1950, it was required to have three legs under three different judges. That was eventually changed to three legs under two different judges, but I'm not sure when, but certainly by the time I was competing with Ilka in 2012.
During the 1980s, a Group Stand For Exam Utility exercises was replaced with the current Moving Stand for Exam.
Further changes have been made in recent years, including modifications to the Novice Group Sit and Down Stay exercises, and the elimination altogether of the Group Exercises in Open. In lieu of the Open stays, there is now a Command Discrimination Exercise.
I have a book called The Pearsall Guide to Successful Dog Training that has a complete copy of the regulations as of the time it was published in 1972, but like my just unearthed AKC book, it's not where it belongs, either. I do know that the Utility Group Stand For Exam is in it.
The current AKC obedience regulation book is 139 pages long, and includes the original Regular Titling classes of Novice, Open, and Utility, (including the further titles of Obedience Trial Champion and Obedience Master) as well as the Alternative Titling classes of Preferred Novice, Open, and Utility, and the Optional Titling classes of Beginner Novice, Graduate Novice, Graduate Open, and Versatility.
