Obedience Class Judging Order

[Guardyan]

Greetings all,

I have a question for anyone who has trialed lately in regular obedience. What was the judging order for the regular obedience classes? For example, Utility then Open then Novice then Versatility then Grad Open then Grad Novice. Or was it in a different order?

I'm prepping two dogs for a trial and I'd like to enter classes in a way that minimizes conflicts. So I'm curious what others' experiences have been. Thanks!!!

[Elaine]

It depends on how many rings they are going to have running at the same time and how many dogs are entered in each class so they don't end up with one ring finishing way before another. The non-regular classes, are almost always after the regular classes.

[Samba]

I have not been to a one ring show in a long time. I think that when I did, they started with Novice. There were not all the other optional titling classes then.

I have shown three dogs at once before. The judges were always good to move my place if I nicely explained about a possible conflict before things got started.

[JakodaCD OA]

I don't recall ever going to a one ring obed trial either. Usually there are atleast two - three rings, with Novice in one (since it's A & B and high entries),,Open in another and Utility in another. Which ever ring finished up first, the Grad Novice or other classes would go in there.

I used to HATE being in Novice and getting put right next to the Utility or Open ring, ESPECIALLY when we were doing long sits/downs and they were chucking dumbbells in the next ring..It never failed my dog would always be right next to the fencing,,used to hold my breath and sweat , but must say she never broke

[EchoGSD]

It generally depends upon the judge's preference and the number of entries. Most Clubs will run Novice before Open/Utility because then exhibitors aren't waiting for jumps to be taken down/out before they can get the last classes going. In the Novice classes (Obedience and Rally) you are generally showing in the order your entry was received; Rally Advanced/Excellent and Obedience Open & Utility the entries are usually ordered according to jump height: they either take you smallest dogs to largest, or vice versa. This saves time when adjusting jump heights.

[EchoGSD]

Another reason Novice Obedience would be run first: the dogs in Open & Utility are often in both of those rings, so again another reason to get the Novice runs out of the way and not have those exhibitors waiting around.

[Andaka]

My club usually ran Utility first so that the ring didn't have as many scents in it for the articles.

[Samba]

Yes, it could go Utility first. We only ran one ring but set up a separate Utility ring and did Novice/Open first in the other. It may depend on the set up. It could be that the show chairman could fill you in on the plan.

[Guardyan]

"I used to HATE being in Novice and getting put right next to the Utility or Open ring, ESPECIALLY when we were doing long sits/downs and they were chucking dumbbells in the next ring.."

Oh wow, this brought back memories. Several years ago I trialed with my Nov A dog at a really challenging indoor venue. There were several conformation rings and crates were stacked everywhere. People and dogs were crowding all around the rings. Worse yet, the official show photographer was set up right next to the Nov A ring. We had to line up for the sit stay beside the photographer. We left our dogs and the photographer starts kissing and throwing tugs & tennis balls in order to perk up a dogs' ears. My girl absolutely loved tennis balls and I remember seeing one fly through the air and thinking "oh, we're done", but by some miracle she stayed. That was one of the longest minutes of my life!!!

I would like to thank everyone for your responses. I visited a friend at a trial last month and he said that Open was last. This really surprised me as most of the shows I've been to have been Utility then Open then Novice. This made me curious how other clubs are handling the new classes.

The trial chair thinks this show will be Utility-Open-Novice and then the new classes, but she wasn't 100% certain yet. Guess I'll just sign up and try to adapt if it changes. Thanks again guys!

[Samba]

Hope you have a good showing!!