RULES - FROM CHAPTER 3 NOVICE Section 5. Heel on Leash and Figure Eight. Section 6. Heel on Leash and Figure Eight, Scoring.

AKC® OBEDIENCE REGULATIONS

FROM CHAPTER 3

NOVICE

 Section 5. Heel  on Leash and Figure Eight.  

The principal  feature of this exercise  is the ability  of the dog and handler  to work as a team. The  orders are:  

“Forward,”  

“Halt,”  

“Right  turn,”  

“Left  turn,”  

“About turn,” 

“Slow,” 

“Normal”  

and “Fast.” 

• “Fast” means that the handler must run, and the handler and dog must move forward at a noticeably  accelerated  speed. 
• All about turns will be right about turns. 
• Orders for halts  and turns will be given only when the handler  is moving at  a normal  speed. 
• The  other  orders may  be given  in any sequence, and turns and halts may be repeated.  
• However, the judge should standardize  the heeling  pattern  for all  dogs in the class. 
• The leash may be held in either  hand or in both hands, but the hands must be held in a natural  position. 

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• The handler  will enter  the ring with the dog on a loose leash and stand  with  the  dog sitting  in  the heel  position  in  a  place  designated  by the judge. 
• The judge will ask “Are you ready?”  before giving the first order. 
• The handler may give a command or signal to heel and will walk briskly and naturally  with the  dog on a loose leash.  
• The  dog should walk close to the handler’s left side without swinging wide, lagging, forging or crowding. 
• The dog must not interfere with the handler’s freedom of motion at any time. 
• At each order to halt, the handler will stop. The dog shall sit straight and promptly in the heel position without command  or signal and shall not move until the handler again moves forward on the judge’s order. 
• After each halt, it is permissible  for the handler to give a command  or signal  to heel  before  moving  forward again.  
• The  judge  will say “Exercise  finished” after  this portion of the exercise. 

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For the Figure Eight, the handler  will stand and the dog will sit in heel position facing the judge, midway between the two stewards, who will stand 8 feet  apart.  midway between two cones that are 17 to 37 inches high and no more than 15 inches wide at the base, that will be placed 8 feet apart.

• The Figure Eight  in the Novice classes will  be done on leash; 
• the handler may go around either  steward  cone first. 
• The judge will ask “Are you ready?”  before  giving  the  first  order.
• The  handler  and dog will  walk  briskly  around  and  between  the  two  stewards   cones twice.  
• There  will be no about turn, fast or slow, 
• but the judge must order at least one halt during this exercise  and another halt  at the end. 

Judging Procedures: 

• In scoring this exercise,  judges shall accompany the handler at a discreet distance  so that they can observe any signals or commands given  by the  handler to the  dog. 
• The judge  must do so without interfering  with either  dog or handler.
•  The judge should attempt to be in a position during the course of the exercise so that the dog and the handler may be observed from the rear, front, and side. 
• Dogs receiving  an extra  command or signal  during heeling  can still qualify, although a deduction must be made for the extra command or signal. 
• Subsequent additional commands  or signals could indicate the dog is not under control and is not working with the handler as a team. 
• The judge must determine  whether the dog should receive  a nonqualifying  (NQ) score for heeling  based on the overall  performance  of the dog and handler during the entire  exercise. 

Section  6. Heel  on Leash and Figure  Eight, Scoring.  

• If a  handler  is constantly  controlling  the  dog by tugging  on the leash  or is adapting to the  dog’s pace,  that  dog must  receive  a  non-qualifying  (NQ) score for the exercise. 
• Depending on the circumstances,  minor or substantial deductions, will be made  for additional  commands or signals to heel  or for failure  of dog or handler to speed up noticeably for the fast or slow down noticeably for the slow. 
• Minor or substantial  deductions shall be made  for lagging,  heeling wide, forging, crowding, poor sits, failure  to sit at a halt and other heeling imperfections.  
• Deductions should also be made for a handler who  guides the dog with the leash, any tightening or jerking of the leash, or does not walk at a brisk pace. 
• While  scoring  this exercise,  the  judge  should be  near  enough  to observe any signals or commands given by the handler to the dog without interfering  with either.

CHAPTER 3 – NOVICE Section 5. Heel on Leash and Figure Eight. (Paragraph 6) For the Figure Eight, the handler will stand and the dog will sit in heel position facing the judge, midway between two cones that are 17 to 37 inches high and no more than 15 inches wide at the base, that will be placed 8 feet apart. The Figure Eight in the Novice classes will be done on leash; the handler may go around either cone first. The judge will ask “Are you ready?” before giving the first order. The handler and dog will walk briskly around and between the two cones twice. There will be no about turn, fast or slow, but the judge must order at least one halt during this exercise and another halt at the end. Pink Insert Issued: November 16, 2020