I have a dog that I'd like to run for the AD this spring. The running part is no problem - what I am curious about is the obedience portion at the end of the test. I have spoken with some people in my area, and have gotten mixed responses as to what the obedience at the end typically entails. I have heard everything from, 'will your dog stand next to you on a loose leash?' to judges that require a full BH heeling pattern.

If anyone here has any experience with the AD, I would appreciate your input. The dog has an AKC CD title already, and will heel; I am really just hoping to know a little more about what to expect, as I am new to this whole thing!

I was unable to find anything regarding the AD in the 'search' function - so please point me in the right direction if this has already been discussed to death!

Thanks!

It probably depends a lot on the judge. When my wife did an AD the judge just wanted to see the dog heal a very short distance.

Hi Kristen. We were concerned about that OB requirements too, and got different responses when we started asking around.

When Gary and Ferguson did the BH, the judge DID have them do "obedience" at the end. (many experienced folks told us not to worry about it - that judges "never" ask for any). The judge asked the group to heel with their dogs moving away from the judge (straight line) maybe 50 feet? And then turn around and heel back. What he was looking for was NOT so much "obedience" as we think of it. He was looking to see if the dogs still had at least a little gas in the tank (he expected them to "move out" a bit), and he was looking for signs of lameness - he expected the dogs to go the AD distance and be in good physical shape at the end of it.

If you have been to an SV style conformation show, and have seen the "out and back" heeling during the individual stand for exams, that's what it was like - just a bit further. Under that judge.

Has anyone ever seen more OB requirement than that? i.e. approaching a BH exercise? I have not. The heeling out and back was more than other judges required from what I saw before Gary and Fergie did their AD. But my experience is limited!

Beth

When we did the AD, our judge had us do just a recall and a finish.

thanks for the replies guys! i was wondering about the amount of on/off lead heeling, and how rigorously it would be scored for style etc.