To demonstrate the usefulness of the purebred dog as a companion to man and not merely the dog's ability to follow specified routines in the Obedience ring. While all contestants in a class are required to perform the same exercises in substantially the same way so that the relative quality of the various performances may be compared and scored, the basic objective of Obedience Trials is to produce dogs that have been trained and conditioned always to behave in the home, in public places, an in the presence of other dogs in a manner that will reflect credit on the sport of Obedience.

A qualifying score is comprised of more than 50% of the available points in each exercise, and a final score of 170 or more points earned in a single Regular Class at a Licensed or Member Obedience Trial. The dog must have earned qualifying scores under three different judges at Licensed or Member Obedience Trials with the required total number of dogs present in the class at each trial. In the Open and Utility classes the dog must have earned the required titles before entering these classes.

Companion Dog (C.D.) NOVICE: Heel on Leash & Figure Eight, Stand for Examination, Heel Free, Recall, Long Sit (1 minute) and Long Down (3 minutes).

Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) OPEN: Heel Free & Fiqure Eight, Drop on Recall, Retrieve on Flat, Retrieve over High Jump, Broad Jump, Long Sit (3 minutes) and Long Down (5minutes). Requires a C.D. title.

Utility Dog (U.D.) UTILITY: Signal Exercise, Scent Discrimination, Directed Retrieve, Moving Stand and Examination, Directed Jumping. Requires a CDX title.

Utility Dog Excellent (UDX): For dogs with U.D. titles. Must earn qualifying scores in both Open B and Utility B at 10 Trials.

Obedience Trial champion (OTCh.): for dogs with UD titles. Must win 100 points and a first place in Utility and Open, plus a third first place win in either class, under three different judges.

Tracking Titles: The AKC offers three Tracking Tests. Unlike Obedience competition, the dog need only pass one time to earn a Tracking title.

Tracking Dog (T.D.), is the entry level test, while Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) and the Variable Surface Tracking Test (VST) are increasingly difficult Tests. Ozarkmist Deja Blue, CDX, TDX, VB, FH owned by Elaine Sawtell was the first ACD to have a TDX. The first CH, UDT was Ch. Wagga Wagga Blue STanley, July 7th, 1985.