I'm quite keen to enter a beginners obedience class at a breed show next year. I've done a lot of gundog work but what would we be expected to do in this class. Also can you use a whistle or does it have to be hand and voice commands. Any advice much appreciated.
Lorna

You could whistle as a top handler years ago Tony Romans used to do, but I don't think you would be very popular if another dog was distracted by it. Voice & hand signals are more usual. Depending on whether there is a Pre Beginners class or not the class would consist of heel on lead, heel free, recall, sit stay & down stay in Pre Beginners & a retrieve of any article in Beginners

There are no last commands except in the two stay exercises.

Good luck

Of course the retrieve would be with an obedience present, sit in front holding the article rather than the gundog present without the sit. For that reason, assuming you normally take without the sit, it may be a good idea to use something such as an obedience dumbell rather than a dummy. You can then train what you want.

Heelwork needs to be much tighter than with gundog work but of course it does not need to be held for anywhere near as long! This is where I always loose marks. the judges comment goes something like, "Good work, shame your heelwork is a bit loose."

Having stewarded obedience at a couple of breed open shows, Golden and Flatcoat, I can tell you that those at the top are generally good, often people who regulaly work obedience. But the level falls quite steeply and as you are someone who has been in the awards at gundog working tests you will not look silly by a long chalk! :) Go and have fun!

Best wishes, John

Hi Lorna

Could you email me as I may be able to help - if you still have my phone number you could ring?

Christine

Hi Lorna
In beginners you are expected to do heel on lead, heel off lead, recall and finish, retrieve dumbell and finish, 1 min sit stay and 2 min down stay.
The standard is improving in beginners a lot now, and there are many flat coats, goldens (there is at least one goldie who has a ticket) and an ESS that is doing brilliantly. If you go on www.obedienceuk.com it should be of help to you. Check out their photos to see what type of style your dog will be expected to work in.
Char123
P.S You are not allowed to use a whistle as it is considered a training aid - you are allowed to use hand and voice commands in all activities except stays.

There is no mention of whistling as training aid & as I mentioned Tony Romans a ticket handler used to whistle in sendaway & DC

KC reg G3.89/34 refer "In all classes handlers may use a dogs name with a command or signal" No mention of a Verbal command & ergo a whistled command would allowable

Edited to add in Beginners it is retrieve ANY article not retrieve a dumbell

Thanks for all the comments, will be in touch Christine. I think I might have a go but I have to sharpen things up a bit over the next few months. Do they have to take commands for a sit and a down from a distance?
Lorna

Not quite sure what you mean but the recall is leaving your dog in a sit or down & walking away & then calling the dog to you-no last command so you can keep saying sit/down etc until the steward tells you to recall your dog

The stays are dog in a sit or down told to stay then left got 1 or 2 minutes with no more commands from the last command to your dog on the stewards instructions until the extra finished/over command from the steward. You leave the dog but stay in sight all at the stewards instruction

There is no sendaway/distance control in the lower classes

What I meant was if you leave your dog in a sit, would you walk away a distance and then tell it 'down'. I've seen this at Crufts, but I don't expect beginners to be that standard.
Lorna

That is distance control(DC) & not in any class other that Test C the highest level