Obedience Trials are held in conjunction with most all-breed shows. There are also Obedience Trials held separately and sponsored by training clubs. The latter cater to the Obedience exhibitors and feature such niceties as large rings, close-cropped grass at outdoor shows, efficient stewarding, and an impressive trophy list.
There are three regular classes at an Obedience Trial: Novice, Open, and Utility. The degrees that correspond with these classes are CD (Companion Dog), CDX (Companion Dog Excellent), and UD (Utility Dog). A perfect score in each of these classes is 200 points, and in order to gain a qualifying score your dog must earn 170 or more points and more than 50% of each exercise.
When you have received three qualifying scores in the Novice Class under three different judges, the American Kennel Club will send you a Companion Dog Certificate with the name of your dog and the title CD after his name. This makes it official, and you may now compete in the Open Class whenever you are ready. (A dog may continue to compete in Novice B until he receives a qualifying score in an Open class or until he has won one High in Trial.) You need the same number of qualifying scores to earn a Companion Dog Excellent and a Utility Dog certificate.
Once you have the CDX title you may compete in the Open B Class as often as you wish, and you may go ahead and try your dog in the Utility Class. Later when he has his UD title you may wish to compete in both the Open B and Utility classes just for the fun of it. You can earn the title UDX (Utility Dog Excellent) by competing and qualifying in both Open B and Utility B, in ten trials.
Use the titles CD, CDX, and UD after your dog’s name as soon as he earns them. They
represent a great deal of work and are a badge of distinction. A very small percentage of the dogs in this country have earned the right to use them. Once a dog has earned his Utility title, he may continue to compete in Open B and Utility B (if divided) to earn points toward his Obedience Trial Championship. He must accumulate 100 points by winning First or Second Place in these classes, and a total of three Firsts under three different judges, including a Utility First, an Open B First, and another First.
In order to accumulate these points, a dog must compete against other dogs who have already acquired their OT Championships and who are making a career of competing for points. This is unfortunate as it gives them an unfair advantage, and it discourages
competition.
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