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SUNSHINE COAST DOG OBEDIENCE CLUB INC.
176 BALLINGER RD, BUDERIM, QLD
TRIALS & TRIAL TRAINING
Trial training for competitive obedience, rally and tricks is on Wednesday evenings from 05.00 pm.
Scentwork courses for all levels of experience are also available, intakes open frequently.
Trial training is strictly invitation only for dedicated club members who wish to compete in ANKC Trials. Our trial training classes consists of Obedience, Rally, Scentwork & Tricks.
If you've previously trained or competed in any of the dog sports we offer, please get in touch to join in.
We'd love to have you!
If you have a dog and would like to work towards competing in trials, please contact us (we will advise you to join our Monday night classes to get a sound Obedience base - must be in red or black class to participate in trial training)
For enquiries, please email trials@sunshinecoastdogclub.org.au
Our Trials
We hold three ANKC Obedience Rally, Tricks and Scent Trials a year - February, April, June and November.
What is Trialling?
Dog Sport Trialling has been around forever, there are many fields in which you can trial a dog: Obedience, Rally-O, Tracking, Fly-Ball, Lure Coursing, Agility, Canine Disc, Dancing with Dogs, Trick Training, Retrieving and more. Trialling dogs is a recognised sport.
Our Obedience and Rally-O trials are held through the Australian National Kennel Club (ANKC) and Dogs Queensland (CCCQ). To compete your dog in a sport you need to become a member of the governing body (for us in QLD that is Dogs Queensland) your dog must also be a financial member. Below are some explanations and links for the mentioned sports.
Obedience
Obedience trials are a sport, and it is expected that all participants will be guided by the principles of good sportsmanship both inside and outside of the ring. Obedience trials demonstrate the dog and Handlers ability to work together with precision and publicly showcase the training that has been undertaken to achieve this. Classes are designed to be progressive, allowing the dog and Handler to grow in skill and experience as titles are earned. The performance of the dog and Handler in the ring must be accurate and correct according to these rules and regulations. It is also essential that the dog demonstrates willingness and enjoyment while it is working and that the Handler demonstrates smooth and natural handling without using harsh commands.
Rally -Obedience
The purpose of Rally Obedience is to demonstrate a dog’s usefulness as a companion of mankind, not merely the dog’s ability to follow specified routines in the ring. Dogs who participate in Rally are dogs that have been trained and conditioned to compete at Novice level and in the presence of other dogs. The objective of Rally is to provide a fast-moving and motivational sport for both Handler and dog that demonstrates competency in basic Obedience exercises without the precision of the formal Obedience Classes. Dogs in Rally events should demonstrate willingness and enjoyment. To that end, Handlers may use verbal praise and encouragement of the dog on the Rally course. All participants in the Rally Classes are required to perform the same exercises in substantially the same way so that the quality of the various performances may be compared and scored.
Dancing with Dogs
Dances with Dogs competitions provide handlers and their dogs with an opportunity to demonstrate a skilful, choreographed routine, performed to music. Dances with Dogs encompasses two separate divisions: (a) Freestyle and (b) Heelwork to Music. Dances with Dogs has its foundation in traditional obedience heelwork. However, in the discipline of Dances with Dogs, the inclusion of innovative and creative moves, and movement in time to and interpretation of the music are expected. The discipline requires a good rapport between dog and handler, reflected in a high level of teamwork. Dances with Dogs performances should have spectator appeal.
Tracking
The idea of tracking trials is to encourage dogs to make use of their strongest faculty by emulating as closely as possible, the seeking and finding of a missing person while acknowledging that in the interests of a fair assessment, the tracks cannot be aimless wanderings more likely to characterise the trail of a lost person nor include the possible machinations of one deliberately trying to deceive any following dog. In all other ways sight should never be lost that it is a person being followed and every aspect of the track must relate to a person and, in the case of articles, must be items of personal possession.
Herding Trials
Around the world, herding dogs have proven themselves to be essential in improving man’s ability to control and move stock. Many herding dogs have working styles very different to the modern sheep dogs we see in Australia today. These different herding styles developed in response to local situations and needs. As the breeding, pedigree recording, and exhibition of these dogs progressed, many have been accepted as pure breeds. Herding instinct is a precious part of a herding breed’s heritage. It is also a vital component that can be easily lost when breeding for exhibition in the show ring. The ANKC Ltd Herding Program is designed to preserve the traditional style and herding instincts of these many breeds. Herding Tests and Trials provide standardised gauges by which a dog’s basic instinct and ability can be measured, and allow dogs to demonstrate the useful functions for which they were originally developed by the use of differing Trial courses.
Fly-Ball
Flyball consists of a relay race between two teams of four dogs. Each dog must jump over four hurdles, retrieve a ball by triggering a flyball box pedal and then return over the hurdles to the start/finish line.
Flyball is a canine team sport which is founded on the activities that dogs love to do – run, jump, fetch, retrieve, compete and most of all: their desire to please their owners.
There is no discrimination in Flyball. Any dog; regardless of breed, size, shape or formal training, can participate and join in on the fun. Flyball does not interfere with obedience training. In fact, the sport reinforces the disciplines taught in obedience classes.
Canine Disc
Canine Disc (also known as Disc Dog, Frisbee Dog) is a dog sport.
In Canine Disc competitions, dogs and their human flying disc throwers compete in events such as distance catching and choreographed freestyle catching. The sport celebrates the bond between handler and dog, by allowing them to work together.
The term "disc" is preferred because "Frisbee" is a trademark (held by Wham-O) for a brand of flying disc.
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