Performance
Performance events allow Miniature Schnauzers and their owners to spend time together in fun events that help the human-canine bonding. At the lower levels, the events are not competitive, that is, each human-Schnauzer pair just tries to pass specified tests. For those who really get good at a particular event, competition becomes intense to achieve highest scores at each trial, and to amass large numbers of high scores. There are events to cover all skill levels and interests.
The five AKC performance events open to Miniature Schnauzers are Obedience, Rally, Agility, Tracking and Earthdog. We can only cover the basics here, but the excellent AKC booklet, A Beginner's Guide to Companion Events, provides very helpful information on the first four of the five sports.
Obedience
Levels of Competition
There are three levels of competition in AKC obedience trials:
Novice—For the dog just getting started in obedience
Open—The second level
Utility—The highest level
Qualifying Scores
A dog receives a qualifying score when it earns more than 50 percent of the points for each exercise, with a total of at least 170 points. A perfect score in any class is 200.
Obedience Titles
A dog receives the CD (Companion Dog) title after receiving 3 qualifying scores at the Novice level, the CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) title after receiving 3 qualifying scores at the Open Level, and the UD (Utility Dog) title after receiving 3 qualifying scores at the Utility level.
Rally
In Rally, dog and handler complete a course that has been designed by the rally judge. The judge tells the handler to begin, and the dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (10 - 20, depending on the level). Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience. After the judge's “Forward” order, the team is on its own to complete the entire sequence of numbered signs correctly.
Unlimited communication from the handler to the dog is encouraged and not penalized. Generally, handlers are permitted to talk, praise, encourage, clap their hands, pat their legs, or use any verbal means of encouragement, but the handler may not touch the dog or make physical corrections.
Rally Scoring and Titles
A dog and handler team is awarded a qualifying score if it retains at least 70 points after the course has been completed.
The dogs must earn three qualifying scores under two different judges in order to receive a rally title. The titles that can be earned are:
Rally Novice: RN
Rally Advanced: RA
Rally Excellent: RE
Rally Advanced Excellent: RAE
The requirement for the RAE title is that the dog must qualify ten times in both the Advanced B class and the Excellent B class at the same trial.
Agility
Running a dog in an agility trial is a lot of fun for both owner and dog. It is also one of the most exciting canine sports for spectators.
In an agility trial, a dog demonstrates its agile nature and versatility by following cues from the handler through a timed obstacle course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles and other objects. It's an activity that strengthens the bond between dog and handler and provides fun and exercise for both.
Classes Offered At Agility Trials:
There are several types of classes offered at an agility trial: Standard, Jumpers with Weaves, Fifteen And Send Time (FAST) and Preferred.
The Standard class has contact obstacles, which have yellow "contact zones" at each end. Contact obstacles include A-frame, dog walk and seesaw. The dog must place a least one paw in the contact zone in order not to receive a fault. This encourages safety in training and in running the course. The Standard class also has a variety of jumps; weave poles, pause table, tunnels and a closed tunnel.
The Jumpers with Weaves class does not have contact obstacles or a pause table to slow the team's forward momentum. This is a very fast course requiring instant decisions by the handler and close attention from the dog.
The FAST class is an additional test of strategy, skill, accuracy, speed, timing and distance handling, to demonstrate a dog's athletic ability and willingness to work with its handler in a fast-paced atmosphere over a variety of agility obstacles. As indicated by the title, the Fifteen and Send Time class uses fifteen (15) point-valued obstacles and/or obstacle combinations. The course will include a 'Send Bonus' or distance element that will award a bonus of twenty (20) points if completed successfully.
Levels of Competition
There are 3 levels of competition, Novice, Open and Excellent.
For further information, look at the AKC's Agility brochure:
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/events/agility/Agility_Brochure.pdf.
Tracking
For information on tracking, refer to the AKC's brochure, A Beginner's Guide to Companion Events, and refer to the AKC's tracking webpage at http://www.akc.org/events/tracking/.
Earthdog
The purpose of non-competitive Earthdog tests is to offer breeders and owners of small Terriers and Dachshunds a standardized gauge to measure their dogs' natural aptitude and trained hunting and working behaviors when exposed to an underground hunting situation.
The noncompetitive program begins with a basic introduction to den work and quarry and progresses through gradual steps to require the dog to demonstrate that it is willing to perform the required tasks including seeking its quarry, locating and working it underground.
The initial test is called Introduction to Quarry. The behaviors tested are willingness to follow a scent to the entrance; willingness to enter a dark den; and willingness to work the quarry. The dog may work the caged rats by barking, digging, growling, lunging, biting at the protective bars or any work that the judge feels displays a desire to get to the quarry. (The rats, not being stupid, quickly figure out that the dogs cannot get to them and are therefore not intimidated.)
For more information on Earthdog events, look at the AKC website page, http://www.akc.org/events/earthdog/.
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