ll dogs start in Novice classes,working toward the Companion Dog title. The best of the best earn the highest obedience title, Obedience Trial Champion. Here's a map through the intervening territory.
CD – Companion Dog
Requires three passing scores in the Novice ring, before three different judges.
CDX – Companion Dog Excellent
Requires three passing scores in the Open ring, before three different judges. Prerequisite for competing is a CD title.
UD – Utility Dog
Requires three passing scores in the Utility ring, before three different judges. Prerequisite for competing is a CDX title.
UDX – Utility Dog Excellent
Requires ten sets of simultaneous passing scores in both Open and Utility in the same trial. Prerequisite for competing is a UD title.
Once the UDX title is achieved, each additional ten sets of simultaneous passing scores earns a higher UDX designation – UDX2, UDX3, and so forth.
OM – Obedience Master
Requires accumulation of 200 points in Open B and Utility B competition. Points are earned by scoring at least 190 out of 200 in each individual competition. The exact number of points earned for each performance is determined by the dog’s score; the higher the score, the more points earned. The rules also specify that of the 200 points required for the title, 60 must come from Open B, another 60 from Utility B, and the remaining 80 points from either. Prerequisite for competing is a UD title.
Once the OM title is achieved, each additional 200 qualifying points earn a higher OM designation – OM2, OM3, and so forth.
OGM – Obedience Grand Master
Requires ten repetitions of the requirements for the OM title. Instead of receiving an OM10 designation, the dog is recognized as an Obedience Grand Master. Prerequisite for competing is a UD title.
OTCH – Obedience Trial Champion
The highest obedience title, the OTCH requires accumulation of 100 championship points. Championship points are earned by winning first through fourth place in Open B and Utility B competitions, and are determined by the dog’s placement relative to the number of dogs competing. Further requirements include a specified number of wins in Open vs. Utility, a specified number of first-place finishes in Open vs. Utility competitions, and three first-place wins in front of three different judges. Prerequisite for competing is a UD title.
