General Questions
MCKC is the only club in the United States that offers all three facets of the AKC dog world, i.e., Obedience, Conformation, and Field. We also offer Agility and Rally Obedience! Our training facilities include an enclosed building on the north side of Manitowoc, as well as 198 acres of land with 4 training ponds located three miles west of Valders along the Manitowoc River. Both grounds are available to the general membership that satisfies the qualifications for usage.
- Puppy Kindergarten
- MCKC member in good standing for one year. Participated in two Beginners and/or Pre-Novice/Novice sessions. Assisted instructing Puppy Kindergarten for a minimum of three sessions.
- Beginner Obedience
- Meets all Puppy Kindergarten requirements. Assisted in three beginner classes. Have full knowledge of applicable AKC rules and regulations.
- Pre-Novice/Novice
- Meets all Beginner requirements. Have at least one CD title on dog in your care.
Obedience Questions
Beginner Obedience (8 week course) – Ages 6 mos and Up. See calendar for session schedule and fee. A clear fecal examination record within two weeks of first class and current vaccination record are required. This course is designed to help you raise and train an easy to live with companion. The focus is on practical every day living with your dog. Areas covered are walking on a loose leash, come when called, sit, down, and stay with distractions.
Pre-Novice/Novice (8 week course) – Graduate of Beginner Obedience. See calendar for session schedule and fee. A clear fecal examination record within two weeks of first class and current vaccination record are required. Dog training is an ongoing process. This course provides review, further work in basic obedience, and getting started in obedience competition. Dogs will work off leash and must be manageable.
Canine Good Citizen (CGC) – Offered per request.
The CGC class is different than a regular Obedience class. It is more of a good manners class for people who just want a “good pet”. It does not require straight sits or fronts and perfect healing position. The dog must pass 10 tests consisting of: Accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, walking on a loose leash, coming when called, sit and down on command, etc. The dog will receive a CGC certificate from AKC if it passes the evaluation.
Therapy Dog International (TDI) – Testing often offered during the Fox Valley Cluster Show, September
Like the CGC class, this is different than a regular Obedience class. Therapy Dogs visit nursing homes, hospitals, and other facilities or institutions basically to provide “emotional support.” It does not require straight sits or fronts and perfect healing position. The dog must pass 10 tests consisting of: Accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, walking on a loose leash, coming when called, sit and down on command, etc. The dog will receive a TDI certification from Therapy Dog International if it passes the evaluation. The MCKC is not affiliated with TDI.
If your dog is a mixed breed, you may find local fun matches or you can register your dog with the United Kennel Club (UKC), which welcomes mixed breeds. Your dog must be registered with the UKC in order to participate in sanctioned events.
Yes, there are three levels of competition: Novice, Open, and Utility; each is more difficult than the one before it. You may see levels divided into “A” and “B” at a trial; “A” classes are for beginners whose dogs have never received a title while “B” classes are for more experienced handlers.
- Novice
- The first level, Novice, results in your dog earning a Companion Dog (CD) title. The title actually describes what is expected of your dog: demonstrating the skills required of a good canine companion. The dog will have to heel both on and off leash at different speeds, come when called, stay (still and quietly!) with a group of other dogs when told, and stand for a simple physical exam.
- Open
- The second level, Open, results in your dog earning a Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title. He must do many of the same exercises as in Novice, but off-leash and for longer periods. Additionally, there are jumping and retrieving tasks.
- Utility
- The final level results in a Utility Dog (UD) title. These are the cream of the crop. In addition to more difficult exercises, the dog also must perform scent discrimination tasks.
Conformation Questions
Field Questions
- Junior Hunter (JH)
- Senior Hunter (SH)
- Master Hunter (MH)
- Marking (memory)
- Style
- Perseverance
- Trainability
Each category is graded on a scale of 1-10 on both land and water. For a dog to pass a test, the dog must receive an average score of at least “5” in each category, as well as an overall score of at least “7”. In addition a dog cannot receive a score of “0” (zero) on any category of the test.
- Derby
- For dogs over 6 months of age and not yet two years of age. A good place to get your feet wet. The marks are the easiest of any of the stakes. Generally two marks in a series, a long memory bird 250 plus yards and a shorter go bird 150 yards cover and terrain are moderate. The top four dogs are awarded points. There is no title given for Derby competition.
- Qualifying
- Dogs over six months are eligible and who have never won first, second, third, or fourth place, or a Judges Award of Merit (JAM) in an Open All-Age, Limited All-Age, or won first second, third or fourth place in an Amateur All-Age stake two first places in Qualifying stakes. This is the intermediate stake between Derby and the Major Stakes.
- Amateur All-Stake
- Open to dogs over six months of age and handled by nonprofessional trainers only.
- Open All-Age
- For dogs over six months and handled by either pro or amateur trainers.
The Limited Stakes are open only to dogs who have been placed or awarded a JAM in an Open All-Age or have been placed first or second in a Qualifying, or have been placed or awarded a JAM in an Amateur All-Age stake.
- Points
- At least 12 dogs must have started the stake for points to be awarded. First place 5 points… Second place 3 points… Third place 1 point… Fourth place .5 points.
- Titles
- AFC Amateur Field Champion Requires 10 points in Open All-Age or Limited All-Age, or 15 points in combination from Open All-Age, Limited All-Age, or Amateur All-Age stakes. The handler can in no way earn part or all of his/her living training and handling dogs.
FC Field Champion The dog must win at least one first place and a total of 10 points combined from the following stakes, Open All-Age, Limited All-Age, or Special All-Age.
NFC National Field Champion: Won in the National Open Championship Field Trial. Eligibility requires the following:
- Be winner of the preceding National Championship Stake.
- Be winner of preceding National Amateur Championship Stake.
- Win a first place and a total of 7 championship points in Open All-Age stakes during the preceding calendar year.
NAFC National Amateur Field Champion: Awarded in the National Amateur Championship Field Trial. Eligibility requires that:
- Dog must be winner of preceding National Amateur Stake under an Amateur Handler.
- Be winner of the preceding National Amateur Championship Stake.
- Win a first place and a total of 7 championship points in Amateur All-Age stakes during the preceding calendar year.
- Angling
- diagonally transversing terrain or entering water other than on perpendicular lines.
- Back
- the verbal command issued to the dog to direct him away from the handler, OR a directional signal given with the raised arm and hand, directing the dog away from the handler.
- Birdiness
- high appreciation of feathers, a desirable quality in dogs.
- Blind Retrieve (land or water)
- any retrieve that the dog doesn’t know the location of the bird or bumper, but the handler does.
- Break
- an attempt to retrieve without the handler’s command to do so.
- Cast
- a directional hand or voice signal from handler to dog.
- Double Mark
- two marked-fall retrieves.
- Force-fetch
- a method used to teach the dog he must retrieve on command.
- Gunner
- people who throw and shoot birds as marks.
- Handle
- to direct a dog with a gesture from the handler.
- Line
- acceptable straight path of travel from the handler to a blind retrieve.
- Mark, single
- a shot flyer, thrown dead bird, or bumper that the dog watches and retrieves; a multiple mark can be double, triple, or quadruple.
- Over
- a verbal command or hand gesture directing the dog in a lateral direction.
- Quartering
- orderly method of searching for game using the nose.
- Stake
- event or contest.
- Steady
- not moving to retrieve until told to do so by the handler.
- Whistle Commands
- repeated short toots mean “come in”; one long blast means “sit”.
Agility Questions
- Standard
- courses must include jumps, all 3 contact obstacles, weave poles, the table, the flexible tunnel and chute. The number of obstacles increases with the level of competition. It demonstrates the overall ability of the dogs to perform all the obstacles.
- Gamblers
- the object of Gamblers is to successfully complete as many obstacles as possible within a set time allowed in an opening sequence. The obstacles each receive a different point value, common values are jumps, 1 point, tire and tunnels are 2 points, contact 3 points, weave 3 to 5 points. The opening sequence expires with blow of a whistle, at which point the handler has a shorter set time to complete a closing sequence. This final sequence or “gamble” must be done with the handler remaining outside a prescribed area usually outlined with rope or tape and within the time allowed. A minimum number of points are required, in addition to the successful completion of the gamble within time for a leg to be earned.
- Jumpers
- is composed of jumps, tires, tunnels, and chutes. This game is probably the most popular event by many competitors and spectators alike. It involves excellent handling skills and real teamwork. The pace is fast and furious with twisted flows and potential chances for off course penalties at every turn.