Teamwork Divides the Task & Doubles The Fun!
Bedlingtons and Their Owners Compete Together in Companion Events
Agility, Obedience, and Rally Strengthen Bonds and Companionship Between a Well-Trained Dog and Owner
Agility
Agility Ability!
Agility is a competitive sport in which you and your dog navigate a timed obstacle course. The goal is to complete the course as quickly and accurately as possible, guiding your dog through various challenges such as jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and ramps. Success in agility requires teamwork, communication, and training, making it a fun and engaging activity for both handler and your Bedlington.
Scoring is based on both speed and accuracy. Errors are called ‘faults’ and result in points being subtracted from the final score.
Dogs must receive three ‘legs’ to earn a title. A leg is a qualifying score earned when running a course at a trial. Any dog 15 months or older and in good health can compete. Basic obedience training is a prerequisite. All you need then is to sign up for class and have fun!
Titles can be earned at the Novice, Intermediate (Open), and Advanced (Excellent) levels. Titles can also be earned for different types of courses (such as full course, jumpers, games). Faults can include going off course (such as doing the obstacles in the wrong order), missing the safety zone on an obstacle, running overtime, or knocking over a bar. Bedlington Terriers compete with other breeds who are in the same size category.
Obedience
Sit, Stay, Obey!
AKC Obedience tests a dog’s ability to follow specific commands, such as sit, stay, and heel, in a structured environment. The primary goal is to demonstrate the teamwork between a handler and their dog, showcasing the dog’s training, manners, and responsiveness. If your Bedlington Terrier is well-behaved and attentive to commands, AKC Obedience can be a rewarding activity to try, allowing you and your dog to strengthen your bond while having fun and competing together.
An Obedience Trail Champion (OTCH) is the highest obedience title a dog can earn. This title requires a dog and handler team to earn 100 points and specific wins in Open B and Utility B classes under at least three different judges.
An OTCH title is truly elite an level of obedience, with only a small percentage of competing dogs achieving it annually.
Whether or not you want to compete in Obedience, every Bedlington owner should engage in some form of obedience training. It is the best way to establish a well-behaved dog and good communication.
Rally
Rally Around A Rally Event!
AKC Rally is designed to promote teamwork between you and your dog. Originally created as a warm-up to traditional Obedience competitions, Rally involves you and your Bedlington working together to navigate a course made up of 10 to 20 signs. Each sign along the course indicates a specific skill or obedience task that your dog must perform, such as sitting, turning, or heeling. The focus is on communication and cooperation, making it a fun and engaging activity for both handler and dog.
AKC Rally Virtual Program is newly approved as a permanent sport with AKC. You will set up a pre-selected AKC Rally course design, video record your performance with your Bedlington, and submit it to AKC. AKC will assign a selected AKC Rally Judge to virtually review the video and score your virtual Rally performance.
