Superstar obedience dogs and their handlers will compete in the 8th Annual Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster as part of the Westminster Kennel Club ’ s Canine Celebration held on Saturday , May 6 , 2023 .
The sport of dog obedience demonstrates a handler and a dog ’ s ability to work as a team . A judge evaluates the team ’ s performance as they navigate through exercises designed to test the dog ’ s ability to follow commands . Some exercises include heeling off-leash , hand signals to stand , down , and sit ; coming to the handler ; retrieving over a jump ; broad jump ; directed retrieve ; directed jumping , and scent discrimination .
The title of Masters Obedience Champion is awarded to the top dog in this invitation-only competition . The top 200 dogs based on AKC Obedience Trial Champion points earned during a specific period will be invited along with the winners of the previous year ’ s Masters Obedience Championship , AKC Classic Master Class , and AKC National Obedience Championship . Only 25 entries are accepted for this limited competition . This year ’ s event will continue the tradition , like agility , of including mixed-breed dogs enrolled in the AKC ’ s Canine Partners program .
Dog obedience competitions began in the mid-1930s . Westminster first staged obedience exhibitions and test classes in 1939 and 1940 , and legendary trainer Blanche Sanders directed demonstrations in 1947 and 1949 . Westminster had another obedience demonstration in 1956 . It wasn ’ t until 2016 , combined with the added space provided by an expanded venue , that Obedience returned to Westminster .
The Masters Obedience Championship is a unique event in the sport of Obedience in that it consists of two rounds of AKC-approved exercises . One round will contain Open B exercises , and the other round will have Utility B exercises . First through fourth placements will be awarded in each round , with the highest-scoring team from either round awarded High in Trial . The combined individual qualifying scores from both rounds will determine the Masters Obedience Champion . The Westminster Kennel Club donates $ 5,000 to honor the winner of the Masters Obedience Championship to an AKC training club of their choice or the AKC Humane Fund .
CENTER LEFT : SANDRA DUKES , CENTER RIGHT : CHRISTINA FRAUSINI
OBEDIENCE JUDGE
MRS . ALICE A . PETERSON of Boise , Idaho , was surprised by her husband in the early 1980s with an Airedale Terrier puppy as a Valentine ’ s Day present . At the time , she was unfamiliar with Airedales or AKC obedience and was just thrilled to have a puppy . After her first Beginning Obedience class , she was hooked .
Over the years , she and her husband have raised two children and have owned Airedales and a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon . Mrs . Peterson and her dogs have earned five UDs , two UDXs , and an OTCH . Currently , she is training the Griffon and her youngest Airedale in obedience . She has also handled her dogs to three Tracking Dog titles and multiple Rally titles .
Mrs . Peterson has judged Obedience and Rally since 2005 , allowing her to travel all over the country . She recalls having the pleasure of judging countless wonderful teams and is honored to have the invitation to judge at the 2023 Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster .
WESTMINSTER There ’ s only one ®