Superstar obedience dogs and their handlers will compete in the 10th Annual Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster as part of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show ’ s Canine Celebration on Saturday , February 8 , 2025 . This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Masters Obedience Championship at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show , a milestone that celebrates the remarkable teamwork and precision between dogs and their handlers .
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 invitationonly 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 . To honor the winner of the Masters Obedience Championship , The Westminster Kennel Club donates $ 5,000 to an AKC training club the winner selects or to the AKC Humane Fund .
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