Virtual AKC ~ Training & Titling in the Time of COVID-19
Virtual AKC®
Training and Titling in the Time of COVID-19
by Dr. Pam Regan
Many of us are still not able to get out and about with our dogs due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Fortunately, there are some wonderful activities and titling opportunities in which we can participate while we wait for trials and shows to fully reopen around the country. This brief article introduces you to some of the available options from the American Kennel Club® (AKC®). I will provide you with the link, a basic summary of what the title/activity involves, how to earn the title, and my experience participating with my own dog.
AKC® Virtual Home Manners
About: This is an entry-level title housed within the AKC®’s Family Dog program. There is a Puppy title (VHMP) and an Adult title (VHMA). The activities focus on basic good manners at home (manners around food, at the door, on walks; grooming and positive relationship between dog and owner; basic obedience; etc.). Puppies and dogs who successfully demonstrate the requisite 10 skills are able to earn the title.
How to Earn the Title: Download the free Evaluator and Participant Guide from the AKC® website. Film you and your dog demonstrating the skills. Send the video(s) to an approved CGC® evaluator (a list is provided on the AKC® website). Alternately, you may demonstrate the skills “live” to an evaluator on Zoom or another web-based video conferencing application. The evaluator will complete and sign a Checklist/Video Verification Form and send it back to you. You then send in the title application form, signed Checklist/Video Verification Form, and $25 fee to the AKC®.
Comment: Phoebe earned the VHMA title. This was an interesting experience, as some of the items (“Doorbell/knock – dog behaves appropriately”) proved surprisingly challenging for my senior dog to (re)master. Apparently, I have allowed her to develop some bad home manners over the years! This gave us a chance to work on a few forgotten and important skills and share a laugh or two.
AKC® Virtual Rally
Link: https://www.AKC.org/sports/rally/rally-virtual-entry-pilot/
About: This is a pilot program set to run through December 31, 2021. Currently, Novice (RN), Intermediate (RI), Advanced (RA), and Excellent (RE) titling classes are available. Exhibitors set up a pre-designed course, record their performance, and submit it to be scored by a pre-selected AKC® Rally Judge. Teams earning three qualifying scores achieve the title. Virtual and “live” Rally are part of the same titling track and virtual qualifying scores carry over; this means that a dog may earn a title with any combination of three live and virtual qualifying scores (e.g., two live, one virtual; two virtual, one live).
Note: Although there is currently no option for earning the Master and RAE titles, dogs with an RE title (earned live or virtually) are able to earn RACH points from the Advanced and Excellent virtual classes. Exhibitors simply select courses and continue to submit them as needed (dogs may earn up to 150 points from those classes, but will not be able to earn the remaining 150 Master points or the 20 triple Qs).
How to Earn Titles: Download the Guidebook, FAQs, and courses from the AKC® website. If you do not have a set of Rally signs, download and print the signs from the AKC® website (free resource). Choose a course and set it up following the instructions provided. Video your performance. Upload your video to YouTube (you will need a personal account), and submit the YouTube link, entry form, and $28 fee to the AKC®.
Comment: Phoebe and I earned the Intermediate title last year. I am currently one of the AKC® judges who evaluate videos for this program, and it was a real treat to be on the “exhibitor” side. It was also really interesting – like a blend of sanctioned match and trial. No food or other training aids, and the knowledge that our performance would be viewed by licensed judges upped the ante for me. I was pleasantly surprised at how this title pursuit allowed me and Phoebe to test and improve our heeling, teamwork, and trial readiness. We will continue on to Advanced and Excellent this year.
AKC® Virtual Obedience Test
Link: https://www.akc.org/sports/obedience/virtual-obedience-test/
About: This is the newest virtual titling program offered by the AKC®. Virtual Beginner Novice (BN-V) and Virtual Novice (CD-V) titling classes currently are available. Exhibitors set up a pre-designed course, video their performance, and submit it to be scored by a pre-selected AKC® Obedience Judge. Teams earning three qualifying scores earn the title. “Multiples” also may be earned; teams achieving six qualifying scores in Virtual Novice, for example, receive the title designation “CD-V2.” Virtual and “live” Obedience are separate titling tracks, meaning that qualifying scores earned in one event do not carry over to the other and dogs may earn both sets of titles.
Note: Seasoned exhibitors will want to pay close attention to the differences between live and virtual exercises. For example, the Novice group exercise has been replaced with a Down Stay-Walk Around the Ring.
How to Earn Titles: Download the AKC® Virtual Obedience Test Regulations and course maps from the AKC® website. Choose a course and set it up following the instructions provided. Video your performance. Upload your video to YouTube (you will need a personal account), and submit the YouTube link, entry form, and fee to the AKC®.
Comment: Although I completely enjoy judging for this program, Phoebe and I cannot wait to try this out for ourselves as an exhibiting team. This program gives us all new activities and goals to work on with our dogs, and also presents a valuable opportunity to get judges’ eyes on us and thus help gauge our ring readiness for live competition.
AKC® Virtual Agility Course Test (ACT)
Link: https://www.AKC.org/sports/agility/act-program/
About: This is an entry-level agility program designed to introduce beginning dogs and handlers to the sport of agility. There are two levels that test basic sequencing and performance skills in standard (ACT 1 and ACT 2) and jumpers (ACT 1J and ACT 2J) agility. The regular ACT program involves live performances and is part of the AKC®’s agility roster; the Virtual ACT titling program is set to run through December 31, 2021. Exhibitors set up a pre-designed course, record their performance, and submit it to be scored by a pre-selected AKC® Agility Judge. Teams earning two qualifying scores earn the title.
Note: This is open only to dogs at least 15 months old with no previous agility titles.
How to Earn Titles: Download the Regulations (http://images.AKC.org/pdf/rulebooks/REAGIL.pdf), the ACT Course Obstacle Guide, the ACT FAQs, and the courses from the AKC® website. Choose a course based on the size of the ring you will be using and set it up following the instructions provided. Note that agility requires space and specialized equipment, and you may need to find a venue or trainer who will help with set up and filming. Video your performance. Send your entry form, video (or video link), and $25 fee to the AKC®.
Comment: Because Phoebe has prior agility titles, she is not eligible to participate in this titling program. The courses look fun, though. They also seem manageable for newcomers, particularly as the jumps can be set to any height to accommodate the needs of younger or older dogs. We would participate if we could.
AKC® Trick Dog
Link: https://www.AKC.org/sports/trick-dog/
About: These titles are part of the AKC®’s Family Dog program. There are five titling levels: Novice (TKN), Intermediate (TKI), Advanced (TKA), Performer (TKP), and Elite Performer (TKE). Tricks include a variety of foundation skills (e.g., touch, back up, hold, wobble board), obedience and agility exercises (e.g., fetch, weaves, tunnel, hand signals), and “crowd pleasing” skills (e.g., sit pretty, roll yourself in a blanket, bark on command, put toys away). There are free videos available on the AKC® site to help you teach your dog some of these tricks. Tricks increase in difficulty as you progress through the titles. For example, at the Elite Performer level, the handler and dog act out a script with a coherent storyline, multiple props, and a variety of behavior chains.
How to Earn the Title: Download the free Evaluator Guide, Frequently Asked Questions document, and trick checklists from the AKC® website. Film you and your dog demonstrating the skills. Send the video(s) to an approved CGC® evaluator (a list is provided on the AKC® website). Alternately, you may demonstrate the skills “live” to the evaluator on Zoom or another web-based video conferencing application. The evaluator will complete and sign a Checklist/Video Verification Form and send it back to you. You then send in the title application form, signed Checklist/Video Verification Form, and $25 fee to the AKC®.
Note: The AKC® recognizes titles earned through the Do More With Your Dog! (DMWYD!) titling organization (https://domorewithyourdog.com/DogTricks/). You may transfer those titles over to the AKC® for the same $25 fee. This allows great flexibility in terms of eligibility and titling. For example, if your dog already has a Novice title from DMWYD!, you are eligible to earn the AKC® Intermediate Trick Dog title as long as you transfer your Novice title over to the AKC®.
Comment: Phoebe and I love this program and earned all five of the titles. I have personally found that tricks training and titling not only gives us more activities to enjoy together, but lightens the training atmosphere, builds on and leverages our existing skill sets, and provides fun yet challenging goals for us to work toward. However, a word of advice: Think carefully before teaching your dog how to open the fridge. Or climb a ladder.
AKC® FIT DOG
Link: https://www.AKC.org/sports/AKC-family-dog-program/AKC-fit-dog/
About: FIT DOG is part of the AKC®’s Family Dog program. This is not a titling activity per se, but rather is a program designed for all dog owners who are interested in regularly walking with their dogs (and you can earn a cool car magnet). There are two participation levels; participants choose the level based on their own and their dogs’ current physical fitness. Both levels require participants to walk with their dogs at least five times a week for a total of at least 150 minutes per week, over a minimum three-month period.
How to Earn the Magnet: Visit the AKC® website and make sure you understand the requirements. In particular, be sure that both you and your dog are in sufficient health to be able to participate. Make an activity log or download the free form on the AKC® site. Complete your walks and then send in the Magnet Order Form when you reach your goal.
Comment: My local obedience club (Southwest Obedience Club of Los Angeles, Inc.) is a FIT DOG Club and, before COVID-19, we regularly hosted group walks and other gatherings where we could exercise our dogs and ourselves. I really miss those activities! Creating a “walk journal” and logging my walks with Phoebe got me away from the computer and both of us out of the house. We made it “social” by encouraging some of our friends to join us at a distance. And we got a great car magnet!
AKC® PupPals
Link: https://www.AKC.org/public-education/AKC-puppals-program/
About: PupPals is part of the AKC® Education program. This is not a titling activity, but is an opportunity for you and your dog to show off your skills and do some good at the same time. The PupPals Program sends uplifting videos featuring dogs (PupPals) to adults or kids in need – those who are struggling with an illness, the illness/death of a loved one (human or pet), deployment, loneliness, or any other difficult personal or interpersonal situation. Anyone can sign up to receive a video (you may also nominate people directly), and anyone can submit a video.
How to Earn the Certificate: To enroll your dog as a PupPal, visit the AKC® site and check out the video requirements. Film your 1-minute video. Note that videos only feature dogs (no people) and are filmed from the dog’s point of view. You will introduce your dog (name, breed, age, favorite activities, etc.), film her/him doing a trick or simply being a pet, and end with a general and positive message. Then, you send in the online form and your video to the AKC®.
Comment: I can’t think of anything that has brought me more joy than supporting this program. Phoebe and I made two videos – one of Phoebe performing weave poles and another of Phoebe dunking a basketball. Here is one of them so you can see how short these are: https://youtu.be/C1kCX5hgz74.
All in all, this was a relatively easy way to have some fun with my dog and share her with folks in need. Kudos to my obedience club, who recognized PupPals participation at our annual (virtual) awards banquet, counting it as an official AKC® certificate/title (you do receive an email certificate).
In a time when “live” trialing and testing has not been possible for many of us because of the restrictions created by the pandemic, these virtual programs and activities provide safe, challenging, and fun alternatives. I hope the AKC® continues to offer them, in fact, after we are able to gather publicly again. They offer a way for people and dogs who live in remote locations, who lack access to transportation, who work on weekends, and/or who have physical and other challenges to participate and become part of the AKC® and canine performance communities.
I hope that this article has motivated you to take advantage of the many virtual activities available for you and your dogs. Phoebe and I are game to try out whatever new opportunities come our way in 2021 and beyond. Join us!