Fix ‘n Go-Pilot Concept

Starting April 1, the AKC instituted a new Fix ‘n Go program in obedience competition. This may be the single most important rule change that I have witnessed in my 50 years of participating in this sport. Fix ‘n Go will allow competitors to communicate to their dogs when they make a mistake and show them how to perform the exercise correctly!

From the information the AKC has published about this rule change;

“The Fix ‘n Go concept is intended to allow the handler to reattempt the exercise to help their dog while performing in the obedience ring. Historically, any attempt to help the dog was considered ‘training in the ring’ and has not been permitted. Such training was penalized; however, these penalties sometimes have been inconsistently applied by judges and misunderstood by handlers. The AKC’s stated goal is to bring clarity to what a handler may and may not do, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, to help their dog be successful at future events.”  

 Additional information from the AKC about the Fix ‘n Go concept is provided at the conclusion of this article*

With the AKC’s descriptions in mind, I spoke with AKC Senior Obedience Representative, Diane Schultz, to discuss exactly how she imagined a Fix ‘n Go to be used. Consider the following examples of how a Fix ‘n Go can be used.

Stand for Exam: The recommendation specifically states that this exercise cannot be repeated if the dog exhibits shyness. However, if your dog moves during the stand for exam because he is distracted or excited, it is acceptable to reattempt the exam. It is acceptable, after saying “I would like to use a Fix ‘n Go,” to reposition the dog and stand closer, reminding the dog to stay as the judge approaches. You would then leave the ring.

Retrieve over High Jump: In the event that your dog starts to come around the jump with the dumbbell in his mouth, you can say “I’d like to use the Fix ‘n Go.” Then, “the handler may begin the reattempt from the start or at any point during the exercise.” So, you can approach the dog without touching him, take him back to where he picked up the dumbbell, place him in a sit, return to the opposite side of the jump and call him over. Another option would be to call the dog to you and start the entire exercise again, offering him a second command or encouragement to come over the jump on his return.

Anticipation: Imagine that you are leaving the dog on the Recall, Broad Jump, Command Discrimination or Signal exercise and when you turn around to face the dog, you see he has followed you. After stating that you would like to do a Fix ‘n Go, you can approach your dog, take him back to the correct position, leave him in a stay and look over your shoulder as you walk away, reminding him to stay in position. It is likely, that if you desire, you can perform the exercise from a shorter distance.

In our conversation, Diane pointed out that the judges are feeling as nervous about what they should and should not allow as the exhibitors are nervous about asking for a Fix ‘n Go. She asked that we be patient and kind with one another as this program is implemented and evaluated.

Three weeks into April, I had opportunity to speak with judges Ken and Aimee Kincaid. It was heartwarming to hear them talk about their goal, as stated in the AKC description, to help exhibitors pass the next time they entered the ring. Aimee shared that prior to the start of her class, she told exhibitors to tell her if they were feeling unprepared to enter the ring because their warm-up had been cut short by an exhibitor using the Fix ‘n Go option. She did not have a problem offering them extra time to warm-up. Ken added that the Fix ‘n Go not only appeared helpful to the exhibitors that used it, but that it saved him time when judging as those performances took less time than expected.

We discussed that as exhibitors, in the spirit of sportsmanship, informing the exhibitor that follows you, that you were considering using the Fix ‘n Go option on a problematic exercise, would be a simple way to help out your fellow competitor.

I know that my excitement about the Fix ‘n Go stems from 30 years of helping exhibitors with problems that have developed, especially in the ring. I have seen careers cut short and titles unearned when dogs were allowed to perform incorrectly in a show situation.

If you compete long enough, errors are unavoidable. My intention is to demonstrate to anyone watching how much fun obedience training and competition can be. That has not been possible to communicate when exhibitors were limited by a rule that prohibited “training in the ring.” This is an amazing opportunity to communicate to our dogs, and those watching, that mistakes do happen. That telling a dog he has made a mistake does not mean the handler is angry, and that it is common for a very small adjustment to show the dog what is expected of him.

For the first time in my career in the obedience ring, I will have the option of not only showing my dog but showing those watching how much fun it is to celebrate a great performance as well as work through mistakes and problems that occur.

I conducted a webinar about this subject on April 22, 2021. I was able to discuss when the Fix ‘n Go was helpful, and when you might choose not to use it. We discussed examples of every Novice, Open and Utility exercise. For access to that webinar, click here.   

*Additional information about the Fix ‘n Go, as supplied by the AKC.

“The new Fix ‘n Go concept will be offered on a one-year pilot basis. The concept will be evaluated for a year, and a survey will be conducted prior to the end of its term.”

“The current Section 27 of Chapter 2 of the Obedience Regulations is replaced in its entirety with the following new section. The new section does not negate any other sections of the Obedience Regulations. The Obedience Judge’s Guidelines remind us that the book cannot cover all situations, nor can it be a substitute for common sense.”

Section 27. Training and Handling in the Ring. 

…When the dog’s performance does not meet the handler’s expectation, the handler may choose to use a “Fix ‘n Go” option once, which allows the exhibitor to immediately reattempt a single individual exercise. This allows the team to reattempt that one exercise, and then leave the ring. In a two-part exercise, the handler may choose only one part to reattempt. It is the handler’s responsibility to tell the judge they are choosing to “Fix ‘n Go.” Using the Fix ‘n Go option will result in a non-qualifying score (NQ). The handler may begin the reattempt from the start or at any point during the exercise. The judge will call the orders for the reattempted exercise as normal. If a jump needs to be reset, it will be set to the original height.

The handler may choose to help the dog through the Fix ‘n Go exercise. Helping the dog may be accomplished using verbal encouragement, including additional commands and praise, and/or approaching the dog in a friendly/positive manner without touching the dog.

Harsh verbal and/or physical corrections will not be tolerated. If there is any determination of harshness by the judge, the handler will be immediately released from the ring.

Spectators form their opinion of the sport through seeing the action of the handler and the dog. Care must be taken to avoid any action that might reflect poorly on the sport.”

As additional information, the AKC has also published the following;

When the Fix ‘n Go is not used.

• When a dog is not under control and willingly working with its handler, the judge must determine if the team should be released from the ring. In the process of doing so, judges are reminded to be kind (and handlers are reminded to be respectful of the judge’s decision and kind to their dogs). There is no option for a Fix ‘n Go here.
• If the handler corrects or disciplines the dog, judges must release the team. There is no option for a Fix ‘n Go here.

In both cases above, if the team has NQ’d an exercise the judge would write an NQ-R in the exercise box. If an NQ did not occur but the judge releases the team, the judge would write Released. In both cases, an NQ is written in the Total Score box. 

• An additional command should be evaluated and scored according to the Obedience Regulations, Chapter 2, Section 21 and does not, in and of itself, require the team to be released or to Fix ‘n Go.
• If the behavior of the dog or handler requires judges to release or excuse the team, the Fix ‘n Go is not an option.
• Examination exercises: Deductions will be made for shyness. Any display of fear or nervousness must be penalized. Judges, please do not entertain the notion of reapproaching a shy dog. The Fix ‘n Go is never an option in these cases.
• The Fix ‘n Go option may be used during an individual exercise; it is not allowed in the Novice Group Exercise.

Using the Fix ‘n Go Option

• The handler must begin an exercise to choose to use the Fix ‘n Go option.
• The team does not have to NQ an exercise for the handler to choose to use the Fix ‘n Go option.
• If the option is going to be used, the handler must do so before moving onto the next exercise.
• It is the handler’s responsibility to tell the judge they are choosing to Fix ‘n Go.
• Once the handler tells the judge they are going to Fix ‘n Go, the exercise being reattempted is marked as an NQ and the NQ is carried down to the Total Score box.
• Only one part of a two-part exercise may be reattempted. Two-part exercises are Heel on Leash and Figure Eight, Heel Free and Figure Eight, and Directed Jumping.
• If a jump needs to be reset, it will be set to the original height.
• The handler may begin the reattempt from the start or at any point during the exercise.
• The judge will call the orders, and act as if judging for the reattempted exercise as usual.
• The handler may help the dog using verbal encouragement, including additional commands and praise, and/or approaching the dog in a friendly/positive manner.
• The handler may not touch the dog; judges should simply release at that point if they do.
• Once the reattempt is done, the team leaves the ring.
• Judges, please refrain from going into instructor mode. Leave the training up to the handler; you be the judge.  
• Exhibitors, please be mindful of your own and your dog’s behavior in the ring. In the process of helping your dog, your actions should not be disruptive to adjacent rings. Additionally, you will need to be prepared; you will need to be ready a couple of dogs before your turn just in case teams before you are choosing to use the Fix ‘n Go option.