Allowing Bitches in Season to Compete in Obedience
Clubs allowing OBIS may choose to exempt them from awards. In that case, OBIS will compete, after all run offs and awards are completed, for legs and scores only. If a club does not exempt them from awards, OBIS will compete after all obedience judging is finished with the exception of any run-offs for which the OBIS might be eligible. Any awards or placements for which the OBIS might be eligible will be presented after the OBIS competes.
If a club chooses to allow them in two trials on the same day and specifies this clearly in the premium, bitches in season entered in the first trial will be allowed to run at the end of the first trial and again at the end of the second trial.
When a club decides to allow OBIS to enter their trial, the following items should be taken into consideration. A* indicates a requirement.
*Premium— This information must be clearly stated on the premium list. Make sure
it is visible so that all who consider entering will see it and can make the decision as to their entry. Section 1.1.3 Premium:
- If allowing bitches in season, the prominent statement: Bitches in season permitted. They must be crated at least 50’ from obedience ring, wear pants and run last after all obedience judging is finished.
- If allowing bitches in season, details on which trial/s allow them when there are two trials in one day.
- If allowing bitches in season and choosing to exempt them from awards, this must be stated in the premium.
Multiple Trials— If the club is putting on multiple trials in a day or weekend, the OBIS option can apply to some, all or none of the trials. Some clubs may want to allow the OBIS option only at the final trial of the series.
Notice— In the premium or via a confirmation email, you may want to request that handlers of OBIS notify the Show/Trial Secretary as soon as possible of the possibility or certainty of their bitch coming into season before the trial.
*Space–Is there sufficient space for the OBIS to walk to and from their crate to the ring and potty area leaving some distance from the other dogs? Ensure that the safety of all is taken into consideration when setting the aisles and crating area. Allow space for safe movement to and from the ring.
*Crating— During the trial, all OBIS must be crated (no ex-pens) at least 50 feet from all obedience rings. If there isn’t space for this, your venue might not be appropriate. If there is not room inside the building, alternate plans might be made. Under some weather conditions, crating outside or from a car might work.
Potty area— Is there a space for the OBIS to potty that it at least 50 feet from the obedience rings? If there isn’t space for this, your venue might not be appropriate. Do you want to designate a suggested area for the OBIS, one that the intact dog owners will have a chance to avoid?
*Pants-– OBIS must wear pants inside the obedience ring. The bitches must be wearing pants as they approach and leave the ring, when they are within 50 feet of the ring.
*Stays— If the class the OBIS enters includes group stays, the rest of the class will perform stays when specified by the premium. Later after all other obedience judging is completed, the OBIS will perform stays. Should there be more than one OBIS in any level, they may do stays together.
*Run offs— For the classes in which an OBIS is entered, any necessary placement run-offs must wait until the end of the trial after the OBIS compete/s.
*Placements— Clubs allowing OBIS may choose to exempt them from awards. In that case, OBIS will compete, after all run offs and awards are completed, for legs and scores only. If not exempted, for the classes in which an OBIS is entered, all ribbons and placements must wait until the end of the trial after the OBIS compete/s. This will be after all classes (Regular, Optional Titling and Non-Regular). See Note after Run offs.
*High Score Awards— If a club does not exempt OBIS from awards and the OBIS enter/s a Regular class considered for HIT, HC, High Score Junior or another High Score Award, then those awards cannot be determined until the end of the trial after the OBIS compete/s (stays included). See Note after Run offs.