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Step 1
Meet the minimum requirements. Application for certification as an obedience judge is eligible to persons who have owned and trained a dog to an AKC Utility Dog (UD) title, and earned an additional Companion Dog (CD) title on another dog. Additionally, applicants need to have been active in the sport for at least 6 years.
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Step 2
Steward at ten AKC obedience trials. Stewards assist the judge with ring management and help the trial run smoothly. They bring equipment in and out of the ring, hold leashes for exhibitors and make sure the next exhibitor is at the gate and ready to enter the ring when called. Stewarding experience teaches the ins and outs of trial management and allows one a close up look at what the judge is doing.
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Step 3
Judge 5 AKC sanctioned matches. These practice shows permit the candidate to judge in a real-life situation but with less pressure than at an actual trial.
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Step 4
Apprentice under 3 different judges. The apprentice gets to practice judging at a real trial under the auspices of an experienced obedience judge. The apprentice works with each judge for one class at a trial, and the class needs to have ten entries in it to qualify.
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Step 5
Teach dog training classes. Those wishing to become obedience judges need to have acted as a trainer or assistant trainer at a dog training club or organization of some kind.
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Step 6
Attend an AKC obedience seminar within three years prior to application. In addition to valuable education about training and competing, these seminars provide up-to-date information about the AKC rules and regulations for competition obedience, which are modified from time to time.
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Step 7
Obtain provisional approval after passing a written test and attending an interview with an AKC Field Representative. After completing 5 judging assignments as a provisional judge and undergoing a successful observation by an AKC-designated observer, provisional judges can apply for regular approval by filing the appropriate form with the AKC.
