v Thousands of dogs will compete in three national AKC events taking place under the same roof. In conjunction with the AKC National Obedience Invitational, the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship and AKC Agility Invitational are held.
v 2011 marks the 17th annual AKC National Obedience Invitational. This year, the sport of Obedience also celebrates its 75th Anniversary!
v To compete in the AKC National Obedience Invitational, dogs must be the top OTCH and OTCH-pointed dogs in each breed. For the first time, qualifying All-American dogs were invited to participate in the competition.
v Dogs compete in an eight-round tournament on Saturday and Sunday, performing two to three Open and Utility-level exercises per ring as well as one set of group stays. The dogs’ cumulative scores are calculated daily, and the top scoring dog from Saturday and Sunday are recognized, as well as first through fourth place in each variety group including a group for Miscellaneous/FSS/All-American dogs.
v Only dogs winning the AKC National Obedience Championship are permitted to have the prestigious NOC letters precede its name in AKC records. The AKC National Obedience Championship title (NOC) is awarded to one dog each year.
v The 2010 AKC National Obedience Invitational Championship in Long Beach, California was won by NOC OTCH High Times Ris’n Above The Tide UDX7 OM9 RE, a Golden Retriever owned by Kathleen Rasinowich-Platt. “Buoy” and his owner have returned to compete this year.
v There are thirteen NOCs in the sixteen year history of this event with three dogs having won the award twice. One owner has captured the NOC title three times. Three previous NOCs will participate in this year’s Invitational.
v The inaugural AKC National Juniors Obedience Competition will run in conjunction with the Invitational. Forty-seven juniors will compete in three age divisions in Beginner Novice and/or Novice classes twice, based on their AKC obedience accomplishments.
v To learn more about the AKC National Obedience Invitational, visit http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/national_obedience_invitational/
