III. Definitions.

A. Acknowledging the Judge. The hander is responsible for looking to or, if need be, getting the Judge’s attention, and for all areas listed in the Judge’s Instructions for performing each exercise.

B. Basic Position. The basic position means the dog is sitting at the handler’s left side. All obedience exercises start with this position.

C. Conformation show. A show hosted by a UKC Licensed club at which the conformation and temperament of purebred dogs are evaluated by Judges in accordance with UKC rules and the UKC standards for each breed.

D. Corresponding date. UKC schedules events based on a 52-week calendar. If a club offers an event on the 4th Saturday of this year, then that club’s corresponding date in all subsequent years is also the 4th Saturday, regardless of the actual date.

E. Day-of-show/trial/pull/event entry. Most UKC clubs allow entries to be taken on the day of an event. The start and finish time for taking these entries is published in BLOODLINES magazine and on the UKC web page.

F. Disqualified. Dog is deemed ineligible for competition. This can be the result of a condition prohibited in the rules, such as an alteration to the dog’s natural state, an undesirable trait as listed in a breed standard, or a condition of or action by a dog that is prohibited under the rules of the United Kennel Club. A dog that has been disqualified from a conformation show or performance event pursuant to Section V. may not participate in any further events unless reinstated by UKC.

G. Dog Sport Trials. An all-breed event hosted by a UKC Licensed club at which judges evaluate the ability of teams of handlers and dogs to perform a series of exercise in accordance with these rules.

H. Excused. A dog that has been excused by a Judge in any event may not participate in any other events of the same type in the same show or trial, except that in Obedience and Agility, an excused dog may compete in another class at the same trial. A dog excused from a conformation class in show 1 may be shown again on the same day in show 2, and it is also eligible for any performance events on the same day.

I. Finish. The return of the dog to the basic position at the end of an exercise.

J. Free Heeling. A dog that maintains heel position as the handler walks at a normal pace with their arms swinging naturally at their sides.

K. Front. A position where the dog is seated within arm’s reach of the handler and directly in front of and facing the handler.

L. Guideline. An indication or outline of recommended policy or conduct.

M. Halt. The halt means the handler stops with their dog and the dog should automatically sit at the handler’s left side.

N. Honoring dog. The Long Down “honoring” exercise requires the presence of two dogs in the ring until the completion of the Down with Recall exercise. The “honoring” dog performs a “long down” exercise in the ring while the working dog performs the other exercises.

O. Immediate family. The spouse, parent, step-parent, child, step-child, brother or sister of a person are immediate family members.

P. Judge’s Indication. The Judge’s Indication means that the Judge may instruct you verbally, by hand signal, or by head nod for giving instructions or acknowledgement.

Q. Leg. A qualifying score toward an obedience or agility title, a qualifying pull in a weight pull, or a qualifying win toward a Grand Champion conformation title.

R. Licensed classes. Classes that are required to be offered at a UKC conformation show or performance event.

S. Limited Privilege listing. This program is open to the following, provided they are spayed/neutered: mixed breed dogs, purebred dogs of unknown pedigree, and purebred dogs with disqualifying faults as described in the UKC breed standard. All Limited Privilege-listed dogs are eligible for Agility, Obedience, and other performance events. Eligibility for future events will be determined and published in UKC publications and on the UKC website.

T. Mark. A mark is a specific form of hand signal whereby the handler indicates a straight line in which the dog must travel to retrieve a designated object.

U. Non-licensed classes. Optional classes that may be offered at a UKC conformation show and some performance events.

V. Non-qualifying score. Also referred to as an “NQ” or a “Zero score.” A non-qualifying score is given for the most serious deviations from the ideal. One non-qualifying score in any exercise means that the dog may not continue to compete in the class where the deviation occurred but may complete the class. A dog that has received a Non-qualifying score in one class may compete in a different class in the same trial.

W. Obedience trial. An all-breed event hosted by a UKC Licensed club at which Judges evaluate the ability of teams of handlers and dogs to perform a series of exercises in accordance with these rules.

X. Performance event. Events where a dog is judged on the basis of performance rather than conformation. Agility, obedience, and weight pull are typical performance events.

Y. Pre-Entry. Some UKC clubs offer pre-entry in addition to day-of-trial entry. Pre-entries must be submitted by a specific date (usually referred to as the “closing date,” and published in BLOODLINES and on the UKC web page), and are normally lower in price than day-of-trial entries. Trials that do not accept day-of-trial entries are designated as “Pre-Entry Only” in the Upcoming Events listing on the web and in BLOODLINES magazine.

Z. Temporary Listing (TL) number. A Temporary Listing (TL) number may be issued to:


1. Any purebred dog that is eligible for registration with UKC;
2. Any spayed/neutered purebred dog that is ineligible for registration with UKC;
3. Any spayed/neutered mixed-bred dog eligible to participate in UKC performance events.

This “temporary” number may be used to enter a dog in UKC events before the dog is registered or listed with UKC. A TL number expires after 60 days. Points earned during the 60-day period expire unless the dog is permanently registered with UKC or issued a Limited Privilege listing on or before the 60th day. Temporary Listing numbers may be purchased and issued at events listing availability in BLOODLINES and on the UKC website. Temporary Listing numbers may also be purchased and issued on the same day by calling the Dog Events Department at UKC during regular business hours.

AA. Wait list. The list of all entries received after 50 entries per set of Judge(s) have been received is called a “wait list.”

AB. Working dog. Classes that include an honoring exercise that requires the presence of two dogs in the ring until the completion of the Down with Recall exercise. The dog performing the exercises is called the “working” dog.