St. Hubert's Companion Dog Sports Program Mission Statement The Companion Dog Sports Program supports St. Hubert's mission to provide a wide variety of programs that nurture the human/animal bond and foster an environment in which people respect all living creatures.  The purpose of the program is to provide opportunities for ALL dogs, not just purebred dogs, to participate in a variety of dog sports and earn titles in an environment that promotes dog-friendly training methods and philosophies that enhance the human animal bond. St. Hubert's has adopted and sanctioned a new version of Competitive Obedience that allows handlers and their dogs to earn obedience titles in the Novice, Open, Utility and OTCH classes effective January 1, 2006. The creation of this program comes as a result of feed back from exhibitors, instructors, judges and the general dog training public nationwide.  This is a natural style of competitive obedience, yet precision is important half point errors will be scored.  Handlers are allowed to communicate with their dogs during their performance through praise and encouragement.  Hand and verbal cues will be allowed simultaneously, with the exception of the Utility Signals exercise, which will only allow hand signals.  Food rewards may be given at the completion of an exercise.  Junior handlers and dogs and/or handlers with disabilities are encouraged to participate. Exercise modifications will be allowed for disabled dogs and/or handlers.  However, dogs will not be allowed to compete if they are in pain or appear to be in pain. All dogs over the age of six months are eligible to register and participate. Any club, school or organization may apply to host a sanctioned trial.  Trials may be held in conjunction with other dog events. Exercises in each of the classes are based on traditional competition obedience exercises and point values.  However, some exercises have been modified to reflect real life usefulness and in some instances, new exercises have been created. St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center was founded in 1939 by Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge.  The organization is dedicated to the welfare of companion animals and provides services that support the human-animal bond.   © St. Hubert's, 2007