How to Earn an OTCH: Obedience Trial Champion
The OTCH is obedience's championship and one of the hardest titles in AKC sports. Points come from placing first to fourth in Open B and Utility B against the other dogs, so it takes both precision and a big class.
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What the OTCH takes
- 100 OTCH points from first to fourth places in Open B and Utility B
- A first place in Utility B with at least 3 dogs competing
- A first place in Open B with at least 5 dogs competing
- One more first in either class, the three firsts under three different judges
Step by step
- Earn the Utility Dog (UD) title to enter Open B and Utility B.
- Place first to fourth with a qualifying score. The more dogs competing, the more points the placement earns.
- A qualifying 197 or better that earned no placement points still gets 1 point.
- Collect 100 points and the three firsts under three judges.
The titles around it
UD - Utility Dog
Needs 3 qualifying scores.
UDX - Utility Dog Excellent
Needs 10 double Qs (Open B and Utility B on the same day).
OM - Obedience Master
Needs 200 OM points.
OTCH - Obedience Trial Champion (this page)
Needs 100 OTCH points.
Requirements from the current AKC regulations. AKC records a title once it processes the results; check your dog's AKC record. Every AKC title, A to Z.
Common questions
How many OTCH points is a first place worth?
It depends on the class size. A Utility B first with 18 dogs earns 17 points; an Open B first with 30 dogs earns 18. Small classes earn 2 to 6 points.
Do the firsts have to be under different judges?
Yes. The three first places must be under three different judges, and only one of them can come from a specialty or Junior Obedience Showcase.
What is the difference between OTCH and OM points?
OTCH points come from placements against other dogs. Obedience Master (OM) points come from the score alone, for any score of 190 or better.