AKC Events
What Can Your Collie Do? A Guide to AKC Events
Most people discover the AKC through dog shows — maybe a glimpse of Westminster on television, or a local show they stumbled across on a Saturday morning. But conformation showing is just one small corner of what the AKC offers. The truth is, there is something for every dog and every owner — whether you want to compete seriously, earn a few titles for fun, or simply deepen the bond you have with your Collie.
Here is a look at what is out there.
Canine Good Citizen
Before we talk about titles and competition, let's start here — because we recommend every single Jolis Collie earn this one regardless of what comes next.
The Canine Good Citizen — or CGC — is the AKC's foundational certificate for dogs of all breeds and backgrounds. It tests basic manners and real world social skills: walking politely on a leash, greeting strangers calmly, sitting for an exam, and handling mild distractions without falling apart. It is not a competitive event. There are no placements or rankings. It is simply a dog and an owner demonstrating that they have put in the work.
We love the CGC because it sets a standard. It gives new owners a concrete goal in those early months and establishes good habits that pay off for the life of the dog. If you do nothing else on this list, do this one.
Conformation Showing
This is the event most people picture when they think of dog shows — and it is where Jolis Collies has earned its national recognition.
Conformation evaluates a dog against the breed standard — assessing structure, movement, coat, expression, and overall type. Dogs compete first within their class, then within their breed, working toward the title of Champion and beyond. A dog that finishes their Championship can continue competing for a Grand Championship, and the most accomplished dogs earn the title of Grand Champion Platinum — one of the highest conformation honors in the country.
It is a deep rabbit hole in the best possible way. If you are interested in showing the Collie you purchase from us, we would love to talk to you about it. A show prospect placement is something we take seriously, and we are happy to mentor new exhibitors who are genuinely committed to learning the sport.
Obedience
Obedience competition is where the Collie's intelligence really gets to shine. Dogs and handlers perform a series of precise exercises — heeling, sitting, staying, retrieving, jumping — with the goal of seamless, willing teamwork. Judging is exact. Points are deducted for imprecision. It rewards the kind of partnership that takes real time and dedication to build.
Title levels move from Companion Dog through Companion Dog Excellent, Utility Dog, Utility Dog Excellent, and the pinnacle — Obedience Trial Champion, or OTCH. That last title is genuinely rare and represents years of serious work.
If you are someone who loves training and wants a dog that is a true working partner, obedience is worth exploring. Collies are exceptionally well suited to it.
Rally
Rally is often described as obedience's more approachable cousin — and that is a fair description. Handlers and dogs move through a course of signed stations together, each sign indicating a skill to perform. Heel, sit, turn, call to heel, spiral — the signs vary in difficulty depending on the level. Unlike traditional obedience, handlers can talk to their dogs throughout the course, which makes it feel more like a conversation and less like a test.
It is a wonderful entry point into competition for new owners and a genuinely fun activity for dogs who love to work. Title levels run from Rally Novice through Rally Master and beyond, with a National Championship for those who catch the bug.
Agility
Agility is exactly what it sounds like — dogs navigating a timed obstacle course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and contact equipment, guided entirely by their handler's body language and movement. It is fast, it is athletic, and it is one of the most exciting dog sports to watch and participate in.
Collies are natural movers and tend to take to agility well. It is a great outlet for dogs with high energy and sharp minds, and the teamwork required builds an extraordinary bond between dog and handler. Title levels range from Novice Agility through Master Agility Champion, with the prestigious MACH title representing the upper tier of the sport.
One practical note — we recommend waiting until growth plates have closed before beginning full jump height training, typically around eighteen months for a Collie. Plenty of foundation work can happen before then without the physical stress of full height jumping.
Herding
The Collie was a herding dog long before it was a show dog, and that instinct runs surprisingly deep even in dogs that have never seen a sheep in their lives. The AKC offers herding instinct tests — a low-pressure introduction that simply evaluates whether a dog shows natural herding behavior around livestock — as well as full titling competition for dogs who want to take it further.
Watching a Collie discover herding for the first time is something special. If you are curious, an instinct test is an easy and affordable way to find out whether your dog has the drive for it. Many do.
Trick Dog
Do not underestimate this one. The AKC Trick Dog program is one of the most accessible and genuinely enjoyable titles available — and it is a fantastic way to keep a Collie's mind engaged at any age or stage of life.
Dogs earn titles from Novice Trick Dog through the elite Grand Champion Trick Dog level by demonstrating an increasing number of tricks evaluated by an AKC Trick Dog Evaluator or submitted by video. Spin, shake, roll over, weave through legs, fetch by name — the sky is essentially the limit. It is lighthearted, it is fun, and it builds exactly the kind of positive training relationship that makes every other area of your dog's life easier.
We recommend it especially for families with children — kids and Collies training tricks together is just about as good as it gets.
Scent Work
Scent work is one of the fastest growing dog sports in the AKC — and for good reason. It is accessible to virtually every dog regardless of age, physical ability, or previous training experience, and it taps into something dogs do naturally and joyfully every single day.
Dogs are trained to identify specific target odors and indicate their location to the handler — searching boxes, interiors, exteriors, and vehicles at increasing levels of difficulty. The handler learns to read their dog. The dog learns that their nose is their superpower. It is a quiet, focused sport that builds extraordinary confidence — particularly in dogs that are on the shy or sensitive side.
Collies are scent-driven and highly observant, which makes them well suited to this work. Title levels run from Scent Work Novice through the advanced Detective title, with National Championship competition available at the upper levels. If you are looking for a sport that is as mentally satisfying for the dog as it is for the handler, scent work is one of the best things out there.
Fast CAT
If your Collie likes to run — and most of them do — Fast CAT might be the most fun you ever have at a dog event.
Fast CAT stands for Coursing Ability Test, and the premise is beautifully simple: your dog chases a lure in a straight one hundred yard dash, timed to the hundredth of a second. That is it. One dog at a time, no other dogs on the course, no complicated handling required. You just let them go and watch them fly.
Speed is converted into points based on the dog's height, and titles are earned as points accumulate — from BCAT through FCAT and beyond, with Qualifier and Master titles for the seriously fast. It is one of the most spectator friendly events in dog sports and genuinely one of the most joyful things to watch. A Collie in full stride chasing a lure is a sight worth seeing.
And So Much More
Honestly, we have barely scratched the surface. The AKC offers tracking, dock diving, barn hunt, and a growing list of sports that seem to add something new every year. Beyond the AKC, Collies have found their way into therapy work, search and rescue, and countless other roles that speak to everything this breed was built to be.
The point is this — a Collie is not a dog you bring home and put on the couch. They are a dog you do things with. Whatever your lifestyle, whatever your interests, there is almost certainly a sport or activity that fits. And the Collie will show up for it with everything they have.
That is just who they are.
How to Find Events Near You
The AKC makes it easy to find upcoming events in your area — conformation shows, obedience and rally trials, agility, herding, and more. Their online event search is searchable by sport, date, and location.
Whatever direction you want to take with your Collie — whether that is the show ring, the obedience ring, the agility course, or simply the backyard — we are happy to point you in the right direction. Reach out anytime.
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