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204 Venues for Agility

Kinte Cloth

Prepared by Kim McNeill

Generally all of these venues have a Standard class where the judge lays out a course for the handler/dog team to complete. The standard course includes jumps, weaves, tunnels, chute and all contacts. Dogs do have a time requirement to complete the course in order to qualify. Some classes are point based classes where the team must accumulate a certain number of points in order to qualify. Points are assigned to different obstacles by the judge. Usually more time consuming or difficult obstacles are given a higher number of points. Usually the handler decides the path of the dog for the point-based classes and the judge decides for the other classes.

For more information on rules and regulations, please check the individual websites. This is just a brief overview of the most popular agility venues in the USA. Because of the very dynamic nature of agility, rules are constantly being updated and new venues are being created.

AKC — American Kennel Club

The AKC agility trials are open to all registered purebreds and some trials are also open to mix breeds. There are 3 different levels of expertise in agility: Novice, Open and Excellent. Each level increases in difficulty and the number of obstacles allowed. The novice courses, for example, only have 6 weave poles and a maximum of 16 obstacles whereas the excellent courses will have 12 weave poles, up to 20 obstacles and offers more handler challenges.

The AKC offers several different classes: Standard, Jumpers with Weaves, FAST and Time 2 Beat (as of July 2011). The JWW class is a timed course that contains jumps, weaves and may have tunnels. The course, like the Std class, is dictated by the judge. FAST, Fifteen and Send Time, is a point based class that tests the dog’s ability to accurately perform obstacles at a distance from the handler. The course has a Send Bonus that is dictated by the judge — both the obstacles and the distance. The remainder of the course consists of obstacles with a point value. The amount of points required to qualify depends on the level. In addition to the handler creating their own course to maximize points, the handler also has a limited amount of time to complete the course. Once the buzzer sounds, one point is deducted from your score for each second it takes to cross the finish line. Time 2 Beat is a class that emphasizes speed and efficiency. The class contains jumps, weaves, tunnels and 2 contacts. Titles for Time 2 Beat are based on points accumulated.

The AKC also offers a Preferred jump height for each level and class. Preferred dogs jump one jump height lower and are allowed a little more time to complete the course. This is ideal for older dogs, dogs with structural issues, dogs that need some confidence building or for people who prefer to jump their dog at a lower height.

USDAA — United States Dog Agility Association

USDAA events are open to all pure and mixed breeds (called All Americans). There are 3 different levels of expertise: Starters/Novice, Advanced, Masters. Each level increases in difficulty and handler challenges.

The USDAA offers several different classes: Standard, Jumpers, Gamblers, Snookers and Relay. The Jumpers course contains jumps, tunnels and sometimes weaves. The Standard, Jumpers and Relay courses are dictated by the judge. Gamblers is a course with a distance challenge where the dog/handler team accumulates points. The handler chooses her own course. Snookers is a game that tests handler’s strategy. The handler creates her own course and accumulates points. However, the team must perform a “Red” obstacles (generally a bar jump) between doing other obstacles. Relay classes consist of 2 or more dog/handler team where one team does ½ the course and the other team finishes the course.

The USDAA also offers a Performance class for each level. Performance dogs are allowed to jump one jump height lower, a lower Aframe and the spread jumps are removed.

NADAC — North American Dog Agility Council

Website link: http://www.nadac.com/

NADAC trials are open to all pure or mixed breed dogs. There are 3 different levels of expertise: Novice, Open, Elite. Each level increases in difficulty and handler challenges.

NADAC offers several different classes – Regular (Standard), Jumpers, Tunnelers, Weaves, Touch-n-Go, Chances and Hoopers. Jumpers consists of jumps and 1 - 2 tunnels. Tunnelers is a course that only has tunnels. Weavers consist of weaves, tunnels and hoops. Touch-n-Go consists of contact obstacles, tunnels and hoops. Chances class may have any obstacle and includes a distance challenge. The Hoopers class only contains hoops and the handler dictates the dog’s course and contains a bonus distance section.

NADAC offers a Skilled jump height where a dog can jump one jump height lower. NADAC also offers classes for junior handlers (handlers 17 years or younger), veteran dogs (over 7), veteran handlers (60 or over) or disabled handlers where the dog may jump one jump height lower starting with 4 inch jump height. Also NADAC lists some breeds that may jump a lower jump height. (Basenji is NOT one of them.) If you entered skilled and if the dog is also a veteran or the handler is a junior handler, veteran or disabled, the dog would jump another 4 inches lower. So if you entered your 9 year old 16 inch basenji in the Skilled category, she would jump 8 inches.

DOCNA — Dogs on Course in North America

DOCNA trials are open to all pure or mixed breed dogs. There are 3 different levels of expertise: Beginner, Intern and Specialist. Each level increases in difficulty and handler challenges.

DOCNA offers several different classes including standard, gamblers, snakes and ladders and trigility. The gamblers class contains a distance challenge. Snakes and ladders is a course that only contains tunnels, contacts and weaves. The trigility class is a team of 3 handlers and 3 dogs.

DOCNA also offers a Veterans division for dogs over 7 or handlers over 60. These dogs are allowed to jump a lower jump height. There is also a Grand Veterans division for dogs over 10 or handler over 60 and dog over 7. These dogs are allowed an even lower jump height, much like what is outlined in NADAC.

TDAA — Teacup Dog Agility Association

Teacup trials are open to all purebred or mixed breed dogs 17 inches tall at the shoulders or less. There are 3 different levels in the Standard class: Beginner, Intermediate and Superior and 3 levels in the Games classes: Games 1, 2, and 3. Each level increases in difficulty and handler challenges. What really sets Teacup apart is that the obstacles and distances between obstacles are scaled down.

At a trial weekend, there are usually four different games and 4 standard classes to compete in. There is a huge variety of fun games allowed for the Games titles. They also have guidelines for new games to be created.

Teacup also offers veterans, dog 7 years and older, the opportunity to jump 1 jump height lower and a have a little bit more time in the regular classes. Disabled handlers get a few extra seconds also.

CPE — Canine Performance Events, Inc

CPE trials are open to all pure or mixed breed dogs. There are 5 different levels of expertise and they are just noted by number: level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Each level increases in difficulty and handler challenges.

CPE offers several different classes including Standard, Jumpers, Colors, Wildcard, Snookers, Jackpot and Fullhouse. Jumpers consists of jumps and tunnels. In Colors there are two mini courses laid out by the judge and the handler must choose which course they are doing. In Wildcard, the judge lays out a course, but there are places on the course where the handler has the option of taking a different obstacle. Snookers is a game that tests handler’s strategy. The handler creates her own course and accumulates points. However, the team must perform a “Red” obstacles (generally a bar jump) between doing other obstacles. Jackpot is a point based game that also includes a distance challenge. And Fullhouse is similar to Jackpot without the distance challenge.

CPE also has a Veterans class for dogs over 6. CPE also has classes that allow non-veteran dog to jump a lower jump height.

UKC — United Kennel Club

UKC trials are open to all UKC registered dogs. There are 3 different levels of expertise: Agility I, Agility II, Agility III. Each level increases in difficulty and handler challenges. UKC agility also includes obstacles not seen in other venues.

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204 Venues for Agility