General Guidelines
- For the safety of the youth and dog, it is recommended to have completed basic obedience training instruction and competed in beginning obedience, titles in other dog show venues, or equivalent experience to participate in agility. Participants wishing to enter agility must demonstrate basic skills equivalent to beginning obedience training and thus can enter agility.
- Exhibitors need to attend club meetings, training clinics, or other hands-on experiences with agility instruction and equipment. If a youth has not practiced on agility equipment, they may not enter a competition. Exhibitors must have demonstrated a minimum level of proficiency for safety and training experience for agility classes (loose leash beside handler, heel, sit, stay, come, down, etc.….). Leaders can help guide youth into appropriate agility classes.
- A dog may enter in only one level of agility in a competition (Level 1,2,3,4, or 5). An exhibitor may enter multiple dogs according to show guidelines. A show may have additional classes within a level (see information on additional agility classes from the 4-H web page or other agility organizations) as time or location permits.
- Wither heights of all agility dogs must be included with advanced entries. This is necessary to draft a show order. Wither height measurements may be verified as part of the on-site registration process.
- Baiting with food, squeakers, or toys will not be permitted in any class and is a cause for disqualification.
- Exhibitors should wear tennis shoes or shoes with non-skid soles.
- Dog only goes over the jump. The handler runs beside the obstacle. Handler does not go over the jump.
- All dogs must wear a flat / buckle collar. No other type is allowed. Each dog may be exhibited by only one handler in agility competition. No hanging tags.
- Dogs must be 18 months old or older to participate in competitions. Practice may occur earlier (with veterinarian recommendations) with low elements and no excessive jumping. Mature body structure is needed for jumping and higher obstacles for all sizes of dogs.
- Agility is an athletic activity. Dogs need to be in condition and in good health to be able to participate in this discipline. Excessive weight or underweight can be detrimental to a dog’s health. Judges or judges and superintendents may confer and may excuse lame dogs or those carrying excessive weight and that are unfit for competition.
- Host sites will send a list of equipment to the judge and the judge will determine the course map. Course maps will be made available and posted at time of show registration in designated area(s). Obstacle equipment needing repair or deemed unsafe by the judge will be 38 excluded from the competition.
- Obstacles should be numbered to note the obstacle order for the course.
COURSE TIME
The course may be measured using a surveyor wheel or tape measure. The judge will measure the course and set the course time (except for the preset course used in Level 1), as each course may be different depending on layout and number of obstacles. You can estimate the time required for the course at 5 seconds per obstacle with 10 feet of space per obstacle and add 5 seconds for the pause box. If the obstacles are 18 feet apart, calculate at 10 seconds per obstacle with 5 seconds for the pause box. At the judge’s discretion, times may be adjusted for the height of the dog.
If show management is not able to measure course distances, the agility course times are recommended below:
Level 1 - 45 seconds
Level 2 - 60 seconds
Level 3 - 60 seconds
Level 4 - 75 seconds
Level 5 - Should be calculated based on number of obstacles and space provided on the course
LEASH USAGE IN AGILITY
Level 1 & 2 Agility classes are run on leash. Level 3, 4, and 5 are all run off leash. Level 3, 4, and 5 must be run off leash and will not be able to take a lower ribbon placing to run on leash. A 4-foot to 6- foot leash is used for Level 1 and Level 2 during competition. A leash will also be used for dogs entering the show ring for Level 3, 4, and 5. Exhibitors will take leash off dog prior to starting their run. Exhibitors will attach leash to dog collar following their run and before exiting the show ring.
JUDGES BRIEFING
Judges are available at the beginning of the walk through to go over any instructions, provide explanation, and to answer questions.
COURSE WALK THROUGH
Exhibitors will be able to go through the course during walk through time multiple times without their dog (handlers only). The course will close prior to competition. If time allows handlers in Level 1, 2, and 3, may go through the actual obstacles one time with their dog on leash (one team at a time). Level 4 and 5 may also walk through the course during their walk-through time multiple times without their dog (handlers only).
OBSTACLE COUNT
One of each obstacle noted in each level are mandatory and duplicate obstacles may be added to make up quantities of obstacles in each level. Level 5 – youth can use additional equipment for competition that they have access to and can use in practice. Obstacles that are used for agility competition events may be included from AKC, CPE, USDAA, NADAC, and UKC., etc.…).
SCORING
All clean runs will place at the top of the class using run times to designate the top placings. Following the clean runs, the exhibitors who have had penalties will be placed. Clean runs without any penalties or refusals will be placed at the first of each class.
BAR KNOCK DOWN
A knocked down bar will be minus 5 points. This is a standard deduction for knocked down jump, bar knocked down or a standard knocked over.
AGILITY JUMP HEIGHTS
Measure dogs at withers to determine jump height:
- Dogs 11 inches or less – jump 4 inches
- Dogs over 11 inches up to and including 14 inches – jump 8 inches
- Dogs over 14 inches up to and including 18 inches – jump 12 inches
- Dogs over 18 inches – jump 16 inches