Activities

Agility & Jumping Trials

Before a dog can enter either agility or jumping trials, it must have reached the age of 18 months and have a height certificate.

Height certificates are obtained when the dog is measured utilising an ANKC approved measuring device (measures height of dog at the withers).

Dogs are split into 3 groups, and these groups are used to setup the course obstacles.

200 Up to an including 270mm

300 271mm to 365mm inclusive

400 366mm to 455mm inclusive

500 456mm to 545mm inclusive

600 546mm and over

The judge will assign the course a Standard Course Time (SCT) using the following formula:

SCT = CL + 5

Rate

CL = Length of course as measured by judge (m)

Rate = Speed of travel as determined by judge (m/s)

The SCT is the time within which a dog is required to complete the course in order to be clear of time faults.

To obtain a qualifying certificate a dog must negotiate the course within the SCT and not incur any faults.

All dogs entered can compete in the first round. Five course faults are scored for each mistake a dog makes. The time taken to complete the course is recorded. Placings are determined by the total faults (course and time faults) obtained plus any penalty faults.

Where the total faults are equal, higher placings are awarded to dogs with fewer course faults.

Where total and course faults are equal, the fastest dog will be placed first.

Conduct of a second round is at the discretion of the affiliate conducting the trial, and advertised in advance. Only half the dogs that have competed in the first round continue into the second round. (0.5 is rounded up).

The dog with the least total faults in the second round will be the winner of the trial. Masters classes only conduct one round.

It is possible for a dog to win a trial (have the fastest time), but not obtain a qualifying certificate, as it did not complete a clear round in the first round.

The following are general outlines of the exercises you are required to complete in Open Trials to gain Agility and Jumping Titles with your dog. The titles for Agility are AD, ADX, ADM, ADO and JD, JDX, JDM, JDO for Jumping. Titles are used after the dog's name, and as a higher qualification is obtained, the lower one is no longer used (other than ADO & JDO which are separate titles).

Novice Agility Class (14 to 16 Obstacles)

All dogs 18 months of age or over, without an agility title are eligible to enter.

Mandatory

· Broad Jump

· Dog Walk

· Hoop

· Table

· Single Hurdle(s)

· Spread Hurdle

· Scramble

· Flexible Tunnel(s)

· Weaving Poles – 12

Optional

· Collapsible Tunnel

Contact obstacles, spread hurdle, table, and weavers may only be negotiated once during the course, however the remaining obstacles have no limit to the number of times they may be used.

Once your dog has gained 3 qualification certificates under at least two different judges you are now eligible to apply for the title Agility Dog (AD).

This dog is then not eligible to enter this class again.

Excellent Agility Class (16 to 20 Obstacles)

Dogs must have received their AD title to be eligible to enter.

Mandatory

· Broad Jump(s)

· Table

· Single Hurdle(s)

· Spread Hurdle

· Hoop(s)

· Weaving Poles – 12

· Dog Walk

· Scramble

· Flexible Tunnel(s)

· See-saw

Optional

· Collapsible Tunnel

Contact obstacles, table, and weavers may only be negotiated once during the course, however the remaining obstacles have no limit to the number of times they may be used.

Once your dog has gained 5 qualification certificates under at least two different judges you are now eligible to apply for the title Agility Dog Excellent (ADX).

You are still eligible to enter this class once you have obtained your ADX title.

Masters Agility Class (20 to 24 Obstacles)

Dogs must have received their ADX title to be eligible to enter.

Mandatory

· Broad Jump(s)

· Single Hurdle(s)

· Spread Hurdle(s)

· Hoop(s)

· Weaving Poles – 12

· Dog Walk

· Scramble

· See-saw

· Flexible Tunnel(s)

Optional

· Table

· Collapsible Tunnel(s)

The weaving poles may only be used once.

Once your dog has gained 7 qualification certificates under at least three different judges you are now eligible to apply for the title Agility Dog Masters (ADM).

You are still eligible to enter this class once you have obtained your ADM title.

Open Agility Class (16 to 20 Obstacles)

All Dogs over the age of 18 months are eligible to enter.

Mandatory

· Dog Walk

· Scramble

· See-saw

· Single Hurdle(s)

· Flexible Tunnel(s)

· Weaving Poles – 12

Optional

· Broad Jump(s)

· Table

· Spread Hurdle(s)

· Hoop(s)

· Collapsible Tunnel(s)

Contact obstacles, table, and weavers may only be negotiated once during the course, however the remaining obstacles have no limit to the number of times they may be used.

Course must be designed to at least "Excellent Class" standard and must contain a distance handling challenge. The distance handling challenge is a section of the course where the handler must handle the dog from beyond a distance handling line (approx 5m). Obstacles selected may be from the flexible or collapsible tunnel(s), single hurdle(s), spread hurdle, scramble or broad jump.

Once your dog has gained 5 qualification certificates under at least three different judges you are now eligible to apply for the title Agility Dog Excellent (ADO).

You are still eligible to enter this class once you have obtained your ADO title.

Novice Jumping Class (14 to 16 Obstacles)

All dogs 18 months of age or over, without a jumping title are eligible to enter.

Mandatory

· Broad Jump

· Hoop

· Flexible Tunnel

· Single Hurdle(s)

· Spread Hurdle

Optional

· Collapsible Tunnel (in inclement weather)

No limit on the number of times an obstacle can be re-negotiated, with the exception of the spread hurdle.

Once your dog has gained 3 qualification certificates under at least two different judges you are now eligible to apply for the title Jumping Dog (JD).

This dog is then not eligible to enter this class again.

Excellent Jumping Class (16 to 20 Obstacles)

Dogs must have received their JD title to be eligible to enter.

Mandatory

· Broad Jump(s)

· Hoop(s)

· Single Hurdle(s)

· Spread Hurdle(s)

· Flexible Tunnel(s)

Optional

· Collapsible Tunnel (in inclement weather)

No limit on the number of times an obstacle can be re-negotiated.

Once your dog has gained 5 qualification certificates under at least two different judges you are now eligible to apply for the title Jumping Dog Excellent (JDX).

You are still eligible to enter this class once you have obtained your JDX title.

Masters Jumping Class (18 to 20 Obstacles)

Dogs must have received their JDX title to be eligible to enter.

Mandatory

· Broad Jump(s)

· Hoop(s)

· Single Hurdle(s)

· Spread Hurdle(s)

· Flexible Tunnel(s)

Optional

· Collapsible Tunnel (in inclement weather)

There is no limit to the number of times an obstacle can be re-negotiated.

Once your dog has gained 7 qualification certificates under at least three different judges you are now eligible to apply for the title Jumping Dog Masters (JDM).

You are still eligible to enter this class once you have obtained your JDM title.

Open Jumping Class (16 to 18 Obstacles)

All dogs over the age of 18 months

Mandatory

· Weaving Poles - 12

Optional

· Broad Jump(s)

· Hoop(s)

· Single Hurdle(s)

· Flexible Tunnel(s)

· Spread Hurdle(s)

· Collapsible Tunnel (in inclement weather)

No limit on the number of times an obstacle can be re-negotiated, with the exception of the weavers.

Once your dog has gained 5 qualification certificates under at least three different judges you are now eligible to apply for the title Jumping Dog Excellent (JDO).

You are still eligible to enter this class once you have obtained your JDO title.

Rule books containing more detailed explanations of all of the exercises, equipment, scoring and judging can be purchased from the Canine Association of Western Australia (CAWA).