2015 AGILITY MTG – ATTACHMENT 6.1.8
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL KENNEL COUNCIL LTD
AGILITY TRIALS
Rules for the conduct of
Agility Trials
(Effective from 1st July 2011)
Approved by the Australian
National Kennel Council 1987
Revised
07/11/1993 18/10/1996 13/05/2000 13/01/2006
01/01/2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Reference SubjectPage No
1.0INTRODUCTION4
1.1Aim of competition4
1.2Overall objectives4
1.3Rule interpretation4
1.4Entry risk4
1.5Moratorium on rule changes4
2.0DEFINITIONS4
2.1Canine Control4
2.2Affiliate4
2.3Contact Area4
2.4Standard Course Time (SCT)4
2.5Starting and Finishing Lines4
2.6Wrong Course4
3.0AGILITY TRIALS4
3.1Classes5
3.2Titles5
3.3Decisions6
3.3.1Committee decisions6
3.3.2Canine Control rules6
3.3.3Impugning a Judge6
3.4Rings6
3.4.1Ring size6
3.4.2Second rope6
3.4.3Bunting6
4.0EXHIBITS REQUIREMENTS6
4.1Entry form height categories6
4.1.1Optional scheduling of class heights6
4.2Height card6
4.3Vetting6
4.4Measuring Dogs6
4.5Bitches in Oestrum6
4.6Entry Number6
5.0EQUIPMENT7
5.1Measuring devices7
5.1.1Dog measurement7
5.1.2Course measurement7
5.1.3Timing devices7
5.2Jump Heights7
5.3Suitability of Obstacles7
5.4Touching of equipment7
5.5Size deviation7
5.6Judging charts7
6.0OBSTACLES7
6.1Surfaces for contact equipment7
6.2Broad Jump7
6.3Dog Walk7
6.4Hoop8
6.5Hurdles8
6.6Spread Hurdle8
6.7Scramble8
6.8Seesaw9
6.9Table9
6.10Collapsible Tunnel9
6.11Flexible Tunnel9
6.12Weaving Poles9
Page 1 of 85
7.0HANDLER REQUIREMENTS9
7.1Calls9
7.2Entering and Exiting the Ring9
7.2.1When to enter the Ring9
7.2.2Entering Ring on lead9
7.2.3Items that a dog can wear9
7.2.4Touching a dog9
7.2.5Exiting Ring9
7.3Handler receiving orders10
7.4Commands10
7.5Misbehaviour10
7.6Reprimands10
8.0JUDGING PROCEDURES10
8.1Course inspection10
8.1.1Walking the course10
8.1.2Splitting numbers10
8.1.3Dogs not permitted10
8.1.4Objection to Course10
8.2Rerun10
8.3Part of Obstacle not in place i.e. bar down10
8.4Course length (CL)10
8.5Speed of travel (rate)10
8.6Standard course time (SCT)10
8.7Maximum course time (MCT)10
8.8Judge's Briefing11
8.9Orders from the Judge11
8.10Starting and Finishing Lines11
8.11Removal of a dog11
8.12Withdrawal of exhibits11
8.13Judges11
8.14Stewards12
9.0DESCRIPTION OF TRIAL12
9.1Cataloguing of entries12
9.2Non-stereotype of courses12
9.3Use of tunnel in Novice Class12
9.4Obstacle number criteria12
9.5Order of obstacles12
9.6Distance between obstacles12
9.7Non-active Obstacles in Ring12
9.8Scoring13
9.9Faults13
9.9.1Course Faults13
9.9.2Time Faults13
9.9.3Penaltyfaults13
9.10Total faults13
9.11Placings13
9.12Tied Score13
9.13The Course13
9.14Course faults14
9.15Refusal of obstacles14
9.16Disqualifications15
10.0NOVICE AGILITY CLASS(14-16 Obstacles)15
11.0EXCELLENT AGILITY CLASS(16-20 Obstacles)16
12.0MASTER AGILITY CLASS(20-24 Obstacles)16
13.0OPEN AGILITY CLASS(16-20 Obstacles)16
14.0NOVICE JUMPING CLASS(14-16 Obstacles)16
15.0EXCELLENT JUMPING CLASS(16-20 Obstacles)17
16.0MASTER JUMPING CLASS(20-24 Obstacles)17
17.0OPEN JUMPING CLASS(16-20 Obstacles)17
18.0Distinguishing Features of Open Agility and Open Jumping17
READY REFERENCE GUIDE18
JUDGING CHART19
1
1.0INTRODUCTION
1.1Agility is a dog competition open to all dogs.
The aim of this competition is for a Handler to direct his dog around a course of different obstacles to assess and enhance the ability of the dog and Handler to work as a team. It is an educational and sporting activity intended to improve the dog's integration into society. The sport requires a good rapport between dog and Handler, which results in perfect teamwork. Whilst speed of the dog is to be desired, steadiness of work is essential to a faultless performance of the course.
1.2The overall objectives of Agility Trials are:
- To encourage a graded progression through the sport.
- To encourage new participants and new ideas and the continuance of Agility as a unique canine discipline.
- To encourage an increased level of fitness for dog and Handler.
- To encourage safe and pleasant competition for all.
1.3Interpretation of these rules should not be necessary, however should there be a need for individualsto seek clarification, application must be made by the Canine Control to the appropriate committee of the ANKC Ltd, whose decision shall be binding.
DOGS NSW
Existing Rule
1.4 Any person making an entry in an Agility Trial does so at their own risk and no Canine Control or Affiliate shall be responsible for any injury or damage to any dog.
Proposal
1.4 Any person making an entry in an Agility Trial does so at their own risk and no Canine Control or Affiliate or Judge shall be responsible for any injury or damage to any dog.
Rationale
The ANKC Judge being the major part of the Trial should be included in this statement
1.5Moratorium on rule changes
Maintain the moratorium at five years for equipment changes except in extenuating circumstances. The National Agility Committee may review and change the rules every two years.
2.0DEFINITIONS
2.1Canine Control
Where referred to in the rules, the words 'Canine Control' shall mean the ANKC Ltd Member Body in each State or Territory of Australia.
2.2Affiliate
An 'Affiliate' is a member body of a Canine Control conducting a Trial.
2.3Contact Area
A contact area is an area painted a different colour to the body of an obstacle, onto which a dog must step whilst negotiating that obstacle, except for the Scramble where contact is required only on the down side.
DOGS SA
Current Rule
2.3Contact Area
A contact area is an area painted a different colour to the body of an obstacle, onto which a dog must step whilst negotiating that obstacle, except for the Scramble where contact is required only on the down side.
Proposed Rule:
2.3 Contact Area ( make changes by deleting “painted” and adding in “of”)
A contact area is an area paintedof a different colour to the body of an obstacle, onto which a dog must step whilst negotiating that obstacle, except for the Scramble where contact is required only on the down side.
Rationale: This infers that the surfaces of contact equipment should be painted yet painted surfaces have proven in practice to produce an inferior surface.
DOGS VICTORIA
Current rule:
DEFINITIONS
2.3 Contact Area
A contact area is an area painted a different colour to the body of an obstacle, onto which a dog must step whilst negotiating that obstacle, except for the Scramble where contact is required only on the down side.
(VIC) Change to Rule 2.3
2.3 Contact Area
A contact area is an area painted a different colour to the body of an obstacle, onto which a dog must step whilst negotiating that obstacle, except for the Scramble and Dog Walk where contact is required only on the down side.
(VIC) Rationale 2.3
Required if change to rule 9.13(b) is accepted.
2.4Standard Course Time (SCT)
Standard Course Time is the time set by the Judge within which a dog is required to complete the course in order to be clear of time faults.
DOGS QUEENSLAND
Current rule:
2.5Starting and Finishing Lines
Starting and Finishing Lines are defined lines across which the dog is required to pass in the nominated direction of the course when starting or finishing.
New Rule
2.5Starting and Finishing
Starting and Finishing are defined by the first and last obstacles which the dog is required to pass through in nominated direction of the course when starting or finishing.
Rationale
The start line is rarely used and with most trial using electronic timers the first and last obstacles are used as start and finish.
2.6Wrong Course
A Wrong Course occurs when the dog negotiates an obstacle out of the numbered order, negotiates an obstacle in the wrong direction, passes under the bar of a Hurdle in the wrong direction or weaves two (2) or more gaps in the weaving poles in the wrong direction.
DOGS SA
Current Rule
3.0AGILITY TRIALS
Agility Trials are open to dogs registered with the Canine Control of either sex and 18 months of age or over. The scheduling of an event or events and classes shall be subject to approval of the Canine Control. Events are Agility, Jumping, Games and any other activity that the ANKC Ltd determines. The following Games are approved: Snooker, Gamblers and Strategic Pairs. The affiliate must schedule Master, Excellent and Novice at an event. The Open class is optional. All scheduled classes will be conducted with one round only. All references to Agility to include Jumping and other Events.
Proposed Rule
3.0Agility Trials are open to dogs registered with the Canine Control of either sex and 18 months of age or over. The scheduling of an event or events and classes shall be subject to approval of the Canine Control. Events are Agility, Jumping, Games and any other activity that the ANKC Ltd determines. The following Games are approved: Snooker, Gamblers and Strategic Pairs. The affiliate must schedule Elite, Master, Excellent and Novice at an event. The Open class is optional. All scheduled classes will be conducted with one round only. All references to Agility to include Jumping and other Events.
Rationale:
The level of training and handling has significantly improved over the years and the skills being trained are flowing through from the world stage.
Not all participants of this sport want to train to this standard but are still looking to trial and have some success. However some are looking for this challenge and for the sport to continue to maintain some standard within the world setting.
It has become clear over recent years that there is a significant difference in the standard of dogs competing in Masters and also the standard of courses being presented by Judges.
Unfortunately because Masters is the catchall class it makes it extremely difficult to support both groups.
By introducing an Elite class this could provide the separation needed to support the differing requirements.
Masters Class would be limited to a maximum number of challenges, not the current guideline of not less than 7, however those challenges still need to be of a masters standard with perhaps more complex handling manoeuvres limited also.
The Elite class would be a higher minimum number of challenges than Masters but more complex handling and discriminations.
Masters still stays open to all but you have to have your Masters title before you can enter the Elite class.
DOGS SA
Current Rule
3.1Classes
Classes are defined as Novice, Excellent, Master and Open and any other class that the ANKC Ltd determines. Qualifications up to and including the date of closing of entry, shall count as eligibility to compete in any Class. At the discretion of the Trial Secretary, a competitor who completes the necessary passes to a title and has applied for that title, after the closing of entry, may request and be transferred to the next higher class.
The following Class description applies to Agility, Jumping and Games
(a) NOVICE CLASS: For dogs that are not eligible for the Novice title.
(b) EXCELLENT CLASS: For dogs that have qualified and applied for the Novice title and are not eligible for the Excellent title.
(c) MASTER CLASS: For dogs that have qualified and applied for the Excellent title or Master title.
(d) OPEN CLASS: Open to all dogs. (Note: There is no Open class in Games.)
Proposed Rule
3.1Classes are defined as Novice, Excellent, Master, Elite and Open and any other class that the ANKC Ltd determines. Qualifications up to and including the date of closing of entry, shall count as eligibility to compete in any Class. At the discretion of the Trial Secretary, a competitor who completes the necessary passes to a title and has applied for that title, after the closing of entry, may request and be transferred to the next higher class.
The following Class description applies to Agility, Jumping and Games
a)NOVICE CLASS: For dogs that are not eligible for the Novice title.
b)EXCELLENT CLASS: For dogs that have qualified and applied for the Novice title and are not eligible for the Excellent title.
c)MASTER CLASS: For dogs that have qualified and applied for the Excellent title or Master title.
d)ELITE CLASS: For dogs that have qualified and applied for the Master title or Elite Title.
e)OPEN CLASS: Open to all dogs. (Note: There is no Open class in Games.)
Rationale: Changes required to introduce Elite Class
3.2Titles
3.2.1All dogs eligible to be entered in Agility Trials in accordance with these rules shall be eligible to receive Title Certificates upon qualification and subsequent application.
3.2.2The Canine Control will receive application for the use of the relevant title letters after the name of each dog, when the dog has gained a qualification certificate at the following specified number of Trials under the specified number of Judges.
CLASS / NOVICE / EXCELLENT / MASTER / OPENTitle / AD/JD / ADX/JDX / ADM/JDM / ADO/JDO
Number of Certificates / 3 / 5 / 7 / 5
Number of Judges / 2 / 2 / 3 / 3
Multiplier suffixes for ADM/JDM may be awarded for multiples of seven certificates gained e.g. 21 ADM qualifications is equal to ADM 3.
Multiplier suffixes for ADO/JDO may be awarded for multiples of five certificates gained e.g. 15 ADO qualifications is equal to ADO 3.
Multiplier suffixes only apply to certificates awarded after 1st July 2006.
DOGS ACT
Existing rule: Rule: 3.2.2
Multiplier suffixes for ADM/JDM may be awarded for multiples of seven certificates gained e.g. 21 ADM qualificationsis equal to ADM 3.
Multiplier suffixes for ADO/JDO may be awarded for multiples of five certificates gained e.g. 15 ADO qualificationsis equal to ADO 3.
Multiplier suffixes only apply to certificates awarded after 1st July 2006.
Amend as follows:
Multiplier suffixes for ADM/JDM may be awarded for multiples of seven certificates gained e.g. 21 ADM qualificationsis equal to ADM 3.
Multiplier suffixes for ADO/JDO may be awarded for multiples of five certificates gained e.g. 15 ADO qualificationsis equal to ADO 3.
Applications may be made for any multiplier suffix title without requiring applications for any predecessor suffixes ie an owner may apply directly for ADO7 without any requirement to apply and pay for ADO2, ADO3, ADO4, ADO5 and ADO6 titles.
Multiplier suffixes only apply to certificates awarded after 1st July 2006.
Rationale:
Some state controlling bodies insist that each predecessor suffix title must be applied and paid for before the next one. This is seen as a revenue raising attempt on their part, as it is simple to just process one title for the later suffix eg ADO7
The end result has been that very, very few people have applied for any multiplier suffixes at all, so instead of increasing revenue, State controlling bodies have missed out on all the potential income of owners applying for several multiplier suffixes for their dogs.
There is one dog that if the handler applied for all the multiplier suffixes it is currently eligible for and had to pay for all the intermediate/predecessor suffixes it would cost over $3,000.00 which is obviously wrong !
This is bad for agility and the state controlling bodies, so making it plain that you can leapfrog to any multiplier suffix will rectify the situation.
Given that these rules will come into effect in 2016 then the 2006 restriction (from 10 years earlier) is no longer needed.
DOGS ACT
Existing rule: Rule: 3.2.3 Agility Champion (commencing 1st July 2011)
A dog will be eligible for the title of Agility Champion 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 when they have
attained 1000 points, these can only be gathered at the completion of the Masters title in each
category of which 100 points from Agility and 100 points from Jumping must be after 1st July 2011.
Agility – after completion of their ADM title – earn 500 points. Points are awarded as follows:
1st place Qualifying score = 25 points
2nd Place Qualifying score = 20 points
3rd Place Qualifying score = 15 points
Qualifying score only = 10 points
Jumping - after completion of their JDM title – earn 500 points. Points are awarded as follows:
1st place Qualifying score = 25 points
2nd Place Qualifying score = 20 points
3rd Place Qualifying score = 15 points
Qualifying score only = 10 points
Where classes are not scheduled in separate height categories points will be awarded as if they
were.
All qualifications earned before 1st July 2011 shall count as qualification score10 points only.
Dogs may continue to accumulate places under the Agility Championship rules (2006) up to and
including 31/12/2011 and will be entitled to apply for an Ag Ch
If an existing Ag Ch is to apply for an Ag Ch height category, this will supersede the existing title.
Amend as follows:
Rule: 3.2.3 Agility Champion (commencing 1st July 2011)
A dog will be eligible for the title of Agility Champion 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 when they have
attained 1000 points, these can only be gathered at the completion of the Masters title in each
category of which 100 points from Agility and 100 points from Jumping must be after 1st July 2011.
Agility – after completion of their ADM title – earn 500 points. Points are awarded as follows:
1st place Qualifying score = 25 points
2nd Place Qualifying score = 20 points
3rd Place Qualifying score = 15 points
Qualifying score only = 10 points
Jumping - after completion of their JDM title – earn 500 points. Points are awarded as follows:
1st place Qualifying score = 25 points
2nd Place Qualifying score = 20 points
3rd Place Qualifying score = 15 points
Qualifying score only = 10 points
Where classes are not scheduled in separate height categories:
-for qualifications from 1 July 2011 points will be awarded as if they were,
-for qualifications prior to 1 July 2011 points will be awarded for outright placings (all heights together).
All qualifications earned before 1st July 2011 shall count as qualification score10 points only.
Dogs may continue to accumulate places under the Agility Championship rules (2006) up to and
including 31/12/2011 and will be entitled to apply for an Ag Ch
If an existing Ag Ch is to apply for an Ag Ch height category, this will supersede the existing title.
Rationale:
Quite a few dogs were well on the way to earning their Ag Ch title when the last changes were introduced, but unless they finished the title by December 2011 then all their older wins and places were suddenly devalued and only worth 10 points(the same as a non-placing quallie). Given that many (if not most) of these were outright wins and places (not separate height classes) they were actually harder to get than once separate heights were introduced, so reducing an all heights win to only 10 points while allowing a dog in a class that might only have 4 or 5 dogs in it to benefit from 25 points for winning its height category is obviously wrong.
This was quite unfair and also de-motivating for a number of handlers, so this proposal rectifies that inequity (and also simplifies the rule).
DOGS ACT
Two new rules: (after existing rule 3.2.3, before 3.2.4)
Agility Grand Champion (Ag Gr Ch).
To recognize the outstanding achievements of truly elite performers in agility, a dog will be eligible for the title of Agility Grand Champion when it has attained the following:
ADM forty (40) 1st place qualifying scores
JDM forty (40) 1st place qualifying scores
ADO forty (40) 1st place qualifying scores
JDO forty (40) 1st place qualifying scores
GDM seven (7) 1st place qualifying scores
SDM seven (7) 1st place qualifying scores
This title will appear in front of the dog’s name, and will replace Ag Ch, ADM, JDM, ADO, JDO, GDM and SDM titles (but not any titles with multiplier suffixes eg ADO7)
Rationale:
The current Ag Ch title is no longer an elite title for the very high performing dog ( a dog can now get the Ag Ch title without ever winning a single class). The new Ag Gr Ch title gives the top teams something to strive for and recognises those dogs that perform very well for an extended period. Most other ANKC competitions allow for progression to higher level titles and it is time for agility to do so as well.