Waikato Agility Group
Guidelines to agility competition
BASIC CRITERIA
Dogs must be 18 months old or older.

You and your dog must be registered with the New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC) before entering an Open Agility Event or Championship Agility Event.

You must be a member of a registered dog training club.

Three heights are used for obstacles in competition according to the classification of the size of the dog (at the dog's shoulder height)
Mini - up to 380mm
Midi - 381 to 460 mm
Maxi - 461mm and above
If you think your dog falls into the mini or midi classifications the dog must be officially measured to receive a "Certificate of Measurement".  This certificate must be carried by you to all competitions as the show secretary may ask to see it.
CLASSES OF COMPETITION
There are three classes of agility competitions as follows:
Championship Agility Events (CAE)
Open Agility Events (OAE)
Agility Ribbon Trials (ART
Championship and Open Agility Events
All owners and handlers must be members of the NZKC and all dogs competing must be on the NZKC breed or obedience register.

Entries must be on the NZKC official entry form using the forms that are available from the NZKC (photocopies of the form are not acceptable).

CAEs and OAEs must be pre-entered.  They are advertised in the NZKC Gazette and usually have a closing date for entries approximately 2 weeks prior to the show date.

Dogs coming under the mini or midi height must have a Certificate of Measurement registered with the NZKC when the dog is at least two years old.  Such measurement must be done by the Zone Representative or his/her nominee.  If a dog is competing between the ages of eighteen months and two years, an interim Certificate of Measurement may be issued, which need not be registered with the NZKC until the dog is two years old
Agility Ribbon Trials
Handlers/owners need not be members of the NZKC and dogs need not be registered under the NZKC breed or obedience register.

Entries are taken on the day at the trial.

Dogs coming under the mini or midi height must have a Certificate of Measurement issued by the Zone Representative, however the certificate need not be registered with the NZKC if the dog is only going to compete in ARTs.  Such a certificate is to be marked valid for ARTs only.

Flyers for ARTs are usually posted on the club notice board
RUNNING IN AN AGILITY COMPETITION
No collar of any type is to be worn by the dog in the ring.  Take off your dog?s collar and leave it outside the ring.  Handlers are not allowed to run in bare feet or take toys/food/treats into the ring.
Classes
STARTERS
No contact equipment used.  This class is open to dogs that have not won two first places with clear rounds.  AD qualified dogs are not eligible for this class.
NOVICE
Open to all but Senior dogs.
INTERMEDIATE
Open to all dogs except dogs that are competing in Starters.
SENIOR
Open to all dogs that have won a total of three first places in Novice and/or Intermediate with clear rounds, or have won two first places and qualified ADX.
NOVELTY
Various clubs run novelty classes, usually in conjunction with CAEs, OAEs or ARTs.  Rules are many and varied and are almost always loads of fun.
Scoring
Refusals - 5 penalty points
Faults - 5 penalty points
Time - 1 penalty point per second over the standard course time
REFUSALS
- When a dog runs past an obstacle and has to be put at the obstacle again.
- Jumping off the A-frame before halfway.
- Jumping off the seesaw before halfway.
- Jumping off the dog walk before commencing the down ramp.
- Jumping through the space between the tyre and the frame or going underneath.
- Running past the start of the long jump without attempting the jump.
- Running past the entrance to the tunnel or entering the tunnel and coming back out the entry end.
- Refusals are normally incurred on the table however some judges may require that it be approached from one angle only.
- Weaving pole refusals are subject to some interpretation from different judges.  In Starters there are no refusals at this obstacle, however it must be completed correctly so in the event of mistakes there will be a loss of time.  At classes above Starters it is normal for a refusal to be incurred if the dog goes past the second pole without attempting the obstacle.

If your dog incurs a refusal you must attempt the obstacle again before you continue the course.
Three refusals means disqualification.  Normally you are allowed to continue up to maximum course time
FAULTS
- Knocking down a jump pole, going through or underneath the jump, jumping the wing or side frame of the jump.
- Jumping off the seesaw before the plank touches the ground.
- Missing the up and / or down contact areas on contact equipment.
- Running over the long jump, touching the long jump, jumping over the corner or jumping parallel but to one side.
- Normally no faults on the table but listen to the judge.
- Deliberate touching of the dog.
- If the handler touches the equipment or enters it e.g. runs through the weaving poles
DISQUALIFICATION
- Harsh handling of the dog.
- Wrong course - this includes the situation where your dog incurs a refusal and you do not go back to complete the obstacle, or you do not complete the previous obstacle correctly.
- Three refusals.
- Outside interference or double handling (someone outside the ring calling to your dog).
- Taking more than the maximum course time.
- Back jumping, where this is not a requirement of the course 
- If the dog runs across/through the weaving poles on the way to another obstacle.
- Dog leaving the ring out of control.
- Dog fouling in the ring.
- Dog entering the ring with a collar.
- Handler running in bare feet
WEAVING POLES
Starters - no faults
Novice & Intermediate - 5 points maximum
Senior - 5 points for each mistake
TABLE
Judge decides what position the dog is to assume on the table - check before running.

The dog must be in the correct position before the judge will commence the time countdown.  If the dog jumps off the table or changes position the countdown number will be repeated (e.g. 5,4,3,3,3,2,1,go) until the dog is back in the correct position.  If the dog leaves the table and negotiates the next obstacle before the countdown is complete then it will be disqualified.
Stopping a Round
In rare circumstances a judge may stop a round part way through.  When this happens the timer stops and the run and timing recommences under instructions from the judge.
Walking the Course
Before competition starts, the judge will walk the course with the competitors.  He/she will explain table position and may give other explanations relating to the running of the course.

When walking the course, check the following:
- How you will run the course e.g. right and left handling, where you plan to cross.
- Is the equipment correctly pegged e.g. seesaw, tunnels, etc.
- Check the seesaw as they vary in how easily they tip
If you have any queries or are unhappy with any aspect of the course, approach the judge at this time BEFORE the class begins.
Clear Round Certificates
Issued to dogs having a clear round (i.e. no faults or refusals) and running under the standard course time.
Start and Finish
There are always poles to indicate the start and finish of a course.  The dog must start behind these markers.  As soon as any part of the dog crosses the line (even just the nose) the timer will start.  The dog must start and finish between the poles.  If your dog finishes outside the poles the timer will continue running until the dog has been recalled and goes through the finish poles in the correct fashion.

At some events there will be electronic timers.  Check special rules that apply at each event.
NATIONAL AGILITY LINK ASSOCIATION (NALA)
Our club runs NALA courses each month.  These courses are set up according to a plan printed in the NALA newsletter.  The competition is between clubs all over NZ who set up identical courses each month.  Results are sent to NALA who collate the information and the overall results are published the next month.
Everyone is welcome to run these courses at the club.  If you wish your results to be included in the club effort then you must join NALA.  See the club NALA representative for more information.
GENERAL
Before competing in your first event please consult your club instructor for advice on which classes to enter etc.
If you wish to enter a CAE or OAE and you or your dog are not registered with the NZKC, applications for this will need to be completed approximately 2 weeks prior to your first event.  Dog registration is a once only fee.  Kennel Club membership for the handler is an annual fee that includes subscription to the Kennel Club Gazette.  An initial joining fee is also payable.  Check with a committee member for procedures and current fee levels.
POINTS SCORE COMPEITION
The club runs a points score competition for dogs entering competitions.  The points accumulate throughout the year for results in competition.  Ask a committee member about entering the points score competition if you are entering agility competitions.
NZKC QUALIFICATIONS
Once you have become experienced at competing, you may wish to attempt to obtain a qualification for your dog.

The New Zealand Kennel Club currently recognises the following Agility titles:
Agility Dog (AD)
Agility Dog Excellent (ADX)
Advanced Agility Dog Excellent Bronze (ADX Bronze)
Advanced Agility Dog Excellent Silver (ADX Silver)
Advanced Agility Dog Excellent Gold (ADX Gold)
Agility Champion (AgCH)
Agility Grand Champion (AgGrCH)
The AD and ADX titles are obtained through running separate trial courses.  The Champion titles can only be obtained by Senior qualified dogs, and are earned through successful performances in Senior classes at CAEs.
AGILITY DOG TRIALS (AD / AD ADVANCED)
These are special classes (trials) run at predetermined events.All owners/handlers must be members of the NZKC and all dogs competing must be on the NZKC breed/obedience register.

Entries must be on the NZKC official entry form using the forms that are available from the NZKC (photocopies of the form are not acceptable).

AD / AD Adv trials can be advertised in the Gazette or by flyer (which are on the notice board in the clubrooms).

AD, ADX and ADX Adv certificates are issued on application to the NZKC when you send in the appropriate clear round certificates.  Once the certificate is issued you are entitled to use the applicable title after your dog's registered name e.g. Gem ADX Gol
Agility Dog (AD) Trials
The course is set at Intermediate level.  To qualify AD your dog must obtain two clear round certificates at separate AD events under two different judges.  To qualify ADX your dog must complete four clear rounds at AD events under at least three different judges.
Agility Dog Advanced (AD Adv) Trials
The course is set at Senior level.  A dog must be ADX qualified before it can be entered in an ADX Adv class.

There are three levels of qualification: 
- Bronze (2 clear round certificates)
- Silver (4 clear round certificates)
- Gold (6 clear round certificates).
AGILITY CHAMPION (AgCh)  / AGILITY GRAND CHAMPION (AgGrCh)
These two titles are not available until the dog is competing at Senior level.  To qualify for AgCh, the dog must obtain:
- 6 challenge certificates, 1 of which must be a first place
- 10 Senior clear rounds
- ADX.
To qualify for AgGrCh, the dog must obtain:
- 20 challenge certificates, 10 of which must be first places
- ADX Gold.
Challenge certificates are issued for 1st and 2nd places in Senior at Championship Agility Events.
AgCh and AgGrCh certificates are issued on application to the NZKC when you send in the appropriate certificates.  Once the certificate is issued you are entitled to use the applicable title before your dog?s registered name e.g AgGrCh Murphy ADX Gold.
Guidelines to agility competition
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