Dog agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a

race for both time and accuracy. Dogs run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives,
and the handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles. Consequently the handler's controls
are limited to voice, movement, and various body signals, requiring exceptional training
of the animal and coordination of the handler.

In its simplest form, an agility course consists of a set of standard obstacles, laid out by
an agility judge in a design of his or her own choosing on a roughly 100 by 100-foot (30
by 30 m) area, with numbers indicating the order in which the dog must complete the
obstacles.

Courses are complicated enough that a dog could not complete them correctly without
human direction. In competition, the handler must assess the course, decide on handling
strategies, and direct the dog through the course, with precision and speed equally
important. Many strategies exist to compensate for the inherent difference in human and
dog speeds and the strengths and weaknesses of the various dogs and handlers.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Competition basics
• 2 Agility obstacles
o 2.1 Contact obstacles
o 2.2 Tunnels
o 2.3 Jumps
o 2.4 Miscellaneous
o 2.5 References for equipment
• 3 Agility scoring and clean runs
• 4 Competition classes
• 5 Fairness among dogs
• 6 History of dog agility
• 7 Agility worldwide
• 8 International championships
• 9 Training
• 10 Competition process
o 10.1 Key trial jobs
o 10.2 Competition locations
o 10.3 Course design
o 10.4 Building a course and calculating times
o 10.5 Running a course and determining results
o 10.6 Awards and Titles
• 11 See also
• 12 References
 • 13 External links

[edit] Competition basics

Because each course is different, handlers are allowed a short walk-through before the
competition starts. During this time, all handlers competing in a particular class can walk
or run around the course without their dogs, determining how they can best position
themselves and guide their dogs to get the most accurate and rapid path around the
numbered obstacles. The handler tends to run a path much different from the dog's path,
so the handler can sometimes spend quite a bit of time planning for what is usually a
quick run.

The walk-through is critical for success because the course's path takes various turns,
even U-turns or 270° turns, can cross back on itself, can use the same obstacle more than
once, can have two obstacles so close to each other that the dog and handler must be able
to clearly discriminate which to take, and can be arranged so that the handler must work
with obstacles between himself and the dog, called layering, or at a great distance from
the dog.

Course map showing the layout of the course in the preceding photos. Maps like this are
commonly used by handlers to help design their strategies. This is a fairly simple[citation
needed]
, flowing course, probably used for novice dogs.

Printed maps of the agility course, called course maps, are often made available to the
handlers before they run, to help the handlers plan their course strategy. The course map
contains icons indicating the position and orientation of all the obstacles, and numbers
indicating the order in which the obstacles are to be taken. Course maps were originally
drawn by hand, but nowadays almost all course maps are created using a program called
Clean Run Course Designer.

Each dog and handler team gets one opportunity together to attempt to complete the
course successfully. The dog begins behind a starting line and, when instructed by his
handler, proceeds around the course. The handler typically runs near the dog, directing
the dog with spoken commands and with body language (the position of arms, shoulders,
and feet).

Because speed counts as much as accuracy, especially at higher levels of competition,

this all takes place at a full-out run on the dog's part and, in places, on the handler's part
as well.

Scoring of runs is based on how many faults are incurred. Penalties can include not only
course faults, such as knocking down a bar in a jump, but also time faults, which are the
number of seconds over the calculated standard course time (SCT), which in turn is
determined based on the competition level, the complexity of the course, and other
factors.

[edit] Agility obstacles

The regulations of different organizations specify somewhat different rules and
dimensions for the construction of obstacles. However, the basic form of most obstacles
is the same wherever they are used. Obstacles include the following:

[edit] Contact obstacles

A-frame

Two broad ramps, usually about 3 feet (0.91 m)

wide by 8 to 9 feet (2.7 m) long, hinged
together and raised so that the hinged
connection is between five and six-and-a-
quarter feet above the ground (depending on the
organization), roughly forming an A shape. The
bottom 36 to 42 inches (0.91 to 1.1 m) of both
sides of the A-frame are painted a bright color,
A Hungarian Vizsla climbing an a-
usually yellow, forming the contact zone, onto
frame.
which the dog must place at least one paw
while ascending and descending. Most
sanctioning organizations require that A-frames
have low profile, narrow, horizontal slats all
along their length to assist the dog's grip going
up and down. Some organizations allow the top
of the A-frame to be narrower than the bottom.

A Border Collie on a dogwalk
A Pembroke Welsh Corgi dismounting
the see-saw
A Shetland Sheepdog performing a
crossover at a charity run featuring
vintage equipment
Dogwalk
Three 8 to 12 ft (2.4 to 3.7 m) planks, 9 to 12
inches (23 to 30 cm) wide, connected at the
ends. The centre plank is raised to about 4 feet
(1.2 m) above the ground, so that the two end
planks form ramps leading up to and down
from the center plank. This obstacle also has
contact zones. Most sanctioning organizations
also require slats on the dogwalk ramps.
Teeter-totter (or seesaw)
A 10-to-12-foot (3.0 to 3.7 m) plank pivoting
on a fulcrum, much like a child's seesaw. It is
constructed slightly off-balance so that the
same end always returns to the ground. This is
done either by placing the support slightly off-
center or else weighting one end of the board.
This obstacle also has contact zones. However,
unlike the other contact obstacles, the teeter-
totter does not have slats. The balance point and
the weight of the plank must be such that even a
tiny dog, such as a Chihuahua, can cause the
high end of the teeter-totter to descend to the
ground within a reasonable amount of time,
specified by the sanctioning organization's rules
(usually about 2 seconds). Smaller dogs get
more time to run a course, and this is one
reason why it can take them longer than it takes
larger dogs.
Crossover
A 4-foot (1.22 m) high, 3-by-3-foot (0.91 by
0.91 m) square platform, with ramps similar to
those found on a dogwalk descending from the
center of three or four of its sides. The dog must
ascend the correct ramp and then descend the
ramp indicated by the handler, possibly
changing direction to do so. This obstacle has
largely been discontinued due to its
cumbersome size and danger of dogs falling off
as they can not easily see where the narrow
ramps meet the square platform center. No
major agility organization in the United States
currently allows the use of a crossover. The
 Kennel Club discontinued the use of this
obstacle in January 2009, as well as the Agility
Association of Canada, but other organizations
may still allow it in competitions.

[edit] Tunnels

Tunnel

A vinyl tube, 10 to 20 feet (3.0 to 6.1 m) long

and about 2 feet (61 cm) in diameter, through
which the dog runs. The tunnel is constructed of
flexible vinyl and wire, such that it can be
configured in a straight line, or in a variety of
curves.

A Boxer exiting a tunnel. Note the

sandbags to prevent tunnel movement.
Collapsed Tunnel (or chute or cloth tunnel)

A barrel-like cylinder with a tube of fabric

attached around one end. The fabric extends
about 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 m) and lies closed
until the dog runs into the open end of the chute
and pushes his way out through the fabric tube.

A German Shepherd Dog exiting a

collapsed tunnel
Other Tunnels

UKC agility allows two additional tunnel types,

the crawl tunnel and the hoop tunnel, that are not
found in other agility organizations. CPE
allowed an interconnected set of tunnels called a
tunnel maze from 2004 though 2006, but
discontinued the tunnel maze as of the 2007
rulebook.[6]

[edit] Jumps
This winged single jump is adjusted in height so that small dogs such as Pembroke
Welsh Corgis may compete against similar-sized dogs.
Jump (or hurdle)
Two uprights supporting a horizontal bar over which the dog jumps. The height is
adjusted for dogs of different heights. The uprights can be simple stanchions or
can have wings of various shapes, sizes, and colors.

A Brittany jumping an ascending triple-bar spread jump

Double and triple jump (or spread jump)
Two uprights supporting two or three horizontal bars spread forward or back from
each other. The double can have parallel or ascending horizontal bars; the triple
always has ascending bars. The spread between the horizontal bars is sometimes
adjusted based on the height of the dog.
Panel jump
Instead of horizontal bars, the jump is a solid panel from the ground up to the
jump height, constructed of several short panels that can be removed to adjust the
height for different dog heights.
An Australian Shepherd jumping through a tire jump.
Broad jump (or long jump)
A set of four or five slightly raised platforms that form a broad area over which
the dog must jump without setting their feet on any of the platforms. The length of
the jump is adjusted for the dog's height.
Tire jump
A torus shape roughly the size of a tire, suspended in a frame. The dog must jump
through the opening of the "tire"; like other jumps, the height is adjusted for dogs
of different sizes. The tire is usually wrapped with tape both for visibility and to
cover any openings or uneven places in which the dog could catch.
Other hurdles
UKC agility allows a variety of hurdles not found in other agility organizations:
bush hurdle, high hurdle, log hurdle, picket fence hurdle, rail fence hurdle, long
hurdle, window hurdle, and water hurdle.

[edit] Miscellaneous

A Border Collie demonstrates fast weave poles.

Table (or pause table)
An elevated square platform about 3-foot-by-3-foot (1-meter-by-1-meter) square
onto which the dog must jump and pause, either sitting or in a down position, for
a designated period of time which is counted out by the judge, usually about 5
seconds. The height ranges from about 8 to 30 inches (20 to 76 cm) depending on
the dog's height and sponsoring organization.
A Chinook on a pause table
Pause box
A variation on the pause table. The pause box is a square marked off on the
ground, usually with plastic pipe or construction tape, where the dog must
perform the "pause" behavior (in either a sit or a down) just as he would on the
elevated table.
Weave poles
Similar to a slalom, this is a series of 5 to 12 upright poles, each about 3 feet (0.91
m) tall and spaced about 20 inches (51 cm) apart, through which the dog weaves.
The dog must always enter with the first pole to his left, and must not skip poles.
For many dogs, weave poles are one of the most difficult obstacles to master.
Other obstacles
UKC agility allows the following obstacles not found in other agility
organizations: swing plank, sway bridge, and platform jump. NADAC also uses a
hoop obstacle. A Hoopers course consists entirely of hoops, but hoops may be
used in other courses as well.

[edit] References for equipment

Equipment specifications for various organizations:

• AKC (PDF), under "Obstacle Specifications and Performance Requirements"

(United States)
• ASCA (PDF), in Appendix A "Equipment Specifications" (United States)
• CPE, follow the "Rules" link (United States)
• FCI (PDF), under "Obstacle Specification" (International)
• NADAC (North America)
• TDAA (North America)
• USDAA (North America)
• UKC, list of equipment, no specs (North America)
• The Kennel Club, partial specs (United Kingdom)

[edit] Agility scoring and clean runs

Each organization has its own rules about what constitutes a fault, and whether one can
earn a qualifying score with faulted runs. A completed run that passes the minimum
defined standards for time, faults, points, etc., is referred to as a qualifying run and in
some cases earns credit towards agility titles. A qualifying run is also referred to as a leg.
A clean run or clear round is one with no faults.

Different organizations place different values on faults, which can include the following:

Going over the maximum time allotted by the judge to complete a course
Time fault
(the standard course time (SCT)).
The dog failing to place a foot in the contact zone while performing a
Missed
contact obstacle. Leaping from a contact obstacle a long way above the
contact
descending contact zone is sometimes called a flyoff.
Knocked or
Displacing a bar (or panel) when going over a jump.
dropped bar
Entering the weave poles incorrectly (the dog must enter with the first pole
Weave pole
on his left), skipping poles, or backweaving when attempting to correct
fault
missed poles.
Taking the wrong obstacle on a course in which the obstacles are numbered
Off course
sequentially.
The dog making an approach towards the correct obstacle, but then turning
Refusal
away or hesitating significantly before attempting the obstacle.
Runout The dog running past the correct obstacle.
The handler deliberately—or, in some cases, accidentally—touching the dog
Handling
or an obstacle.
The handler deliberately taking an action that appears to be for the purpose
of training the dog, rather than trying to run the course correctly, such as
asking the dog to repeat an obstacle that he has already completed when the
rules don't allow it. The penalty for this varies by organization: the handler
Training in
may be excused from the ring, elimination may be scored but the handler is
the ring
allowed to continue, the handler and dog may be allowed to complete their
run but are given the maximum course time, and so on. Some organizations
have no penalty for training in the ring. In general it is up to the judge to
determine what is or isn't training in the ring.
The dog biting the judge or the handler, the dog or handler exhibiting
unsportsmanlike behavior, the dog eliminating in the ring, the dog leaving
Other faults the ring and not coming back, the handler carrying toys or food into the
ring, the dog running with his collar on (in organizations that prohibit
collars being worn during a run), and so on.

[edit] Competition classes

Given the available set of obstacles and possible faults, there are many permutations of
games, or classes, that one can play on the agility field. A typical course is laid out within
a 100-by-100-foot (30 by 30 m) area, with roughly 10 to 20 feet (3.0 to 6.1 m) between
obstacles.

Judges design their own courses (in NADAC, judges can do so or can select from
previously designed courses) using the rules of the sanctioning organization. Each
organization decides which classes are valid for achieving titles and how each must be
performed, but there are many similarities.

Some of the common classes are

• Standard, Regular, or Agility: This is a numbered course consisting of (usually)

at least one of each of the three primary contact obstacles (not including the
crossover) plus jumps, tunnels, and weave poles of various flavors. A novice
course might consist of as few as 15 obstacles; a higher-level course might have
22. The dog must negotiate the obstacles in the correct order within the standard
course time (SCT).

• Jumpers or Jumping: This numbered course consists primarily of various types

of jumps and, depending on the organization, also weave poles and tunnels. The
dog must negotiate the obstacles in the correct order within the standard course
time (SCT). The dogs achieve their fastest speed on these courses because there
are no contact obstacles to slow them down.

• Gamblers, Jackpot, or Joker: An unnumbered course. The game typically

consists of two parts, an opening period and the closing period, also known as the
gamble, joker, or jackpot. In the opening period, the dog has a certain amount of
time in which to do whatever obstacles the handler deems appropriate and accrues
points based on the obstacles completed. At the end of the allocated time for the
opening period, a whistle blows. At that point, the gamble begins. The dog has a
certain small amount of time (about 15 seconds) in which to complete a sequence
of obstacles designated by the judge ahead of time. The challenge is that there is a
line on the ground past which the handler must not step, typically paralleling the
gamble obstacles, from 10 to 20 feet (3.0 to 6.1 m) away depending on the level
of competition. The handler must choose an opening sequence that flows
comfortably for the individual dog's skills and experience. The sequence must
also be planned so that, when the whistle blows, the dog is in a good position to
immediately begin the gamble. The greatest challenge is the distance handling –
getting the dog to move or even turn away from you.

• Snooker: Loosely based on the billiard game of Snooker. The course has at least
three red jumps, each numbered 1, and six other obstacles numbered 2 through 7.
The dog accumulates points based on the obstacle's number. This also has two
parts, an opening sequence and a closing sequence. In the opening sequence, the
dog must complete a 1, then any obstacle numbered 2 to 7, a different 1 and any 2
to 7 obstacle (including the one already performed), and yet another different 1
and another 2-7 obstacle. For example, the dog could perform the red on the left
 for 1 point, the 7-point obstacle, the red in the middle for 1 point and then the 7-
pointer again, then the red on the far side of the course and the 7-pointer one more
time, for a total of 24 points in the opening. After successfully completing this,
the dog must complete the obstacles 2-7, in order, for an additional possible 27
points. Failure to follow these rules exactly (such as knocking a bar or taking 2
reds in a row) results in the dog and handler being whistled off the course.
o Strategy and entertainment value: The dogs might have to negotiate
between other obstacles without taking them or make a difficult entry to
the obstacle, often combined with a longer distance between the reds and
the 7 so that it consumes more time to do the higher-point obstacle in the
opening.

• Power & Speed: The course consists of two sections. The first is an untimed
"Power" section, which features the contact equipment and any of the following at
the discretion of the judge setting the course: weaves, table, a-frame, spread jump,
long jump. If this section is negotiated without accruing any faults, the dog and
handler may go on to the "Speed" section, which consists of a timed jumping
course.

• Juniors: USDAA defines this class for handlers aged 18 or younger, who may
compete with their dogs at four levels, beginner, elementary, intermediate, and
senior. Each level gets progressively harder and gains more obstacles. The
competitors earn medals or bronze, silver, or gold or rosettes of blue, red, yellow,
or white.

• Team, Pairs, or Relay: Two or three dog-and-handler teams each execute a

portion of a Standard agility course, with the handlers exchanging a baton
between sections.

• Variations and combinations of the preceding, such as AKC's Fifteen and Send
Time (FAST) class.

[edit] Fairness among dogs

This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may
be challenged and removed. (May 2010)

A St. Bernard competing in dog agility.

Although each organization has its own rules, all divide dogs into smaller groups that are
close to each other in size and experience for purposes of calculating winners. This
means that there will be winners in each group for each class (or game) over the course of
a trial.

Dogs are measured in height at the peak of their withers (shoulders). They are then
divided into height groups; for example, dogs measuring between 12 and 16 inches (30
and 41 cm) might compete together with the jumps set at a height of 16 inches (41 cm).
This ensures that dogs who might have an advantage on a particular course because of
their size (larger or smaller) keep the advantage to a minimum.

Dogs are further divided into their experience levels. So, for example, there may be
competitions for 12 inches (30 cm) Novice dogs, 12 inches (30 cm) Intermediate dogs,
and 12 inches (30 cm) Masters dogs. Dogs typically have to have certain numbers of
successes at lower levels before they can move up to compete with more advanced dogs.
Some organizations allow beginner dogs to run on-leash in some situations.

Some organizations further divide dogs into special categories because the dogs are older
(usually over seven years), or have junior handlers (usually under 18), or the like. For
example in AAC trials there is a category for veteran dogs (dogs over seven years old)
which allows them to jump at a height lower than they are measured for as well as having
the height of the a-frame lowered. The AAC also offers a 'specials' class for handlers that
do not wish for their dog to jump their officially measured height or climb a full height a-
frame for any reason (typically this is chosen for dogs who are heavy set and/or are not
naturally agile). Otherwise, dogs are not separated by age; they must only be of at least a
specified minimum age to compete.

Dogs also are not separated by breed in agility competitions. Some organizations require
that dogs entering its competitions must be purebred, but many organizations allow any
sound, able-bodied dog, whether purebred or mixed-breed.

[edit] History of dog agility

Main article: History of dog agility

The history of dog agility can be traced to a demonstration at the Crufts Dog Show in the
late 1970s in the United Kingdom. Dogs were run around a course designed similar to
horse jumping courses during intermission as a way to entertain the audience. It has since
spread rapidly around the world, with major competitions held worldwide.

[edit] Agility worldwide

Main article: Dog agility worldwide
Dog agility is an international dog sport with many different sanctioning organizations
and competitions worldwide.

[edit] International championships

Some competitions invite qualified entrants from multiple countries, thereby making
them international championships. Examples include:

• Fédération Cynologique Internationale Agility World Championships, the oldest

and best-known, always (so far) held in Europe. The event was held as a
European championship until 1995, then a world championship from 1996, and is
restricted to registered pedigree dogs only. The FCI has more than 80 member
countries (via each country's kennel club), over 30 of which typically take part in
the FCI World Championships. The British, American and Canadian kennel clubs
are not FCI members, but their teams are allowed to participate by special
invitation.
• The International Mix & Breed Championship in Agility (IMCA), first held in
Italy in 2000 as a response to the FCI pedigree-only championships. The
competition is held annually with about 18 countries participating, including
teams from outside Europe. Now open to any breed or mixed-breed dog
regardless of origins, and in Europe considered to be the main international rival
to the FCI championships.

Since the 2002 IMCA (Gyula, Hungary), this championship is organised together with
the ParAgility World Cup for disabled competitors.

• The International Federation of Cynological Sports (IFCS), has since 2002

organized a biannual world agility championship open to any breed or mixed-
breed dog regardless of pedigree. English-speaking member or associate member
countries include the United States (via the United States Dog Agility
Association), the United Kingdom (via UK Agility), Canada (via the Agility
Association of Canada), and Australia (via the Agility Dog Association of
Australia). Ten countries participated in the event in 2006.
• The Cynosport World Games, officially named in 2003, as the consolidated venue
for USDAA's three tournament series - Grand Prix of Dog Agility, $10,000 Dog
Agility Steeplechase and Dog Agility Masters Three-Dog Team Championship —
and exhibitions and competitions in other popular canine sports. USDAA
tournaments were opened to invited overseas participants for the first time in
2001, which led to establishment of USDAA affiliates in other countries where
qualifying events are now held each year. Prior to 2001, USDAA qualifying
events were limited to Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States. The
Cynosport World Games in 2006 attracted some 1,000 competitors in dog agility
from twelve countries, and also now includes world championship events in
flyball and flying disc. Participants from other countries may still apply for
participation by invitation if USDAA qualifying events are not held in their
country or region.
 • The European Open. An informal annual championships since its foundation in
2002, open to all dogs regardless of origins. It rotates around a small number of
countries in central Europe, though attracting competitors from all over Europe,
with 25 countries due to participate in the 2006 event. From 2007, the competition
will be held under Fédération Cynologique Internationale regulations, with a view
to developing it into a 'World Open'. In years when the World Dog Show is held
in Europe, the European Open will be held at the World Show and not separately.

[edit] Training

A mixed-breed dog demonstrates the teeter at an agility class.

Dogs can begin training for agility when young or old; however, care is taken when
training dogs under a year old so as to not harm their developing joints.[7] Dogs generally
start training on simplified, smaller, or lowered (in height) agility equipment and training
aids (such as ladders and wobbling boards to train careful footing);[8] however, even
quickly learning puppies must be finished growing before training on equipment at
standard height to prevent injury.

Introducing a new dog to the agility obstacles varies in response. Each individual dog
learns at his own pace; confident dogs may charge over equipment with little
encouragement, while more timid dogs may take weeks to overcome their hesitations
with much encouragement. Both scenarios present their own challenges; confident dogs
may be overconfident and sloppy to the point where they have a serious accident; self
control must be taught.[9][10] Timid dogs need extra support to boost their confidence.[11]
Given the right encouragement, a timid dog can gain confidence through learning the
sport itself.[12][13] The size of the dog can also have an effect on training obstacles,
particularly with the chute, in which smaller dogs are prone to getting trapped and
tangled inside.[14] Great effort is taken in general to see that the dog is always safe and has
a good experience in training for agility so that they do not fear the obstacles, and instead
perform them willingly and with enthusiasm.[15]
The teeter-totter (or see-saw) and the weave poles are typically the most challenging
obstacles to teach to any dog.[16] Many dogs are wary of the see-saw's movement, and the
weave poles involve a behavior that does not occur naturally to the dog.[17][18] Contact
obstacles in general are challenging to train in a manner that ensures that the dog touches
the contact zone without sacrificing speed. Whether for competition or recreation, the
most important skill for an agility team to learn is how to work together quickly,
efficiently, and safely.[19] Dogs vary greatly in their speed and accuracy of completing a
course, as well as in their preferences for obstacles; therefore, the handler must adjust
their handling style to suit and support the dog.

Training techniques for each piece of equipment varies. For example, the techniques for
training the weave poles include using offset poles that gradually move more in line with
each other; using poles that tilt outward from the base and gradually become upright;
using wires or gates around the poles forcing the dog into the desired path; putting a hand
in the dog's collar and guiding the dog through while leading with an incentive; teaching
the dog to run full speed between two poles and gradually increasing the angle of
approach and number of poles; et cetera.[20]

Agility can be trained independently (for instance at home) or with an instructor or club
that offers classes. Seasoned handlers and competitors, in particular, may choose to train
independently, as structured classes are commonly geared towards novices.[21] Seasoned
handlers often instead look to seminars and workshops that teach advanced handling
techniques, and then practice on their own. Common reasons for joining an agility class
include:

• Access to agility equipment, especially the larger contact obstacles, which can be
expensive, difficult to build, and require a lot of space to use.[22]
• Seeking the guidance and expertise of more experienced handlers.[23]
• Enjoying the social venue that many classes provide.[24]
• Training in a more distracting environment, which is helpful in preparation for
competition.[25]

In addition to the technical and educational training, physical training must also be done.
[26]
At the very least, the dog must be fit enough to run and jump without causing stress or
injury to its body. The handler can also benefit from being physically fit, but with some
handling styles it is not necessary to keep up with the dog (nor is it possible with very fast
dogs).[27] Being able to handle a dog from a distance allows mobility-impaired handlers to
participate in the sport en par with mobile handlers.

[edit] Competition process

Competitions (also called trials or matches or shows) are usually hosted by a specific
local club. The club might be devoted solely to dog agility, or it might be primarily a
breed club that wants to promote the working abilities of its breed, or it might be a club
that hosts many types of dog sports. The club contracts with judges who are licensed by
the sanctioning organization and applies to the organization for permission to hold a trial
on a specific date or weekend; most trials are two-day weekend events.

[edit] Key trial jobs

The club designates a member to be the chairperson or show manager, who is

responsible for ensuring that the trial takes place, and another member to be the
secretary, who is responsible for providing competitors with the show premium or
schedule--a document that describes the specific competition, summarizes the rules,
describes the trial site, and includes an entry form—receiving completed entry forms,
sending out running orders, producing running-order lists for the day of competition, and
compiling the results from the trial to send to the sanctioning organization.

The designated chief ring steward or ring manager is responsible for finding and
assigning workers, almost always volunteers, to perform the myriad tasks involved in
putting on a trial. For example, if electronic timing is not being used, each class needs a
timer, who ensures that the dog's running time is recorded, a scribe, who records the
judge's calls as a dog runs the class, and pole setters (or ring stewards), who ensure that
jump bars are reset when they are knocked off and change jump heights for dogs of
different sizes.

[edit] Competition locations

Agility competitions require considerable space. Each ring is usually at least 100 feet (30
m) on each side, though exact dimensions vary according to the organisations.
Competitions can have anything from one up to more than a dozen rings. The ground
must be level and, ideally, grassy, although other surfaces are used.

In addition, competitors need space to set up quarters for their dogs and gear; when space
permits, competitors often bring pop-up canopies or screenroom awning tents for shade.
Dogs, when not competing, are usually left to rest in exercise pens, crates, or dog tents
familiar and enclosed environments in which they can relax and recover between runs.
Handlers also bring reflective cloths to protect their dogs from sun exposure and to calm
them down (by covering their crates with the cloths). There also needs to be space for
many handlers with dogs on leashes to move freely around the rings without crowding,
and space for warming up, exercising, and pottying dogs. Adjacent to the site, parking
must be available for all competitors. At weekend or weeklong shows that offer camping,
space needs to be provided both for competitors' caravans and tents, and for the small
fenced enclosures or gardens that they set up around them.

In heavily populated areas, therefore, it is uncommon to find real estate inexpensive

enough to devote entirely to agility, so sites are usually rented for the weekend. Even in
more rural areas, agility-only sites are uncommon. Popular locations include fairgrounds,
large parks, covered horse-riding arenas, and in cold-winter areas, large, empty
warehouses in which mats or carpet can be laid.
[edit] Course design

Before the trial, each judge designs the courses that he or she will judge at the
competition. The sanctioning organization usually reviews and approves the courses to
ensure that they meet the organization's guidelines. Guidelines include such issues as how
far apart obstacles must be, how many turns are allowed (or required) on a course, which
obstacles and how many of each must appear on the course, and so on. The rules vary by
level of competition and by organization.

[edit] Building a course and calculating times

Before each class, or the evening before the first class, course builders use course maps
provided by the judges to place equipment on the course. The chief course builder is
usually an experienced competitor who understands what equipment is legal, how it must
be configured, how each must be aligned compared to other obstacles, and can direct
several course-building volunteers to efficiently move the equipment into place. To make
the job easier, courses are often marked in some way to correspond to a grid: for
example, if course maps are printed on a grid of 10-foot-by-10-foot squares, the posts that
hold the ring ropes marking the course's four sides are often set 10 feet apart.

When the course builders finish, the judge walks through the course and double-checks
that the obstacles are legal, that they are placed where the judge intended, and that there
are no unintended hazards on the course (such as potholes, uneven ground, or mud
puddles) around which the course must be adjusted. For many classes, the judge then
measures the path through the course to determine the optimal running distance of a
typical dog. The judge uses that measurement with a speed requirement determined by
the rules to calculate the standard course time, the time under which dogs must complete
the course to avoid time faults. For example, if the course is 150 yards (or meters) long,
and the rules state that dogs must run the course at a rate of at least 3 yards (or meters)
per second, the standard course time would be 50 seconds. Other organizations, though,
leave the decision on course time to the judge's discretion

[edit] Running a course and determining results

The judge often holds a briefing for competitors before each class, to review the rules and
explain specific requirements for a particular course. For Standard courses for
experienced competitors, the judge's briefing is often minimal or dispensed with
altogether. For novice handlers in classes with complex rules, the briefings can be much
longer.

The competitors then walk the course (as described earlier). When the walk-through ends,
the gate steward or caller ensures that dogs enter the ring in the running order previously
determined by the trial secretary and manages changes to the running order for handlers
who might have conflicts with other rings of competition. As each dog and handler team
runs the course, the dog is timed either by a person with a stopwatch or with an electronic
timer, and the scribe writes the judge's calls and the dog's final time on a scribe sheet or
ticket, which is then taken to the score table for recording.

At the score table, scorekeepers compile the results in a variety of ways. Some
organizations require or encourage computerized scorekeeping; others require certain
types of manual score sheets to be filled out. When all the dogs in a given height group,
level, and class have run, the score table compares run times, faults, and any other
requirements to determine placements (and, for classes that provide qualifying points
towards titles, which dogs earned qualifying scores).

Each ring might run several classes during a day of competition, requiring multiple
course builds, walk throughs, briefings, and so on.

[edit] Awards and Titles

A variety of rosette award ribbons from dog agility competitions.

Awards are usually given for placements and for qualifying scores. Such awards are often
flat ribbons, rosettes, commemorative plaques, trophies, medals, or pins. Some clubs
award high-in-trial awards, calculated in various ways, or other special awards for the
trial. Dogs who complete their final qualifying scores to become agility champions are
often presented with special awards.

Many Kennel Clubs also award titles to those who manage to qualify enough times in a
particular level. Most clubs require three qualifying scores in any level to get the
corresponding title, however, other clubs may require more or less.