Hello all,

Could anyone recomend a book or site that will explain the rules of Agility? Wispa and I have been learning for over a year now and I fancy giving a competition a go however i don't know the rules or how to go about it.

For example I just read that if you win whilst in grade 1 comp then any other dogs you have in future start on Grade 2 automatically. Is this kind of info in a book somewhere?

We are with a club but nothing has been said and when I asked about doing a competition they just said most of them are finished for this year..... however would like to read ahead?

Also when do you start competing? I saw a jumping only competition at Paws in the park, is it best to start with something like that?

Any help/advice gratelfully recieved

Thanks
Trudie

I don't do agility, but you can get rules and regs books for all the kc disciplines from the kennel club, they are only about £1.50.

Well, apart from your dog having to be 18months old there are no rules as to when you can start There are a range of organisations offering agility competitions and for individual rules you need to look at each organisation - the best place to start is agilitynet.co.uk

Many of the rules are on schedules (which you'll also find on agilitynet) but your club should help you with competitions, rules, grades etc....

I can really only talk about KC competitions and yes you start in G1 and if you win an agility round or 3 jumping rounds you progress with all your dogs to G2, again an agility win or 3 jumping wins takes you and all your dogs to G3. Beyond G3 it's the individual dog who progresses up the grades. A handler who's out of G1 and 2 cannot run your dog in those classes (except a 1-3 combined class). If you run someone else's dog in G3 or above and they win an agility class then you and your dogs progress too.

As for which competition to enter - no reason why you shouldn't enter any if you feel you're ready. Why not go and see one or two before entering? The schedules for most are on agilitynet, some of them are in the forum which is hosted by agilitynet.

Have a look at agilitynet - any questions I'm happy to answer. It's a great hobby for you and your dog.

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Penny
Funfastquick Agility Dogs

Should add that depending on where you live there should be competitions thoughout the winter - your club don't seem very helpful :-( You should already be attending competitions, helping out and finding out what happens and also getting your dog used to them!

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Penny
Funfastquick Agility Dogs

I know more about KC rules, other shows have their own rules and they should be in the schedule. The show at Paws in the Park wasn't a KC show. To compete at a KC show the dog needs to be at least 18 months old, registered with the KC, have a record book been measured. KC shows usually have at least 2 classes for each dog to enter, an agility course (includes contact equipment) and jumping (doesn't have contacts), but there are special classes (Helter Skelter, Pairs, Teams and other fun classes). To win out of grade 1 you need to win an agility or 3 jumping classes, you can also progress up on points ( think it's 75 points to go up on points, but it is optional(20 for agility win down to 11 for 10th in agility or 2 points for a lower place or clear round in agility, 10 for a jumping win down to 1 for a 10th in jumping or 1 point for lower place or clear round in jumping, no points for special classes)), it's the person that wins out of grade 1 and 2, so if you win out any subsequent dog starts at the grade you are at, but from grade 3 it's the dog that wins out, so if you are grade 3 or above any new dog that you own starts at grade 3. Shows go on all year, in the winter there are usually indoor classes, but they maybe further away, etc.

There are other organisations that have their own rules like UKA, EMDAC.

I've been competing for 11 years at KC shows, but I may do a couple of independant shows this winter with my now 18 month old girl, she isn't ready to compete at agility yet, she may just manage a jumping or helter skelter class, but I'm not sure how she'll cope in a show environment, so I may start off going to some smaller shows to see how she copes.

http://www.agilityaddicts.net/aaguide.shtml this web page has some links to help you to enter your 1st show and what happens at your 1st show.

What area are you from, I'm from Essex, if you're in Kent there's the Whitsable independant shows through the winter, I may go to some of these.

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Or you can download it for free!

And have look at http://agilitynet.co.uk/clutch/shows.htm, where you can find the schedules of up-and-coming shows. The whole AgilityNet site has loads of helpful stuff.

Welcome to Agilitynet

Look here, there is a wealth of information on this site.

Can you, I have been buying one for working trials every January for many years, I bet I can just down load it, i have never been able to find the rules on the KC site, but I haven't looked for a long time, I shall go and try again.
Found them thanks

Thanks everyone for your replies.... looks like i have some reading to do

I am in Orpington, Kent so I might come and have a look at the Whitstable show to see how it all works

Thanks Again!