The agility competition season will be starting soon so you may find the following information useful.
The height your dog will have to jump is determined by how high your dog is at the highest point of the shoulder blades. Your dog will have to be measured. How and when that happens depends on the organisation running the show.
There are some independent shows but the main organisations running shows are the Kennel Club and United Kingdom Agility. (UKA)
There are different classes at the show.
Agility – All the contact equipment, - Dog walk, A frame, See-saw, then also the jumps, weaves and tunnels
Jumping – No contact equipment, just jumps, weaves and tunnels
Steeplechase – No Weaves, just jumps and tunnels
At UKA shows there are also some games classes called Snooker, Gambles and sometimes Helter Skelter. These need more explanation and will be dealt with at a later date.
You generally have the opportunity to enter one jumping class, one agility and perhaps another class, which will have an explanation on the entry form.
When you fill in an entry form you have to choose the dogs height. At UKA that will be small, medium, standard and Maxi. Kennel club heights are called small, medium and large. If you are unsure which size your dog is, then get one of us to advise you. They will have to be formally measured as well, at the UKA show. For Kennel Club shows you have to have your dog measured before competing. See the guide for getting KC measurement.
A good place to start is UKA shows they tend to be smaller and less formal. A group of us are going to their show on Easter Sunday, it should be good fun and you get 5 runs including 3 steeplechase.
A really good starter show is Pheonix UKA show, on the 23rd May at Langford University. The closing date for entries’ is 24th April. It is the most local show there is and a really good day.
Other good local KC shows are Tuffley at Berkley Castle, and Caerphilly, and Wye Valley just across the Severn bridge, they are really good venues and good days out.
Lansdown show at Bath Racecourse is OK, it is a good venue but their classes let them down. On the Sunday they have an Anything But a Collie class. There are also some really good KC shows at Newbury Showground and around the Worcester area.
Entries close at least a month or more before the date of the show. Some shows have camping but it is usually limited and if you want to camp you will need to enter very early.
You should read the rules on the show schedule and the organisations rule book. Ignorance of the rules is not accepted as an excuse.
A few weeks before the show you will receive an envelope with any additional information about the show, a ring layout, the order the classes will be judged in, and the running order for your dog.
You should run your dog in the order that you have been given but how strictly that is adhered to depends on the show organisers, the judge and the ring party.
Make sure you have packed, show information, wet weather gear, running shoes, collar and lead, water, dog food/treats, dog.
At the Show
It is worthwhile getting to the show early, (don’t follow my example) to find your way around and to exercise your dog. There will be a dedicated area to exercise your dog and you should keep your dog on the lead anywhere else. It is really important that you keep your dog under control at all times and protect your dog from other dogs with careless handlers.
Before each class the judge gives a briefing but they rarely give any useful information, the exception being for games or other non standard classes.
Before each class you can walk the course. You are not allowed to take your dog with you so you must be able to leave it with someone or in your vehicle.
Usually a lot of people are trying to walk the course at the same time so you should concentrate on the course and not stop and chat, although you will see numpties doing it. You should also not take any food in the ring while course walking. If you need advice on how to run the course please ask one of the more experienced Diamond Dog Training people we will be please to help, and it will give you more confidence.
It is your responsibility to be at the ring at the right time to run your dog. There are usually good announcements on a public address system and the ring parties are generally helpful. Each ring has a steward who manages the competitors queue.
If you have any problems do not be afraid to ask someone most agility people are very helpful. If you have serious problem and you cannot get help, go to the show secretary. They will be in a dedicated office or tent, they are extremely busy but be patient and they will help you.
Most shows have some sort of refreshments but it is worth taking your own in case they are expensive or not very good.
You should have an idea of how well you have done, and you can check in the score tents, the score keepers are very busy, so be patient and polite and they will help.
Awards are given out after the class closes usually at lunchtime or at the end of the day.
After the show
Make a note of how you did and any problems you encountered so we can plan training to help.
Celebrate and plan your new trophy cabinet.
KC Measuring
Anyone who wants to compete their dog at Kennel Club agility competitions must have their dog measured before they can compete.
Some shows host measuring sessions and the are also a few dedicated sessions.
You will need the details for your agility record book, at the measuring session.
Small and Medium dogs must be at least 15 Months old before they are measured and must have a second measurement between 12 and 24 months after the first measurement.
Large dogs obviously over 430mm prior to reaching 15 months can be measured.
If the first measurement is obviously large the second measurement need not be done and can be crossed out of the record book.
The dogs must have a means of identification, microchip, tattoo or photograph with visable distinquishing features.
Record books are available on the day and can be bought from KC publications.
It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that the dog can be measured, the measurers can refuse to do the measurement if the dog plays up. So please practice, and ask for help if you need it.
The measuring takes about 5 minutes and your dog is allocated a time to be measured.
The charge for measuring is usually £2 and you will need to buy an agility record book £1.50.
