Clean Run Magazine - April 2008 - 88

© DIANELEWISPHOTOGRAPHY.COM North American Dog Agility Council By Sharon Nelson Two updates have been implemented in NADAC’s program as of January 1, 2008. The ﬁrst update is an increase in standard course times. Times have increased for all dogs, all levels, and all heights in Jumpers,Touch N Go, and Weavers.Times have also increased for medium and small dogs in Regular and Tunnelers. Listed below are the maximum yards per second, large dogs: • Regular Agility: Novice, 2.75; Open, 3.25; Elite, 3.75 • Jumpers: Novice, 3.75; Open, 4.25; Elite, 4.75 • Touch N Go: Novice, 3.25; Open 3.75; Elite, 4.25 • Tunnelers: Novice, 4.00; Open, 4.50; Elite, 5.00 • Weavers: Novice, 3.00; Open, 3.50; Elite 4.00 In the Regular, Jumpers, Touch N Go, Tunnelers, and Weavers classes, the following calculations shall determine medium dog, small dog, and veteran/junior handlers SCTs: • Medium dogs and large vet/JH dogs shall receive 10% more time than the large dogs for each level. • Small dogs and medium vet/JH dogs shall receive 20% more time than the large dogs for each level. • Small vet/JH dogs shall receive 30% more time than the large dogs for each level. • Hoopers small/medium/large: Novice, 40.8/37.4/34; Open, 48/44/40; Elite 48/44/40. • Gaters times are to be determined. Chances has no YPS factor or SCT (40 seconds is maximum course time). The second update pertains to the distance lines in the Regular agility classes. What sets NADAC apart from other organizations is that we strive to test the ability of a dog/handler team to negotiate a discrimination, a directional change, and to perform contacts or weave poles at a distance and at speed. Dog/handler skills for collecting stride to negotiate a technical sequence, and then to open up again are an intricate element in NADAC course design. Philosophy in course design lends itself to allow for a dog/handler team to be fairly tested on both their technical and distance skills. The Chances class has proven to be extremely successful in testing distance, directional, and discrimination skills at all three levels. As a result, the “simple lateral distance test” in the Regular agility classes was temporarily removed as of January 1, 2008. The distance lines are returning as a reward system. Per the NADAC Exhibitors Handbook, January 2008: From time to time, the judge may choose to add a bonus challenge to a course.This can be added in any course. Furthermore, the obstacles that constitute the bonus challenge must be completed “in ﬂow,” without the dog’s spinning or turning unnecessarily, or running widely out of the path of the course, or the handler redirecting the dog from a wrong obstacle to the correct one. Final determination of whether or not the challenge was completed in ﬂow is entirely up to the judge. If a bonus is offered by the judge, performance of it is optional. Qualiﬁcation in the class does not depend on the team successfully handling the challenge. The bonus options, as deﬁned by the judge, can be valued as either 15 or 20 points, depending upon the difﬁculty.The 15-point bonus option may be available at all three levels; whereas the 20-point bonus option, if available, is only offered at the Elite level. At the Elite level, the judge may choose to offer two bonus options, one worth 15 points and the other 20. If the team manages a non-faulted, qualifying round in the class and successfully completes the Bonus challenge, the dog will earn 15 points or 20 points in that class instead of the usual 10 points. Sweepstakes Agility By Nita Woulf Sweepstakes Agility celebrated its ﬁrst year of existence by having a New Year’s Eve and Day trial! Point accumulation for the Championships awards in each height division ended on December 31, so the competition to get those last placement points became quite exciting, especially in the 20" class, where two competitors were tied in points by the end of the day. Participation increased during the year for Sweepstakes trials once people learned how fun it was to get a second chance on courses and win money! We hope more clubs will begin hosting trials so that everyone can experience the fun of running Sweepstakes. Congratulations to the 2007 Sweepstakes Champions—8": Joyce Coulthard and Queen, Pembroke Welsh Corgi; 12": Nancy Zolkowski and Pepper, Pomeranian; 14": Gail Donaldson and April, Pomeranian; 16": Gretchen Rahmlow and Riley Blue, Shetland Sheepdog; 18": Tammie Scheich and Hydro, Shetland Sheepdog; 20": Sue Kulinkski and Molly, Border Collie; 22": Tammie Scheich and Beau, Border Collie; and 24": Andrea West and Teddy, Samoyed. For more information, go to www.sweepstakesagility.com. © DOGHOUSE ARTS Teacup Dog Agility Association By Jeff Boyer The TDAA continued to grow in 2007, adding 538 registered dogs, 62 members, and 10 clubs.TDAA has added more trials and more judges, and the membership has approved extensive revisions to the rules and regulations.The Board of Directors instituted several new policies in 2007 by approving two major initiatives to ensure the high caliber and professionalism of TDAA judges: an overhaul of the judges’ guidelines and the implementation of a biannual recertiﬁcation exam for all judges. Issued in January 2008, the revised guidelines are designed to be a judges’ reference.To ensure that TDAA judges are up to date on information about judging assignments and to ensure uniform application of rules and policies throughout the organization is the goal.The new document contains an expanded section on course design requirements, a discussion on interpretation of course faults, and updated information on policies that affect exhibitors, judges, and clubs.The TDAA allows the use of almost any agility game Brenna Fender is a freelance writer with an undergraduate degree in mass communications and a masters degree in elementary education. She lives with her husband, two young children, a Vizsla, a Whippet, and a cat. The dogs are collectively titled in agility, obedience, conformation, hunting, rally, and lure coursing. The cat, husband, and children are lacking in this regard. Contact Brenna at BrennaFender@gmail.com. 88 Clean Run | April 08

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Clean Run Magazine - April 2008

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