Clean Run - July 2012 - 7

Everything you always wanted to know about agility
By Brenna Fender

My baby dog measured at 18 3/8" so she has to jump 20" in AKC. She knocked bars in our two weekend trial attempts and did not Q. For our next trial I am moving her to Preferred to jump 16". If we title in Preferred and later go back to Novice 20", will we go in Novice A or Novice B? Will we lose any titles we earned in Preferred?
According to Chapter 2 of the Regulations for Agility Trials, you would not be able to run in Novice A after earning an agility title in a Preferred class. The rules state: “Division A is for dogs that have never acquired any AKC agility title. Additionally, a dog entered in Novice A must be handled by a person that has never put an AKC agility title on any dog, and the handler must be the owner, co-owner, or a member of the owner’s household.” The good news is that you will not lose any titles earned in Preferred by changing back to the Regular program. According to Chapter 8 of the regulations, “Owners/dogs are allowed to switch back and forth between the Preferred classes and the Regular classes, but not at the same set of trials.” That means that you may earn and keep titles in both programs. Legs earned in Preferred will stay in Preferred, so a partially finished Preferred title cannot be completed in Regular program (and vice versa), and you will have to start in Novice regardless of the level of titles your dog earned in Preferred. Chapter 8 of the agility regulations states: “All dogs entering the Preferred classes for the first time must enter the Novice level in both the Preferred Standard Agility class and the Preferred Jumpers With Weaves class regardless of their previous title level in the Regular classes (Standard and JWW). There is no grandfathering of titles from the Regular classes to the Preferred classes or from the Preferred classes to the Regular classes. These classes are separate titling programs and in both cases the dogs must start at the Novice level.”

Do you have a question about agility rules or anything else agility related? Mail your questions to Brenna Fender: brennafender@gmail.com Brenna collects the questions and forwards them to us so we never see the names.

Performance Jumper Master (PJM), Performance Gambler Master (PGM), Performance Snooker Master (PKM), and Performance Relay Master (PRM). Additional Level III titles include Performance Dog Champion (PDCH), Performance Tournament Master (PTM), Performance Standard Champion (PSCH), Performance Jumpers Champion (PJCH), Performance Gamblers Champion (PGCH), Performance Snooker Champion (PKCH), and Performance Relay Champion (PRCH). For a conversion chart including old and new titles, visit www.usdaa.com/binary/files/ Performance%20Title%20Name%20Conversion%20Chart.pdf.

Why are there so many different rubber coated surfaces? Some are hard and some are spongy. Some have no give at all!
Rubberizing contact equipment is a relatively new idea in agility. NADAC started using rubberized contact in 2003 but it’s only started catching on in different venues over the last few years. While the rubber belting preferred by NADAC is uniform if gotten from the recommended manufacturer, the rubber granulecovered contacts can vary. Darlene Woz from Rubber on the Run says, “Even though there are only two materials used (rubber granules and binder), it all depends on the quality of both, and the proper use of both. The quality of the rubber is a big point. There are two basic types of rubber granules out there: EPDM, which is porous and not as soft to the hand, and TPV, which is the newer version of rubber granules, [which are] solid granules and very soft to the hand. But even after describing the two types of rubber, the TPV (more desired) can vary quite a bit depending on the source, how it’s dyed, and how it’s ground. It could have a lot of ‘dust’ included, and this will absorb the binder very quickly, leaving a lesser quality surface… I personally have seen four to five different sources of rubber… and there is a big difference.” In addition, the quality of the binder used will also make a difference in the rubber-covered surface. Using incorrect proportions of binder to rubber can also result in a lesser-quality surface, as can applying the binder incorrectly. D

What are the new title names for the USDAA Performance classes?
USDAA changed the name of its Performance program titles in March of 2011. The classes are still referred to as levels I, II, and III but the titles earned now sound more similar to those earned in the Championship program. Level I titles are now Performance Dog (PD), Starters Performance Standard (SPS), Starters Performance Jumper (SPJ), Starters Performance Gambler (SPG), Starters Performance Snooker (SPK), and Starters Performance Relay (SPR). The Level II titles are now Advanced Performance Dog (APD), Advanced Performance Standard (APS), Advanced Performance Jumper (APJ), Advanced Performance Gambler (APG), Advanced Performance Snooker (APK), and Advanced Performance Relay (APR). The Level III titles are now Masters Performance Dog (MPD), Performance Standard Master (PSM),

NOTE: While it is not permissible to make copies of Clean Run magazine, we wish to give readers permission to make copies of this particular column for personal use. This means you are free to share copies of this column with students, friends, or club members. The information may also be included in not-for-profit newsletters as long as credit is given to Clean Run. July 12 | Clean Run 7

http://www.usdaa.com/binary/files/Performance%20Title%20Name%20Conversion%20Chart.pdf http://www.usdaa.com/binary/files/Performance%20Title%20Name%20Conversion%20Chart.pdf

Clean Run - July 2012

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