Clean Run - November 2013 - 7

Everything you
always wanted to know
about agility

By Brenna Fender

In the July issue, I answered a question about entering a dog
that is close to a cut-off point in an AKC trial. The reader
wanted to know if she could enter her dog in the Preferred
classes and then, if he measured into the Regular class at the
height she entered, move him from Preferred to Regular.
My answer about the movement ("No") was correct. I then
followed it up with this comment:
"If your dog is measured too tall for the height class he is
entered in, then a move is allowed. In that case, he would be
moved up to the next height in the same program in which
he was entered. If the measurement reveals that your dog is
shorter than you thought and can jump in a lower height, you
must still stay at the height you originally entered." This is not
completely correct.
If a dog is measured by an AKC Field Representative, Director of Agility, or Volunteer Measuring Official (VMO) and is
now eligible to jump in a lower height class, the measurement
is effective immediately (at the trial in which the dog is measured), except during the Challenge Measurement Process.
During the Challenge Measurement Process, for dogs under
two years of age, once the single challenge measurement is
complete, the measurement is effective immediately. For dogs
over two years of age, once the Challenge Measurement Process has been completed (with two or three measurements)
and the owner has the yellow forms from the measurements,
the new measurement is effective immediately.
If a dog is at a trial and must be measured by the judge of
record because they do not have a valid jump height card, and
that dog is entered in the Regular program, the dog may not
move down on the day of the measuring. In the same situation, if the dog is entered in the Preferred program, he must be
moved down, because dogs may not run in a higher jump than
they measure into in Preferred.
More information on this topic can be found at www.akc.org/
events/agility/jump_height_card.cfm. Questions regarding all
AKC regulations may also be sent to agility@akc.org.
My apologies for any confusion my original answer may
have caused.

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.

I heard that USDAA has changed some of their jump heights.
What are the changes?
On July 31, 2013, USDAA announced changes to its jump
height classes. Beginning January 1, 2014, jump heights for
the Championship program will be as follows:
Dogs that are 12" or less at the withers will jump 12" or greater; those
14" or less will jump 14" or greater; those 16" or less will jump
16" or greater; dogs 17.5" or less will jump 18" or greater; those
21" or less jump 22" or greater; and dogs over 21" will jump 26".
The Performance program will also be undergoing some
changes. Dogs that measure 12" or less will jump 8" or greater; those 16" or less will jump 12" or greater; dogs 21" or less
will jump 16" or greater; and those 21" or less will jump 20".
It is interesting to note that the 20" jump height is a change
from the previous 22" height requirement. Further adjustments could be made between now and the implementation
date, as details are still being worked out.
The USDAA indicates that statistics involving the new
height classes will be reevaluated over time. For an in depth
look at the reasoning behind the changes and more details,
including transition information, visit www.usdaa.com/article.cfm?newsID=2394. To learn more about other rule
changes enacted by USDAA, check out www.usdaa.com/article.cfm?newsID=2395. Watch www.usdaa.com for possible
modifications and updates. D

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November 13 | Clean Run

http://www.akc.org/events/agility/jump_height_card.cfm http://www.usdaa.com/article.cfm?newsID=2394 http://www.akc.org/events/agility/jump_height_card.cfm http://www.usdaa.com/article.cfm?newsID=2394 http://www.usdaa.com/article.cfm?newsID=2395 http://www.usdaa.com/article.cfm?newsID=2395 http://www.usdaa.com

Clean Run - November 2013

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