Clean Run - April 2012 - 7

Everything you always wanted to know about agility
By Brenna Fender

What is the difference between the USDAA Veterans Program and the Veterans All-Around event at the Cynosport World Games? The USDAA Veterans Program, which began in March 2011, is offered at local trials (at the clubs’ discretion) and is designed to allow continued participation in agility for healthy senior dogs. As discussed in detail in this column in the February 2011 issue of Clean Run magazine, the Veterans Program is open to dogs that are at least eight years old. There are no title requirements for entering the Veterans Program classes, which are run on Masters courses with no spread jumps, a lowered A-frame, longer standard course times, and reduced jump heights. Once a dog qualifies in a Veterans Program class, the dog must always enter the Veterans version of that class unless attending a trial that doesn’t offer Veterans. The Veterans Program is a titling program, offering a single level of titles as well as Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum designations. The Veterans All-Around competition, which is offered only at the Cynosport World Games, is not related to the Veterans program. Veterans All-Around is made up of all four Team or Performance Versatility Pairs classes (depending on what program the dog competes in). The top three dogs from each jump height run in the Veterans Showcase (based on each dog’s cumulative results from those four classes). This Showcase is a non-competitive event and it is usually run on the Grand Prix finals course (without spread jumps) before the Grand Prix finals in the main ring at Cynosport. The Veterans All-Around is designed to recognize dogs that have succeeded at the Cynosport World Games before in head-to-head competition but, even though they are still capable of performing, their competitiveness has diminished as a result of age. To compete in Veterans All-Around, a dog must have competed in at least one of the tournament events at a previous Cynosport World Games, must not be entered in any of the other tournaments at the Cynosport in which he is running in Veterans All-Around, and must be nine years old as of the event date. Dogs competing in the Veterans All-Around may be entered in any warm-up or other nontournament classes held at the event. (There are no Veterans Grand Prix or Veterans Steeplechase classes at Cynosport.)
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.

In the past, Veterans All-Around handlers jumped their dogs at their Performance Program jump heights. At the 2012 Cynosport World Games, competitors will have the option of jumping their dogs at two jump heights below their Championship jump height. These reduced heights are equivalent to the jump heights used in the Veterans Program and are the only real link between it and the Veterans All-Around. Competing in the Veterans All-Around has no affect on a dog’s ability to compete in Championship, Performance, or Veterans Program classes at local or regional trials, or even future Cynosport World Games. In the USDAA Intro program, can dogs with a qualifying score in a championship or performance class enter for titles? Dogs that have earned qualifying scores in other USDAA programs may still earn Intro titles, but once they have earned a USDAA title in any class, they may only run FEO, meaning that they cannot earn qualifying scores or placements. Dogs running FEO may be jumped at whatever height their handlers desire. In this way, the Intro program serves as a great training option for dogs that are already trialing as well as those almost ready to enter. Keep in mind that a dog cannot be entered in an Intro class for title and also enter the Championship or Performance version of that class when Intro Program classes are held in conjunction with a regular USDAA trial. For example, it is not permissible to enter Intro Standard and Starters Standard on the same day; it is, however, fine to enter Intro Standard and Starters Jumpers on the same day. D

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. April 12 | Clean Run 7

Clean Run - April 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - April 2012