Clean Run - June 2012 - 7

Everything you always wanted to know about agility
By Brenna Fender

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What is the new rule about the length of the chute in AKC agility, and how does it compare to the chute lengths in NADAC and USDAA?
Although the AKC Regulations for Agility Trials, Chapter 3, Section 5 indicate an approximately 12' chute, Appendix A lists changes that became effective on January 1, 2012. The specifications for the chute are now stated as “The length of the fabric on the chute must be between 6' and 6'6", measured with the chute fabric attached to the barrel and the measurement should be taken from the bottom edge of the exit end of the barrel (with the fabric lying on the ground) to the exit end of the chute fabric.” The length of the barrel portion of the chute is still 24" to 36" long, making the overall obstacle from between 8' and 9'6" long. USDAA addressed the chute (collapsed tunnel) length in Appendix A of the rulebook. The rigid opening should be between 20" and 24" and the fabric should be between 10' and 12' long. This means that the overall obstacle is between 11'8" and 14' long. NADAC does not use a chute or collapsed tunnel in any of its classes.
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 USDAA trials, can a Grand Prix course include doing a contact obstacle twice?
Yes, a Grand Prix of Dog Agility course may include doing a contact obstacle twice. The tournament class draws its base rules from the Masters Standard agility class, explained in Chapter 3 of the 2011 Official Rules and Regulations, which state “A course shall include seventeen (17) to twenty (20) obstacles to be performed utilizing obstacles listed in the table below and meeting the difficulty level as set forth in USDAA’s Policy of Course Design Guidelines. Obstacles may be used more than once in a particular course design, but no more than four (4) contact obstacles, four (4) tunnels, one (1) table, twelve (12) weave poles and three (3) spread hurdles shall be required to be performed.” The table mentioned in the text includes optional nonwinged hurdles and the following required obstacles: A-frame, dogwalk, seesaw, collapsed tunnel, pipe tunnel, weave poles, table, tire jump, and winged hurdles. The table, which includes further specifications, can be found at http://usdaa.com/binary/files/Rules_ebook_2011_chp345.pdf, section 3.1. The Official Rules and Regulations, in Section 1.3(a), establishes that tournament classes have rules that are set annually. The 2012 Grand Prix of Dog Agility® tournament rules (current rules are available at https://usdaa.com/gen_formDoc.cfm, scroll down to tournament rules) state that “USDAA® Official Rules & Regula-

tions currently in effect at the date of competition shall apply. Standard scoring rules for the Masters Standard agility class as set forth in Chapter 3 of USDAA rules and regulations shall apply, except that standard course times shall range from 2.85 to 3.05 yards per second if entered in the 12" height class; 3.10 to 3.40 yards per second if entered in the 16" height class; and 3.50 to 3.75 yards per second for competitors entered in the 22" and 26" classes. Results for the second round of regional championships or in the world championship event shall not be applied toward calculation of program titles or other program recognition awards.” In fact, a contact obstacle can be used twice in any class that doesn’t explicitly prohibit this use in the rules. This includes Tournament classes, Standard classes, and games classes (assuming the class allows the use of contact obstacles) at all levels. Even the Intro Program classes make allowances for this. The Intro Program specifies in Section 10.1 of the Rules and Regulations that “Three contacts are required to be performed, with a minimum of two different contacts obstacles required.” So if the host group chooses to provide only two contacts (an option allowed by the regulations), obviously one must be taken twice. Only the Junior Handler program currently prohibits the use of the same contact obstacle twice. Chapter 8 of the Official Rules and Regulations (http://usdaa.com/binary/files/rules_ebook_2011_chp789.pdf) lists the obstacles that may be used in Junior Handler classes and does not indicate the potential for using any of them twice, nor does it refer to being covered by any regulations that would allow it. So for any class that has course regulations based on the Masters, Advanced, or Starters course regulations (listed in chapters 3, 4, or 5), a contact obstacle may be used twice as long as its use meets all the other requirements of the class. D

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http://www.usdaa.com/binary/files/rules_ebook_2011_chp789.pdf http://www.usdaa.com/binary/files/rules_ebook_2011_chp789.pdf http://usdaa.com/binary/files/Rules_ebook_2011_chp345.pdf http://usdaa.com/binary/files/Rules_ebook_2011_chp345.pdf https://usdaa.com/gen_formDoc.cfm
Clean Run - June 2012

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