AGILITY TRIAL, RULES & REGULATIONS

1. Agility trials are considered “fun” competitions to be enjoyed by the handlers, their dogs and the spectators. It is designed to test the ability of the dog to overcome a series of obstacles whilst under the control of the handler without the use of a lead.
2. Informality is encouraged, although nothing may be included in an agility test or trial, which could endanger the safety of the dogs, handlers and spectators.
3. All dogs entered, do so at their owners’ risk and whilst every care will be taken by the Puppy.com.my shall not be responsible for any loss, damage or injury however caused to dogs, person or property whilst at the Trials.

Rules particular to Agility Trials

1. Minimum Age: A dog must be at least 12 months of age on the date of the Agility Trial it is entered for.
2. Walking the course: Handlers may be given the opportunity to walk the course before the actual Agility Trial begins; on the instructions of the Judge or Trial Manager.

3. Bitches in heat, lame, or blind dogs are ineligible for entry, as is any dog with a deformity that may cause a judge to not be able to reasonably assess the dog’s ability to function and perform agility obstacles safely, and in a manner that is in the best interest, health and welfare of the dog. 

4. Attempting all obstacles: Obstacles are to be numbered according to the sequence determined by the Judge. Every obstacle must be attempted in the correct order designed by the Judge.
5. Specifications of obstacles: The obedience Trial Committee reserves the right to include or remove any obstacles from use at the Agility Trials from time to time. The recommended specifications of the obstacles shall be as set out in Annex B or as amended from time to time by the Obedience Trial Committee.
6. Tie: in three event of a tie, there will be a re-run to determine the winner.
7. Agility Trial Rings: The recommended outdoors Trial Ring should measure not less than 12 metres by 9 metres.
8. Design of agility course: the design of the course shall be at the discretion of the Judge. Except that the agility course must not require a dog to traverse more than 20 obstacles or less than 7.
9. Safety: The dog must not wear slip/check chain, collars or lead when under test. Under no circumstances may any obstacles involve the use of fire. At all times, total consideration must be given for the safety of the dog.

Classes

1. There will be two classes
     
2. Mini-agility dog class: the height of the dog at the withers shall be below 450mm.
     
3. Maxi-agility dog class: the height of the dog at the withers shall be equals or greater than 450mm.

Obstacle Faults

Failure to Complete - 20 faults. A dog will be assessed a 20 fault penalty if the dog skips, or in any way bypasses any obstacle without reaching a point of completion. The point of completion for the contact obstacles shall be when all four paws are on the descent side of the obstacle. This shall be the descent side of the A-frame and the descent ramp of the dog walk. 

Any dog which commits to a contact obstacle by having all four paws on the obstacle, and then for any reason gets off the obstacle before reaching the point of completion, shall be assessed for a Failure to Complete. Any dog that has been assessed with a failure to complete penalty must go on to the next obstacle in the course sequence. Any attempt to retry a contact obstacle will be a cause for elimination. The judge shall say “Go on to the next obstacle” to the exhibitor if they feel the dog has committed a Failure to Complete and the handler should not retry the obstacle.

Start Line: A dog that crosses the start line before completing the first obstacle of the course shall have the time clock started.  No other faults shall be assessed (other that the time lost in re-attempting the first obstacle).

Finish Line: A dog that crosses the finish line before completing the final obstacle of the course shall be given 20 faults for failure to complete the last obstacle. This applies only if the last obstacle was the next one to be performed as part of the course; there are no faults if the dog crosses the finish line in the middle of the course.

Weave poles: The goal of the weave pole obstacle is for the dog to weave in one continuous motion in the direction indicated by the judge’s course design. If a dog misses a weave pole, or if the dog must make a backward motion in order to enter the next correct opening between two poles, they must begin again by reentering the weave poles correctly at the beginning and weaving in one continuous direction to the end of the set of poles. Failure to do so will be faulted for a failure to perform (20 faults).

Unsafe Performance of an Obstacle - 20 faults. Any dog that performs an obstacle in any manner in which the judge feels the dog has endangered itself, the handler, or anyone else shall fault the dog with an unsafe performance of the obstacle. This fault can be assessed even if the dog has performed the obstacle correctly under the rest of the guidelines.  A dog will be faulted for unsafe performance if they hit the weave poles so hard at the entry that the dog is “bounced” back.   The dog may be faulted with this penalty if they are running so recklessly as to lose their balance and footing on a contact obstacle. The judge’s decision is final as to whether an obstacle was performed in a safe manner.

Running the Wrong Course - 10 faults. A dog shall be faulted for running the wrong course when the dog commits itself to an obstacle that is out of sequence or is in the wrong direction as defined by the course design. A dog shall be determined to be committed to an obstacle when the dog’s four (4) paws have touched, crossed over, under or through an obstacle that is out of sequence.

The dog shall be faulted for running the wrong course if the dog commits to an obstacle in the incorrect direction as determined by the course design. For example, if a dog were to enter the correct end of an open tunnel, come back out, re-enter and complete it correctly, then no faults would be assessed. If the dog were to enter the tunnel from the incorrect end with all 4 paws then 10 faults would be assessed for running the wrong course. 

The dog may also incur a 10 fault off course penalty if the handler crosses over an obstacle, such as the handler jumping a dog walk ramp, jumping a jump, passing through a line of weave poles, or crossing over a tunnel. 

Back weaving is another type of off course, and shall be faulted if the dog is trying to perform the weave poles and passes between poles, moving in the wrong direction, and makes at least three changes of direction before leaving the poles. The dog does not have to enter correctly or weave correctly to be faulted for back weaving.

Missed Safety Zone - 10 faults. A dog shall be assessed a 10 fault penalty for missing a safety zone. The following safety zones shall be judged for penalties:

(1)        The descent ramp of the A-frame

(2)        The descent ramp of the Dog Walk

A handler shall be faulted for interference if the judge believes that the handler is intentionally blocking the judge’s view of a contact zone.

Displaced Jump Pole, Bar, or Tire - 5 faults. A dog shall be scored with a 5 fault penalty if they displace the top jump pole, bar, on any hurdle obstacle, or bottom half of the tire jump. If a dog makes no attempt to jump and displaces the jump poles, bar or tire while passing under or through the jump in an unsafe manner, then the dog will be assessed an Unsafe Performance of an Obstacle, as described earlier.

Time Faults

In the  Agility Trial, the dog shall be assessed time faults for each second that the dog exceeds the Standard Course Time (SCT). The judge is solely responsible for establishing the SCT.  The fault will be calculated as 1 fault for each second that exceed the SCT.

Standard Course Time (SCT)

The officiating judge shall be responsible for establishing the Standard Course Time (SCT) for all classes. The judge is solely responsible for establishing the course distance and calculating the SCT according to the level of the class, the difficulty of the course, and any environmental conditions that may exist.

The judge also fix the maximum course time.

Elimination

The competing team will be eliminated if :-

• The dog accumulating 3 refusals.
• Exceeding the Maximum Course Time
• Running out of the ring
• Handler touches dog or equipment to during the agility run
• Harsh handling of dog
• Fouling the ring

Description of the trial

1. Jumps
   Dogs to clear the high jumps, which may include one or all of the following: triple jump, spread hurdle. Wall, brush fence, castle and a broad jump. No part of a jump should be knocked down or be caused to topple over. Dogs should not run or walk over any part of the broad jump.
   
   Note: For missing or refusing any part of the triple jump, the dog must re-attempt only that part of the triple jump that was missed/refused.
     
2. Tunnel(s)
   Dogs to go through the tunnel(s) from the end designated by the judge and re-appear from the other end.
     
3. ‘A” Frame
   Dogs to climb up the ramp, placing at least one foot in the section for Mini dogs and yellow section for the Maxi dogs, negotiate the apex and than climb down placing one foot in the foot in the red section for Mini dogs and yellow section for the maxi Dogs before getting off.
     
4. Dog Walk
   Dogs to go up the ramp of the dog walk, placing at least one foot in the red section for Mini dogs and Yellow section for Maxi dogs, negotiate the top section and then descend, placing one foot in the red section for Mini dogs and yellow section for Maxi dog.
   
   If a dog misses the relevant coloured section of the Dog Walk on the way up and down, it must be counted as fault 
     
5. Weaving Poles
   The dog to enter this obstacle between the first 2 poles and then continue weaving between all the other poles. For each weaving poolside, the dog must be re-directed to make the correct entry form the missed polo.
    
6. Table
   Dogs to jump onto the table and remain there while the hander stands beside the table for count of five until the judge/steward indicates that the dog is to continue with the course. For leaving that table before the five counts is completed, the dog must get back on the fable before the five count is repeated.
    
7. Tyre
   Dogs to jump through the tyre. The tyre should not be used as an aid for clearing them.
     
8. See-saw
   Dog to go up the rump of the see-saw, placing at least one foot in red section for Mini dogs and yellow section for the maxi dogs to negotiate past the balance point of the see-saw, and then descend the down ramp placing one foot in the red section for Mini dogs and yellow section for Maxi dogs before getting off.
   
   If a dog misses the relevant coloured section of the See-saw on the way up and down , it must be counted as 2 faults

Orders from the Judge/Steward 

1. Starting and finishing
   Prior to the start of each test, the judge/steward will ask the handler “Are you ready?” Judging shall end when the dog crosses the finishing line.
     
2. From the Table
   Once the dog is on the table, the judge/steward will proceed with the five counts and then give the command “Go” for the handler and dog to continue with the series of obstacles.

Placing

The team standings are determined based on the following:

• Total faults, which is total of course faults and time faults.
• In the event that the total faults are the same, the dog with the least course faults will be have the advantage
• In cases where the total faults and the course faults are the same, then the fastest dog that completed the course in the shortest time frame will be picked as winner.

Note: The dog handler may be permitted to continue to complete the Agility course notwithstanding any disqualification. If the positions of competitors are to be determined by the better of 2 or more attempts at the Agility course, then any disqualification shall only affect the particular attempt at the Agility course.