Agility is a fast-moving and fast-growing sport throughout the world, and is attracting dogs of all kinds and their equally diverse owners. In agility, the dog, off leash but guided by the handler, runs a course of obstacles including jumps, tunnels, A-frames, elevated boards called dog walks, and others. The dog must negotiate the obstacles in proper order and style, and do it within a set time. As in obedience, the team can strive for high honors or for the titles only.
Australian Shepherd Club of America Agility
The ASCA agility program offers Regular Agility, Jumpers, and Gamblers classes in three divisions (Standard, Veterans, and Junior Handlers) at three levels ~ Novice, Open and Elite.
Novice level is for any dog which has not yet earned ASCA title in a particular class. After earning the Novice title in a particular class, the dog moves up to Open. Upon completion of the Open title, the dog may move up to Elite. For more information on the ASCA agility program, go to ASCA.
AKC Agility
The American Kennel Club offers the Novice Agility (NA), Open Agility (OA), Agility Excellent (AX), and Master Agility Excellent (MX) titles. To complete the Master Agility Excellent title, a dog must first earn the AX title and then earn qualifying scores in the Agility Excellent class at ten licensed or member agility trials.
The United States Dog Agility Association
The United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) offers eight agility titles. An Agility Dog® has achieved three clear rounds (no faults) under two different judges in the Starters or Novice. An Advanced Agility Dog® has achieved three clear rounds under two different judges in the Advanced class. The Master Agility Dog® has demonstrated versatility by achieving three clear rounds under two different judges in the Masters standard agility class. In addition, a dog must receive a qualifying score at the masters level in each of the following: Gamblers Competition, to demonstrate proficiency in distance control and handling; Pairs or Team Relay, to demonstrate cooperative team effort and good sportsmanship; Jumping Class, to demonstrate jumping ability and fluid working habit; and, Snooker Competition, to further demonstrate a dog and handler's versatility in strategic planning. To earn the Jumpers Master, Gamblers Master, Snooker Master, or Relay Master a dog must achieve five clear rounds in the appropriate class. A USDAA Agility Dog Champion has earned the Master Agility Dog, Snooker Master, Gamblers Master, Jumpers Master and Relay Master titles. The USDAA also recognizes the Agility Top Ten annually.
USDAA promotes competitive events through major tournament events, including its Grand Prix of Dog Agility championships. USDAA also has developed the Dog Agility Masters® team pentathlon championship to promote agility as a team sport, and the $4,000 Dog Agility Steeplechase championship to exhibit speed in performance. Dogs must be registered with the United States Dog Agility Association in order to compete in USDAA events.
The USDAA also offers a programs for the older dog and the younger handler. The Veterans Program is for dogs seven years of age or older. The Junior Handler Program is for handlers eighteen years of age and is designed to encourage young people to participate in the sport of dog agility as a fun, recreational family sport.
The North American Dog Agility Council
The North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC) offers Certificates of Achievement for the Regular, Jumpers, and Gamblers' classes. The purpose of the Regular Agility Class is to demonstrate the handler and dog's ability to perform all of the agility obstacles safely and at a moderate rate of speed. At the Open level, the goal is to test the handler and dog's ability to perform the obstacles at a faster rate of speed, while performing the obstacles with more directional and distance control and exhibit obstacle discrimination. At the Elite level, more complex handler strategies are tested, with the dog moving at a brisk pace. The dog may be entered in the Standard Division, the Veterans Division, or the Junior Handlers Division. In all divisions, certification in the Regular Agility Classes will require three (3) qualifying rounds under at least two (2) different judges. NADAC also awards the title Agility Trial Champion (Natch) to dogs that have earned a minimum of two hundred points in the Regular Agility Classes at the Elite level after earning an Elite Agility Certificate; one hundred points in the Gamblers classes at the Elite level after earning a Gamblers Certificate-Elite; and one hundred points in the Jumpers classes at the Elite level after earning a Jumpers Certificate-Elite.
Fiona ~ Perennial Maid of Magic, OA, OAJ, U-AG2, CL1-S, CL1-H, CL1-R, CL1-F, HIC, CGC ~ runs the weave poles. Fee is owned by Becky Coon, Ohio.
United Kennel Club
The UKC offers an agility competition program open to UKC- and AMBOR- registered dogs. UKC agility dogs can earn titles at four levels of competence, beginning with the U-AGI (Agility I) and progressing to the U-AGII (Agility II), U-ACH (Agility Champion), and U-ACHX (Agility Champion Excellent Title).
Perennial's Agility Titled Pups
(# after name is DOB)
Perennials Ultimate Treasure CD OA NAJ FDX HIC CGC ~ Trophy
MACH Perennial Poetry in Motion, AKC: UD RN PT OF NAP OJP CGC; ASCA: CD STDcs RS-E JS-E GS-E; NADAC: EAC EJC-OP ECC TN-O WV-O TNG-N ~ Poet
Perennial Once Upon a Thyme, AKC CDX, ASCA CD, NA, HIC, CGC ~ Story
UAGI UAGII Perennial Spellbinder RN OA OAJ RS-O GS-E JS-E EGC OAC EJC TN-E WV-N TG-N AD FDX CGC HIC TDInc DNA-CP ~ Ben
Skye ~ Perennial Summer Skyes Ax AXJ RS-N GS-N JS-N NJC NAC U-AG1 CL2-R CL1-H, CL1-S, CL2-F CGC ~ owned by Tom & Donna Mundey ~ was High In Trial Novice Agility Dog, ASCA Nationals 2003 and High in Trial Open Agility Dog, Nationals Pre-show 2005!
Congratulations, Tom & Skye!
MACH Perennial Poetry in Motion, UD, PT, MX, MXJ, CGC; NADAC EAC, EJC, EGC, TN-N; ASCA CD, STDcs, RS-E, JS-E, GS-E ~ Poet ~ flying high with owner Heather Dickinson.
Zoe ~ Alt-CH Perennial Ribbon of Darkness AKC & ASCA CD NA NAJ RS-N JS-O GS-N NAC OJC NGC ~ owned by Sally Meyers.
Check out Barb Levenson's book ~ Perennial Quick As I Can AX, AXJ, AD, NJC ~ Presto ~ helped her write it!
