AGILITY KENNEL CLUB REGULATION CHANGES WITH EFFECT
1st JANUARY 2009
The General Committee of the Kennel Club has recently reviewed several Agility Regulations and has approved the following amendments;
Regulation H(1)(B)(1)3.d.
This regulation amendment has been approved to ensure that hoops/tyres are all made in a similar style so that dogs do not suddenly see completely different tyres at different shows. The minimum diameter has been increased and it will be a requirement that the hoop / tyre is made of an impact absorbing material.
FROM:
Hoop-(Tyre) - Aperture diameter 457mm (1ft 6ins) minimum. Aperture centre from the ground: Large Dogs – 800mm (2ft 7.5ins). Medium Dogs – 550mm (1ft 9.6ins). Small Dogs – 490mm (1ft 7.3ins). The height of the hoop should not be lowered. The tyre/hoop must be directly mounted in a substantial frame structure which must be secured in such a way that dogs cannot knock the obstacle over from either direction; the frame shall not have a beam across the top.
TO:
Hoop-(Tyre) - Aperture diameter 533mm (1ft 9ins) minimum. Aperture centre from the ground: Large Dogs – 800mm (2ft 7.5ins). Medium Dogs – 550mm (1ft 9.6ins). Small Dogs – 490mm (1ft 7.3ins). The hoop to be of a consistent shape, constructed of an impact-absorbing material. The height of the hoop should not be lowered. The tyre/hoop must be directly mounted in a substantial frame structure which must be secured in such a way that dogs cannot knock the obstacle over from either direction; the frame shall not have a beam across the top.
(Amendment underlined)
Regulation H(1)(B).3.h – Wishing Well.
There has been much discussion recently regarding the fact that there are no dimensions for this obstacle for small or medium dogs. Following long and detailed discussion the description of this obstacle has been thoroughly reviewed. It is believed it should be possible to design a wishing well using these dimensions in a “Russian doll” style to save on space for equipment suppliers.
FROM:
Wishing Well or Lych Gate - Wishing Well or Lych Gate – This obstacle will have a roof of which the bottom will be not less than 1.524m (5ft) from the ground. It will have a displaceable top bar the height of which will be between 550mm (1ft 9.6ins) and 650mm (2ft 1.6ins). The minimum width should be 813mm (2ft 8ins).
TO:
Wishing Well – This obstacle will be of stable construction and will be able to be fixed to the ground. To ensure the safety of the dog, it will have no sharp edges. Should a design be utilised which involves a removable centre section then the resultant corners must be rounded or padded. It will have a roof of which the bottom will be no less than Large Dogs - 1500mm, Medium Dogs - 1220mm, Small Dogs - 950mm from the ground. The roof must not project beyond the width or depth of the base. It will have a displaceable top bar the height of which will be between Large Dogs - 550mm & 650mm, Medium Dogs - 350mm & 450mm, Small Dogs, 250mm & 350mm.
The minimum space from the top of the bar to the top of the base will be Large Dogs – 160mm, Medium Dogs – 150mm, Small Dogs – 105mm.
The overall width of the base will be between 900mm & 1400mm. The depth of the base which the dog jumps will be a maximum of Large Dogs - 550mm, Medium Dogs - 400mm, Small Dogs- 300mm.
(Amendments underlined)
Regulation H(1)(A).9 – Standard Classes:
This regulation amendment has been approved to clarify that the jumping wins required in grade 1 relate to only one dog, not a combination of dogs owned or handled by the same person.
FROM:
Only first prizes and points gained in standard classes at Kennel Club licensed Agility Shows may be used for progression through the classes. (A dog is only eligible for one grade).
TO:
Only first prizes and points gained in standard classes at Kennel Club licensed Agility Shows may be used for progression through the classes. (A dog is only eligible for one grade).
In defining the eligibility of the owner or handler for Grade 1, the three jumping wins and points progression referred to in the definition apply only to one dog and not an accumulation of dogs.
(Amendment underlined)
Regulation H(1)(A).9.b – Grade 2 (Starters)
The following regulation has been amended to remove the anomaly whereby a Grade 1 handler could not handler a grade 2 dog, as they were not “out” of Grade 1 but could handler a dog in any other grade. The regulation now states that it is for dogs which are not eligible for grades 1,3,4,5,6 or 7. However, the proviso that once a handler or owner has progressed from grade 2 they are ineligible for the class is still in place.
FROM:
For owners, handlers or dogs which have qualified out of Grade 1 but have not gained a first place in an Agility Class or three first places in Jumping Classes at Grade 2 at Kennel Club licensed Agility Shows, or elected to progress on points from Grade 1. N.B. Owners, handlers or dogs previously qualified out of Grade 2 (Starters) are not eligible for this class.
TO:
Open to dogs which are not eligible for Grades 1,3,4,5,6,7, and have not gained a first place in an Agility Class or three first places in Jumping Classes at Grade 2 at Kennel Club licensed Agility Shows, or elected to progress on points from Grade 1. N.B. Owners, handlers or dogs previously qualified out of Grade 2 (Starters) are not eligible for this class.
(Amendment underlined)
Regulation H.9.c.(14) – Winning out date
The Kennel Club has now reviewed the date at which class eligibility is calculated, which was a recommendation following the Council’s referendum conducted in 2005 but it had been deferred at that stage until the new class structure had been in place for a year. There have been many cases of dogs winning multiple classes having gained their final win to progress. There have also been cases where dogs have gone up and down between grades at various shows due to the shows’ varying closing dates. It has therefore been approved that the date at which eligibility is calculated shall be 25 days before the first day of the show. It is the competitor’s responsibility to inform show societies if they are no longer eligible for the class entered at least 14 days before the start of the show.
FROM:
A statement that in estimating the number of awards won, all wins up to and including 7 days before the date of closing of entries shall be counted when entering for any class (Agility Shows only).
TO:
A statement that in estimating the number of awards won, all wins up to and including 25 days before the start of the competition shall be counted when entering for any class. For these purposes a competition shall be defined as all classes covered within the same schedule. In the event that a dog becomes eligible for the next grade at a particular show, after the entry for that show has been sent, it is the competitor’s responsibility to notify the show secretary at least 14 days before the date of the show. The dog should then be moved into the appropriate class(es) for the next grade. The dog must be moved into the corresponding number of classes as were entered at the lower grade. If there are fewer or no classes available for the next grade the competitor should be offered a refund of the relevant entry fees.
(Amendment underlined)
Regulation H(1)(B)1.a.(3) – Course design
The regulation has been amended to acknowledge the fact that hurdles now have a minimum height.
FROM:
Design – The course should require a dog to traverse at least 10 obstacles but not more than 20 and all jump obstacles should be the same height in any class up to the permitted maximum except that no variation is permitted in the height of the Hoop (Tyre)….
TO:
Design – The course should require a dog to traverse at least 10 obstacles but not more than 20 and all jump obstacles in any class should be the same height, which should be between the minimum and maximum permitted, except that no variation is permitted in the height of the Hoop (Tyre)….
(Amendment underlined)
