How to Enter Your Dog in Agility Trials

Your dog has had their first taste of agility and absolutely loves it. This popular doggy sport is fast, frenetic, and fun, and it’s something you and your pup want a whole lot more of in your lives.

But what comes next? Your pup is ready to graduate from classes and training sessions to a full-fledged agility trial, but where do you start?

If you’d like to enter an agility competition with your dog, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to find out what’s involved in a dog agility trial and how your pup can participate.

Agility match (aka "fun match")

Before signing your pup up for an agility trial, you might want to start out with an agility match or “fun match”. Held by dog training clubs around the country, these events give you and your dog a chance to attend a practice agility trial in a non-competitive and stress-free environment. This is a great way to give your pup a trial run and should help reduce nerves when you enter a real competition.

Agility trial

Next, it’s time to enter your dog in an agility trial. You might have read about or seen the action at some of the biggest and best-known agility competitions, like the super-fast and super-smart canine athletes at the AKC National Agility Championship or the USDAA Grand Prix of Dog Agility World Championships. But your first agility trial will likely be something much more humble.

On any given weekend at parks, ovals, and training facilities all around the country, local dog training and agility clubs host their own agility trials. And while the competition can be intense, the atmosphere at these community events is fun, friendly, and welcoming — the pawfect intro to agility competitions for you and your pup.

One of the confusing issues you’ll face when getting started in dog agility is that there are several organizations that run sanctioned agility trials. They include, among others:

• the American Kennel Club (AKC)
• the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA)
• the North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC)
• the United Kennel Club

And while agility events run by all organizations are similar in many ways, there are a few key differences. For example, jump height divisions vary slightly — a dog that’s 10 inches tall at the shoulders will need to clear 8-inch jumps under AKC rules in the Regular class, but 10-inch jumps under USDAA rules in the Championship class.

Speaking of classes, this is another area where things can get confusing. Dogs at AKC agility trials can enter in the Regular class, but there’s also the Preferred class with lower jump heights and longer time limits — perfect for older dogs or those who may not be as mobile as they once were. In USDAA trials, the equivalent classes are Competition and Performance. 

The terminology differs in a few other areas too, and the type of obstacles used also varies, so take a look at the sanctioning body’s regulations to avoid any confusion.

Even though dogs usually don’t start competing in agility until 18 months of age, you can start agility training your puppy before this time. Just make sure to ask your vet whether there’s any obstacles that are unsafe for your pup's developing muscles and joints. 

A great way to teach your pup is to sign them up for agility training classes. These will introduce your dog to the basic skills they need, and the obstacles they’ll encounter, and you can then work regular training sessions into your daily routine at home.

All dogs learn at their own pace, so while some pets might master the basics inside a couple of months, it could take other pups a year or more to perfect all the skills they need to compete in agility.

If you’re nervous or unsure whether your dog is ready for an agility trial, you might want to take the AKC Agility Course Test to find out whether your pup is ready to compete. This tests your dog's entry-level agility skills, but it also gives you a taste of filling out an entry form correctly, taking your dog into and out of the ring, and performing in front of judges.

Another option to assess your dog's readiness is to go and watch a few trials to see how your dog compares to the competition, or speak to experienced agility competitors at your local dog training club to get their advice.

Before you enter, remember to check whether your dog is eligible to participate. For example, some events are open to all breeds, including mixed-breed dogs, while entry to others is limited to a specific breed or breed group (e.g., herding dogs).

Once again, eligibility requirements vary slightly from one organization to the next, but generally, your dog will need to be:

• in good health.
• up to date on their vaccinations.
• 18 months or older. (Please note that some agility organizations offer an introductory class for dogs aged 15 months or older.)
• registered with the organization that sanctions the trial. (The registration process may differ depending on whether you have a purebred or mixed-breed dog — for example, mixed-breed pooches can be registered with the AKC through the club’s Canine Partners program.

Female dogs in heat are not allowed to compete, while any dog with an injury or illness that puts them at risk of injury during an agility trial will be refused entry as well.

The first step is to find an agility trial near you. You can do that by checking the events calendars of different organizing bodies — head to their respective websites to find the info you need. Alternatively, if you’re a member of an agility or dog training club, your club may be running a trial or could help you find an event near you.

The exact entry process will vary depending on the organization running the trial. You’ll need to submit an entry form, either online or by mail, with details like:

• your dog’s name, age, and breed
• the class you want to enter
• whether your dog’s height has been officially measured
• your contact info
  

You’ll also need to pay an entry fee. The fee varies, but around $20–$25 per entry is a common benchmark. 

Make sure to submit your entry form and pay the fee before the closing date specified by trial organizers. And if an event is already full by the time you enter, you may be placed on a waiting list in case other participants withdraw.

When the day of your dog’s first trial arrives, get there early to check out the course and find out where you need to be. This will also give your dog a chance to adjust to what can be a stressful environment.

Wondering what you should bring to your first agility trial? You'll need a few essential items, such as:

• water
• poo bags
• treats 
• dog toys (to keep your pup calm and occupied between runs)
• kennel or crate
• camping chair
• shade (if you’ll be outdoors)

As it’s your first event, your dog’s height will need to be measured by a judge to make sure they’re in the right category and tackling jumps of a suitable height. Your dog will eventually get a permanent jump height card you can use at future events.

Once you’ve checked in, you can check the running order to find out when your dog will be completing the course, and pick up your all-important course maps.

Next is the judge's briefing. This is a short meeting that reviews the rules and allows you to ask questions about the course, signals, and scoring. After the judge's briefing, you'll get the chance to walk through the course for 8–10 minutes with the other entrants to plot your route.

Finally, make sure to give your pup plenty of chances to go potty before competing. Then, when it’s your turn to take to the ring, try to relax and enjoy yourself. Remember, food and toys are not allowed in the ring, and there are also restrictions on whether or not your dog can wear a collar, so check the fine print closely ahead of time.

Occasionally there’s prize money on offer, especially at the larger national events, but that’s not usually the case. Winners of sanctioned events typically receive a ribbon, trophy, plaque, or similar award, but the people and pets who love dog agility aren’t in it for the money. Instead, you and your dog get to enjoy the thrill of competing, and you get to watch your pup move up to higher classes as their confidence and skills improve.

Of course, both of you also get good exercise and the chance to spend the day together having fun. It’s wonderfully addictive too, so why not give agility trials a go?

As your dog becomes more experienced in the agility ring, they can compete for agility titles. These titles are a way to document your dog's progression as they move through the ranks, graduating from a novice competitor to maybe even eventually becoming an Agility Grand Champion.

Titles allow you to track and acknowledge your dog's achievements, not to mention your own skill as a handler, and showcase your journey towards the higher echelons of the sport. Some agility websites also keep track of those dogs that have reached the pinnacle of the sport and picked up championship titles, and there's definitely a thrill that comes with seeing your dog's name up in lights.

But titles are about more than just bragging rights. If you're planning on breeding your dog, for example, puppies from dogs with titles to their name tend to attract a higher price tag. So by earning agility titles, you'll be able to show buyers that your puppies come from champion bloodlines.

Of course, the titles you earn and what you need to do to get them varies depending on the sanctioning organization. In AKC agility, for example, your dog can earn the Novice Agility (NA) title by collecting 3 qualifying scores in Novice A and/or B Agility class from a minimum of 2 different judges. For the Premier Agility Dog (PAD) title, however, dogs must earn 25 qualifying scores in Premier Standard class, with 5 qualifying scores for finishing in the top 25% of dogs in their jump height category.

Requirements vary, and the more prestigious the title, the harder you must work to get it. So check the rules and regulations of the trial's sanctioning body to find out what your dog needs to do to start earning titles.