rules
Last updated January 2024.
measuring & jump heights
All handlers must have submitted a measure for their dog (Kennel Club and Agility4All measures accepted) before entering a show. If your dog has not been measured previously or if you do not wish to use those measures, you can request a measure either before the show or on the day (before your class begins). We will use Kennel Club style measuring hoops to give your dog’s jump height.
Borderline dogs (where the measuring hoop is not cleanly lifted from the floor or where they are within 1cm of the lower height classification in another organisation’s measuring process) may request to join the height below their own. Their results will be combined with this height as they will be classified as this height. Note that this is a request and it is only with the measurer’s agreement that your dog will be able to classified as borderline and moved into the lower height category.
You may opt to run your dog one jump height lower than their measured height, at any time. These results will be combined with those of your dog’s measured height. So your dog may measure into the 40cm jump height, but you may choose to run at 30cm (but results will count for and be included with those running at 40cm). This is similar to the combined method lower height option that the Kennel Club has previously offered.
You may also opt to run your dog one jump height higher than their measured height, at any time. These results will be combined with those of your dog’s measured height. So your dog may measure into the 40cm jump height, but you may choose to run at 50cm (but results will count for and be included with those running at 40cm). This may be useful especially where your dog measures into different height categories at different organisations and you would like to get valuable ring experience at the higher height category.
We believe this is the fairest way of ensuring that dogs are jumping at a height comfortable for them.
Jump heights will be set at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60cm.
walking the course
Courses are walked by Level, not by height. So all handlers of dogs running at 60cm, 50cm, 40cm, 30cm and 20cm in Level 1 will walk when the Level 1 course is ready for walking. There will be no course walking between heights so you should plan accordingly.
Courses will be measured before walking takes place, and the course time for each height will be calculated accordingly.
You must not continue walking or attempt to walk the course once judging has started – even between heights – unless you have the judge’s or show manager’s express permission.
not for competition
You may choose to run any of your classes not for competition. This should be declared to the scrime on entry to the ring.
You may use a toy or food in the ring to reward your dog as you see fit. Food should be distributed directly into your dog’s mouth and should be non-crumbling and easy to see against the surface of the ring. Dropping food on the ground in the ring is unacceptable and will be dealt with accordingly as this could sabotage another team’s run. As we run single ring shows, you may use squeaky toys.
You may also use contact mats, stride regulators or anything else you need during an NFC run.
You will have the course time for your NFC run. Your time will start when your dog takes their first obstacle or, if you are training start lines, when you first lead out from your dog. A member of the show team can manually start the timer if necessary. Once your time runs out you should leave the ring as quickly as possible – remembering to take anything with you that you’ll need!
eligibility
Dogs should be 16 months old to enter our shows in the Sprint programme, and 18 months to enter our shows in the Skill programme.
Dogs should run in a single, flat, close fitting collar only. For safety, dangling ID tags are not permitted (we suggest flat ID tags which fit flush to the dog’s collar), and harnesses are not permitted.
Bitches in season may run at our show, but we ask that they start from a mat which should be removed before the next dog runs. In fairness to other competitors, don’t loiter near the ring with your BIS.
Any dogs displaying signs of communicable illness, or having had contact with a dog with the same, should not attend the show. We ask for 48 hours clear after sickness or diarrhoea, and ten days clear after diseases such as Kennel Cough. Unfortunately we are unable to refund entries due to illness, but as our shows are capped you are welcome to advertise in the Nutter Dogs Agility Shows group. You may find someone eager to buy your spaces at the show. Failure to adhere to this will result in your removal from the show at the time and you may be banned from entering future shows, depending on the circumstances at the time.
Dogs who have demonstrably aggressive temperaments or who are so out of control as to be dangerous to other people and/or dogs must not attend our shows. If such a dog attends and is deemed unsafe you will be asked to leave immediately and may be banned from entering future shows.
If your dog doesn’t appear physically fit enough for the rigours of agility may be asked to leave the show. Remember if we ask this, we are asking with your dog’s best intentions in mind.
Except for mobility aids, nothing should be carried in your hand while your dog is under test. No bags (including bumbags) should be worn within the ring. You should aim to reward your dog as close to the exit or even outside of the exit of the ring as possible so that the ring can continue.
judging
The judge’s decision on marking your run is final. Competitors attempting to alter the judge’s decision after a run may be asked to leave, and banned from entering future shows. We will not look at video footage to make a decision.
Judges may run their own dog for competition; but only if a suitable substitute judge can cover their time spent collecting, warming up, running, cooling down and then returning their dog to their vehicle.
“Up” contacts will not be marked at the show. 5 faults will be awarded for missed “down” contacts, and for the seesaw a further 5 faults for a flyoff (i.e. dog off the seesaw before it hits the ground). Refusals will be marked if the dog is deemed to be in position to take the obstacle and refuses to do so – e.g. running past or turning away close to the obstacle.
Kennel Club marking applies on all other obstacles.
If your dog toilets in the ring (even before or after they have run) this will result in elimination and you should clean up and leave the ring immediately.
kindness to your team & the show
Always remember that you and your dog are a team, and the aim of agility is to have fun together.
Any cruelty, harsh handling or abuse directed toward your dog will result in your first and final warning by show management (for a minor incident, as we do understand that you are human and sometimes everyone loses their temper). If this occurs again, or if the first incident was not minor, you will be asked to leave the show immediately and will be banned from entering future shows.
Our agility team are volunteers, and they are human. Similarly to the above, any abusive or bullying behaviour will not be tolerated and you will be asked to leave immediately. We will also be aware of incidents that may happen at other show organisations, and we will not accept those who have a history or reputation of behaving in such a manner. We reserve the right to refuse or cancel entries to individuals based on this.
When our shows are held at venues where members of the public may attend or horses may be present (etc), then it is your responsibility to decide if this environment is safe for your dog. Any rudeness toward members of the public, venue staff etc will not be tolerated and you will be asked to leave immediately.
Handlers are responsible for their own behaviour and their dog’s behaviour at all times. You are responsible for your belongings, including your vehicle, at all times. In hot weather you are responsible for keeping your vehicle cool and your dog safe; and in cold weather you should keep your dog as warm as possible.