Lorain County 4-H Dog Council Agility Guidelines

Transcription

1 Lorain County 4-H Dog Council Agility Guidelines 1. 4-H exhibitors and dogs that enter the Lorain County Junior Fair Agility show must meet all requirements for Lorain County 4H dog projects, Senior Fair Health rules and be must be enrolled in project 1P H exhibitor may show more than one dog per class. Exhibitor must attend at least two county dog shows prior to county fair (either fun shows or agility shows) to be eligible to exhibit at county fair. Exhibitors must complete project skillathon. 3. The Agility show is open to all dogs, being at least eighteen months of age, except for bitches in season, dogs suffering any deformity, injury, lameness or illness which may affect the dog s physical or mental performance, or dogs exhibiting signs of aggression. 4. Exhibitors will be given the opportunity to walk the course prior to the start of their class without their dogs. 5. Equipment; Dogs must wear flat quick release collars and must come to the ring on lead. A six foot or under nylon or leather lead may be used in classes permitting a lead. 6. Dogs with AKC or USDAA Agility Titles must compete in the next higher Junior Fair Division. 7. No food, toys or other aids or devices shall be permitted on the course at anytime. 8. A handler is not allowed to touch the dog or equipment or pull on the lead to guide the dog. 9. Each dog will have the opportunity to refuse a single obstacle one time. Maximum ring time is Two minute after which you will be excused from the ring and elimination fault will apply. Course times are sec to 75 sec and exhibitors should complete the course in those time perimeters. Time faults will be given for going over the course time.. Course layouts are at the discretion of the judge, but must remain within the guidelines set forth by the class descriptions. 11. Jump heights are determined by the height of the dog at the withers as follows; Dogs will be measured at the beginning of the 4-H year by Dog Council and a height/jump determination will be made and a card issued to the exhibitor. Jump Heights Under jumps 4-12 jumps jumps jumps 16 Over 21 jumps

2 Agility Class Descriptions 4-H Project 1P Beginners Agility Class A & B - Dog compete on leash using a quick release collar. The obstacle course shall be comprised of ten () obstacles set in a simple horseshoe or simple M pattern and shall include; A-Frame (set at 4 6 ), pause table at 12 inches for all dogs (to be performed in the down position for 5 seconds), Pipe Tunnel, and Six Hurdles.(Tire Jump not to be included in Beginner) Handlers must hold lead at all times except when dog is in the tunnel. Handlers must not use the lead to make the dog perform the obstacle. Major point deduction will be taken per occurrence for using the lead. Standard course time will be seconds -Maximum time 75 sec. Beginner Agility Class A shall be for handlers and dogs who are first year agility exhibitors. Beginner Agility Class B is for those exhibitors and or dogs in their second year and/or who have experience in the class or with a new or second dog. Dogs with off lead legs in any venue may not compete in this class. Handler and dog team are not required to move up if the dog cannot safely be off lead. Level One Agility Class Dogs will compete off lead and may wear a quick release collar. The obstacle course shall be comprised of ten () obstacles set in a simple horseshoe or M pattern and related modifications shall be used as in the Beginners class except that the A-Frame shall measure five (4.6) feet at the apex. Obstacles to be used include A Frame, Pause Table, Open Tunnels, Tire Jump, and other Jumps. The standard course time will be seconds maximum time 75 sec. Level Two Agility Class Dogs must compete off lead and may compete with or without a quick release collar. The course shall be of simple design being slightly more challenging than a figure 8 and shall include twelve (12) to fourteen (14) obstacles, including an A-Frame set at 5 6 at the apex, Dog Walk elevation at no more than 3 and planks of no less than 7 in length, Pipe Tunnel, 6 weave poles (5-6) Table set at 12 for dogs jumping in the lower height classes and at 16 for dogs jumping in the higher jump height classes (to be performed at the down position for 5 seconds) Tire Jump and four to six hurdles. Standard course time will be sec maximum time 75 seconds. Level Three Agility Class Dogs must compete off leash and may compete with without a quick release collar. Course shall be of simple design being slightly more challenging than a figure 8 and shall include thirteen (13) to fifteen (15) obstacles including the same obstacles as in the Level Two Class with the following modifications; A-Frame set at 5 at the apex (5 6 for the 8 & 12 height class) and the addition of a see-saw. The standard course time shall be Sec maximum time 75 seconds. Fun Show Classes that may be offered include Speed Class On Lead Speed Class Off Lead Speed The purpose of this class is to run it as quickly and safely as possible for the exhibitor and their dog. t will consist of tunnels and jumps only. There may be for twelve (12) to fourteen (14) obstacles. Design and number of obstacles will be determined by the judge. Course Time sec max time 75 seconds.

3 AGLTY EQUPMENT DESCRPTONS A-Frame Called the "A-frame" because of its distinctive shape, this obstacle is made of two flat panels joined at the top with a hinge. t can be painted any contrasting color with bright colors preferred. The 42-inch contact zones should be painted on the lower end of the panel closest to the ground and most commonly are bright yellow so they're easy for the dog to see. Panels should be roughly 3 to 4 feet wide and each panel should be within two inches of 9 feet long. To perform this obstacle properly, your pup should hit the obstacle on the side indicated by the judge, run to the top and down the other side, ensuring to place at least one part of one foot in the contact zone while exiting the obstacle. Dog Walk The dog walk consists of two 12-foot ramps and a 12-foot center plank. The entire obstacle is 12 inches wide and should be painted similarly to the A-frame. As a contact obstacle, the dog walk also has 42-inch contact zones on the section of the ramps closest to the ground. Your dog should enter the obstacle, run up the ramp, across the center plank and down the second ramp with at least one part of one foot entering the contact zone on the second ramp. Seesaw The seesaw or "teeter-totter" is one of the most challenging obstacles for a dog to perform. This 12-inch wide, 12-foot long plank rests on a fulcrum. The seesaw should be balanced carefully so a 3-foot weight placed 12 inches from the high end of the seesaw causes it to hit the ground in 3 seconds or less. Your dog must run across the seesaw confidently and touch both 42-inch contact zones with at least one part of one foot. Pause Table The 36-inch square pause table challenges the self-control of even the most highly trained agility dog. The height of the table is 8, 16 or 24 inches, and varies depending on the jump height of the dog. Dogs must jump onto the table and hold their place with all four feet on the table top for 5 seconds.

4 Tunnels Tunnels tend to be an agility dog's favorite obstacle. There are two different types of tunnels, open and closed. The open tunnel is to feet long and open on both ends. t can be straight or curved but must not move when a dog runs through it. Dogs must enter one end of the tunnels and emerge on the other side. Weave Poles Weave poles are made from 3/4-inch wide, -inch high PVC pipes spaced to 22 inches apart to form a straight line. A dog must enter between the first and second pole on the right hand side and, in sequence, weave left to right all the way through the obstacle. f a dog misses a pole, the handler can try again. After 3 attempts, the dog and handler must complete the rest of the course. Jumps While there are several different types of jumps, all jumps are 4 to 5 feet wide and the height of the jump varies with the height class of the dog. Bar jumps are formed from 1-inch wide PVC pipe, panel jumps from 3- to 5-inch wide cross-boards, and the tire jump from a 2-foot in diameter object. t may or may not be an actual tire. All jumps must be performed without the dog knocking any part of the jump off or over. Attached are some sample courses

5 Agility Symbol Key (Not to scale) A-Frame Dog Walk Teeter Tunnel H Jump Panel Jump Double Jump Tire Jump iffi[[' Broad Jump H Winged Jump :: Winged Double Jump aaooaa - Weave Poles tr o Pause Table Obstacle Number

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