Obstacle Course

PRESENTED BY:

(All judge’s decisions are final)

I. General Rules:

• A practice jump will be available outside the ring.
• All dogs who enter any event must be registered participants.
• Owners are responsible for ensuring the well-being of their pet – DO NOT push an unwilling dog to compete in this course – injury could result.
• The judge reserves the right to excuse any dog/handler team from the course.
• Abuse of any animal is cause for immediate disqualification.
• Treats, toys and other bribes are permitted – please remove them from the course before the next competitor begins.
• Dogs that leave the ring or eliminate in the ring will receive a non-qualifying score of zero. Owners are responsible for clean-up.
• When possible, smaller dogs will run the course first in each category, larger dogs last.

II. Course Judging:
The course winner is determined by the best time at the end of the contest, with a maximum time of 3 minutes being allowed. In addition to the time the dog is actually on the course, the following time faults are assessed during the competition:

• Missed Obstacle – 10 seconds
  • Avoids one obstacle and does another out of sequence (avoided obstacle must be completed to qualify)
  • Enters obstacle from wrong direction
  • Knocks down a jump or obstacle
• Retry Obstacle – 5 seconds each
  • Maximum of 3 tries per obstacle
• Use of Leash:
  • 10 seconds for all levels except Competitive
  • 15 seconds for Competitive level
• Use of Bribes
  • 15 seconds for Competitive level only

III. Obstacle Requirements
Keep in mind that if the owner knocks any of the obstacles it counts as if the dog did it. ☺ Following is a list of possible obstacles you may see some of them or all of them. This is not an official agility course you would see at a dog show. We have tried to make this easy and fun to do for all dogs & owners.

• Sequence
  • All obstacles must be entered in sequence and from the direction of the number for that obstacle.
  • Some obstacles may be used twice – watch your numbers carefully.
• Jumps

    Height limitations specified below are for dog safety:

In competitive level, owner may request the next higher jump height up to the dog’s height at the shoulders + 2", a maximum of 20 inches.

• Tunnel
  • Dog must enter at the stated end and come out the other end. [Please do not throw food into the tunnel. It is unfair to the dog following you]
• A-Frame (3')
  • Dog must go completely over the A-Frame and touch the last two feet of board coming down. (This means no jumping off from the top)
• Dog Walk/Table
  • Dog must jump onto the table and then walk down the ramp (they may not jump off before reaching the ground)
• Pause Circle
  • Dog must sit or lie down in the circle for a fast count of 5 (counted by the judge). If dog gets up (sit to stand, down to sit or stand), the count starts over.
• Maze
  • Dog must weave through a line of objects in an “S” pattern.
• Tire Jump
  • Dog must jump through the center of the tire.
• Plastic Tube
  • Dog must run through the tube

**If your dog exhibits fear of a particular obstacle, the Judge will ask you to move on to the next obstacle. **** Please remember this is a FUN event for both you and your dog** 

If you have any questions - please feel free to ask before the competition begins!!