How to Enter an Agility Trial

How To Enter An Agility Trial

by Karin Bridge

You would think that training your dog would be the hardest part of preparing for an agility competition but for the uninitiated even just understanding and completing the red tape required to enter can be a frustrating ordeal. So for the newbies, here is a short summary of how to enter an Agility (or Obedience) Trial..

PREREQUISITES:

FIRST - Your dog must be registered with the Royal NSW Canine Council (ph: 9834-3022 www.rnswcc.org.au) whose affiliated clubs run most of the agility trials in NSW. This has nothing to do with your dog's registration at your local Municipality.
If your dog is a pedigree with papers he should on the Main Register and the ownership transferred to you. In this case, it is a simple matter of making sure YOU are a financial member of the RNSWCC (more on this later).
Your breeder may have registered your dog on a Limited Register (L.R). This is fine, although your dog cannot be shown or bred from, it may compete in any performance sports such as Obedience or Agility with all the same trappings as a Main Register dog.
If your dog does not have pedigree papers (purebred or not) it will have to be registered in the Associate Register (A.R.) before it can enter competitions.
SECOND - Your dog must be measured and a height card filled out and signed by two official judges. Don't panic! Cards, tape measures and judges are normally available on the training grounds every Thursday night - just ask!
You must be a financial member of the RNSWCC. You will know you are financial as long as you keep receiving the Council's monthly journal. This will be your new bible as it will tell you where the upcoming trials will be and all the information you need to enter.
THIRD - Order a book of Entry Forms (through the journal or web page). If you only have one or two dogs I definitely think it is worth going to the expense of the Pre-printed Show Entry Forms as it will save you hours of scribing down registration numbers and long pedigree names. If your dog is an AR however, it is much easier, no long names, no ancestors, no breed, no birth date, no breeder, - life is a breeze! If you have several dogs or are a glutton for punishment you may prefer to get the continuous pack s of 100 - in either case they should arrive within a fortnight of ordering.

CHOOSING A TRIAL TO ENTER:
Now your dog has been working well at training and the time has come to 'have a go' at trialling.

Open your journal to the 'Calender Index Of Clubs With Show Notices In This Edition'. You'll soon realise CH stands for Dog Shows (not interested) OT stands for Obedience Trial (for the diehard Masochists) and AT - Agility Trial (yeah that's what we want!). An AT usually includes a JT (Jumping Trial), which is simply considered an extra event although JT may also be listed as a separate trial. There is also EV, which indicates an Evening Trial AR (means all registers may enter - which is the case with most trials). Turn to the page indicated.
The club will put in a notice about 6 weeks before the trial. (sample) the most important facts are:

When and where
The closing date (top right corner)
Which events (jumping/agility/novice/open etc)
The Judges (immaterial to our wonder dogs)
Time of vetting (if you miss vetting you wont be allowed to compete)
Cost per class, where to send payment & if it includes a catalogue or not. I would suggest for your first few trials to pay the extra and get a catalogue to help you get the feel of the procedures & to avoid missing your class!

FILLING OUT YOUR ENTRY: (sample)

Remember you will need a separate entry for Each Class you enter thus one form for Novice Jumping & and another for Novice Agility.
If one club runs two trials in the one day (AM and PM) you will need separate forms for each event in each trial & you will have to mark AM and/or PM somewhere on your entry form (I usually put it next to the Club's name).
As you may have noticed the RNSWCC has yet to acknowledge Agility on their entry forms so just somewhere in the lower right corner put in Novice Jumping (or whatever).
Even though Agility dogs are measured Small, Medium and Large, your dog's exact height as per card is required on the form.
When you are finished you should have 3 things inside the envelope addressed to the club secretary:

Completed entry form(s)
Cheque
Stamped Self addressed envelope

A few days before the trial your envelope will come back with your competition numbers or similar enclosed. Don't forget to take them with you on the day!

AT THE TRIAL:

Present your dog & numbers for vetting/check in (note vetting times are advised in the Show Notice in the Journal)- they must be stamped by the organising club.
Your numbers must be clearly visible as you compete.
You must not take any food or toys etc. into the ring.
Enter and exit by the designated gates.
If you should go clear and in time you will be presented with a 'Qualifying Card".

ATTAINING YOUR TITLE:

To attain your Novice Agility Dog Title (AD) you will require 3 Qualifying Cards from at least 2 different Judges. The same applies for your Novice Jumping Dog Title (JD). Five Qualifying cards are required for Open Titles (ADX/JDX) and seven for Masters Titles (ADM/JDM).
When you have attained the required number of qualifying cards you must again contact the RNSWCC and ask them to send you the championship or award form (this may also be downloaded from their web page). On this you will detail when and where the Qualifications were received.
Return the form along with the set fee (as per journal) and your dog's registration certificate which will then have his name amended to include his new title.
You will receive a lovely tri-coloured sash, great deal of satisfaction and undoubtedly a whetted appetite to have a go again!
Don't forget to tell your club of your success as most clubs also present medallions etc. for titles gained.

IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER HELP, JUST ASK !! FELLOW TRIALERS WILL ONLY BE TOO WILLING TO HELP YOU.