Unless you don’t follow AKC agility (or if you live under a rock) you’ve probably heard about the new agility committee recommendations that are causing a stir.
Lots of complaints that the proposed changes would “dumb down” AKC agility, an accusation often made in the same breath as “make it like NADAC” – which as a NADAC / multi-venue competitor I find a little offensive. I don’t see anyone suggesting that AKC adopt NADAC’s YPS standards – 3.75 YPS for large dogs in NOVICE jumpers – but I digress.
I see these recommendations as a blend of some things that may be “easier” for some dogs, some that may be “harder” and a few things that are just common sense. Here (in case anyone cares) are my $0.02 on the subject:
Easier/Safer
24″ Weave pole spacing. – Healthier for the big dogs, may make them more difficult for small, short-strided dogs? Just an assumption – anyone with a very small dog have feedback on this?
6′ -6.5′ Chute – As someone who’s had multiple dogs get tangled in twisted, wet 12′ chutes over the years, you won’t find me complaining about that!
Positionless table – No more sits or downs. Easier for the dogs? Yes. Easier for the judges too, and should save a significant amount of time previously wasted by competitors unsuccessfully attempting to get their dog into the desired position.
5′ A-frame for 4″ and 8″ dogs - IMO, a sound, well-conditioned small dog should have no problem with a 5’6″ a-frame, but whatever.
Personally, I’d have rather have seen (and I AM gonna go all “NADAC-y” on you now!) recommendations which would lead AKC towards adopting slatless, rubber contacts. But that’s me.
Lower Tire Heights (except for 4″ dogs) – WTF? Am I reading this correctly?
Tire height definition:
26 and 24†jump heights set at 20â€
20†jump height set at 16â€
16†jump height set at 12â€
12†jump height set at 8â€
8 and 4†jump height set at 4â€
This one seems to have come totally out of left field! If dogs getting hung up on the tire is that big a problem, what about the increasingly popular breakaway tire?
More Difficult
No more MACH multipliers for 1st and 2nd place – Some folks won’t be happy campers about that.
Dog can no longer touch the broad jump – at least I *think* that’s what the proposed rule is getting at.
More spread jumps, triple allowed in Novice
Maximum of 2 open tunnels on a course – won’t hear me complaining about this either (Jayda slows down in tunnels – if I’m running her, the fewer the better!)
Limit of 3 attempts at the weaves, AND re-attempts must be made from the beginning – No more restarting the weaves in the middle. Only affects Novice and Open dogs from a qualifying standpoint. This may also save a significant amount of time at trials.
Just plain common sense
“Metal tunnel holders shall not have a rigid upright (e.g.
steel/wood) that is capable of fitting between the ribs thus
possibly projecting into the tunnel.”
Currently these are only allowed at the ends anyway.
The Preferred Agility Championship (PACH) title shall be
awarded to all dogs competing in the STD Excellent B
Preferred and JWW Excellent B Preferred classes who have
obtained 750 Preferred Championship points and 20 double
Q’s.
About time! PACH will always be viewed as “inferior” to the MACH, as it should because of the lower performance standards, but what’s the harm of giving preferred dogs something to aspire to beyond 20QQ’s? (And keep their entry fees going to the AKC!) Likewise, the proposed Preferred National Agility Championship. Seriously – why should anyone get their undies all in a twist about recognizing top achievers from a different “division”?
(Hey – just think: in 10 more years they just might let the mixed dogs compete in the “normal” A/B/P classes instead of sticking them in their own little ghetto. The wheels of the AKC grind slowly)
“If a dog gets tangled up in the closed tunnel fabric, gets hung up going through the tire, or falls off the on the ascent side of
the dog walk, A-frame, or seesaw; the handler has the choice
to immediately retry the obstacle once and then leave the
course.”
Yay!
If a dog is officially measured by a VMO or Agility Field Rep
for a jump height card and that measurement places the dog
into a lower jump height class, entrants in the Regular classes
may move down effective immediately.
Makes sense.
Clubs may offer full refunds to exhibitors who have to cancel,
after the trial has closed, but prior to the date of the trial,
provided the club can fill any canceled entries from the wait
list.
Yay!
Of course none if this is a done-deal yet. Any or all of the recommendations could be vetoed.
Well that’s it for my 2 cents – what’s yours?
I agree with the lower A frame for 4 and 8 inch classes. Maybe the bassett hounds will be able to get up them. I also felt it made no sense for the 4 inch class to climb such a high A frame. I have seen too many tiny dogs either clawing their way up the last third or straining so much I feared they could blow out a patella or hock joint.
I would have liked to have jump height exceptions for the same dogs that have (at least in the old days) jump height exceptions in obedience – Bernice Mountain dogs and Saint Bernards.
I was surprised to see so many changes, but the committee certainly appears to have put a lot of thought into their recommendations. There are a lot of good recommendations.
I agree on the jump height exceptions, probably won’t happen though. Arguably, that’s why they have the Preferred class.
The steeper a-frame is more difficult for the smaller dogs (and puts more strain on the backs of dogs on the down-ramp, depending on how they do the contact), but most of the times I see tinies having a problem with it, it’s because their handler sent them from a standstill too close to the base. For that matter, I see labs and goldens clawing their way up it occasionally for one reason or another. Either way – I understand the reasoning and if it extends some dogs’ careers it’s a good thing.
There were several bassetts who used to compete in USDAA around here – those dogs rocked!
I have an Italian Greyhound, jumps 12″. She will definitely have a problem single-hopping 24″ weaves. She can barely do them now…