Clean Run Magazine - May 2009 - 7

Everything you always wanted to know about agility By Brenna Fender ? How long is the fabric portion of the chute in U.S. agility venues? Many groups have a tolerance of 1" to 2" to cover any variations, but here are the stated chute fabric lengths for each organization • American Kennel Club: 12' • Australian Shepherd Club of America: No more than 8' but a combined barrel and fabric length of 12' is also acceptable • Canine Performance Events: 6'-8' for a short chute and 12'-15' for a long chute; short chute is recommended • Dogs on Course in North America: 8'-15'; all organizations’ chutes are allowed, but length must be specified in the premium • North American Dog Agility Council: Doesn’t use the chute • Sweepstakes Agility: 8'-12' • Teacup Dog Agility Association: 8'-10' • United Kennel Club: 10' • United States Agility Association: 12' My dog grabbed a mouthful of dirt while running a course in a NADAC trial. I thought we were clean, but she was eliminated for having a toy in the ring. Was this call correct? And what is the reasoning behind this rule? The judge made the right call according to NADAC representative Becky Woodruff: “The dog should have been eliminated for having an object in its mouth. If, while in the ring, the dog picks up a cone, leash, grass, rocks, dirt, or any other object in its mouth, it is considered having a toy and that would be cause for an elimination.” What happened to AKC’s FAST class? When it was first introduced, I jumped at the chance to compete, got my Novice title, and was excited about the increased challenges in the Open class. However, none of the clubs in the southern California area seem to be offering FAST at trials any longer. Why not? Lack of competitor interest in the FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) class and low entries at area trials are major reasons why the class isn’t often offered in southern California according to Cara Callaway from Jump City Agility: “I never offered the FAST classes at any of the trials I put on for various clubs in the Southern California area because the overwhelming response from exhibitors was they preferred my not offering the classes. The reason given by exhibitors was mostly that it made for a Do you have a question about agility rules or anything else agility related? Mail your questions to Brenna Fender: brennafender@gmail.com Brenna collects the questions and forwards them to us so we never see the names. very long day when the classes were offered and that if they wanted extra runs and games classes, they had USDAA available for that.” Certainly the addition of another class to the AKC day would increase the amount of time a competitor would spend at a trial, so those who prefer a shorter day may not enjoy the FAST class. Unless clubs offer it at the end of the day only, most competitors would have to stay longer, not just those inclined to enter the extra class. And offering FAST only to the devoted willing to stay until the end of the day might stretch club workers thin (unless those entered were all willing to work FAST classes). The class may become more popular as it becomes more familiar. FAST involves required distance handling, which is new for the AKC-only competitor. For seasoned competitors who have never trained for distance, this new class may require going back to basics and learning a new skill. Some may not welcome this challenge. Competitors also have to plan their own course, using strategies not previously needed in AKC classes. It may take time for people to become comfortable with the different skills required for FAST. The fact that FAST doesn’t directly contribute to a championship title (you can earn a Master Agility Championship without ever setting foot in a FAST ring) very likely also affects its attractiveness. Many people want to focus on classes that “count” and consider FAST unnecessary. In addition, the economy has affected the money available to many competitors to spend on agility, and classes that are not required may not be considered affordable. The AKC Advisory Committee will meet in June and may consider changes that could increase the popularity of FAST. D NOTE: While it is not permissible to make copies of Clean Run magazine, we wish to give readers permission to make copies of this particular column for personal use. This means you are free to share copies of this column with students, friends, or club members. The information may also be included in not-for-profit newsletters as long as credit is given to Clean Run. May 09 | Clean Run 7
Clean Run Magazine - May 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - May 2009
