Understanding Dog Agility Classes
With the available obstacles in dog agility competition, there is a wide variety of games -referred to as classes - that are played within the sport. The list below is not comprehensive, nor do all organizations consider all classes valid for title purposes. Check with your organization for the specific rules and regulations, and for a list of the classes they sanction.
Jumping Class
As the name would indicate, this class has a special focus on the jumping obstacles, though it can also include tunnels and weave poles. The highest speeds are attained in this class since there are no contact obstacles involved.
Regular Class
The standard class is a numbered course that can have anywhere between 15 and 22 obstacles, depending on the degree of difficulty desired. Novice courses will of course have fewer obstacles than advanced courses. This will usually include each of the three contact obstacles and a combination of the other obstacles at the course designer's discretion.
Gambler (Joker) Class
This class is set in two distinct parts. In the first part, the handler leads the dog through a series of obstacles at his or her discretion in order to gain the most points. At the end of the time allocated for the first part, a whistle blows and the second part - the Gamble - begins. In the Gamble, the dog must be led through a course that is pre-designed by one of the judges. The challenging part is that there is a strict limitation on how close the handler can be to the dog during the Gamble.
Snooker Class
Based on the pool game of the same name, this class has several red jumps and a series of other obstacles. Each jump bears a number 1, and the other obstacles have a number ranging from 2 to 7. In the first of two sequences, the dog must complete a jump (1) and then a secondary obstacle, then another jump, another secondary, until all jumps have been completed. The secondary obstacles chosen in the first part are at the discretion of the handler, and are usually chosen for maximum points. In the second part, the dog must complete obstacles 2 through 7 in numerical order. In this game the rules are very specific, and failure to follow them precisely can quickly result in disqualification.
While there are quite a few additional classes that have not been covered here, these are the most common and represent a good starting point in learning the basics of dog agility classes. For more information on the classes available to you and your dog, contact your organization for a comprehensive list.
|
