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North Texas Agility Trial Secretary Services

AKC Rules Change updates

Change to Ribbon/Rosette colors for ISC classes. Effective August 1, 2024

CHAPTER 14. Non-Regular Agility Classes. International Sweepstakes Classes
SECTION 4. Ribbons, Rosettes and Awards. It is recommended that non-regular class ribbons, rosettes and other awards (including any monetary awards) if offered, shall be awarded to the first through fourth placements as defined under scoring. The colors of the ribbons and rosettes shall be left to the discretion of the club except the placement color shall not be the same color as the regular class ribbons that are noted in Chapter 1, Section 25. If ribbons or rosettes are offered, they shall bear on the face a facsimile of the seal of the American Kennel Club, the words “Agility Trial,” and the name of the trial-giving club. Ribbons or rosettes must also contain the name of the class, date and location of the event, all of which may appear on the face or the back tab or label.

FEO (For Exhibition Only), Saloon Tires and Fees

Now that FEO is allowed in all classes (at the clubs discretion) questions have come up. Let’s start with the updated regulation from July 1, 2024.

Chapter 1. Purpose Section 21. For Exhibition Only. At the option of the club, a handler may choose to change any class entry into a For Exhibition Only (FEO) run. The handler must notify the scribe and the judge as they enter the ring prior to the start of the run that they are doing an FEO run. The scribe sheet shall be marked “FEO”, no time “NT”, and “E” for an excused, nonqualifying run. Maximum Courses Time for FEO shall be 45 seconds for all classes, except for FAST which will use the set FAST course times. Allowing FEO runs is at the option of the club. Clubs must allow ALL classes to be run as FEO if they choose to offer this option. It must be stated in the premium and any pre-trial publications.

Questions that AKC has received:

  • Can I run my dog in more than one of the same class in the same day (for instance Master Standard and Open Standard). The answer is NO.
  • Can I run my dog with it’s leash on. No. See chapter 4, section 10 in the regulations. Going to the start line the handler can put the leash at the start or in a pocket or be clipped around the handler (around the waist or cross body).
  • Can I enter any class level regardless of the one I am qualified to be in? Yes, but the trial secretary is NOT responsible for policing. They are not required to make sure someone is entered in the right class/height. That is the exhibitor’s responsibility.
  • If squeakers are not allowed is it OK if my toy makes a crinkle sound? No. From the regulations Chapter 5, Section 7. No food, no toys that make noise and no balls that can roll away.

A reminder, exhibitors are still running under the regulations. They cannot ask for special considerations like the leash runner leaving the ring, the judge not looking at their dog, having a friend in the ring as a bar setter to help catch the dog etc.

A few more things:

The Saloon Tire is not approved to be used in any AKC classes, games, or special events, including ISC. The approved AKC tire is the only authorized tire that may be used. Refer to the Regulations Chapter 3, section 3.11.

The current regulations (January 3, 2024) do not list the correct fees. The fees are $3.50 for every entry. Click here to review the updated Regulations with the inserts.

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Effective July 1, 2024

The fault call scored for a For Exhibition Only (FEO) run will be changed from “Excused (E)” to “Absent (ABS).” This means that scribes should still write “FEO” on the scribe sheet, but the Score Table will enter that run as an Absent run.

As a result of this change, the Defeated Dogs report used by Breed Specialty clubs will no longer include FEO runs in their Number of Dogs Entered calculations, and FEO runs will not affect calculations involving Number of Dogs Competing, such as calculating Premier Top 25% counts.

Please take note that the changes mentioned apply to all classes, including Standard, Jumpers With Weaves, FAST, Time-2-Beat, Premier Standard, Premier Jumpers, ISC Agility, ISC Jumping, ACT, and ACT J. Necessary changes to the Regulations for Agility Trials and Agility Course Test (ACT), as well as the Agility Judge’s Guidelines, will be incorporated into the next edition of each book.

From the April 2024 AKC Board Minutes – Changes to Agility

The Board VOTED to approve several recommended changes to the Agility Regulations that are meant to expand opportunities for exhibitors, make an event run more efficiently, and update technical equipment requirements for safety and to reflect current course designs.

These changes will become effective on July 1, 2024. (See Regulation Changes in Appendix A.)

  1. Chapter 1, Section 21 – Allow For Exhibition Only (FEO) in all classes.
  2. Chapter 4, Section 7 – Reduce wheeling of Open courses to one time.
  3. Chapter 6, Section 4 & 5 – Increase the course yardage allowed for 8- & 12-inch heights (and corresponding Preferred heights) for the Excellent and Master levels.
  4. Chapter 6, Equipment Chart –
    1. No longer require the Pause Table in the Excellent and Master Standard classes.
    2. No longer require a “Bar” jump in any courses. This jump type has 2 bars on it.
    3. Only allow one time use of the tire. Tires must have a straight approach to them and then on departure.
    4. Allow the use of a Wall Jump in Excellent and Master classes to add obstacle variety.
  5. Chapter 7, Sections 4 & 5 – Increase the course yardage allowed in Jumpers With Weaves at the Excellent and Master levels for all heights (and corresponding Preferred heights).
  6. Chapter 7, Equipment Chart – Notes the same changes as shown in Item 4 – for the “Bar” Jump, Tire and Wall Jump

August 2022 AKC Board Meeting – Changes to Agility

One Judge Required on Three Passes for Lower-Level Obedience, Agility & Rally Titles

Board Policy was modified to require only one judge for three passes for lower-level titles in Obedience, Agility and Rally. This was a provision that was put into place during the COVID pandemic and is being made permanent effective immediately.

For Agility, the titles this permanent change applies to are:

    • Novice Level – NA – NAP – NAJ – NJP – NF – NFP
    • Open Level – OA – OAP – OAJ – OJP – OF – OFP
    • Excellent Level – AX – AXP – AXJ – XF – XFP
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