Agility Dog Association of Australia Ltd

Rules and Regulations Overview

NOTE: The 8.1 Edition of the ADAA Regulations (PDF 856 kb) is available for download.  The 8th Edition of the Regulations is effective from 1 July 2006.  Please note that a limited number of changes (mainly Administrative) have been be made with an effective date of 1 April 2008 - view the Amendment Summary Page (PDF 42kb).

Dog Sizes  Event Variety   Event Standards  Rule Book  Titles

Dog Sizes

There are four different height divisions, which compete separately. All heights are measured at the wither.

• Toy - Restricted to dogs up to and including 300mm. This height class jumps 250mm in the International Programme and 150mm in the Combined, Junior and Regular Standards. This height class is not offered for Combined Open Pairs and Team events. When this happens the Mini class will be jumping 250mm height and Toy dogs are welcomed to compete in these events. Toy sized dogs are eligible to compete in Mini Classes, subject to the conditions of the competition.
• Mini - Restricted to dogs up to and including 400mm. The Combined, Junior and Regular Standards jump 250mm. International Programme Standards (Intermediate, Open and Advanced) jump 400mm. Dogs in the International programme are encouraged to enter their dogs in Midi classes (when entering Combined Programme events) where the bar height is 400mm to ensure good jumping style in maintained as the dog begins its agility career.
  
  Toy and Mini have more time (higher SCT) to complete a course because of their shorter legs.
• Midi - Restricted to dogs up to and including 500mm. This height class jumps 550mm in the International Programme and 400mm in the Combined, Junior and Regular Standards. Dogs in the International programme are encouraged to enter their dogs in Maxi classes (when entering Combined Programme events) where the bar height is 550mm to ensure good jumping style in maintained as the dog begins its agility career. This height class is not offered for Combined Open Pairs and Team events. When this happens the Maxi class will be jumping 550mm height and Midi dogs are welcomed to compete in these events. Midi sized dogs are eligible to compete in Mini Classes, subject to the conditions of the competition.
• Maxi - No restriction in dog height. This height class jumps 650mm in the International Programme and 550mm in the Combined, Junior and Regular Standards.

The Intermediate, Open and Advanced class jump heights were developed to International standards. The Combined, Regular and Junior programme jump heights are offered as an alternate jump height for beginning, less confident or veteran dogs or to encourage various breeds/structures of dogs.

These options preserve the athletic nature of dog agility and provide a safe performance level for the majority of dog breeds.

[Top]

Variety of Tests and Games

• Agility Tests - Comprised of all of the obstacles (15 to 20 in total) and the judge sets a course suitable for the standard.
• Jumping Tests - Comprised of all the obstacles except contact equipment (the ramp obstacles) and require a faster rate of travel.
• Games - Agility games, which add variety and an extra challenge for the handler. In some games they allow a handler to avoid obstacles that their dog is not good at and repeat obstacles that their dog excels at.
  • Individual Games, are Games in which handlers and dogs compete on an individual basis, not as a member of a team. These include Gamblers and Snooker.
  • Pairs Games, are Games in which two dogs (each with a separate handler) participate as a team. These include Pairs Relay and Strategic Pairs.
  • Team Games, are Games in which three or more dogs (each with a separate handler) participate as a team. These include Team Relay and Team Knockout.
    
    See also the articles on The Games We Play!,  Games - where do I start? and our tips on Finding a Partner or Team Mates.
• Challenge Events - Consist of multiple rounds, with results of the rounds being added together. These are often run over a combination of days.

[Top]

Standards

Combined Program

• Elementary -  Simple course design; no weave poles, tyres, spread jumps or seesaw. Rate of travel in these events is 2 metres/sec. Dogs must be IP or RP registered. Dogs with an BAAD, AAD, SAAD, R-SAAD, MAAD or R-MAAD title are excluded from this level.
• Starters - Same as Elementary except includes weave pole where errors may be corrected without penalty. Rate of travel in these events is 2 metres/sec. Dogs must be IP or RP registered. Dogs with an AAD, SAAD, R-SAAD, MAAD or R-MAAD title are excluded from this level.
• Open Pairs or Team Games – Open A is available to all dogs. Open B is restricted to dogs that have gained at least their AAD Title. Tyre and Spread Jump are not used. There is no Midi or Toy classes offered in these events.

International Program

• Intermediate - A good test for dogs with some experience, without being too complex. Dogs are given more time than in Open standard courses. Rate of travel in agility events is 2.5 metres/sec. Dogs must be IP registered. Dogs with a SAAD or MAAD title are excluded from this level.
• Open - A complex course design, but still a very doable course, which should flow but have a suitable amount of challenges to test your teamwork with your dog. Rate of travel in agility events is 3 metres/sec. Unless otherwise stated this class is open to all IP registered dogs. Open A is available to all dogs. Open B is restricted to dogs that have gained at least their AAD Title.
• Advanced - A course of very complex design (greater degree of difficulty than found at the Open Standard). Rate of travel in agility events is 3.5 metres/sec. Open to all IP registered dogs that have been awarded the title SAAD.

Regular Program

• Regular Intermediate - A good test for dogs with some experience, without being too complex. Rate of travel in agility events is 2.25 metres/sec. Dogs must be RP registered. Dogs with a R-SAAD or above, SAAD or MAAD title are excluded from this level.
• Regular Open - A complex course design, but still a very doable course, which should flow but have a suitable amount of challenges to test your teamwork with your dog. Rate of travel in agility events is 2.75 metres/sec. Unless otherwise stated this class is open to all RP registered. Regular-Open A is available to all dogs. Regular-Open B is restricted to dogs that have gained at least their AAD Title.

Junior Program

• Junior Elementary - Simple course design; no weave poles, tyre, spread jumps or seesaw. Dogs are not eliminated for 3 refusals. Rate of travel in these events is 2 metres/sec. Dogs may be RP or IP registered. Dogs may have any titles as it is the handler who earns the card.
• Junior Starters - Same as Junior-Elemenaory except includes weave poles where errors may be corrected without penalty. Dogs are not eliminated for 3 refusals. Rate of travel in these events is 2 metres/sec. Dogs may be RP or IP registered. Dogs may have any titles as it is the handler who earns the card.
• Junior Intermediate - A good test for handlers with some experience, without being too complex; no spread jumps or tyres. Dogs are eliminated for 3 refusals. Rate of travel in agility events is 2.25 metres/sec. Dogs may be RP or IP registered. Dogs may have any titles as it is the handler who earns the card.
• Junior Handler Owned and Trained (JHOT) - Junior Handler and Dog combinations may be specifically registered as a JHOT. This must be done for the combination to be eligible for the issuing of JHOT Certificates and achieve JHOT Titles. ADAA may cancel a Competitor’s JHOT registration if it is determined that the Dog is handled in Competition more than 90% of the time and/or trained by someone else. This does not effect their ability to enter events within the Junior Programme.  Download the JHOT Registration Form (PDF).

Notes

• Mini/Toy
  Mini and Toy Rates of travel are 0.25 metres/sec slower than Maxi/Midi to compensate for them being smaller.
• Jumping
  Jumping Rates of travel are 0.50 metres/sec faster than Agility because dogs do not have to slow down for contact pieces of equipment.
  
  See Titles for information about what is required to achieve these awards.

[Top]

Rule Book

This is an easy to read rulebook. It contains simple diagrams of all obstacles and outlines everything that is involved with Agility competitions and the way ADAA Ltd governs Agility.

The current (8th) edition was released in July 2006.  If you join ADAA (see membership details), you can order a rule book with your membership.  You can also purchase a rule book - details are in our Agility Shop.  The 8th Edition of the ADAA Regulations is also available for download (PDF 856 kb). 

[Top]