Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many dogs will be invited? Five dogs per breed will be invited.
  • Will PAL/ILP dogs be invited? Yes. All breeds eligible to compete in AKC Companion Events will be included.
  • When is the qualifying period? It is July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008.
  • How will the top dogs be determined? The top dogs will be determined by the Top MACH Dog formula (Double Q's x 10 + MACH points) that dogs have earned during the event qualifying period. Example: Dog has 520 MACH points and nine Double Q's, therefore, (9 x 10 = 90) + 520, so their total "formula value" will be 610.
  • How can I find out where my dog is ranked? There is a free report available online to view the top five dogs by breed during the event qualifying period. Also, there is a purchasable report in the AKC online store that lists the top 25 ranked dogs by breed during the event qualifying period.
  • What about Preferred dogs? For any breed that does not have five dogs ranked with MACH points then the Preferred dogs will be invited ranked based on the number of Double Q's they have earned during the qualifying period. Preferred dogs must have earned at least one Double Q to be ranked.
  • Will Preferred dogs jump at their Preferred height? Yes they will, but they will have the same course time and will be scored with the dogs in the Regular jump height, e.g. 4" dogs will jump at 4" but will be scored with the 8" dogs.
  • May I jump above my official AKC height class? No, all dogs must jump in their official AKC jump height; they may not move up.
  • What will the format be? Each day a Standard and a JWW course will be run. After the completion of the four rounds, over two days, the top dogs in each height will move to the finals. The complete scoring description will be announced on the agility page on the AKC website.
  • If I don't make it to the finals, am I eligible for any special awards? YES! Awards will be given for the top dogs in individual rounds. Cash awards will be awarded to the top dogs based on the best three out of four rounds and the top group winners over the first four rounds. A full explanation will be in the upcoming invitation. AKC and J & J Dog Supplies sponsor these special awards.
  • I have heard that other countries have been invited. Does that affect how many of each breed will be invited? No, those numbers are separate. Each country may send three dogs of their choosing. However, all dogs must compete at the AKC required jump height.