Trial Secretaries / Superintendents / Trial Committees

This is the Trial Secretary/Superintendents page for Companion Events! We are pleased to offer this page as a resource to all Trial Secretaries, Superintendents, and Trial Committees. Here you can find the most up to date information on new regulations and proper procedures.  We will post announcements and other information regarding AKC regulations on this page.  If you are a new Trial Secretary or a seasoned Superintendent, you should be able to find valuable information here.  If you ever wish to speak with someone directly in the Companion Events division, please don't hesitate to contact us!

The following amendments to the Companion Events regulations will be effective January 1, 2012. (10/11)

Regulations for Agility Trials (amended to September 1, 2011)
Chapter 1, SECTION 5. Making Application. A Club or association that meets the requirements of the American Kennel Club that wishes to hold a trial at which qualifying scores toward titles may be earned must make application to the American Kennel Club on the form provided for permission to hold the trial. An application fee must accompany each application.

A club may be approved to hold up to eight licensed or member events in a calendar year. A club can be approved to hold separate trials on consecutive days, but will not be approved to hold more than one trial on any single day. Each day is considered a separate trial.

Application for licensed or member trials must be received by the American Kennel Club at least EIGHTEEN (18) weeks before the closing date for entries of the event.

The following amendments to the Companion Events regulations will be effective September 1, 2011. (5/11)

Regulations for Agility Trials

Chapter 1, Section 27. Recording Fees. At every licensed or member club trial, a recording fee of $3.50 shall be required for the first entry of each dog, and $3.00 for each additional entry of the same dog. (Each day is a separate trial.) Non-regular agility classes do not require a recording fee. When the recording fee is calculated, it does not include withdrawals.

Rally Regulations

Chapter 1, Section 5. Recording Fees. At every licensed or member club rally trial, a recording fee of $3.50 shall be required for the first entry of each dog and a recording fee of $3.00 shall be required for each additional entry of the same dog. A marked catalog and all recording fees must be sent to AKC so as to reach its office within seven days after the close of the trial. Clubs should ensure their trial records and software is updated to correctly calculate the amended recording fees for agility and rally entries.

Entry of Ineligible Dog Chapter 1, Section 16b – Obedience Regulations (Obedience and Rally) (2/11)

As of January 1st, 2010 dogs entered in an "A" class in which either the dog or the handler is ineligible can be moved to the same level "B" class after the closing date if the request is made in writing to the trial secretary or superintendent more than 30 minutes before the start of the trial.

This regulation was put in place to assist exhibitors new to AKC competition who entered the wrong class by mistake. This regulation was NOT put in place for exhibitors to try to change handlers to avoid class conflicts in other events on the day of the trial, or to avoid a last minute judge change.

If judges change the exhibitor may request a refund of his/her entry fee OR they may compete because they are still eligible for the class they entered.

Exhibitors under no circumstances may move from a "B" class to an "A" class. Everyone is eligible to compete in the "B" class as long as they are in good standing with the AKC and have a dog with an AKC identification number.

This move is not allowed for exhibitors that may have earned a title in an "A" class and want to compete in the "B" class the following day. Earning a title does NOT make the exhibitor or the dog INELIGIBLE for the "A" class. Exhibitors have 60 days to remain in the "A" class after earning a title. The exhibitor must finish out their entries in the "A" classes that were originally entered or choose to be absent for the remaining entries.

Optional Titling Classes in Obedience and "High in Trial" (8/10)

The optional titling classes; Beginner Novice, Graduate Novice, Graduate Open, and Versatility are NOT included in the award for "Highest Scoring Dog in the Regular Classes" (High in Trial) award. Optional titling classes are not considered Regular Classes. Regular Classes are Novice, Open and Utility.

This is in the Obedience Regulations in Chapter 1, Sections 21 & 22.

Agility Jump Height Table Card (8/10)

Here is a printable/portable table for agility jump heights at a glance.

Signs for the Beginner Novice Class (8/10)

Rally signs must be provided to the judge for the new Beginner Novice class. The signs that must be provided are:

Right Turn – #5
Left Trun – #6
About Turn – #7
Slow Pace – #17
Fast Pace – #18
Normal Pace – #19
Halt/Sit – #2

Two of each "Turn" sign must be provided, this includes the "About Turn". Signs do not need to be numbered in order to indicate the next sign in the heeling pattern.

"A" Class eligibility for Beginner Novice Entries (8/10)

Any dog/handler that has never titled in AKC Obedience may enter the Beginner Novice "A" class. If a dog/handler has ever earned an AKC Obedience title (i.e. CD, CDX, UD) they must compete in the Beginner Novice "B" class.

Handlers and dogs that have earned a Beginner Novice title from the "A" class and have no other AKC obedience titles are still eligible for the Regular Novice "A" class in obedience.

Handlers and dogs that have earned the Beginner Novice title must enter the Rally Novice "B" class, because the Beginner Novice title is an AKC obedience title.

Dogs that have earned the Beginner Novice title are ineligible for any Rally "A" class and must be entered only in Rally "B" classes.

Judges books and score sheets for Beginner Novice are available in the downloadable forms page under Obedience Events – Judges Books and Scoresheets. (7/10)

AKC Canine Partners in Catalogs and Premium Lists (Obedience, Rally, Agility) (7/10)

When putting together a premium list and the club wishes to allow dogs listed in the Canine Partners program it should be worded as follows:

"Entries will be accepted for dogs listed in the AKC Canine Partners program" or "Entries are open to All-American dogs listed in the AKC Canine Partners program"

When making the catalog, mixed-breed dogs should NOT be listed with the mixes of the dog. Designer names such as "Labradoodle" and "Puggle" are also not acceptable. The breed designation in the catalog should be listed as "All-American Dog" regardless of what the owner/handler writes on the entry form.

Templates Available for Agility Premium Lists (7/10)

Agility Premium List templates are now available! Send an email to agilitypremiums@akc.org to request one.

Arranging Entries by Jump Height (Obedience) (7/10)

Chapter 1, Section 3 in the Obedience Regulations, gives clubs the option to arrange entries according to jump height order in all classes in which jumps are used. If a club should choose this option, it needs to be stated in the premium list what jump height will begin the class and if the order will be ascending or descending.

The order does not need to be the same each day. The first day could be in ascending order and the next day in descending order. This also has to be stated in the premium list. Starting dogs in reverse catalog order is considered in catalog order. The judge’s books will list the dogs in the order they are to be judged that day.

Example:

Saturday’s judge’s book:
301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310
Sunday’s judge’s book:
310 309 308 307 306 305 304 303 302 301

Move-ups Between Optional Titling Classes and the Regular Classes (Obedience) (7/10)

Move ups are only allowed between the Regular Classes (i.e. Novice to Open) in obedience, and only at the club's option.

Move-ups are NOT allowed between one Optional Titling class and another (i.e. Graduate Novice to Graduate Open) OR between Optional Titling classes and the Regular classes (i.e. Beginner Novice and Regular Novice).

"A" Class Eligibility (Obedience and Rally) (7/10)

As of January 1st, 2010 exhibitors have the option to move from an "A" class to the same level "B" class after the close of entries if they or the dog are ineligible for the "A" class by the date of the trial.

This is not at the club's option, if the exhibitor requests in writing to be moved to the same level "B" class due to ineligibility for that level "A" class, they should be moved.

Please note: The exhibitor must request this; trial secretaries and superintendents may not move entries after the closing date from "A" to "B" unless the exhibitor is the one who requests it.

Premium Lists and Move-ups for Obedience and Rally (11/20/06)

Move-ups must be stated in the Premium List for all Obedience and Rally trials. It is the Club's decision to allow move-ups. The Club's move-up policy must be stated either way; even if the club does not allow move-ups. Please refer to Chapter 1, Section 16 in the Obedience Regulations.

60 day time limit in obedience and rally: 

There is quite a bit of confusion regarding 60 day time limits and earning titles in obedience and rally. Provided is a clarification of the 60 day time limit in both of these events.  

1.) The 60 day time limit does not cross over events (obedience and rally). 

2.) When a CD title is earned the exhibitor does NOT have 60 days to remain in any rally "A" classes they are entered in. The exhibitor must contact the Trial Secretary or Superintendent and request to be moved to the rally B class for any trial that has not closed.

3.) The 60 day time limit for both obedience and rally only applies to the DOG that earned the title. If an exhibitor is handling two dogs at the same level in either sport, the second dog must be moved to the "B" class (in that sport) for the next trial entered where the entries have not closed.  

Rally Move-ups  

If a club allows move-ups at their trial the exhibitor may submit a move-up form in writing 30 minutes prior to the start of the trial he/she is entered in.  If there are two trials being held on the same site/same day there should be a start time listed for both events, even if the second event starts after 12 noon.  If an exhibitor is entered in the second trial and the second trial begins at 1:00pm, the exhibitor has until 12:30pm to submit a move-up form to the Trial Secretary or Superintendent.  All Clubs must state clearly in their premium list whether move-ups will be allowed.  This means that the club must state if they ARE allowing move-ups or the ARE NOT allowing move-ups.  Move up forms can be found on the AKC website downloadable forms page.

Rally Advanced A and Excellent A eligibility 

Handlers with previous experience in AKC obedience can enter the Advanced and Excellent A classes in rally as long as the dog they are exhibiting has not earned any AKC obedience titles.  A handler's previous obedience experience only affects the rally Novice A class, no other class.  After the Novice class, eligibility for the A classes is determined by the dog's obedience experience.