Have AKC Agility League Questions? Well we have the answers!
BASIC FAQ
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Does my dog have to be registered with AKC to compete in League?
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Yes, your dog must be AKC registered, FSS registered, or listed with the AKC Canine Partners or AKC PAL program prior to competing.
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Can bitches in season compete?
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This will be left to the discretion of the local hosting facility. Bitches in season will not be allowed to compete at AKC Agility League Regional or National championships.
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Is there a minimum age requirement for dogs?
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Dogs must be at least 15 months old.
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If my dog earns a higher title during the season may I still compete at the level in which we enrolled?
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Yes, you may complete the season at the level in which you enrolled.
JUMP HEIGHT FAQs
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Can older dogs jump at a lower height?
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Yes, dogs 10 years and older (Veterans) may jump up to two levels lower than their regular jump heights.
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Can dogs change jump heights mid-season?
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Yes. Captains must notify AKC Agility League of jump height changes.
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My dog does not have an AKC Jump Height Card? Can I still compete in League?
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The Agility League does not require participating dogs to have height cards, but you should estimate the height of the dog and enter in the correct jump height class accordingly.
FACILITY REQUIREMENTS FAQ
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What is the smallest space required to host a league team?
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50’ x 70’ is minimum size needed to participate in the Limited division, which features shorter courses for smaller spaces.
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Does AKC need an image of our field?
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Yes, a ring map must be submitted to AKC Agility League showing dimensions as well as an accurate depiction of any columns or obstructions with size of columns included.
JUNIOR HANDLER FAQ
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Can minors (under age 18) compete in Agility League?
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Yes, with permission from a parent or legal guardian. Note: Parents or legal guardians of minors 13 and under need to first send an email to AKC Agility League requesting that their child participate in the league.
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Can a team be formed entirely of Junior Handlers?
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Yes, they would just need an adult to serve as captain.
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Is there a special division for Juniors?
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No, but top Junior Handlers will be spotlighted by AKC Agility League. Junior handler rankings are released at the end of every round, and the top juniors honored at the end of each season.
TEAM FORMATION FAQ
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May I form a team at my home field?
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Yes, teams may be formed by clubs, training schools or groups, or individuals.
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How many dogs and handlers are required to make a team?
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Teams must consist of at least three dogs and two handlers with a maximum of eight dogs per team.
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May we form more than one team?
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Yes, multiple teams may be formed by any individual or facility.
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May dogs run on more than one team?
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Yes, but they must complete a separate run for each team.
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May a dog compete at a higher level than titles earned?
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Yes, a dog can compete up but cannot compete at a lower level than titles earned before the start of a season.
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May we have different skill levels on one team?
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All teams must be classified as one skill level and all dogs on that team are judged by the fault system established for that level. Dogs can compete up in skill level, but not down. But they will be judged and scored according to the level of the team. For instance, a Sophomore level dog competing on a Senior team will be judged as a Senior dog.
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May we have different jump heights, regular/preferred dogs on one team?
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Yes, you may have a mix of jump heights and classes on the same team.
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Do handlers need to register for each separate season?
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No, handlers will register once per year and be issued a handler number for that year by AKC. The year runs according to the date that the handler enrolled. For instance, a handler who signed up on Jan. 6, 2022, will not need to renew until Jan. 6, 2023.
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Do teams register for each season?
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Yes, organizer(s) must register a team for one specific season.
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When are handlers able to register for a specific season?
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Once team enrollment opens for the season and the captain has registered the team, handlers may go in and register their dog(s) on that team.
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May dogs run prior to being enrolled?
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No, all dogs and handlers must be registered with the AKC Agility League prior to running.
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If we lose a team member during the season, may we replace them?
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Yes, captains must report the name of the person leaving the team and the replacement dog to AKC Agility League. Note: the replacement dog and handler must be registered with AKC Agility League before running any rounds.
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Must our team run every season?
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No, teams may choose to run only certain seasons.
COURSES FAQ
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May we change a course to better fit our field?
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No. Major adjustments such as shifting obstacles more than 3 feet, altering directions, or inverting a course are not allowed.
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May we substitute an obstacle?
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Yes, with permission of AKC Agility League staff on a case-by-case basis.
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May we change our location mid-season?
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Yes, but the field classification dimensions must remain the same and a new diagram should be submitted to AKC Agility League staff for review.
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How and when do we receive the course maps?
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The course maps will be released by 8 am ET on the Monday start of each Round (6 two-week rounds per 12-week season). The courses are emailed to the team captains, posted on the League Facebook group, and posted on the AKC Agility League webpage on akc.org.
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Who can judge runs?
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Approved AKC Judges and anyone who has earned a Master Excellent (MX) and/or Master Excellent Jumpers with Weaves (MXJ) title.
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Does the judge have to be a team member?
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No
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Can anyone else judge if we don’t have anyone with MX or MXJ titles?
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It is possible but the captain must apply to AKC League Staff for an exception.
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Can the judge also run a dog?
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Can the judge’s family compete? Yes, if there is someone with sufficient experience to judge. It is preferable that a judge not judge their family members but their family members can compete if there is someone with sufficient experience to judge them.
LEAGUE COMPETITIONS & SCORING FAQ
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Is scoring the same for all levels?
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No, advanced dogs are subject to more penalties than novice dogs.
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May a dog incurring an excusal fault re-run the course?
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Yes
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What if a dog does not complete a course?
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That dog should be left off the score reporting for that round.
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What if a dog does not finish the weave poles? How is that scored?
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Ph.D. & Senior: Dogs will incur five point faults for every missed weave pole entry
and/or every missed weave pole once entering correctly. Dogs may attempt the
weaves three times and then must move on, incurring a 10 point fault. So, a Ph.D. or
Senior dog that does not complete the weaves within three tries will receive a total
25 point fault. Handlers who opt to skip the weaves without three tries will receive a
25-point fault. Groups may opt to rerun a dog that does not perform the weaves
correctly within three tries.Sophomore: There will be 12 weave poles in the Sophomore class and there are no
refusals on the poles, but they must be completed within three tries. If a dog does
not complete in three tries, they should move on and will receive a five-point fault.
Handlers who opt to skip the poles without an attempt will receive a five-point fault.
Groups may opt to rerun a dog that does not complete the poles within three tries.Freshman: There will be six weave poles in the Freshman Regulation class and there
are no refusals on the poles, but they must be completed within three tries. If a dog
does not complete in three tries, they should move on and will receive a five-point
fault. Handlers who opt to skip the weaves without three attempts will receive a
five-point fault. Groups may opt to rerun a dog that does not complete the poles
within three tries.
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How are individual scores calculated?
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Individual scores are based on course time, total faults, jump height, jump class and course type.
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How are team scores calculated?
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Team scores are calculated by averaging the individual scores of all team dogs who ran the course.
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What if we have less than three dogs running in a particular round?
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Teams must have a minimum of three dogs run to be eligible to receive a team score for each round. You should contact AgilityLeague@akc.org if you have this situation.
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May we use hand-held timers such as cell phones?
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Yes
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How are scoring disputes resolved?
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Score sheets must be signed by judge and competitor the day of the run. Any issue should be resolved by handler, judge and captain.
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Should we record decimal places for times?
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Yes, time should be recorded in seconds and milliseconds to two decimal places.
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What if our team is unable to run during the two weeks for a particular round?
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Captains may apply for an extension to run a round late which will be considered on a case-by-case basis by AKC League staff. Extensions must be requested in writing by emailing AKC Agility League and must be received before or during the two week period in which the course should have been run
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Are practice runs allowed?
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Yes and teams may use the course for practice, runthru’s and teaching as they see fit.
RANKINGS FAQ
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How often do rankings come out?
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Rankings are published after completion of each round so every two weeks. Cumulative rankings start with Round 4, and then final standings and season winners are announced at the end of each season.
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Must our team run every round to be eligible for end of season awards?
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Yes, teams must submit scores (with a minimum of three dogs running) for each round in order to be eligible for end of season awards.
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Must individual dogs run every round to be eligible for end of season awards?
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No, to qualify for end of season awards, individual dogs must run at least four of the six rounds.
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If a team of three dogs has an absent member for a round or loses a member, can the team still be eligible for end of season awards?
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No. A full team of at least three dogs must run every round to be eligible for end of season awards. If your team has this situation occur, you should contact AgilityLeague@akc.org.
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