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I want to compete, how do I get started?
Here is some helpful advice to get you on the right road to competition.
Am I ready?
Please ask & follow your trainers advice before entering your first show. It may seem like a good idea
to go to a show & have fun but it soon becomes frustrating for you if your dog won't wait & flies off the startline
before you are ready, leaps over the contacts & hurt themselves, chases dogs in other rings or spends
2 years missing the weave entry!
Trust me, thats not fun especially if you are self concious or nervous anyway!
What shows can I enter?
Firsty, your dog must be over 18 months old to compete (Kennel Club shows) although some organisations allow dogs to do "nursey classes" from 16 months old. Please check carefully in the rules.
There are plenty of smaller "fun" shows these days to get rid of those early nerves & teething problems. When you are brave enough, you can then enter larger shows.
There are now several different organisations that run shows and yes you guessed it, they all have different
rules!
Here is a list of organisations for you to look at:
All of these require some form of registration & measuring proceedure before you can compete. This enables you to be entered into the correct height catagories.
Kennel Club show rules & information
Before your dog is allowed to compete it must be registered with the Kennel Club &
have an official measurement. The registration number is entered into a Record Book & a measurement can the take place.
Details of Registering can be found on:
Details of Agility, measuring dates, measurers details & the online shop to purchase Record Books
can be found on:
What do I take to my measuring session?
Please don't forget the dog!
Where do I find information on what shows are being held?
Here is the best place to find shows to enter as all of the above organisations advertise their
shows on this site.
What level class am I in?
The Kennel Club Class Structure now has Grades 1 to 7 with Grade 1 being the lowest Grade.
Handlers can progress to the next grade by winning classes or by collecting points. You must enter clear rounds & placings in your Record Book. Please see the KC grading system page for details:
Link to the Kennel Club website to view the class structure to see what Grade you are in.
Another link to view the Kennel Club class structure to see what Grade you are in.
Link to the UKA website to view the class structure rules & regs to see what Grade you are in.
How do I enter?
Online show entries are so easy to do once you have set it up. They charge a small admin fee
but it does save you hunting around for a stamp & envelope.
Here is some helpful advice on filling in your entry forms & general info.
If you are sending your entry, then you need to print a copy of the schedule & entry form.
Please to remember to send your entry before the closing date & no, they don't give refunds if you can't attend the show!
The Show
Helpful hints:
If the show opens at 7.30am then you can arrive any time after that time.
Arrive in plenty of time to toilet your dogs, cover your vehicle etc if its hot & see where your rings are.
If judging starts at 8.30am then you need to have walked your courses before this time. Often it is announced on the
loudspeaker that your ring is ready for walking but NOT ALWAYS so keep your eyes open. All rings should
be ready for walking at least 20mins before judging starts.
A class roughly gets through 60 dogs in an hour depending on what standard the class is or
whether it's jumping or agility. Therefore if your running order is number 120 & your class started at
8.30am then you should get ready to check if its time to run your class from 10.15am -10.30am.You must
try to run as close as your running order as you can. If you have two courses to run at the same time
then tell the booking in person on the ring that you will be a bit late.
Remember to toilet yourself & your dog before it runs as the extra excitment of a show can tend to
work wonders on the bowel/bladder especially when you are halfway round a course!! If your dog fouls in the ring
it will be eliminated! Always have a poobag in your pocket just in case this happens so you can pick
it straight up & leave the ring.
Remember, NO FOOD IN THE AGILITY RING or you will be eliminated & probably
set upon by other handlers who's dogs are food motivated especially if you dropped any!! If you need food
to do a round of agility, then your dog isn't ready to compete.
Remember, NO I.D TAGS (of the dangling variety) on your dogs collar in the ring or
you will also be eliminated! The collar should be a "flat type leather or material collar with a clip or buckle fastening.
If you want your dogs I.D on it then it can be embroidered on a material collar or you can purchase a flat I.D tag that
becomes integral to the collar.
For more info on one of these:
Book your running order number in with the "caller" usually someone with a clipboard hovering round the queue. When you have done this, join the queue & please try not to crowd other dogs & handlers. Not all dogs are friendly!
Just before you are due to run someone will ask you for your running order again. Say your name as well to them so they know they have the correct person. This sheet is given to the "scrimer" to write your results & time on.
Only start the course when the Judge or scrimer tells you to do so. They will usually tell you in the judges briefing before the class starts who will start you. I tend to check both before I run as after a long day things can get muddled.
When your dog has finished its run, please vacate the finish line as quickly as possible as the next dog will soon be finishing. Put your lead on quickly as you are rewarding & giving loads of cuddles whilest moving away from the finish as the next dog may not be too pleased to see your dog jumping around on its lead!
Finally, good luck & have fun!
© Copyright Hannah Mitchell 2006-2009
