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Last Updated: November 23, 1998

USDAA Board Realigns Programs

USDAA Board Adopts Variety of Rule Amendments in Planning for Expansion
As of November 23, 1998

The USDAA Board of Directors wrapped up its annual meeting this week with a variety of amendments to the rules and regulations. Motivated by tournament expansion, jump heights will be revised to more closely align with heights utilized in a majority of countries around the world. Jump heights of 12", 16", 22" and 26" will be utilized beginning in 1999, with transition permitted through March 31, 1999. Groups who have test schedules (a.k.a. premium lists) out already for the first quarter of 1999 must send out amended entry forms if they wish to make the transition early.

Measurement "cut-off's" will remain unchanged, with dogs 12" or less jumping 12", 16" or less jumping 16", 21" or less jumping 22", and dogs over 21" jumping 26". As was the case prior to 1998, a dog can only jump "higher" than its required minimum. The jumping span for the long jump will remain unchanged at 20", 36", 48" and 60" for the 12", 16", 22" and 26" heights respectively. Meanwhile the table heights will be limited to 12", 16" and 24" (no this is not a mistake; all dogs over 16" will use a 24" table).

Schedule of Regulation Jump Heights 
Dog Height        Jump Height    Long Jump Span      Table Height 
12" or less           12"            20"                  12" 
16" or less           16"            36"                  16" (or 12") 
21" or less           22"            48"                  24" 
Over 21"              26"            60"                  24"

Schedule of "Performance Class" Jump Heights 
Dog Height        Jump Height    Long Jump Span      Table Height 
12" or less           8"             12"                  12" 
16" or less          12"             24"                  12" 
21" or less          16"             36"                  16" 
Over 21"             22"             48"                  16"

SPECIAL NOTE: In making modifications to jumps and hurdles, it is important that the 30" cup be retained, as the board is still contemplating a specialty class or other use for this jump height category.

The change in jump heights will facilitate the conduct of the Grand Prix of Dog AgilitySM regional qualifiers in Mexico City on February 27 & 28, 1999, and will provide the environment necessary to attract competitors from other continents. Plans are underway to provide entry to the Grand Prix Championships to residents of other continents based upon criteria yet to be determined.

At the same time, the Board reviewed a variety of other rules, including some administrative in nature. Key provisions include:

Transformation of the current Veterans Program to a "Performance Program", being open to any dogs that wish to compete with lower jump heights and a lower A-frame. Jump heights will be 8", 12", 16" & 22". The A-frame will be set at 5'6" (66"). Nonstandard classes will be available at three levels, with the masters performance nonstandard classes being titling classes, essentially mirroring the regular program class structure. (The Performance Program will begin April 1, 1999). Titles and class names are still under review.
Dogs competing in Veterans classes through March 31 will carry qualifying scores over into the Performance Program, and if in Veterans nonstandard classes, will move into Masters Performance nonstandard classes if they wish to complete their title after March 31, 1999.
Groups may still offer awards based upon the age of dogs at their option, but titles will be issued only under the overall program as revised beginning April 1.
Increase of time standards for the 16" height class (SCT rates for dogs in the 18" class have escalated to above-operating-range rates in the past year; a two inch lowering of the jump height is expected to improve speed capability of these dogs) (Effective January 1, 1999)
Define time standards for the 12" height class (with the escalation of SCT rates over the past two years, time has been an almost overwhelming challenge for many 12" dogs; rates have been in excess of the operating range, so a separate operating range has been established for dogs competing in the 12" classes) (Effective January 1, 1999)
Scoring on the see-saw changed to 5 faults for all classes. (Effective January 1, 1999)
Top Ten Awards will be made on a sliding scale, with one (1) additional placement awarded for every ten (10) dogs competing, and with each place receiving two (2) additional points for each additional ten dogs competing. (Effective January 1, 1999).
Restrictions were partially lifted on judges in who they could and could not judge. A household/instructor rule was adopted in lieu of the "household/active club membership" rule. This will enable more groups to draw on local judges, and hopefully draw additional qualified individuals to the judging corps. (Effective immediately.)
Four additional masters standard agility qualifications to be required for ADCH title for dogs not having earned their MAD title by December 31, 1999. (Effective January 1, 2000).
Jumpers class in the Dog Agility Masters team tournament may now count toward titling; this makes snooker and jumpers both eligible at host club option. (Effective January 1, 1999.)
Qualification standards in all 1999 tournaments set:
- Grand Prix of Dog Agility SM championship event requires ten (10) or fewer faults in a single round at a regional event.
- Dog Agility Steeplechase SM championship event requires being a finalist in regional competition
- Dog Agility Masters championship event requires being on a team in the top 75% of standings at the regional level, or an individual must have been a member of a placing team at a past team championship event; a team comprised of two qualified individuals may adopt a nonqualifying substitute to finish out a team
Contingent upon sufficient numbers of regional events being held in the West, a Western Championship will be held the last weekend of September 1999, with the Eastern Championship held the last weekend of October 1999.
Judges will not be allowed to change the SCT or time allotted for point accumulation or gambles after the first dog in a class has run. (Effective immediately.)
Slats on the A-frame shall range from 1/4" to 1/2" in depth with no tolerance. (Effective January 1, 2000.)
12" table is the lowest height in Performance program and Junior Handlers. (Effective immediately.)
Number of finalists in 1999 Dog Agility Steeplechase Championship event and the 1999 Grand Prix of Dog Agility Championship event will be determined based on 15% of dogs competing with a minimum of eight (8) dogs and a maximum of sixteen (16) dogs per height class, with the exception that wild cards may increase the maximum number in each height class. The number of finalists in regional Steeplechase competition will be set by tournament rules.
In Masters Snooker class, the running order may be posted prior to the walk-throughs and may be published in the standard running order list; however, a group must be certain that a randomized running order is obtained. (Effective immediately.)
New rule books will be sent to all subscribers to the Dog Agility Report as soon as received from the printers. Estimated date is December 15. For more detailed discussion and precise wording of rules, Subscribe to the Dog Agility Report TM, USDAA's official publication. Subscription includes a complete rule book and four quarterly issues of the Dog Agility Report.