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How do I make heads or tails of all these agility titles?
Agility titles are grouped according to the sanctioning body. AKC and
UKC sanction agility events, but so do a number of other organizations
dedicated exclusively to cynosports generally or agility specifically.
In the United States and Canada, these organizations include CPE
(Canine Performance Events), DOCNA (Dogs on Course in North America),
NADAC (North American Dog Agility Council) and USDAA (United States Dog
Agility Association).
AKC Agility Titles:
Novice Agility (NA) - Three qualifying legs earned in Standard
competition at the novice level. Obstacles include jumps, tunnels,
weave poles, dogwalk, A-frame, seesaw, pause table.
Novice Jumpers with Weaves (NAJ) - Three qualifying legs earned in
Jumpers with Weaves competition at the novice level. Obstacles include
jumps, weave poles, and possibly a tunnel or two.
Open Agility (OA) - Three qualifying legs earned in Standard
competition at the open level.
Open Jumpers with Weaves (OAJ) - Three qualifying legs earned in
Jumpers with Weaves competition at the open level.
Excellent Agility (AX) - Three qualifying legs earned in Standard
competition at the Excellent level, in the Excellent A class (some time
faults permitted).
Excellent Jumpers with Weaves (AXJ) - Three qualifying legs earned in
Jumpers with Weaves competition at the Excellent level, in the
Excellent A class (some time faults permitted).
Master Agility (MX) - Ten qualifying legs earned in Standard
competition at the Excellent level, in the Excellent B class (no time
faults permitted).
Master Jumpers with Weaves (MXJ) - Ten qualifying legs earned in
Jumpers with Weaves competition at the Excellent level, in the
Excellent B class (no time faults permitted).
Master Agility Champion (MACH) - Twenty "Double Qs" (qualifying in
Excellent B Standard and Excellent B Jumpers with Weaves on the same
day) and 750 speed points. One speed point is earned for every second
a dog's qualifying Excellent B leg is under the standard course time
allotted by the judge.
FAQ: What is canine agility?
Canine agility is a rapidly-growing spectator sport involving dog and
handler in the navigation of specially-designed timed obstacle courses.
Obstacles commonly encountered on agility courses include jumps,
tunnels, weave poles, tables, and even seesaws! Dog-and-handler teams
are organized into different jump height classes to compete against
each other and against the clock. For most agility organizations, no
competitive "win" is necessary to achieve an agility title, as long as
your dog is beating the clock at your level of competition. Courses
range from simple S-shapes at the novice level to mind-bendingly
complicated patterns intended to challenge the experienced elite.
FAQ: How does my dog become an AKC CGC?
See www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm.
Your dog will be asked to perform ten simple activities. They are:
1. Accepting a friendly stranger;
2. Sitting politely for petting;
3. Appearance and grooming;
4. Out for a walk - walking on a loose lead;
5. Walking through a crowd;
6. Sit and down on command and staying in place;
7. Coming when called;
8. Reaction to another dog;
9. Reaction to distraction;
10. Supervised Separation.
Many training facilities offer AKC CGC prep courses.
FAQ: How does my dog becaome a UKC Champion? www.ukcdogs.com/Conf
FAQ: How does my dog become a therapy dog? ISAA members Russ and Linda Hansen answer:
Therapy Dog International (TDI) is an AKC approved certification to test and register qualified dogs and handlers for
the purpose of visitations to hospitals, nursing homes and facilities or any place where therapy dogs are needed. TDI
also does a lot with reading and young kids. Several schools have programs to help young readers become more
comfortable reading. The kids are hooked up with a therapy dog who “listens” to the kids read.
To become certified by TDI, the dog must first pass the CGC test. Then they have to pass additional testing. They are
tested around medical equipment such as wheelchairs, crutches, canes, walkers, or other devices. The dogs must walk
on a loose leash and pass food on the ground. Dogs must respond appropriately to people walking with uneven gaits,
shuffling, breathing, heavily, coughing, wheezing or other distractions which may be encountered in a facility. The dog
must be willing to be petted by strangers.
We do not have the dogs wear vests during therapy visits because we want people to be able to pet the dogs. The
close contact is important and vests interfere.
The dogs receive Therapy Dog tags to wear on their collars and the handlers receive an identification card with the
member dog's photo to show that the dog has been certified. TDI also provides liability insurance coverage during
visits. TDI's Reading Program "Children Reading to Dogs" is a relatively new program for TDI. Libraries and schools
schedule reading hours for children and Therapy Dogs. Children and dogs bond together over a shared story.
Children's confidence and reading skills grow in a relaxing environment.
Below, a picture of Kiska at work.
Information for TDI can be found at www.tdi-dog.org
Agility titles are grouped according to the sanctioning body. AKC and
UKC sanction agility events, but so do a number of other organizations
dedicated exclusively to cynosports generally or agility specifically.
In the United States and Canada, these organizations include CPE
(Canine Performance Events), DOCNA (Dogs on Course in North America),
NADAC (North American Dog Agility Council) and USDAA (United States Dog
Agility Association).
AKC Agility Titles:
Novice Agility (NA) - Three qualifying legs earned in Standard
competition at the novice level. Obstacles include jumps, tunnels,
weave poles, dogwalk, A-frame, seesaw, pause table.
Novice Jumpers with Weaves (NAJ) - Three qualifying legs earned in
Jumpers with Weaves competition at the novice level. Obstacles include
jumps, weave poles, and possibly a tunnel or two.
Open Agility (OA) - Three qualifying legs earned in Standard
competition at the open level.
Open Jumpers with Weaves (OAJ) - Three qualifying legs earned in
Jumpers with Weaves competition at the open level.
Excellent Agility (AX) - Three qualifying legs earned in Standard
competition at the Excellent level, in the Excellent A class (some time
faults permitted).
Excellent Jumpers with Weaves (AXJ) - Three qualifying legs earned in
Jumpers with Weaves competition at the Excellent level, in the
Excellent A class (some time faults permitted).
Master Agility (MX) - Ten qualifying legs earned in Standard
competition at the Excellent level, in the Excellent B class (no time
faults permitted).
Master Jumpers with Weaves (MXJ) - Ten qualifying legs earned in
Jumpers with Weaves competition at the Excellent level, in the
Excellent B class (no time faults permitted).
Master Agility Champion (MACH) - Twenty "Double Qs" (qualifying in
Excellent B Standard and Excellent B Jumpers with Weaves on the same
day) and 750 speed points. One speed point is earned for every second
a dog's qualifying Excellent B leg is under the standard course time
allotted by the judge.
FAQ: What is canine agility?
Canine agility is a rapidly-growing spectator sport involving dog and
handler in the navigation of specially-designed timed obstacle courses.
Obstacles commonly encountered on agility courses include jumps,
tunnels, weave poles, tables, and even seesaws! Dog-and-handler teams
are organized into different jump height classes to compete against
each other and against the clock. For most agility organizations, no
competitive "win" is necessary to achieve an agility title, as long as
your dog is beating the clock at your level of competition. Courses
range from simple S-shapes at the novice level to mind-bendingly
complicated patterns intended to challenge the experienced elite.
FAQ: How does my dog become an AKC CGC?
See www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm.
Your dog will be asked to perform ten simple activities. They are:
1. Accepting a friendly stranger;
2. Sitting politely for petting;
3. Appearance and grooming;
4. Out for a walk - walking on a loose lead;
5. Walking through a crowd;
6. Sit and down on command and staying in place;
7. Coming when called;
8. Reaction to another dog;
9. Reaction to distraction;
10. Supervised Separation.
Many training facilities offer AKC CGC prep courses.
FAQ: How does my dog becaome a UKC Champion? www.ukcdogs.com/Conf
FAQ: How does my dog become a therapy dog? ISAA members Russ and Linda Hansen answer:
Therapy Dog International (TDI) is an AKC approved certification to test and register qualified dogs and handlers for
the purpose of visitations to hospitals, nursing homes and facilities or any place where therapy dogs are needed. TDI
also does a lot with reading and young kids. Several schools have programs to help young readers become more
comfortable reading. The kids are hooked up with a therapy dog who “listens” to the kids read.
To become certified by TDI, the dog must first pass the CGC test. Then they have to pass additional testing. They are
tested around medical equipment such as wheelchairs, crutches, canes, walkers, or other devices. The dogs must walk
on a loose leash and pass food on the ground. Dogs must respond appropriately to people walking with uneven gaits,
shuffling, breathing, heavily, coughing, wheezing or other distractions which may be encountered in a facility. The dog
must be willing to be petted by strangers.
We do not have the dogs wear vests during therapy visits because we want people to be able to pet the dogs. The
close contact is important and vests interfere.
The dogs receive Therapy Dog tags to wear on their collars and the handlers receive an identification card with the
member dog's photo to show that the dog has been certified. TDI also provides liability insurance coverage during
visits. TDI's Reading Program "Children Reading to Dogs" is a relatively new program for TDI. Libraries and schools
schedule reading hours for children and Therapy Dogs. Children and dogs bond together over a shared story.
Children's confidence and reading skills grow in a relaxing environment.
Below, a picture of Kiska at work.
Information for TDI can be found at www.tdi-dog.org
After reading this page if you still have questions, please contact us at isaabod@gmail.com