Information for Agility Competitors

About competing

This page is a guide only. Refer to the websites below for all detailed information.

Dogs age for competing

To compete your dog must be at least 18 months old. While you can train your dog before it is 18 months old you cannot compete. Clubs follow the NZ Agility Committee Code of Practice for training dogs under 18 months. The Code of Practice can be found in section 10.1.1.2 of the Agility Regulations.

Types of events

An event may consist of only Agility or only Jumper classes or be a mixture.

Agility

Agility courses contain weaves and contacts (depending on the level) as well as jumps tunnels.

Dogs can enter 2 of the classes below, depending on their level. Dogs progress through the classes by winning or gaining points.

Elementary - this only offered at Ribbon trials and there are levels A (if you have had a dog before) and B (if this your first dog). Elementary A will have 6 weaves, B has none. No contacts.
Starters - This is the grade everyone starts at. Offered at Ribbon and Champ events. Starters has 12 weaves, no contacts.
Novice - Offered at Ribbon and Champ events. Usually has weaves, may be 12 or 6. Has contacts, A frame and Dog Walk.
Intermediate - Offered at Ribbon and Champ events. Usually has weaves, may be 12 or 6. Has contacts, A frame and Dog Walk and may have see saw.
Senior - The highest level. Offered at Ribbon and Champ events. Usually has weaves, may be 12 or 6. Has contacts, A frame and Dog Walk and may have a see saw.

Jumpers

Jumpers courses contain jumps and tunnels. No weaves and no contacts.

Dogs can enter 1 of the classes below Dogs progress through the classes by winning or gaining points.

Jumpers C - This is the entry level class
Jumpers B
Jumpers A - This is the top level.

Calendar of events

There is an annual calendar of events on the NZ Dog Agility site.

Events offered:

Ribbon Trial - These can be pre entered before the event but you can also enter on the day. You pay (in cash) on the day.
Championship Event - These must be pre entered and entries close well before the event (up to 6 weeks before). Entries must be paid for by the closing date.

Entries may be via the NZ Dogs website or Diana's show sec site.

BEFFORE you can enter a competition:

There a number of things you need to do before you can compete with your dog and below is a guide to help you through these. The websites below also have all the details.

Join NZ Dogs

You can join Dogs NZ (formally NZ Kennel Club ) on line and pay by credit card https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/dogsnz/join-online

Dogs NZ has two registers; a purebred register for registered breeders to use to register purebred dogs and an Obedience register for other dogs. Refer to the Dogs NZ website on how to register your dog.

Get a permanent number

This is the number for your dog will use at all competitions. Go to the Dogagility website’s Perm Nbr Register section to Register a new dog. You can apply for a Permanent number without belonging to Dogs NZ and then update your details later if you join.

Get your dog measured
- All dogs competing in Agility in NZ must have an interim height measurement recorded at 18 months and a permanent height measurement recorded at 2 years, including those competing only at Ribbon Trials. Dogs may be measured up to four weeks prior to their 18 month or two year anniversary.
- You need a permanent Agility number before you get your dog measured
- Measuring must be performed by two official measurers and this is often done at shows. Check out the Dogagility website’s Information section on Measuring Dogs for all the information you need. We also have club members who are measurers so put a note on our FB page if you need a measure.

The www.dogagility.org.nz site has all the information you need about measuring your dog and getting a permanent number.

Useful websites:

www.dogagility.org.nz – This is the official agility site and has heaps of information. It has the agility events calendar, online entries for some shows, catalogues you can down load and after the show the results. Here you can find the agility regulations (which every Competitor should be familiar with), updates from the Agility committee, all the forms for NZKC qualifications, the Permanent Number database and lots of information about the sport.

www.dogsnz.org.nz –This is the official site for the Dogs NZ. It has information about Dogs NZ and regulations.

www.showsec.co.nz – This is Diana’s show secretary site. Diana is show secretary for many shows and you can enter these on line via this site.

Facebook groups

There are two Facebook groups where notices for shows and other information is posted.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/nzkcacstuff/

A group for members of Dogs NZ Agility that want to be kept up-to-date with official communications from the Agility Committee.
This can also include important show or trial information relating to up coming events.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/70091444256/

This is a general group for Dog Agility enthusiasts!. This can also include important show or trial information relating to up coming events.