Competing at Agility Shows
Dogs may compete wearing a flat collar only (though they do not need to wear a collar at all to compete) without any dangling identity disks.
Getting to the Show
All schedules include directions to the show venue and more often than not provide signs as you get nearer.
Ensure you leave in plenty of time to ensure you have enough time to familiarize yourself with the show and walk your courses (check the opening, briefing and judging times on the schedule).
When you arrive
The first thing to do when you arrive at a show is get to know where everything is, especially the rings so that you know where you need to be when it is your turn to run your dogs.
If you have any runs in classes that are being run as the first class in the ring you need to make sure you walk the relevant course(s).
Walking Courses
You are able to walk courses before you compete in them to allow yourself to work out where the course goes and how you want to run your dog around it.
Once a class has started you will not be able to walk the course so it is important that you get to the ring when the course is announced as 'Ready for Walking'.
Everyone walks courses a different number of times depending on what the course is like, which dog(s) they have in the class and to get to a point where they know where the course goes and how they want to work it.
Listen out for the judge's briefing (or be at the ring if it is ringside briefings) so that you can ensure you know the course time and any other details about the class.
Your Run
The first thing to remember is that you are required to run your dog as near to your running order in the class as possible and if you are in the first 10 or so in the class you will need to ensure you are ready at the ring when the class starts. Listen out for announcements of what classes are calling up to or keep an eye on the ring board to find out.
When you get to the ring you will need to find the Caller (usually the person wondering around with a clipboard) and book in by giving them your running order so they can tick you off the list (do not just queue without booking in). At this point you may also be given your Scribe Ticket to hold onto whilst you queue.
Whilst queuing it is advisable to warm yourself and your dog up as any 'sportsman' would do before competing.
As you near the front of the queue you will either be asked for your Scribe Ticket, if it has been given to you to hold, or you will again be asked for your running order so that your Scribe Ticket can be located (either way, ensure that your details are those on the ticket).
When it is your turn to get on the line and have your run, it is important to remember these things:
- Ensure you remove your bumbag if you are wearing one and that you have no treats of toys in your hand.
- Get your dog into its normal starting position.
- Wait for the Scribe / Scrimer to start you (they will usually say something like 'When you are ready' or 'In your own time' and it is also advisable to look at them to make sure).
- Once you are under 'Starters Orders' you may commence the course as soon as you are ready.
- Remove your dogs lead (either unclip it if your dog is wearing a flat collar and you want to leave the collar on, or remove the whole lead and/or collar in all other instances).
- Ensure you are not carrying or wearing your dog's lead and leave it on the ground at the start line.
Enjoy you run and remember that if the dog goes wrong not to worry and don't blame the dog as it is always the handler that is at fault!
When you have finished your run, don't forget to praise your dog and find its lead to get it back on the lead as soon as possible. Also move away from the finish line as soon as possible.
After your run
Relax!
Your Score
If you want to check your time and/or faults accrued on the course you will need to find where the Scoring is taking place (this may be in a small tent or marquee by the rings or in the Secretary's tent). Wait for the Scorer to finish what they are doing before asking to see your score, which are normally recorded by running order or may be by ring number (this is the large number on your ring card not the number of the ring).
Please note that if you were eliminated on the course, you will not have a time to see as they are not recorded for eliminations.
If the scorer doesn't want to show you your score, be polite as they are only volunteers and competitors like yourself, but point out that they cannot stop you from looking at your dog's score.