USDAA has five different events: Standard Agility, Gamblers, Jumpers, Relay (Pairs), and Snooker. Standard agility is composed of a course with all of the agility equipment: jumps, a-frame, dog-walk, teeter, tire jump, pause table, weave poles, tunnels, and collapsed tunnel. For description of the other classes see Class Descriptions. Each event has three different levels, with titles associated with each level. MAGENTA ribbons are given out for "qualifying" runs, so the MAGENTA titles are the ones Morgan has achieved. The YELLOW titles are the ones we are working on, and the WHITE titles are for future work. A is a first place finish, a is a second place finish, a is a third place finish, a is a fourth place finish, and a is a qualifying run without placing.

Dog agility classes are generally referred to in two groups - "Standard" and "Nonstandard".  "Standard Agility" or "Standard Performance" refers to the basic class, wherein all obstacles are utilized in a predefined sequence as set forth by the judge.  The class is generally scored pursuant to the "Standard Scoring Method", but may alternatively be scored on a "Time-plus-Faults" basis if a class is being held for other than titling purposes. 

Nonstandard classes are all other classes, including those classes that represent variations from the "Standard" classes.  Examples of more common nonstandard classes and that are held for USDAA title certificates are described below:

Gamblers
Gamblers is a point-basis class wherein handler develops their a strategy for defining their own course to accumulate as many points as possible during the time allotted by the judge.  Typically, any obstacle can be performed twice for points and the handler may choose what obstacles they wish to perform.  The judge may impose restrictions on the sequences permissible (e.g., two different contact obstacles may be performed in sequence without first taking a non-contact obstacle) and may specify special challenges to earn bonus points (e.g., a short obstacle sequence where the handler is limited as to their movement or distance from the dog). 

Jumpers
Jumpers is a class that excludes all contact obstacles and occasionally weave poles.  In other words, it is comprised of hurdles and tunnels, but may also include weave poles.  It may be scored pursuant to standard scoring or on a time-plus-faults basis, depending on how much emphasis is to be placed upon speed.  For USDAA titling classes, standard scoring must be utilized.  Rates for establishing SCT for different levels of competition are set forth in the rules.

Relay
Relay classes are those that include two or more dog/handler teams competing on a course together.  The course may be split, wherein each team member runs a segment, or each team member may run the entire course (when teams are all of the same jump height class).  A course may include all of the obstacles other than the table, which may be used as a start, finish or baton exchange point.  Since speed is an inherent element in any type of relay competition, the class is generally scored on a time-plus-faults basis, though standard scoring could be used if less emphasis on speed was intended.  For USDAA titling purposes, teams must be classified as "mini-" or "open", meaning that the dogs jumping 12" and 16" must be paired together (the mini's) and dogs jumping 22" and 26" must be paired together.  A "Qualifying Course Time" is established by the judge under which teams must score after faults are added; hence, a round with faults may qualify, provided their performance time is fast enough to allow for the addition of penalties. 

Snooker
Named after the billiards game popular in Great Britain, snooker is a point-basis class wherein a handler develops their stategy for accumulating as many points as possible during the allotted time by performing the obstacles in "Snooker" sequence, which is defined by color.  A "Red" obstacle is almost always a displaceable hurdle (required for USDAA titling classes) and a "Color" obstacle refers to an obstacle designated as a color other than red (i.e., yellow, green, brown, blue, pink or black).  The colors are assigned to the obstacles with point values as shown in the table below:

 SNOOKER COLOR/POINT TABLE

Colors are assigned by the judge to the obstacles based upon their relative difficulty, as determined by their nature or by their placement on the course.

Color	Point Value
Red	1
Yellow	2
Green	3
Brown	4
Blue	5
Pink	6
Black	7

The snooker class consists of an opening sequence immediately followed by a closing sequence, both of which must be performed in the overall performance time allotted by the judge.
The opening sequence is "Red-Color-Red-Color-Red-Color, and so on until all "Red" obstacles (and their following "Color" obstacle) have been performed; however, if a "Red" is faulted while performing the sequence, the "Color" opportunity immediately following that "Red" is lost.  It is frequently said that you must perform a "Red" successfully to earn the right to perform a "Color" for additional points.  No points are earned for faulted obstacles.

Once all "Reds" have been performed (including the "Color" of handler's choice following each "Red", the "Closing Sequence" begins.  The closing sequence is "Yellow-Green-Brown-Blue-Pink-Black (i.e., the "Colors" in increasing point value as defined).

The round is over when the course time allotment expires, when a fault occurs in the closing sequence, an improper sequence of obstacles is performed, or the dog has completed the entire course.  A dog's score is the number of points earned during their round.

The maximum score possible in the opening sequence is determined by the number of "Reds" defined in the course plan by the judge.  If three "Reds" are defined, then the maximum number of points is 24; if four "Reds are defined, then the maximum is 32 points; and so forth.  The maximum can be achieved by performing each "Red" successfully (1 point apiece) and then following each "Red" with the "Black" obstacle, which is worth 7 points each time it is performed successfully.  So the maximum points possible in the opening sequence is 8 points times the number of "Reds".  The maximum point value of the closing sequence is always 27 points, which is the sum of the Yellow, Green, Brown, Blue, Pink and Black obstacles.  Therefore, the maximum possible score in snooker is defined by the sum of possible points in the opening and closing sequences.  For a course with three "Reds", the highest score possible is 51 points; with four "Reds" it is 59 points; with five "Reds" it is 67 points.  Typically, a course will only have three or four "Reds".  The number is determined by the judge's course plan.  A qualifying score for USDAA title is a minimum of 37 points.  Qualifying placements must also be earned for title certification purposes.

Return to the Agility Page
Return to Jonathan & Amy's home Page