The purpose of AKC agility is to demonstrate a dog's willingness to work with its handler under a variety of conditions.  Agility results in a better rounded, conditioned dog, provides good basic training for search and rescue dogs, demonstrate higher levels of training and interaction with their handlers.  It is a good idea to take some obedience training first as agility is done all off leash. All dogs must be 12 months of age or older and have full or limited registration or an ILP number with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in order to be able to participate. The club holding an agility trial may offer any or all of the following classes:  Novice Agility (NA), Open Agility (OA), and Agility Excellent (AX).  In order to acquire the Master Agility Excellent title, a dog must acquire the Agility Excellent title and earn qualifying scores in the Agility Excellent class at ten licensed or member agility trials.  Credit toward the Master Agility Excellent title cannot be earned at the trial where the dog acquires the Agility Excellent title.  A dog must earn a qualifying score in its respective class on three separate occasions under two different judges. The owner is responsible for entering the proper height division.  The divisions are:
 

(a)  8 inches for dogs 10 inches and under at the withers
(b)  12 inches for dogs 14 inches and under at the withers
(c)  16 inches for dogs 18 inches and under at the withers
(d)  20 inches for dogs 22 inches and under at the withers
(e)  24 inches for dogs over 22 inches at the withers

Handlers may opt to run a higher division, but not a lower division than their proper height.  Judges reserve the right to measure any dog they believe might belong in a different division.   Kay Routten
Creekview Mastiffs
kayroutten@yahoo.com