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Etiquette for Agility Trials by Anna Carr
Let me preface this by saying that my agility etiquette has not always been
perfect. But part of being an adult is learning from your mistakes and
errors and trying to avoid them in the future. Here are some simple tips
that will help to make you the kind of exhibitor that clubs love to host.
I. Entering Trials
a. The Entry Form
i. DO make sure your entry is completed and signed
and that you have enclosed a check
ii. If you have a question about how to fill out an
entry, ask your instructor, or another club member, not the trial secretary.
iii. If you aren't sure if you are filling it out right, don't
guess. Ask someone for help. It is very time-consuming for the trial
secretary to have to translate your entry and then either send back your entry
or call you about it. Many trial secretaries won't accept entries that are
either incomplete or incorrectly filled out.
iv. Write legibly or type your entry.
1. If you include an e-mail address, be sure that
your address is very clearly written, especially if it contains an "L"
or an "O" or the numbers one or zero.
v. Enclose your height card if you have one - it
will save both you and the trial secretary time the day of the trial.
vi. Volunteer to work. The top reason clubs give
for not having larger trials is that it is too hard to find enough workers.
It's really not that hard, and you can learn a lot from doing it. In
particular, novice handlers should try to sign up to ring crew the
Excellent/Elite/Masters class - you can watch the runs when you ring crew and
you can learn a lot from watching these dog and handler teams.
vii. Be sure not to send your entry before the opening date.
Trial secretaries don't want to reject your entry, but they will if your entries
are early.
viii. Send a self-addressed, stamped postcard like the one shown
below if you need to know if you got in prior to the closing date:
Please check the applicable box:
____ Your entry was accepted and you are entered in the trial.
____ Your entry was received but you are on the waiting list. You
are number ______ on the wait list.
____ I'm sorry, you did not get into our trial.
Thank you,
Joe Handler and Snoopy (Reg. No. RN00000/00)
ix. If you do not have a height card for your dog,
please be sure to measure your dog (with wickets if possible) prior to filling
out and sending your entry so that you enter them in the proper height class.
It is a lot of work to change a dog's height class the day of the trial if they
measure up.
1. If you have a dog that is truly borderline (for
example, a sheltie that measures 13.95" at their shortest and could
therefore be in 12" in AKC if they measure at 13.95" but if they
measure over 14" will need to jump 16") enter the lower height.
You can move the dog up to the greater height if the dog measures up but you
cannot move them down if the dog measures into the lower height. Trial
secretaries know that this happens and don't mind dealing with them.
2. If your dog is NOT borderline but you are
hoping they will miraculously shrink, please do not enter the lower height.
b. Prior to the trial
i. Familiarize yourself with the organization's
rules and preferably get a copy of the rules to bring to the trial with you.
ii. DO NOT contact the trial secretary to find out if
you got in until after the closing date for the trial, UNLESS you send a
postcard and did not receive it.
iii. DO let the trial secretary know of any move-ups as soon
as possible
iv. DO let the trial secretary know if you need to pull
your dog for any reason as soon as possible. Not only does that save the
secretary time and effort, if it is prior to closing date it will allow another
dog to enter and will refund you most or all of your entry fee. Even if it
is after the closing date, letting the trial secretary know in advance will let
them remove your dog from the running order and gate steward sheets, saving
everyone time and trouble the day of the trial. Also, some clubs will
allow partial refunds for dogs that are injured or bitches in season.
v. DO NOT contact the trial secretary for any
other reason if at all possible. For example, do not ask the trial
secretary how long it will take to get to the trial. Unless s/he has
driven from your house to the trial site at 7 AM, they have no way of answering
that question. (Yes, someone really asked this, and was annoyed that the
trial secretary couldn't answer it for her)
c. The Day of the Trial
i. Generally
1. Do not ask the scoretable any questions if at
all possible, and only ask them questions directly pertaining to your score.
If you DO ask them a question, be sure to give them something back in return.
For example, saying "Is there anything I can do to help? Do you have
any scores that need to be posted? Can I get you something to eat or
drink?" will go a long way towards maintaining a good relationship with the
scorekeepers. If you have a relatively trivial question, if the
scorekeepers seem busy, don't ask them. However, if it is an important
question, where time is of the essence (for example, if your score doesn't match
what you and others who watched you run think you should have gotten, you need
to talk to the judge ASAP while they still might remember your run), DO ask to
see your scribe sheet.
2. If your dog needs to be measured, be sure to be
there during the designated check-in and measurement time. It is very
difficult to get someone qualified to measure to do so later in the day when
they are running their own dogs or judging classes.
3. Be sure to check in when you walk your courses.
The gate steward is not responsible for using their ESP to know that you are
there and planning to run that day.
ii. In the ring
1. Wear your numbers, and if the gate steward
doesn't do so for you, announce your number when you walk in the ring.
This helps the scribe make sure they're using the right sheet.
2. Be sure to be around and ready to get in the
ring about 5 dogs before your run.
3. DO NOT stand right by the gate unless you are
the next dog in the ring
iii. At the trial site
1. DO NOT use a flexi lead unless you also know
how to use the brake and keep your dog near you in areas of traffic or near the
crating areas.
2. DO NOT let your dog "visit" with
other dogs. Handlers that are waiting to go in the ring usually use this
time to do focusing exercises, and letting your dog run over will break their
concentration. Further, not all dogs enjoy having strange dogs get in
their personal space and you risk an altercation when you let your dog get too
close. As a general rule, all dogs deserve about a 4 foot buffer zone
around them if possible.
3. If the show committee has rules about allowing
dogs off-leash, FOLLOW THEM! Sometimes this is a condition that the club
must follow for continued use of the site; in any case it is imposed for your
dog's safety. If you want to run your dog and you can find open ground out
of view of the ring, put your dog on a long line or flexi to play.
4. PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG. No one enjoys
driving home with a running shoe that smells like poop. 'Nuff said.
5. If you bring children to the trial, make sure
they know the rules -
a. No running by the ring
b. No petting dogs without permission
c. No playing with the dog's squeaky toys by the
ring
d. No barking at the dogs
6. DO NOT leave your dog's toys or treats at the
ring gate where other dogs can take them. Ask a friend or the ring steward
to hold them, or leave them on a table or chair near the ring.
7. "Exercise" your dog often. It's
embarrassing for you when your dog potties in the ring, and it's very
distracting for any dog that runs after yours.
8. Don't let your dog bark incessantly. If
you have a barker, take steps to limit or prevent barking -
a. Cover the dog's crate
b. Stay nearby to correct him or her
c. Crate with friends and ask them to do the same
if you aren't there
d. Introduce yourself to those crated near you and
let them know that you have a dog that may bark some if you aren't there and ask
them to correct your dog if you aren't there
e. If weather permits and it is cool enough, crate
in your car
9. DO NOT bring your in-season bitch to the trial
site, and if you absolutely cannot leave her at home, keep her in the car and
only walk her far away from the ring. Along these lines, if your bitch is
in season, DO NOT pretend she isn't and run her anyway. The boy dogs
running after you for the rest of the day will tattle on you and if you are
found out you can get in a LOT of trouble.
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