Already competing in agility?

Dog running out of tunnel — BeatMedia © / The Kennel Club

Once you start competing in agility it can become addictive. Shows are held all over the country for each grade and height, giving you the opportunity to compete regularly and meet like-minded people.

Competitors taking part in any event licensed by The Kennel Club must familiarise themselves with The Kennel Club rules and regulations beforehand (regulation amendments as of 1 January can be found in the back of this booklet).

As you enter different shows, you might find yourself bumping into the same competitors and making good friends with the people who take part in this sociable hobby.

We host and sponsor a variety of events throughout the year and these are suitable for dogs and handlers of all levels. Look at the list of qualifying heats for various prestigious competitions.

Crufts

You can find the best and most spectacular displays of agility taking place in the main arena at Crufts. All four days are jam-packed with nail-biting competitions.

The following competitions take place across the four days:

Kennel Club Agility Championships
Kennel Club Novice Cup
Kennel Club Singles agility
Kennel Club International agility
Kennel Club Large Novice ABC agility
Kennel Club Intermediate Novice ABC agility
Kennel Club Medium ABC agility

International agility competitions

Each year The Kennel Club sends competitors to both the European Open Championships and the World Championships to represent the UK. Looking to represent the UK? Find out how to join Agility Team GB.

Agility Liaison Council

The Agility Liaison Council enables competitors and agility clubs to communicate with The Kennel Club. The council is a key channel for you to make positive changes to agility.

What does the Agility Liaison Council do?

The Agility Liaison Council is made up of 13 regional representatives from the eight regional areas, elected for a three-year term to act as a channel of communication between agility clubs, competitors and The Kennel Club. The Council was set up to represent the grassroots opinion within the activity at The Kennel Club, and to promote a better understanding among competitors of how The Kennel Club functions. It meets twice per year, and representatives hold area meetings prior to each council meeting to provide a platform for proposals and discussion items to be raised. The meetings also provide feedback from The Kennel Club on recent developments and decisions.

The Council reviews the agility regulations and advises The Kennel Club on any changes that may be needed, and is actively involved in strategic planning to enable agility to continue and flourish. Council proposals can result in fundamental changes to The Kennel Club's policy and we value the important work the councils do.

Council members are always interested in hearing the views and ideas of competitors, and will be seen competing at, judging or managing many shows during the year.

Becoming a liaison council representative

Representatives are elected for a period of three years and the current term of office of all Kennel Club liaison council representatives ends on 31 December 2024.

Representatives are elected by Kennel Club registered societies and clubs which have an active interest in agility and have been registered at The Kennel Club for at least 12 months.

Agility Liaison Council meetings and agenda

The most recent agendas, annexes and minutes are available below. If you wish to obtain a copy of older agendas, annexes and minutes, please email your request to the agility team.

The next meeting of the Kennel Club Agility Liaison Council will be held on Thursday 4 July 2024. Proposals for inclusion on the agenda should reach the Agility Liaison Council Secretary by 5 April 2024.

Each eligible society or an individual may submit items for the agenda, through a council representative. Proposals must be concise and, if an amendment or an additional regulation is proposed, the regulation number must be given. All submissions must be signed by the society/individual and the representative.

All items for inclusion on the agenda should be sent by email.

4 July 2024

22 February 2024

ALC 22.02.24

18 January 2024

6 July 2023

12 January 2023

9 June 2022

27 January 2022

8 July 2021

11 February 2021

Counties the liaison council serve

These are the liaison council regions and the counties they serve:

Scotland
Northern Ireland
Wales
North West England
- Cheshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Isle of Man, Lancashire and Merseyside
North East England
- County Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear and West Yorkshire
Midlands England
- Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Rutland, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire
South East/East Anglia England
- Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Greater London, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, East Sussex and West Sussex
South/South West England
- Berkshire, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Somerset, Wiltshire

The Agility Liaison Council

Name and email address	Area	Phone number
Sara Hawkswell	Scotland	07960 953925
Adrian Dornford Smith	Northern Ireland	07817 217265
Sue Robinson	Wales	07771 594063
Rebecca Sargent	North West
Mike Hallam	North West	07711 058910
Ms Tina Davies	North East
Eleanor Laing-Kay	North East	07762307166
Jackie Gardner	Midlands
Ms Debra Tedds	Midlands
Elaine Bostock	South East and East Anglia	07905 064638
Jo Bale	South East and East Anglia
Martin Tait	South & South West	07922567056
Jonathan Hallam	South & South West

Agility Warrant

An Agility Warrant will be issued on application by the registered owner at the time of qualification in respect of a dog that has obtained points in standard agility and jumping classes at championship, premier and open shows. At least 25% of the points must be gained in agility (as opposed to jumping) classes. Points will be awarded at any level but may not be gained in any part of the championship class. Points will also only be awarded where the dog has obtained a clear round within the course time.

The requirements

The requirements for the five levels of warrant, bronze, silver, gold, platinum and diamond are:

bronze 200 points (minimum of 50 points in agility)
silver 400 points (minimum of 100 points in agility)
gold 800 points (minimum of 200 points in agility)
platinum 1,200 points (minimum of 300 points in agility)
diamond 1,600 points (minimum of 400 points in agility)

What titles can you use after your dog's name once achieved?

The following titles may be used after the name of the dog on show entries and in catalogues.

bronze AW(B)
silver AW(S)
gold AW(G)
platinum AW(P)
diamond AW(D)

How are points awarded?

Points will be awarded as follows:

Standard agility classes (clear rounds only)	Standard jumping classes (clear rounds only)
1st place - 20 points	1st place - 10 points
2nd place - 19 points	2nd place - 9 points
3rd place - 18 points	3rd place - 8 points
4th place - 17 points	4th place - 7 points
5th place - 16 points	5th place - 6 points
6th place - 15 points	6th place - 5 points
7th place - 14 points	7th place - 4 points
8th place - 13 points	8th place - 3 points
9th place - 12 points	9th place - 2 points
10th place - 11 points	10th place - 1 point

Points for clear rounds

Points will also be awarded for clear rounds within the course time as follows:

standard agility classes - 2 points
standard jumping classes - 1 point

Where fewer than 10 places are awarded in any class, a competitor obtaining a clear round not in the places will be awarded the points applicable for a clear round in that class, i.e. 2 points for an agility class and 1 point for a jumping class.

How do I claim my award?

Firstly, remember to record your Agility Warrant points in an Agility Record Book which can be purchased in our online shop.

Next, complete the Agility Warrant claim form .

All award applications can take up to 6 weeks to process. Please do not contact us prior to this date as this may delay your application.

How can I speed up my application?

When entering information onto the award application form, please ensure you are entering in chronological order
Any amendments to an application must be made by the registered owner
We recommend keeping a record/copy of all points gained
A useful tip would be to also keep a record of points gained after submitting your Agility Warrant application in case you are asked to resubmit

Still have questions?

Browse our frequently asked questions below.

Agility - frequently asked questions

1. If a handler progresses up a grade using the Agility Warrant points scheme and has entered a show, do they need to send in their record book to let us know?

No, all they need to do is get their record book signed by the show secretary at the first show they enter a higher grade. If they have already entered the show and the entry date has closed, then they must enter the show at the grade they put on the form (i.e. if you enter the show at grade 1 then you must run at grade 1).

However if the entry closing date has not passed, the competitor can apply for a grade change by contacting the show secretary or the online processors.

2. In relation to rules relating to progression via points, my understanding has always been that wins within 25 days before a competition are not to be taken into account when moving to a higher grade?

To progress on points you can only claim points gained whilst in the current grade. Therefore, if you won into grade 3 you could only claim points towards grade 4 progression once you had actually started competing at grade 3 (i.e. grade 2 results don't count).

3. I currently compete in grade 3 with my existing dogs. In which grade will I start with my new dog?

If your new dog was entered at a Kennel Club licensed agility show prior to 31 December 2018, they will continue in grade 3. However, if you have not entered your new dog in a Kennel Club licensed agility show prior to 1 January 2019, they will start in grade 2.

4. My new dog, who has started in grade 3, has only ever been entered in special classes such as all sorts. Can I compete with them in grade 2?

No. You will need to continue competing in grade 3 as you have previously entered them at a Kennel Club licensed agility show.

5. I have only ever taken my young dog to shows as NFC as I was competing my other dog in grade 3. If I start competing, what grade will my young dog come out in?

Dogs entered as NFC are not entered in a class and therefore have not specified a grade. If you start competing your new dog, then you can enter them in grade 2.

6. I have been competing my young dog in grade 3 but they haven't won anything. What grade will they be in?

You will continue competing in grade 3 with your young dog as they have already started competing.

7. I handle my friend’s dog, which I do not own, and we have won in to grade 2. I am now getting my own dog, what grade will my dog start in?

As you have won out of grade 1 as a handler, you are no longer eligible to compete with a dog in grade 1. Your dog, provided you are the registered owner, will therefore need to start in grade 2, and will be ineligible for grade 1.

8. I own a grade 2 dog and I am the handler. I am getting a new dog. Which grade do I enter it in?

If the owner is grade 2 (due to having won a dog up to grade 2) then the new dog will automatically be grade 2. For grade 2 and above, it is only the dog's grade that makes a difference. A handler can handle above their grade. If you have a grade 1 dog but a grade 7 handler, then the dog could only compete in combined 1-2.

9. I have been running a dog in agility competitions for a couple of years now and we are still in grade 1. I am just starting with my second dog and would like some clarification about progression.

Assuming that you own both dogs, when either dog progresses to grade 2 the other dog will also progress to that grade. Once the dogs are in grade 2, any future progression will only relate to that dog. When you progress to grade 2 you can no longer compete in grade 1.

10. My dog only has three wins towards qualifying for championship classes. How many more wins will I need now the regulations have changed?

You will keep your current wins as eligibility for champ classes, but you will now need two more wins to be eligible for champ.

11. I have gained some wins to the next grade, but not enough to progress, do these still count?

Yes, these wins still count, you are just required to gain more wins to progress.

12. I have half the points I need for my dog to progress to the next grade on points. Will these points still count?

Yes, you can still use any points you currently have towards your Agility Warrant or grade progression when the criteria changes. However, you will now need at least 50 points from agility classes to progress to the next grade.

13. Can I still progress to the next grade on points only?

Yes, you can still progress on points up to grade 4, however you will need a minimum of 50 points from agility classes.

14. My medium dog won the qualifying jumping run for the Novice Cup at the KCI this year. This wasn't an ABC class but I was wondering since it is still a special class (as you had to have x amount of points to enable you to run in it), does that win count towards grade progression?

No, special classes do not count towards progression. As you say there was a qualification criteria to be able to enter the class and it was therefore not open to every dog at that grade and therefore it does not count for progression.

15. Does a dog have to be measured to compete in a match?

The Kennel Club regulations for agility matches do not specify any requirements regarding dogs being measured. Although they do not have to be measured for special classes at limited shows, it is advised that dogs are measured before competing in a match.

16. Can I compete in a match class if my spouse is judging, but the dog is in my name?

There is no specific regulation that covers competing under a spouse at a match. However, we would advise caution about how it will be perceived.

17. Can I compete with the same dog in classes judged by another judge if my spouse is judging at the same show?

Yes, you can compete with your dog under a different judge that is not a spouse.

18. When running your dogs in agility, are you allowed to run with your dog lead clipped around your body or would the judge be entitled to eliminate you?

No, this is no longer allowed under The Kennel Club regulations. Regulation H(1)10.e states that competitors are prohibited from wearing bags or leads whilst under test – elimination.

19. I have had my dog measured and he is large. Can the same people measure him again?

No. The measuring regulations have not changed, which means you will need to get two measurers who have not measured your dog before to measure your dog.

20. My dog hasn’t competed yet. Will he need to be measured?

Yes, all dogs will need to be measured before competing, unless they are obviously large.

21. I have a large dog that has not had any measure. I want to continue competing him in large. Will I be at risk of a challenge measurement?

No, a dog that has never entered the measuring process cannot be asked to have an additional measure.

22. I haven’t been able to get my dogs second measurement carried out within the 12-24 months timeframe. Will I need to start the measuring process again?

No, you won’t need to start the measuring process again. But you will not be able to compete with your dog until you have had the second measurement carried out, as you would be in breach of Regulation H(1)(B)4.(4)

23. What happens if the same measurers carry out the first, second or third measure?

Unfortunately this measure would be invalid and you would be required to have the measure carried out again.

Next step - judging agility

Once you have competed, you might like to judge. Learn more about becoming an agility judge.