What to Expect at Your First Agility Trial: UKI Edition

Your first agility trial can be overwhelming, but this post will walk you through exactly what to expect. From check-in to your final run, you’ll get a step-by-step guide to help you feel confident and prepared for your first agility competition.

If you haven’t signed up for your first agility trial yet, be sure to check out my last post about preparing for your first agility competition. As with my previous post, this one will have a special focus on UKI. However, the information is applicable across organizations. If you are coming across unfamiliar words or phrases, be sure to check out my trial glossary!

What Should You Bring to an Agility Trial?

Most agility trials are all day or half day events. You should be prepared to spend anywhere from four to 12 hours at the facility. I recommend bringing the following items for your dog:

• Measurement form
  • For your first UKI trial, you need to print a measurement form and bring it to the trial.
  • You can find the measurement form here: UKI 2025 measurement form
• Soft, collapsable crate
• High value treats
• High value training toy
  • Avoid toys that squeak or make other noises.
  • Avoid balls that could roll away, such as tennis balls.
• Bully stick
• Chew toy
• Frozen Kong
  • I typically fill the Kong with a peanut butter and Greek yogurt mixture. Freezing the Kong helps it last longer.
• Poop bags
• Water
• Water bowl

Although making sure your dog is comfortable is probably your top priority, don’t forget to bring the following items for yourself:

• Comfortable folding chair
• Lunch, dinner, or lots of snacks
• Water
• Caffeine boost
• Layers
  • I have found the temperature at trials varies widely over the course of the day, so I strongly recommend wearing a t-shirt and bringing a sweatshirt.
• Course maps
  • If you have time, I strongly recommend printing the course maps before you leave home. If you don’t have time, I suggest bringing a tablet to view them electronically. (I have neither and viewing them on my phone is always a bit of a struggle).

Before the Trial

Before the trial, you should reread the premium to familiarize yourself with the facility rules. A few days before, the trial manager will likely email you with some important information about the trail, such as the class order, preliminary run order, and when they will share the course maps. Take special note of the following questions:

• Are beginner/novice dogs running first?
• Do big dogs run first or last?
• Are you expected to run early in the class, late, or somewhere in the middle?

UKI typically allows late entries, so the preliminary run order should only be used a guide. It will likely change before the class begins.

When to Arrive at the Facility for your First Agility Trial

For your first agility trial, I recommend arriving at least an hour before your class. This will give you time to set up your space, give your dog a bathroom break, measure your dog, and review the course map. If you are the first class, knowing when to arrive is fairly straightforward. It’s a bit more complicated if you are competing later in the day. In my experience, it typically takes at least 10 minutes to set up the course. Once the course is set, handlers are allowed 8 minutes to walk the course and there is a 5 minute break between the course walk through and the first dog’s run. Some quick math demonstrates that each class will take AT LEAST 23 minutes. In my experience, even at a small trial, each class takes at least 30 minutes.

To put this in concrete terms, let’s say your first class of the day is Jumping 1 Beginners/Novice. The class order is as follows: Open Gamblers, Agility 1, Agility 2, Jumping 1, Jumping 2, with Senior/Champ running first. The trial starts at 8 am. Based on this information, you can expect at least 3 hours between when the trials starts and when your class begins (Open Gamblers – 30 mins, Agility 1 Senior/Champ then Beginner/Novice 1 hour, Agility 2 Senior/Champ then Beginner/Novice 1 hour, Jumping 1 Senior/Champ 30 mins). So with an 8 am trial start time, you should plan to arrive around 11 am at the earliest. For larger trials, you can allot more time for each class.

What To Do After You Arrive

I recommend taking the following steps after you arrive at the agility trial:

• Set up your space. Find a nice spot, and get settled in. Set up your dog’s crate and your chair.
• Find a judge to measure your dog. If you aren’t sure who the judge is or who is able to conduct the measurement, ask around. Most people are nice and happy to assist.
• Get your dog measured. Don’t forget to bring your sheet! The judge will take the sheet after the measurement, but you should pick it back up before the trial ends.
  • I suggest bringing a few treats or a toy with you when your dog is measured. Some dogs need a bit of encouragement to stand still and upright.
• Find where the run order is posted. The run order is typically posted near the entrance gate. Assuming your class is not next, this will tell you what class is currently running and how much time you have before it’s your turn.
• Review the course map. This should be posted somewhere at the facility and was likely emailed to you. Review it carefully so you have a plan before the walk through.

Shortly Before Your First Run

• While they are setting up the course for your class, make sure your dog has gone to bathroom recently and had a chance to stretch their legs and warm up a bit.
• Check in for your class. This often requires putting a check mark next to your name on the run order sheet. Take note of the dog’s running before you, including their names and breed.
• When it’s time, walk the course. You typicaly have 8 minutes to walk the course for UKI.
• Make your way to start gate. I recommend heading over when there are at least 3 dogs in front of you.
• Once the dog in front of you crosses the finish line and leaves the course, enter the course and get your dog on the start line.
• Release your dog and do your thing after you are instructed, typically with a buzzer or the word GO.
  • GO simply means the judge is ready. Your time does not start until your dog crosses the first obstacle.
• Congrats! You completed your first run!

After Your Run

After your run, make sure to congratulate your dog (and yourself). Regardless of your performance, give your dog lots of love and praise. Now is an excellent time to reward with their favorite toy or treats. Be sure to make it a positive experience.

Now that you know exactly what to expect, good luck and have fun!