When To Enter Your First Agility Trial

Deciding when to enter your dog in their first agility trial isn’t always simple, as you’ll need to consider your dog’s skill level, your coach’s guidance, and the rules of the organization where you plan to compete.

There are a few key requirements you must consider before deciding to enter your first agility competition:

• Your dog must be old enough. As a general rule, your dog must be at least 15 months old to compete. Some organizations require them to be at least 18 months old.
• Your dog must be able to jump their legal height.
• You should be able to manage a few basic handling maneuvers, such front crosses and blind crosses.

Although it varies by team, it typically takes a new handler one to two years of training before they are ready to enter their first trial.

Skills Your Dog Needs Before Their First Agility Trial

The first thing to assess is your dog’s current skills. Can they jump at their legal height, either preferred or standard? Do they regularly complete at least 6 weave polls? What about 12? Do they fly off the contact obstacles or do they regularly hit the contact zone? Can you do a front cross, blind cross, or rear cross? You will need to address each of these questions.

• Jumping – If your dog cannot jump their legal height, they should not compete. There’s no benefit to pressuring a dog to jump higher than they are comfortable.
• Weaves – If your dog can complete at least six weaves consistently, there’s a good chance they’ll be ready to compete in at least one event.
• Contact Obstacles – If your dog reliably performs all contact obstacles legally, they are likely ready to compete. If they only manage contacts occasionally, or struggle with one or two, it’s better to wait before entering a full agility class. However, many organizations offer classes that don’t include contact obstacles.
• Handling – Most entry-level courses require basic handling skills such as front crosses, blind crosses, and rear crosses. You should be comfortable executing these maneuvers and choosing the best option based on the course.

Where To Compete For Your First Agility Trial

Deciding which organization to compete with will greatly influence when you can enter your first trial. UKI is often the best starting point, as they offer Speedstakes, a course made up of only jumps and tunnels. If your dog can jump at their legal height (select or regular) and you have some basic handling skills, you’re likely ready for this class. It’s an excellent way to ease into the trial environment. If you are ready to sign up for your first agility trial, be sure to check out this post on preparing for your first UKI agility trial.

If UKI isn’t available in your area, or you choose AKC or USDAA, you’ll need to wait until your dog can consistently complete at least six weaves. Both organizations offer a jumping class, which includes weaves, jumps, and tunnels, along with some basic handling maneuvers. UKI also offers a jumping class, but even at the beginner level it requires 12 weaves.

If your dog is confident on all contact obstacles and can perform 12 weaves, then you’re ready for any organization.

Take Your Coach’s Advice

Most importantly, trust your coach to tell you when your dog is ready to compete. If you feel prepared, ask for their opinion. A good instructor will give you an honest assessment of both your skills and your dog’s. If they say you’re ready, go for it. If they recommend waiting, be patient and keep practicing. Your time will come.