Tournaments

The United States Dog Agility Association offers three annual tournament series to highlight the dynamics of the sport in both individual and team competition. Each of these tournaments are described below:

USDAA Grand Prix of Dog Agility^® World Championships

Since 1988, competitors have competed annually in local and regional competition to earn right to enter the championship event, which has become one of the premier world events in the sport of dog agility. This individual competition is offered in four height classes - 12", 16", 22" & 26" - and is on a standard agility course, demonstrating the competitor's full range of training and competitive skills by performing an obstacle course comprised of all obstacle types in a race against the clock. The competitor with the fewest penalties, with the fastest time is the winner. The winner in each of the four height classes is named Grand Prix of Dog Agility World Champion.

Events are open to all competitors regardless of past performance experience and are held in designated cities across North America, the Caribbean and Japan. Competitors must meet qualification standards as set forth in the tournament rules each year in order to earn the right to compete at the world championship event. The tournament has grown to include more than fifty qualifying events leading to seven regional and foreign national championship events, and then followed by the world championship event. Countries around the world are invited to participate. To date, more than a dozen countries from four continents have participated. Tournament rules for the current year can be found in the Forms and Documents Library.

Beginning with the 2004 tournament season, participants in the Performance Certification Program can compete in its version of the Grand Prix of Dog Agility tournament competition utilizing the basic rules of Performance Program, which include lower jump heights, a lower A-frame and slightly slower time standards. The tournament structure follows that of the Grand Prix of Dog Agility^® World Championships. Tournament rules for the current year can be found in the Forms and Documents Library.

Dog Agility Masters^® Three-Dog Team Championships

Beginning in 1991 and held annually since 1993, competitors combine to form three-dog teams that compete in five classes of competition - Standard Agility, Snooker Agility, Jumpers, Gamblers Choice and Three-dog Team Relay.

The competition demonstrates team work and competitors' endurance and skill in a variety of disciplines as they apply a variety of strategies in the different classes. Teams accumulate points through five classes of competition, with the team scoring the highest number of points being named Dog Agility Masters Team Champions.

Qualifying events are held across the United States each year and are open to all competitors, regardless of past performance experience. Competitors must meet competitive qualifying standards as outlined in the tournament rules in one of the regional qualifying events in order to compete in the championship event. Tournament rules for the current year can be found in the Forms and Documents Library.

$10,000 Dog Agility Steeplechase^® Championships

Beginning in 1997, this tournament event was developed to demonstrate the competitor's ability to work with speed as they feature their skills in training and performance of a special jumpers course. In addition to numerous jumps and hurdles on course, the A-frame and weave poles are included as a special demonstration of the two most dynamic obstacles in the dog agility, for which difficulty of performance increases with speed. The tournament's "time plus faults" scoring method accentuates the importance of speed combined with accuracy in performance.

Events are open to all competitors regardless of past performance experience and are held in designated cities across North America, the Caribbean and Japan. Competitors must meet qualification standards as set forth in the tournament rules each year in order to earn the right to compete at the world championship event. The tournament is conducted as a two round event at both the local and championship levels, with top seeds from the first round advancing to the final round where they run for top money. Cash prizes range from a few dollars to several hundred dollars at the local level, with prize money of $10,000 paid out in the championship finals. Tournament rules for the current year can be found in the Forms and Documents Library.

Junior Handler Spotlight

This specialty event began in 1995 and serves to feature junior handlers from across the United States who participate in USDAA's Junior Handler Program. Competitors must pre-qualify by earning qualifying scores in the Junior Handler Program during the year at the Intermediate or higher level. Custom USDAA-Junior Handler Program gold, silver & bronze medallions are awarded. The event is held annually in conjunction with USDAA's Grand Prix of Dog Agility World Championships, and Cynosport^® World Games.