Dog Agility Championship

What is the Cynosport® Dog Agility World Games all about?

Cynosport® — from “cyno,” the Latin derivative of the ancient Greek root “Keno,” meaning “of the dog” — and sport, meaning competitive physical activities. Cynosport® is a registered trademark of United States Dog Agility Association, Inc.

The Cynosport® Dog Agility World Games is an annual championship event where competitors qualify to attend during the year at hundreds of local events and ten (10) regional championship events across the country. The world's best canine athletes will be unleashed individually to race over obstacle courses against the clock while being navigated by their human partner, using only voice, hand and body signals. Easy for spectators to understand, the objective is to score the fastest time with the least faults (penalties). Dogs of all breeds and sizes compete in various classes where obstacles are set based on the height and experience of the dog.

If you enjoy dogs, speed and excitment, then the Cynosport® Dog Agility World Games are for you!

What is Agility?

Dog agility is a competitive sport in which a handler directs a dog over an obstacle course. Dogs maneuver through a timed course designed to test agility as they jump over hurdles, race through tunnels, traverse ramps and a seesaw, scale an A-frame, and weave through a line of poles. It is the handler’s challenge to give the necessary guidance and encouragement to direct the dog without using a leash.

What kind of dogs are seen in competition?

Dogs can be any breed or mix of dog, any age, size or origin. In fact, some of the dogs are former
rescue dogs. For competition purposes, dogs are grouped in classes by height, ranging from the
small Papillon to larger dogs such as retrievers and Border Collies.

How long has dog agility been around?

Dog agility traces its beginning to Great Britain, where the sport was first witnessed at the Crufts
Dog Show in 1978. The sport captured the interest of many dog fanciers, and in 1985 found
its way to the United States where agility enthusiasts began developing the framework for the
United States Dog Agility Association.

How is Agility judged and scored?

Dog agility has an objective scoring system that is easy to understand for spectators and competitors alike.

Standard scoring

Under standard scoring, the dog runs the course against a Standard Course Time (SCT) that the judge sets for a given course based on an assessment of course distance and degree of difficulty. Penalties are assessed for time incurred in excess of the SCT. Penalties are also assessed for infractions on the course that are classified as listed below. Time penalties and course penalties are added to arrive at a final score. The competitor with the fewest penalties is the winner.

Refusal faults – signaled by the judge with a raised, closed fist

  • Turning back on an obstacle to be performed
  • Significantly hesitating to perform a given obstacle
  • Aborting performance of an obstacle
  • Running out past an obstacle
  • Entering the weave poles incorrectly

Standard faults – signaled by the judge with a raised, open hand

  • Displacing poles from hurdles
  • Failure to touch a yellow contact zone on the A-frame, dog walk or seesaw
  • Missing a weave pole
  • Failure to clear the span of the long jump
  • “Fly-off” from the seesaw
  • Handler or outside assistance

Each fault carries a penalty of five points, except for the handler or outside assistance, which may vary according to a judge’s assessment of the nature of such assistance. In any class, a dog and handler are dismissed from the ring and their score is marked “Elimination” for any one of the following infractions, for which the judge will blow a whistle calling for an end to the round:

  • Three refusals on course
  • Dog being out of control or ceasing to work
  • Running the wrong course sequence
  • Exhibiting poor sportsmanship
  • Excessive handler or outside assistance
  • Food or other training aids on course
  • Fouling the ring

We invite you to get involved/learn more

Today, USDAA® is the world’s largest independent canine sports authority dedicated to promoting the sport of dog agility as a recreational, family sport that fosters responsible pet ownership. If you would like to get involved in the sport, find a group or event near you, or learn more, visit our website at USDAA.com. Everyone is invited to subscribe to our free monthly publication, USDAA® OVERview on the home page of the website, and follow us on Facebook!