Performance Program

The Performance Program is designed to demonstrate a competitor's training and competitive handling skills pursuant to special standards of competition that place less emphasis on the dog's physical capabilities through adjustments to the standards of performance as follows:

• Jump heights are reduced to 8" for dogs measuring 12" or less, 12" for dogs measuring 16" or less, 14" for dogs measuring 19" or less, 16" for dogs measuring 21" or less, and 20" for all dogs;

• The A-frame is 5'6" (104 degrees angle at apex) for dogs jumping 12", 14", 16" and 20", and 5'0" (112.5 degrees angle at apex) for dogs jumping 8";

• Spread hurdles are utilized; and,

• Additional time (5 seconds) is allotted on course at 8", 12", 14", 16" and 20", as compared to the 10", 14", 16", 20", 22" and 24" height class time standards, respectively, as set forth in the Championship Program.

The Performance Program includes title certification classes that measure performance throughout a competitor's career with a specific dog as measured against a pre-defined set of standards.

The Performance Program "mirrors" the Championship in its structure. To distinguish the classes between programs, the levels of competition in the Performance Program are called simply, Performance I, Performance II and Performance III, which correspond respectively to the Starters, Advanced and Masters levels in the Championship Program.

Starting with the 2004 tournament season (beginning in autumn 2003), the Performance Program saw its first tournament event series.  The Tournament classes include:  Performance Grand Prix℠, Performance Speed Jumping℠, Peformance Versatility Pairs℠, and Performance Masters Challenge Biathlon℠.

In measuring the accomplishments of a competitor in the Performance Program, a certificate of achievement or "title" is awarded at each level within each of the four "titling" classes. Each of these titles and rules for eligibility are included in the USDAA Rulebook.