Frequently Asked Questions

Must I have a purebred dog in order to compete in dog agility?

No. A competitor may compete with any dog, purebred or mixed breed in USDAA events. Dog agility is practiced as a sporting activity that demonstrates a handler and trainer's skill in working with a dog on an obstacle course. The type of dog may pose certain challenges in training and handling, but a competitor is not restricted as to type of dog. Therefore, dog agility is frequently referred to as a "sport for all dogs".

What dog is best suited for agility?

Any dog with good physical agility and energy is a strong candidate for the sport. Though many breeds appear more naturally adapted to the sport, more than 200 breeds (including mixed-breeds as a single breed) have demonstrated their ability to perform well.

How high does my dog have to jump?

USDAA has various height divisions within its competitive programs in order to best match competitiveness in the classes.  This link will take you to three charts showing USDAA programs and corresponding jump heights.

Does my dog have to be registered with USDAA in order to compete?

Dogs must be registered with the USDAA in order to compete in USDAA events. Competitors with dogs 18 months of age or older (14 months of age or older in the Intro Program) are eligible to compete. You may register your dog online, or register by mail by obtaining a registration form through our web site via the Forms & Documents Library or by making request via email and providing your postal address. If registering by mail, send the completed form along with the applicable fees to USDAA, P.O. Box 850955, Richardson, TX 75085-0955.

If you are unable to register online and wish to register a dog at the same time that you enroll for competition at an event, you may complete the form and send with applicable fees to the event host group, along with your event entry form. Registration forms may also be included in the Agility Test Schedule (aka, premium list) for each event.

I have received my temporary registration card, what should I do now?

After receiving your temporary dog registration card, please review it closely for accuracy and report any corrections to USDAA immediately. It is best to communicate these in writing to assure proper corrections are made. You can email corrections to: CompetitorServices@usdaa.com, or mail to USDAA, PO Box 850955, Richardson, TX 75085.

Also, be aware that all registration cards are issued reflecting a dog's Championship Program jump height ONLY, to provide a common point of reference for all dogs. If you enter the Performance Program (or Junior Handler Program, if it is a junior handler registration), you will enter your dog in one height class lower than that indicated on your card.

Temporary cards with a recorded height making a dog eligible only for the 24" jump height may be returned after checking for accuracy if the dog is 18 months old so that a permanent card may be issued. If your dog falls into this category, you have never had your dog measured or the height turned in is a best guess, we recommend having the dog measured at least once to be sure that the dog is eligible only for the 24" height class.

Please note that assumptions may have been made for some registrations:

1. If you have not reported a height for your dog, your dog has been listed for the 24" height class. To enter another class, you must provide us with a height.
2. A restriction has been placed on your card if you did not report a birth date for your dog or if your dog is not of age for competition (18 months). You must report a birth date to remove the restriction if your card shows no birth date. If you incorrectly listed your dog's birthdate during registration, proof of correct date of birth must be provided when requesting this correction.

For more information, refer to Appendix D in USDAA Official Rules & Regulations.

Once I have my temporary registration card, how do I get a permanent card?

On the back of the card is the Judges Certification form. To be permanently carded, a dog must:

• be in the 24" class, or
• have been measured by three different judges from the "Advanced" and/or "Masters Approved Judges List, at least one of which is designated as a "certified measuring judge' (CMJ).

To determine if a judge is a CMJ, consult the test schedule or premium list for a specific event, or contact the USDAA office.

If the dog is under the age of three and any of its measurement are within one inch of the cutoff height (e.g., 11"-12" for the 10" height class; 13"-14" for the 14" jump height, and so on), the dog must be re-measured by a CMJ after reaching the age of three to establish its permanent height. If the CMJ determines that the dog should jump a height different from that previously determined, another CMJ shall make an independent measurement. If the two CMJ's do not agree, a third CMJ shall measure the dog, and the two CMJ's in agreement shall determine the official height. If none of the original three measurements are within the one-inch range, then a permanent card may be issued prior to age three.

Upon meeting the foregoing conditions, return the original card to the address listed below and a permanent height card will be issued by USDAA. By doing so, you will no longer have to 'measure-in' at an event, provided you present the permanent card at check-in. Height measurements at a show are only good for that show until the temporary registration process described in Appendix D is complete. Consult Appendix D in USDAA Rules & Regulations for any questions regarding the measurement process. Queries should be directed to:

USDAA - P. O. Box 850955 - Richardson, TX 75085-0955 - (972) 487-2200 or via email to: CompetitorServices@usdaa.com

Once I have my permanent card, what do I do with it?

You should carry your card to each event to show to the event secretary (or other designated individual) at check-in. This will enable them to visually validate your number against what they have recorded in the event records. Transcription errors in dog registration numbers are the number one error in event results reporting. So whether the secretary (or their designee) asks or not, it is in your best interest to have them check it to confirm that your registration number is recorded properly at all local events.

What if I have a question that is not answered above or elsewhere on our web site?

Email us at info@usdaa.com or call us at 972-487-2200!