Subscribe by 11/15/24 to the full color print version of UKC's American Field Sportsman's Journal! See NEWS section for details.

I Accept

United Kennel Club (UKC) is an international dog registry celebrating bonds, rewarding ability, and preserving the value of a pedigree. We use cookies to capture information such as IP addresses and tailor the website to our clients' needs. We also use this information to target and measure promotional material. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.

Skip to main content
Facebook Instagram Subscribe to E-news YouTube

2021 Agility Rules: Official Updates

Effective March 1, 2021

November 2, 2020

Email: allbreedsports@ukcdogs.com

The new Agility rulebook will take effect on March 1, 2021. The date has been pushed back from the planned effective date of January 1 to allow more time to prepare for the new rules. However, the All Stars points scale has been updated and the new points scale will be effective on January 1, 2021.

Agility Rulebook cover

Several changes were made based on feedback received from our Agility judges and competitors. These are some notable differences from the original proposed rulebook:

  1. The swing plank and sway bridge will become optional obstacles. They may be used by clubs that have them until 2025, when they will be phased out of the program. The A-frame, dog walk, or teeter may be used in place of the swing plank and sway bridge.
  2. The same contact obstacle may be used twice on a course.
  3. The number of allowable hurdles on the Dynamic Hurdles courses has been raised from 10 16 for Novice and 17 24 for Elite.
  4. Judges may elect to use scribes in all Agility classes. Judges will communicate deductions to the scribe with the following signals:
    Closed fist: 1 point
    Open palm: 3 points
    Two open palms: 5 points
  5. During course familiarization, the bars for bar hurdles will be placed on the ground. Dogs may take the other hurdles.
  6. Handlers may use a slip lead to take their dog to the ring for their run. Slip leads remain prohibited during course familiarization.
Read the full 2021 Agility rulebook

Guided by the belief that dogs make a difference by being the best partner a human can have in the field, on the job, or in a competition event, UKC is a community for people and dogs to pursue excellence together. Founded in 1898, UKC has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of Dogs That Do More, and their owners, by providing essential resources to help owners and breeders make informed decisions. The dog-human bond is celebrated through family-friendly programs highlighting the instincts and heritage of purebred and mixed-breed dogs alike at over 15,000 licensed events annually.

Back to All-Breed Sports News >