Changes to agility measuring regulations

The Kennel Club has approved the following changes to the regulations for agility.

The below regulation has been added to allow for handlers to compete as part of Agility Team GB with no concerns regarding measuring out, and it would also assist those handlers whose dogs had been measured in to a height category, and had undergone an additional measurement, but which were repeatedly subject to criticism due to a perception that they were competing at the ‘wrong’ height.

The new regulation allows for an owner to request for their dog to be moved in to the next higher height, which will be for the lifetime of the dog, with no further changes of height permitted. 

Please note, that while there is the option to send a Record Book to the Kennel Club office to be signed, there are minimal staff in the office at this time and therefore it is not advisable to send any physical post.

Addition of new regulation Regulation H(1)(B)4.(17)

(Subsequent regulations renumbered)

To:
At any time should an owner request to move a dog into the next higher height category they may do so, and it will be for the lifetime of the dog, with no further changes of height permitted. If the dog’s owner(s) wish to take this course of action the dog’s record book should, with the written permission of the owner(s) or in the presence of an owner, be signed by 2 senior measurers without being measured. In the case of a dog in joint ownership written permission must be provided from all of the owners. Alternatively the record book should be sent to The Kennel Club with a request that the dog’s height be amended with a letter from the owner(s) giving consent for this to happen.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 July 2021)

The below regulations have been added and amended in order to ensure that all necessary requirements of the measuring process were included in the regulations, and not just in The Kennel Club Code of Best Practice for Measuring Agility Dog Heights.

Regulation H(1)(B)4.(2)
To:
(2) Dogs competing in small, medium or intermediate height categories must be measured for competition and must be at least 15 months old before their first measurement. Competitors must ensure that their dog is measured prior to their first competition and that the dog's Agility Record Book has been signed and dated by the measuring officials.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 July 2021)

Regulation H(1)(B)4.(3)
To:
(3) Dogs must be registered with The Kennel Club on either the Breed or Activity Register before being measured.
(Insertion in bold)
(Subsequent paragraphs to be renumbered)
(Effective 1 July 2021)

Regulation H(1)(B)4.(4)
To:
(4) A second measurement must be carried out on any dog that has had a first measurement between 12 and 24 months after the first. (This excludes dogs measured Large with the second measure struck out by the measurers).
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 July 2021)

Regulation H(1)(B)4.(5)
To:
(5) If the second measurement places the dog in the same height category as the first, this will be the final measurement. However, if the second measurement places the dog in a different category then a third measurement must be carried out within two calendar months by two measurers, both of whom must not have measured the dog on a previous occasion. The dog’s height category will be that confirmed by two out of the three measurements. The dog should compete in the original height category until the final decision has been made.
(Deletion struck through)
(Effective 1 July 2021)

Regulation H(1)(B)4.6
To:
(6) For all measurements, neither measurer must have previously measured the dog nor must the dog be owned or part owned by them, owned by a partner, member of their family or been previously entered for competition by them.
(Insertion in bold)
(Subsequent paragraphs to be renumbered)
(Effective 1 July 2021)

More information about agility can be found on The Kennel Club website. Please direct any enquiries regarding the above regulation changes to Working Dog Activities (The Kennel Club) .