How to Qualify for the FCI World Dog Agility Open
- 1). Honestly assess the competitive assets of your dog. Qualifying, training and showing require a large investment of time and dollars. Put the dog through the paces of running, jumping and weaving around obstacles. Consult a trainer if necessary. Ask yourself if the process is worth it.
- 2). Access your national kennel club's website for application information and entry forms. Determine the category in which your dog will fit. For example, the AKC divides its team into 3 classes, based on shoulder height. Be honest and accurate when measuring: These figures will be verified and re-verified by trained officials.
- 3). Complete the application paperwork and gather your veterinary records. You must certify the good health of your dog. Forward this, and any supporting information, to the team selection committee.
- 4). Prepare and post a YouTube video of your pet. You must show your dog performing the running and jumping feats required by FCI -- for instance the biathlon and pentathlon. Remember that the handler in the video must be the handler at the tryout and the contest. Forward this link to the selection committee.
- 5). Attend the tryout. The date or dates will be posted by the team selection committee. The judges will watch your dog negotiate the inclines and declines of A-frames, dog walks and seesaws -- as well as measure its ability to weave around poles without contact, pass through curved tunnels without confusion -- and to execute jumps high and broad. Some teams use a complex index to score the candidates. This may include past recognition and contest wins.
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