Entering USDAA

Entry forms for USDAA trials are contained within the Agility Test Schedule (ATS). Your instructor should be able to assist you in getting placed on ATS mailing lists with the various USDAA groups in your area. You can also search the USDAA calendar for the upcoming trials, then search USDAA affiliates page for the contact person within these groups to find out who the trial secretary for their trial is and how to contact her. You can also contact USDAA directly from the organizations page in order to obtain this information.

You can view a summary of the USDAA performance criteria on line, but you will need to order a hard copy of the rules booklet from the office in order to get a complete version. Not only is the judging different between the various levels, there are several classes available, and one of them with a difficult to learn strategy. USDAA Agility explains some of this for you.

As a handler you will be choosing between the Championship or Performance tracks. Any dog 18 months or older may be entered in either. Be sure to clearly mark one or the other, you cannot mix and match the two in a weekend. You can however move freely between the two tracks on separate weekends. You will also need to declare the jump height your dog belongs in. If you are unsure check jump heights or have your instructor assist you.

This is a USDAA sample entry form* . There are many options for a handler in a USDAA test, and even more for a Starters or Novice person. In USDAA if you have never earned an agility title you begin in Starters. Jill Agility, in the sample above is just such a person. Carefully note the choices in marking the entry form that she had to make. It gets easier as you make your way up the agility titles ladder because the non-standard classes begin to count for moving up or for titles. But at the Starters/Novice level the non-standard classes are games for fun and skill building. In the Standard Agility class the Starters and Novice persons are separated for awards so that they are not competing against each other.

Be sure to read and sign the waiver form, often referred to as the back page of the entry.

IMPORTANT: Trial Secretaries are not responsible for errors entered on the entry form by the handler, incorrect fees, or illegible writing, or the lack of signature on the waiver form (the back page). Any of these errors can cause the entry to be considered invalid and it may be returned to the owner without any other notification. Proofread your entry!

*USDAA Sample Entry Form courteousy of Julia Hunt, FRAT.