NADAC FAQ Frequently Asked Questions New HOOPERS Rules Description Current NADAC Rules - PDF Format  Click on the question to open the answer - click again to close the answer

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What is NADAC? NADAC stands for the North American Dog Agility Council.  The organization sets forth rules and guidelines under which dogs and handlers may compete for awards and titles for various levels of skill and achievement within the sport.  It was formed in 1993.  NADAC has a stated mission to promote dog agility by encouraging sportsmanship in competition, responsible dog ownership, and keeping the sport of agility as safe as possible for dogs.   What do I need to do to compete in NADAC sanctioned trials? The only thing required to compete in NADAC sanctioned trials is to register your dog(s) with NADAC to receive a registration number that is used to track the dog's progress and achievements.  You can apply for a NADAC number online at the NADAC website here.  All trained dogs of any breed are eligible to compete if they are 18 months of age or older.  Dogs may be registered for a number before 18 months of age.  Lifetime registration for each dog costs $15 USD.  NADAC members may register dogs at a discount for $10 USD per dog.   Do I need to be a NADAC member to register my dog to compete? No.  It is not necessary to become a NADAC Associate in order to compete.  However, becoming an Associate brings a number of convenient benefits including reduced costs to register dogs, automatic mailing of achievement certificates, free replacement of registration cards, and more.  You can apply to become a NADAC associate online by filling out the form here at the NADAC website.    I registered my dog with NADAC a while ago but I can't remember what our achievements are at this point. Good news!  If you have your dog's NADAC registration number, you can check your progress online here.  Simply enter your dogs registration in the box provided and a list of your scores in each event and titles earned will be returned in your browser.   I seem to have lost my dog's registration number.  Do I have to apply to register them again? You should contact NADAC directly at dogreg@nadac.com to determine if NADAC still has you in their files.  Since dog registrations are "lifetime", chances are you are still registered with NADAC.  Once you receive an email from NADAC with your registration number(s) you can use the link above to check your achievements.   What makes NADAC different from other agility venues like the AAC or CKC? Every agility venue has different rules and classes.  But NADAC differs from these other venues in its approach to agility.  NADAC has speed and distance handling as core values and so all courses in NADAC are fast and flowing.  A major point of difference in NADAC is the absence of "Refusals" or faulting the dog for running past or turning away from an obstacle.  Instead, NADAC only penalizes the dog and handler the time it takes to recover from a handling mishap.  NADAC sets more aggressive course times to encourage smooth and efficient handling without the need to penalize the team for "Refusing" obstacles.   What sorts of agility classes does NADAC offer? At present, NADAC offers 6 core classes of agility. Regular is most like standard agility found in other venues and consists of a series of obstacles that must be taken in order.  These obstacles include jumps, weaves, tunnels, and contact equipment.  A short "distance test" sequence is included in each course. Jumpers is again very much like Jumpers in other venues.  The course consists of a series of only jumps and tunnels that must be taken in order.  A very fast and fun game. Chances is a game designed to test the handlers ability to control the dog at a distance.  It consists of a series of obstacles arranged much like a Regular course but it includes 1 to 3 "tests" where the handler must remain behind a line and send the dog to a distance, directional, or discrimination challenge.  Obstacles and "tests" must be taken in the sequence as numbered. Tunnelers is a very fast game consisting of only tunnels.  The tunnels are numbered and must be taken in the order specified. Weavers is a game consisting of only tunnels and weave poles.  This is again a numbered course and obstacles must be taken in the order specified. Touch n Go is a game consisting of only tunnels and contact equipment.  This is a numbered course and obstacles must be taken in the order specified. Two new events, Hoopers (a strategy game that allows the handler to choose their own path through a series of "tests") and Gaters (essentially a Jumpers course without bars on the jumps to test handling at speed), will be introduced in the 2007 version of the NADAC rulebook currently being revised for release in July 2007.   Does NADAC offer different levels of difficulty and achievement? Yes.  There are 3 levels of achievement in NADAC.  Novice is the easiest level, Open requires a higher level of skills, and Elite is the highest level of competition in NADAC trials.  Unlike other agility venues, NADAC does not require a handler to "move up" to the next level after completing a certain number of qualifying runs at any particular level.  If the dog and handler are comfortable at the Novice or Open level, they may remain at that level and continue to earn titles and awards provided at those levels for additional achievements.   Will NADAC allow me to jump my dog at a height lower than specified after measuring my dog? Yes.  NADAC offers two divisions of competitors:  Proficient dogs will jump at the height specified after measuring and dogs must run fault-free in order to earn a qualifying score in classes.  Skilled dogs may jump one height lower than specified after measuring and may receive a qualifying score in Regular  with up to 5 faults.  A Veterans division also allows a dog to jump one jump height lower than normal (so Veteran Skilled dogs would jump 2 heights lower than at the Proficient level and Veteran Proficient dogs would jump 1 height lower than at the Proficient level). Additionally, NADAC offers breed exemptions for Corgis, Dachshunds, bulldogs, some terriers and other breeds to allow these breeds to jump 4" lower (one jump height) than their measured height.  This is to accommodate for differences in physical structure and provide for the safety of the dogs.  The NADAC Exhibitors Handbook contains a complete list of breeds for which this exemption applies.   What about the handler?  Does NADAC make any allowance for older or disabled handlers? Yes.  NADAC offers a "Veteran Handler" division for handlers over 60 or handlers with medical conditions that impair their mobility.  Handlers in the "Veteran Handlers" division receive 10 percent more time to complete a course than Standard handlers.   I have heard that NADAC frequently changes their rules.  How will I be able to keep up with all those changes? Actually, NADAC only changes their rules once each year with the revision of the Exhibitors handbook.  When people refer to those frequent rule changes, many are referring to confusion over the class now known as Chances which was previously known as Gamblers and then Wild Card.  NADAC has resolved these issues and points earned in any of these three events are combined in your current point totals.  You can check where you stand in Chances or any other class at the NADAC site here by entering your dog's registration number. You may also become a member of the NADAC online mailing list at Yahoo!  You can interact directly with NADAC judges and officials to get answers to any questions on rules quickly.  Click here to go to the NADAC group on Yahoo!   But I've also heard that NADAC no longer allows Teeters to be used in their courses and that this decision was made before the annual rule changes.  What gives? NADAC is all about the safety of the dog while running agility.  Information is now available that shows that dogs who run to the end of the teeter (while the end is still in the air) and ride it down in free-fall rather than operating the pivot point and running to the bottom risk serious damage from the impact of landing.  NADAC encourages trainers to teach their dogs to operate the pivot before moving to the end of the teeter but many trainers have decided that the speed advantage of having their dogs run to the end of the teeter and ride it down is worth any health risk from a vertical drop of over 4 feet straight down.  While not all breeds or individual dogs are at equal risk, NADAC has made the decision to remove a piece of equipment that is a potential health hazard until a more safe and appropriate piece can be substituted.  NADAC strives to provide the safest possible environment for dogs to play agility.   Why has NADAC done away with the distance line in the Regular class? NADAC has monitored the Chances class to be sure that the right balance of distance skills were being tested.  As of January 2008, NADAC is satisfied that Chances provides sufficient challenges to a team's distance handling skills.  Therefore, they have removed the distance like from the Regular class.   Is it true that NADAC has adjusted it's course times so that competitors now have more time in which to qualify? Yes.  All dogs at all jump heights will have more time in Jumpers, Weavers,, and Touch n Go.  Small and medium dogs will have additional time in the Regular and Tunnelers class as well.  These changes have come in the form of lowering the Yards Per Second requirement for the classes as well as some additional discretion for judges to "add yardage" to course distance to account for running conditions.  NADAC has stated that the average increase for course times averages about 1-2 seconds for most courses.   Does NADAC have a championship like the AAC and USDAA? Yes.  This year's competition will be held in September in Wyoming.  Competitors are required to earn sufficient points for entry into the various classes available at the NADAC Championships from their runs at regular trials through out the year.  There is no qualifying event for participation in the NADAC Championships.  All qualifying scores earned at NADAC Championships count toward titles in progress.  More information on the NADAC Championships will be posted to the ScallyWaggs website this spring.  The premium for the NADAC 2008 Championships has already been posted to the NADACagility Yahoo! group in the "files" section.