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2014 AKC International Team Tryouts (ITT)

For 2014 the American Kennel Club (AKC) will field a team of 12 dogs to
compete at the FCI Agility World Championships (AWC) which will be held
in Luxembourg on September 11-14, 2014 and the AKC will approve entry
for 32 dogs selected through the team tryout process and through the
online credential/qualification process to the European Open (EO) agility
competition to be held in July 25-27, 2014 in Hungary.

The rules for the 2014 International Team Tryouts (ITT) competition will be based
upon the FCI rules which will be in effect at the 2014 AWC and EO.

Date: May 2-4, 2014
(Friday is practice, random draw and briefing. Saturday and Sunday are the
competition.)
Location: Hopkins Pavilion, Hopkins, Minnesota
Judges: to be determined
Mission: It is our goal within this selection process to field the most competitive teams
possible – while still keeping an eye on the future growth of the sport, balancing
elements such as experience, growth, speed and consistency.
Purpose: To provide a competition format in which handlers and their agility dogs may
win their way onto the AKC/USA FCI AWC Team and/or the EO Agility Team.

Entry Form: The entry form for candidates will be available no later than January 31,
2014.
Format: There will be 4 or 5 rounds held over 2 days.
Scores: International Team Tryout scores will not count towards AKC titles.

FCI Jump Heights
Shoulder Height Cutoffs:
• Small team – shoulder height = 13 3/4” or less
• Medium team – shoulder height = 16 7/8” or less
• Large team – shoulder height = greater than 16 7/8

The jump heights are to be:
FCI –
AWC/EO
AKC
Small 14” 12”
Medium 18” 16”
Large 26” 26”

All small and medium dogs competing at Tryouts will be measured by the Agility
Director. Due to stricter measuring procedures at international agility
competitions, dogs within 1” of the cutoff should be prepared to also be measured
by both judges of record at Tryouts. Dogs measuring over will run FEO (for
exhibition only). Dogs who have “measured in” at the AWC prior years do not

need to be measured at ITT. Basic Eligibility for all candidates entering

International Team Tryouts (EO and AWC)

• Any Candidate younger than 18 years of age at ITT must be accompanied by a

parent or legal guardian at their own expense (e.g.: air, hotel & ground travel) at

the ITT competition and international competitions as well as team

practices, should the minor become an AKC International EO Team or AWC

Team member.

• The Candidate showing the dog at ITT will be the only handler allowed to

compete with the dog at the International competitions.

• The handler of the dog at ITT must be the handler who showed the dog to gain its

minimum score or title requirements.

• Candidates must be the registered owner or co-owner of record of the dog at

entry closing time for ITT.

• All ITT competitors will be required to sign a Consent and Release Form.

• All handlers must complete the online application process.

• Candidates must be US residents for one year.

• Candidate must be willing to travel with the team to the AWC and/or European

Open.

• Candidate must be willing to acquire any documentation required by the local

government(s).

• Team Members must be willing to have their dog treated for tapeworm within 30

days of the competition if the host country requires it. Team Members must be

willing to vaccinate their dog for rabies according to the host country’s regulations.

• Please note that it is important that your dog’s microchip and/or tattoo numbers be

on your rabies certificates. You will likely need to ask your vet to manually add

this information and sign it as it is not common practice to include it. ISO

compatible microchips are the only ones recognized in Europe.

• Candidates must be in good standing with the American Kennel Club. Any

Candidate who has been the subject of a disciplinary action, either suspended or

reprimanded, during the year prior to tryouts will not be allowed to compete at

International Team Tryouts (ITT). Any handler who suspended or reprimanded

after earning a spot on either team, and before the competition, may also be

subject to sanction up to and including removal from the team by the Team Coach

and AKC Director of Agility.

• Candidates must at all times demonstrate extreme Good Sportsmanship while

participating in or watching any agility event. The World Team Coach & AKC

Director of Agility may refuse entry to ITT and/or the EO team to any handler who

demonstrates verbal or physical abuse to a dog or fellow competitor or acts

abusive or challenging to an agility judge.

• Candidates are representatives of the agility program in the United States and are

also representing those companies which sponsor agility in the United States.

• Though not required, the team is strongly encouraged to compete at the AKC

Nationals, March 29 to 31, 2014. Results from the AKC Nationals will be a

consideration in choosing the remaining team members.

Page 3

Candidates for the International teams are expected to keep complete records aCandidates for the International teams are expected to keep complete records and make

them available to the coach on request from this time forward:

• A complete list of your competition history from now until April 1, 2014.

This record will include scores from all agility events as well as any other

international or national type event during that time period, and must include

judge, course times, yardage and jump height, YPS for each class, placement

and NQ information & footing,

Example:

T.R.A.C.S., J. Doe, JWW, 32.02, 182 yards, 5.68 yps, 1st place, grass, 26”

T.R.A.C.S., J. Doe, Std, 42.78, 185 yards, 4.32 yps, NQ, grass, missed DW, 26”

(NQ times and yards may be submitted, but are not required)

The team coach retains the right to require the complete Competition History records

from any team being considered for the teams.

For large dogs: only scores in the 26 inch classes will be considered.

For small/medium teams, only scores in the 12” and 16” classes respectively will be

considered.

FCI Agility World Championships (AWC)

The AKC will enter up to 12 dogs in the FCI Agility World Championships

(AWC). Any handler interested in earning a spot on the AKC/USA Agility

World Team must attend the International Team Tryouts (ITT) held in May

2014.

• Two dog/handler teams from each height division will win a spot on the team at

ITT.

• The remainder of the team will be chosen by the Coach and Team Leader based

upon scores from ITT as well as AKC Nationals, and the teams competition

results at ISC and regular competitions.

• These dogs will be sponsored by the AKC.

• A “Team” shall be considered, for purpose of these rules, to be an owner/handler

or a co-owner/handler and a dog which meets requirements for height and

pedigree.

• A “Candidate” is the owner or co-owner handler that intends to compete for a

position on the 2014 AKC Agility World Team.

• All Teams must also meet the Basic Eligibility requirements listed above.

• Dogs must have a three generation pedigree showing three generations of

purebred lineage. (This is a requirement of the FCI Agility World Championships,

not the AKC.)

• The FCI requires that every dog have an AKC registration number and acceptable

FCI recognized pedigree.

• Team members must attend the two Team practices/ arrive in Luxemburg by

Monday night prior to the event, and attend all the practices in Europe prior to the

AWC Entry to the ITT for the purpose of trying out for the AWC team may be obtained if the

following scores are achieved. Scores meeting the criteria below must be obtained

between April 2, 2013 and April 1, 2014 at standard AKC licensed or member agility

trials. All scores and times must come from the regular AKC Master Level titling classes

for small (12”), medium (16”) and large (26”) teams respectively. All scores must be

clean rounds – scores of 100. The handler of the dog at ITT must be the handler who

showed the dog to gain its minimum score requirements.

1) A minimum of 4 standard class scores of 100 and a minimum rate of speed of:

• 3.70 yards per second (YPS) – small dogs

• 3.80 yards per second (YPS) – medium dogs

• 4.00 yards per second (YPS) – large dogs

2) A minimum of 4 JWW class scores of 100 and a minimum rate of speed of:

• 4.90 yards per second (YPS) – small dogs

• 5.00 yards per second (YPS) – medium dogs

• 5.40 yards per second (YPS) – large dogs

3) A minimum of 2 double Q’s

• No minimum YPS requirements

• May use same runs to fulfill both double Q requirements and 4 standard and 4

JWW requirements if they meet the minimum YPS requirements

Note: To compute the YPS, take the yardage for your dog’s jump height and divide it by

the dog’s actual running time. In the standard class, do not alter the dog’s actual time for

the table count (this is already factored in).

Example: Yardage = 182 yards.

Dog’s actual time = 53.69 seconds

YPS = 3.39

All times and YPS’s listed shall be rounded to the 2nd decimal place.

Major International Sweepstakes Class Scores (ISC Class):

“Clean run” scores from the following ISC Classes at 14”, 18” and 26” inches may be

used to fulfill the minimum requirements of 4 Std/4 JWW requirements. A “clean run”

consists of a run without time or course faults. Minimum YPS requirements are waived

for these scores, as long as the dog is under the course time set by the judge for that

class. Two ISC jumpers and two ISC standard scores may be used to fulfill the minimum

requirements.

• May 25-26, 2013 – Two Rivers Agility Club of Sacramento, Dixon, CA

• August 9-10, 2013 – BARK of Central Mississippi, Hattiesburg, PA

http://www.doggonefunagility.com/

• August 10-11, 2013 – Dog Agility Sport Handlers, Costa Mesa, CA

http://www.dashagility.com/

• December 15, 2013 – Western Reserve Kennel Club, Cleveland, OH

www.countrysideagility.com/trialinfo.htm

• January 18-19, 2014 – Rose City Cluster, Portland, OR

www.r2agility.com

• January 17-19, 2014 – Blue Ridge Agility, Fletcher, NC

www.blueridgeagility.com ISC Combined Class Winners

Combined scores from ISC Jumpers and Standard classes at the above events will be

used to award the Combined ISC Class Award. Only Clean Run (no time or course

faults) scores will be used to compute the Combined Score. The Combined Class winner

from the 14, 18 and 26 inch height is invited to attend Team Tryouts. They do not need

to fulfill the requirement of the 4/4 scores nor are they required to achieve the 2 double Q

scores. The dog must have an approved pedigree and also fulfill any requirements for

specific rabies shots or titering. The team must also send in all the required information

with the fees and the entry form and meet all the other basic eligibility noted in this

document. The handler at tryouts must be the same handler that won the combined

award.

FCI European Open (EO)

The AKC will enter up to 32 dogs in the FCI EO to represent the USA at this

event. The dogs will be chosen by AKC based on a variety of factors

(explained further below). 12 dogs (4 in each height) will win spots at ITT. The

remaining 20 spots will be announced by May 15, 2014

Entry to the International Team Tryouts for the purpose of trying out for the EO

Teams only requires that the dog have achieved its AX and AXJ titles and be

competing at the Master level in both standard and JWW classes. The dog must

have these titles by April 1, 2014.

• All Teams must also meet the Basic Eligibility requirements listed above

• All breeds including All Americans can compete at the EO and as such are

eligible for ITT.

• AKC/USA/EO Team: Four dog/handler teams from each height division will win a

spot on the team at International Team Tryouts.

• Any registered Canine Partner who wins a spot in the top 4 of their height will be

sponsored by the American Kennel Club to attend the European Open as well as

an EO practice if one is held.

• A cash prize will be given to the top 4 winners of Small, Medium and Large that

win spots at ITT to help defray travel expenses. The prize will be awarded after

the EO competition.

Handlers must complete the online application process in order to be considered for one

of the 32 dog/handler teams entered in the EO. This application will be available by

January 1, 2014 and will be due to be submitted by March 20, 2014. This application will

include information about the dog/handler team such as:

• Prior EO experience and results

• Any prior international experience and results

• Any agility national events experiences and results

• Qualifying rates and scores from trials at 26/16 & 12 inches respectively

This information will be used in conjunction with the team’s performance at ITT (if they

attend) to determine the 32 dogs that will be entered at the EO.

• All 32 dogs must be registered with the AKC to compete at the FCI European

Open AKC/USA Team. Dogs must have an AKC registration number, PAL/ILP number or AKC Canine Partners listing number. Intent to Enter International Team Tryouts (ITT)

If you are planning on attending 2014 ITT, whether you have all your requirements at this

time or not, please send an email asking to be placed on the list of AKC 2014 World

Team Candidates immediately to Toni Osojnicki, osojn001@tc.umn.edu. The email will

need to contain the following information:

• Handler’s name

• Dog’s call name, age, breed, sex and jump height

• Whether this dog will be trying out for the EO team, the AWC team or both

Candidates will be sent information regarding the World Team process such as any

current details about ITT, practice, additional information we receive related to the EO or

AWC, etc, via a Yahoo email group.

Additionally all those trying out for the EO and AWC team will need to complete the

online entry.