USDAA®Dog Agility
Dog agility is one of the fastest growing canine sports in the world. USDAA’s variety of tournament events at the Cynosport World Games gives you the world’s best agility competitors in one place.
- The Grand Prix of Dog Agility® World Championships
- Dog Agility Steeplechase®
- Dog Agility Masters® International Three-Dog Championship
- Masters Challenge Biathlon℠
All competitors entered in any tournament at the Cynosport World Games must pre-qualify based on USDAA’s Tournament Rules.
Grand Prix of Dog Agility®
Now in its 35th year, USDAA’s Grand Prix of Dog Agility® World Championships is the oldest and most prestigious tournament in the sport today. The event features familiar agility obstacles – weave poles, A-frame, dog walk, see-saw, tunnels and a variety of jumps and hurdles.
In true tournament fashion, the Grand Prix consists of quarterfinal and semifinal rounds in seven different jump height classes, (10”, 12″, 14”, 16”, 20”, 22” , and 24”). Competitors with the fastest times and least amount of faults make it to the next round. Winners in the final round of competition are crowned World Champion.
Dog Agility Steeplechase®
The Dog Agility Steeplechase® pits the top jumpers in seven different jump height classes (10”, 12″, 14”, 16”, 20”, 22”, and 24”) in a race against the clock for prize money totaling $10,000. The Steeplechase course is designed to encourage speed and accuracy as the competitors face a course of hurdles and tunnels, with an A-frame and weave poles on course.
Similar to the Grand Prix event, Steeplechase also consists of quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. Faults are added to the competitor’s overall time, with the fastest competitors in each jump height awarded the top prize money.
Dog Agility Masters® International Two or Three-Dog Team Championship
As the tournament name implies, the best competitors from around the world team up in groups of three and are tested in their versatility and endurance. Based on a point system, five different rounds of competition involving speed, accuracy and strategy are tested over several days.
Dogs of different sizes can team together and scoring is balanced to adjust times and points based on the dog’s size.
Masters Challenge Biathlon℠
The newest tournament, now in its third year consists of two classes – Standard and Jumpers – and features international style courses typically seen in Europe. Scores from both events are combined to name a champion in each jump height.
Performance Program
In 1999, USDAA introduced the Performance Program, which is a mirrored imaged of the tournament events described above with slightly different standards for competition. Jumps heights are 8″, 12″, 14″, 16″, and 20″ and competitors get an additional few seconds to complete a course. Tournament names described above are altered slightly to reflect the Performance Program.
- Performance Grand Prix℠
- Performance Speed Jumping℠
- Performance Versatility Pairs℠
- Performance Masters Challenge Biathlon℠
Veterans Showcase
The Veterans All-Around Showcase celebrates the partnership and vitality of dogs 8 years of age and older who have competed in the Cynosport World Games Tournaments in a previous year. As longtime members of our community, these active and healthy seniors demonstrate a heartwarming zest for the sport that makes the Veterans Showcase a highlight for competitors and spectators, alike. The top 3 dogs in each jump height, 4″, 8″, 12″ and 16″, showcase their versatility after 4 rounds of competition, and relish the cheers and tears as they take to the podium to receive trophies that recognize their teamwork. The Veterans Showcase is a wonderful reminder of the joys of staying active and having fun together at all stages of life!