Rules for agility competitions at Crufts

The following regulations apply to all qualifying agility heats and finals.

The competition will be held under Kennel Club rules and regulations for agility and any handler entering the competition will be deemed to have agreed to abide by these rules and regulations. 

There will be ten heats for each height, held at Kennel Club licensed shows throughout the country between 1 March and 31 October.

All heats must take place at Kennel Club licensed shows and the class name in the schedule should replicate exactly the name of the competition as stated in these rules and regulations.

Course design should reflect that expected in the main Crufts arena.

Dogs entered in any heats must be eligible for the competition entered. Judges have the right to check the dog’s Kennel Club Agility Record Book to ensure the dog is running in the correct height category. 

The handler that qualifies a dog in the heats will be the handler that competes in the Crufts Final, handler substitutions are not allowed. 

If a qualified handler or dog is unable/unfit to attend the Final, the reserve will be the next placed dog at the qualifier at which the withdrawn dog qualified. 

An entry fee will be charged for each dog at Crufts. 

Note for show societies: All results from these heats must be sent to the Working Dog Activities Team at the Kennel Club within 14 days of the show date (These rules will be amended if any changes are made to Kennel Club Agility Regulations during the course of the competition year).

• From 2025 the points based system will be removed. Highest places previously unqualified dogs will automatically win onto the Final. Results will work on a roll down basis to find unqualified dogs to invite to the Final at Crufts.
• There will be ten dogs in each height (S/M/I/L) invited to the Final.
• There will be ten qualifier heats across the country between 1 March and 31 October.
• Each qualifier heat will consist of two rounds (1 agility, and 1 jumping round).
• Each round will be run as combined 6-7 class.
• Both rounds must take place on the same day of the show.
• Both rounds will have a random running order produced in advance.
• The winner will be the dog and handler from the combined results from both rounds. The winner will be the dog and handler with the fastest time, with the least number of faults.

Eligibility

• Qualifying heats will be scheduled as a standard combined class for grades 6 and 7. There will be a separate qualifying competition for each height category small, medium, intermediate and large.

Qualifying

• There will be ten qualifying heats throughout the year. The first placed unqualified dog in each heat will automatically qualify and be invited to compete in the Crufts Singles Finals at Crufts for each height category small, medium, intermediate and large.

• The qualifying heats will consist of two rounds, one jumping and one agility (both round need to be entered in order to be eligible) . Both rounds must take place on the same day at the show. The winning partnership will be those with the least combined faults in the fasted combined time calculated over the two rounds. If there is equality of faults and time, the agility round faults followed by time will take precedence.

• If a dog has already qualified, then results from that qualifier will roll down to find the next unqualified dog to invite to the Final at Crufts.
• Competitors may enter more than one dog in a heat. Competitors may qualify more than one dog for the Final.
• If a qualified handler or dog is unable/unfit to attend the Final, the reserves will be the next placed dog at the qualifier at which the withdrawn dog qualified.
• Please note that there will be an entry charge for the Final at Crufts and car parking won’t be provided by The Kennel Club.

• All events will be run as a combined 1-7 class.
• Course design should be set at Grade 5 level.
• Novice will be removed from the event titles.
• There will be ten heats across the country between 1 March and 31 October.
• The top two unqualified dogs will go through to the Semi-Final (20 dogs for each event). If the class is split then it will be the top unqualified dog from each part that will go through to the Semi-Final. The Semi-Final will be held alongside at The London International Horse Show at ExCel in December
• The top ten from each Semi-Final will qualify for the Final at Crufts.

Eligibility

• Qualifying heats will be scheduled as a special combined class for grades 1 to 7 in medium. intermediate and large dog heights.
• Courses will be set at Grade 5 level.
• This competition is a special agility competition open to all medium dogs, intermediate dogs and large dogs excluding Border Collies, Working Sheepdogs and any of their crosses. Any concerns regarding a dog’s eligibility should be recorded in the Incident Book and reported to The Kennel Club.
• Those dogs eligible to compete in competition in the medium dog competition are those measuring over 350mm and those measuring 430mm or under at the withers. Intermediate are those measuring over 430mm and measuring 500mm or under at the withers and Large dogs are those measuring over 500mm at the withers.

Qualifying

• There will be ten qualifying heats throughout the year for each height, medium, intermediate and large. The first two unqualified placed dogs in each heat at each height will automatically qualify for the Semi-Final to be held at The London International Horse Show at ExCel in December.
• The Semi-Final will consist of one round of agility competition and one round of jumping competition. The winning partnership will be those with the least combined faults in the fasted combined time calculated over the two rounds of the Semi-Final. If there is equality of faults and time, the agility round faults followed by time will take precedence.
• The first ten placed dogs in each height at the Semi-Final will be invited to compete in the finals to be held at Crufts Dog Show, NEC Birmingham the following March.
• The final will consist of one round of jumping and one round of agility competition. The winning partnership will be those with the least combined faults in the fasted combined time calculated over the two rounds of the Final. If there is equality of faults and time, the agility round faults followed by time will take precedence.
• Competitors may enter more than one dog in a heats and Semi-Final but can only qualify one dog for the final. The highest placed dog will qualify for the final and places will roll down to the next placed eligible dog.
• There will be no restriction on the number of dogs from each breed that are eligible to compete in the Final.
• If a qualified handler or dog is unable/unfit to attend the Semi-Final, the reserve will be the next placed dog at the qualifier at which the withdrawn dog qualified. If a qualified handler or dog is unable/unfit to attend the Final, the reserve will be the next placed dog from the Semi-Final.
• Please note that there will be an entry charge for the Semi-Final at The London International Horse Show at ExCel and at the Finals at Crufts. Car parking won’t be provided by The Kennel Club.

• From 2025, the Semi-Final will move from The International Agility Festival and will be held at The London International Horse Show at Excel in December.
• The Final will still take place at Crufts.
• Dogs will need to be either grade 3, 4 or 5 at the time of qualifying.
• Due to the potential timescales between qualifying at a heat, the Semi-Final in December and the Final in March, it is appreciated that some dogs will progress through the grades and may not be in Grades 3, 4 or 5 at the time of the Semi-Final or Final.
• Dogs have progressed to Grades 6 or 7 at the time of the Semi-Final or final are eligible to compete in those Finals.
• Any dog that has qualified for the Semi-Final or Final and subsequently progresses out of Grades 3, 4 and 5 and wins a Championship Agility Certificate (is eligible to compete in the Championship Agility Finals at Crufts) will be withdrawn from the Novice Cup and the next placed dog from the qualifier of the dog removed will be invited to the Semi-Final/Final.
• There will be ten qualifier heats across the country between 1 March and 31 October.
• The top two in each height (S/M/I/L) (20 in each height), will be invited to the Semi-Final in December. The top 8 in each height will qualify for the Final at Crufts.

Competition Rules

• The competition will be held under Kennel Club rules and regulations for Agility and any handler entering the competition will be deemed to have agreed to abide by these rules and regulations. Standard rules will apply, and all equipment used shall be of a standard size for that height category.
• There will be ten heats for each height, held at Kennel Club licensed shows throughout the country between 1 March and 31 October. Course design should reflect that expected in the finals for the competition.

Eligibility

• Qualifying heats will be scheduled as a standard combined agility class for grades 3 to 5. There will be a separate qualifying competition for each height category small, medium, intermediate and large.
• Any dog that has qualified for the Semi-Final or Final and subsequently progresses out of Grades 5 is still eligible to compete in the Semi-Final/Final. Any dog having qualified for the Semi-Final or Final that wins a Championship Agility Certificate (i.e. is eligible to compete in the Championship Agility Finals at Crufts) immediately becomes ineligible to compete in the Novice Cup Semi-Final/Final and shall be withdrawn. The next placed dog from the qualifier of the withdrawn dog will be invited to the Semi-Final/Final (assuming that they are also still eligible).

Qualifying

• There will be ten qualifying heats throughout the year. The first two unqualified placed dogs in each heat will automatically qualify for the Semi-Final to be held at The London International Horse Show at ExCel in December.
• Once a dog has qualified for the Semi-Final, further heats may be entered for competition although any placings in these heats will not affect the dog’s eligibility for the Semi-Final.
• Competitors may enter more than one dog in a heat. Competitors may qualify more than one dog for the Semi-Final, however only the competitor’s highest placed dog at the Semi-Final will qualify for the Crufts Final.
• If a qualified handler or dog is unable/unfit to attend the Semi-Final, the reserve will be the next placed dog at the qualifier at which the withdrawn dog qualified. If a qualified handler or dog is unable/unfit to attend the Final, the reserve will be the next placed dog from the Semi-Final.
• The top eight dogs in each height category small, medium, intermediate and large from the Semi-Final round of the Kennel Club Novice Cup will be invited to compete in the Final at Crufts Dog Show, NEC Birmingham the following March.
• Please note that there will be an entry charge for the Semi-Final at The London International Horse Show at ExCel and at the Finals at Crufts. Car parking won’t be provided by The Kennel Club.