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to the Preferred dogs that made it through the same require- ments as the MACH, less Championship points. My hope is that the PACH will be a prefix title not a suffix title.
Chapter 3
The A-frame shall be set to 5 foot 0 inches for the 4- and 8-inch jump heights.
If the rationale for this recommendation was because the shorter dogs have a hard time getting up the A-frame, perhaps more time should be spent in finding ways to increase speed to the A-frame when the courses are designed and reviewed. I see the raising and lowering of the A-frame as time lost in each of the Standard classes. Please understand I’m saying this and I run an 8" dog.
Remove 5' 7" requirement of A-frame for 26" jump height.
I don’t know about the trials held in your part of the country, but I have yet to see the A-frame raised for any 26" jumping dog. Nonetheless, I’m glad this requirement was removed.
Spacing between weave poles must be 24" measured center to center with a +/- 1/2" tolerance. Weave pole bases must be metal. Springs are no longer allowed. (Clubs will have 24 months to implement this change from when this regulation change becomes effective.)
I am hoping this recommendation is accepted by AKC. I have seen so many dogs hitting 24" weave poles and speeding up in the weaves which is not what the same dogs have done in the past. Several people I know have complained about the 24" weaves saying their dogs couldn’t do them. What I per- ceive is their dogs don’t truly understand their responsibility in the weaves.
Jump Cup definition: 1 1/2" protrusion or less (e.g. distance that it sticks out from stanchion).
How many dogs have you seen getting their collar caught in the jump cup? I’ve seen quite a few. Thank you AAC for think- ing about the safety of our dogs!
No double lining shall be allowed on open tunnels. A rib pitch of 4 inches is required. (Extended implement date—24 months from when the regulations go into effect).
I appreciate the rib pitch of 4 inches. Six-inch rib pitch tunnels tend to collapse where tunnel bags or snugglers are attached.
Metal tunnel holders shall not have a rigid upright (e.g. steel/ wood) that is capable of fitting between the ribs, thus possibly projecting into the tunnel. Removing “when used in locations other than the beginning and end of the tunnel” from the regulations.
Another safety issue handled by the AAC. No more jammed toes when dogs run through tunnels with rigid upright metal tunnel holders.
Closed Tunnel definition: The chute fabric is 6' to 6' 6". It is measured with the chute fabric attached to the barrel and the measurement should be from the bottom edge of the exit end of the barrel (with the fabric lying on the ground) to the exit end of the chute fabric. Non-slip surface must exist one-half way up the barrel on both sides.
I appreciate the AAC recommending that the length of the chute fabric be shortened. However, I have seen way too many dogs get hung up and hurt in the collapsed chute. I wish AKC would consider deleting the collapsed chute from all courses as a matter of safety for the dogs.
Tire height definition:
26" and 24" jump heights set at 20"
20" jump height set at 16"
16" jump height set at 12"
12" jump height set at 8"
8" and 4" jump height set at 4"
I’m not sure what to think of this recommendation. Yes, I’ve
seen many dogs get hurt taking down the tire jump, but I’m not sure if lowering the height of the tire by 4 inches is the way to fix this problem. I guess time will tell if this is the cure, if this recommendation is accepted by AKC.
Weave Pole Performance: A synopsis of the recommendation for each level is that dogs are given three attempts to complete weave poles, or they are given a “failure to perform” fault (F). Also, weave poles must be restarted from the first pole if a dog pops out of the weaves, the dog can no longer be put back in the middle of the weaves.
Thank you AAC for specifying a limit to the number of times any dog can attempt a set of weaves. Also, I’m so happy the weave poles have to be re-started from the beginning if a dog pops out of the weaves. I never understood putting a dog back in at whatever point it left the weaves.
Position-less table: count/time starts once all four paws have touched the table (and the dog remains on the table top). Neither a sit nor a down position is required.
This recommendation makes no sense to me. Why not delete the table altogether, rather than having a dog jump onto the table and do nothing but keep all four paws on the table?
Chapter 4
180 degree turn from a tunnel exit to the ascent of the A-frame shall no longer be allowed in any classes.
Thank you AAC for making this recommendation. I have always seen this as a safety issue, especially for dogs that don’t have a lot of drive.
Chapter 5
If a dog gets tangled up in the closed tunnel fabric, gets hung up going through the tire, or falls off on the ascent side of the dog walk, A-frame, or seesaw, the handler has the choice to immediately retry the obstacle once and then leave the course. Alternatively, the han- dler has the choice not to retry the obstacle the dog had trouble with and continue on the course.
Thank you AAC for giving us the opportunity to fix a prob- lem.
Chapter 6
Triple bar jump may be used a maximum of one time in Novice JWW.
I like this change. It didn’t make sense to me that the Novice dogs never saw a triple bar jump until they got into Open.
Chapter 7
Closed Tunnel may be used a maximum of one time in all Jumpers with Weaves classes.
Even if the modification to the closed tunnel is accepted, I feel having the closed tunnel in the Jumpers with Weaves class is going to lead to many dogs being hung up in the closed tun- nel and possibly hurt.
Chapter 8
Double bar spread for 4" jump height shall be a range of 2" to 4".
November/December 2009 The Australian Shepherd Journal 37