1) How do I register my dog for NADAC?
2) Does NADAC allow non-pedigreed dogs to compete?
3) How old does my dog have to be to compete?
4) Do I have to be a member of NADAC in order to compete?
5) What are the benefits of becoming a NADAC Associate?
6) How do I become a NADAC Associate?
7) How do I find trials in my area?
8) How do I find a trainer in my area?
9) Does my child/junior handler have to compete in the Junior Handler Program?
10) What is the minimum age for a Junior Handler?
11) How old does my dog have to be to compete in the Veteran’s Division?
12) How old do I have to be to move my dog to the Veteran’s Division?
13) Are there provisions to allow disabled handlers to compete with their dogs?
14) What height does a Junior Handler or Veterans dog jump?
15) What is the standard course time for Veterans or Junior Handler dogs?
16) How do I transfer points to the Veteran’s Division?
17) What is the difference between the Proficient and Skilled categories?
18) I have a dog with an AKC Excellent title. At what level should I start in NADAC trials?
19) Can I bring my non-competing dog to a NADAC trial?
20) Can I run my dog in some classes and have my friend run her in other classes during the same weekend?
21) Can I enter my dog in the Veteran’s Division and the Standard Division at the same show?
22) I would like to get Outstanding and Superior level titles for my dog. Can I go back to the lower levels to do this?
23) If my dog earns a title, do I have to move up to the next level?
24) How do I request the Titles and Awards that my dog has earned?

1) How do I register my dog for NADAC?

All dogs must be registered to compete in NADAC sanctioned events. This is a one-time process and the number assigned is permanent. To register your dog to compete in NADAC events, use the online Dog Registration Form on this website. Fill out the form and submit it. Your dog’s permanent NADAC registration number will be displayed on the screen for you to print for your records. You then have 30 days to send in the registration fee to the address at the bottom of the registration form. Dogs must be registered with NADAC prior to competing in a NADAC sanctioned trial.

2) Does NADAC allow non-pedigreed dogs to compete?

Yes. All NADAC agility trials shall be open to purebred and mixed breed dogs . All healthy, trained dogs over eighteen (18) months of age are eligible to compete in NADAC agility trials. Bitches in heat, lame, or blind dogs are ineligible for entry, as is any dog with a deformity that may cause a judge to be unable to reasonably assess the dog’s ability to function and perform agility obstacles safely, and in a manner that is in the best interests of the health and welfare of the dog. Any dog, which demonstrates aggression towards any person or any dog, whether inside the ring or outside, the ring, must be excused from the agility trial. Any dog that the judge feels is not in enough control to perform all obstacles in a safe manner will be excused from the agility trial.

3) How old does my dog have to be to compete?

Dogs must be at least eighteen (18) months of age in order to compete. There is no leeway in the dog’s age, even by one day; the dog MUST be a minimum of eighteen months old on the day of the trial in which the dog is to compete.

4) Do I have to be a member of NADAC in order to compete?

No. Exhibitors are not required to be NADAC Associates in order to register their dogs or compete in NADAC sanctioned events.

5) What are the benefits of becoming a NADAC Associate?

There are several benefits to becoming an Associate. They include the following:

1. You may register any new dog at a reduced fee.
2. You may request a height card for dogs that you compete with at no charge.  The normal fee is $10.00 per card.
3. Any dog registration card, Associate Membership card, or height cards that is lost or stolen will be replaced at no charge.  The normal replacement fee is $5.00 per card.
4. Hard copies of the Exhibitors Handbook and Calendar of Events will be mailed to Associates free of charge upon request. The Exhibitor’s Handbook is $5.00 to non-Associates.
5. A NADAC Newsletter will begin in 2006, with a discounted fee for associates

6) How do I become a NADAC associate?

To become a member, use the Associate Membership Application on this site. Complete the form and submit it electronically. You then have 30 days to submit the fee to the address on the form. An Associate fee is $15.00 for 1 year, $35.00 for 3 years, or $50.00 for 5 years. Associate Memberships are based on the calendar year from January 1 to December 31 of each year.

7) How do I find trials in my area?

Go to the Listing of NADAC Trials on this website. You can then browse the list of upcoming trials which are arranged in chronological order. Contact information is listed for each trial.

8) How do I find a trainer in my area?

NADAC does not endorse or promote any particular trainers or clubs, however most clubs which host NADAC sanctioned events also offer training classes. A list of affiliated clubs can be found on this website. This can be searched by zip code to locate clubs in your area. You may also post a request or question on the NADAC E-mail Forum. A link to this forum is also available on the NADAC contacts page .

9) Does my child/junior handler have to compete in the Junior Handler Program?

No. The Junior Handler Division is open to any dog which is being handled by a youth handler who is 17 years of age or younger, but no one is required to compete in the Junior Handler division.

10) What is the minimum age for a Junior Handler?

There is no minimum age. The Junior Handler Division is open to any dog which is being handled by a youth handler who is 17 years of age or younger. The host group may choose to divide the Junior Handler classes into two different groups, youths aged 11 and under and youths 12-17 years. Host groups may also choose to divide the Junior Handler classes into A/B categories instead of dividing by ages.

11) How old does my dog have to be to compete in the Veteran’s Division?

The Veterans Division is open to any dog age seven (7) or older. The dog’s age shall be determined by the dog’s actual birthday, or the closest date, as known. Younger dogs may also compete in the Veterans division if their handler enters the trial as a veteran or disabled handler.

12) How old do I have to be to move my dog to the Veteran’s Division?

The Veterans Division is open to any handler age 60 or older, or any handler who has a certificate of disability, regardless of the age of the dog.

13) Are there provisions to allow disabled handlers to compete with their dogs?

Yes. Handlers with a disability who choose to compete in the Veteran’s Division shall present a copy of their disabled parking permit or a letter from their doctor. If a handler wishes to enter a class as a Veteran/Disabled handler, then they must enter all classes and all dogs that they compete with for that weekend as a Veteran/Disabled handler.

14) What height does a Junior Handler or Veterans dog jump?

Dogs entered in the Junior Handlers or Veterans Division classes must jump 4 inches less than their Standard Division jump height as determined by the jump height table. The maximum height any Junior Handler or Veteran Division dog may jump is 16".

15) What is the standard course time for Veterans or Junior Handler dogs?

Standard course times for dogs entered in these Divisions of the Regular Agility and Jumpers classes shall be 10% greater than the SCT for the Standard Division. In addition, there is a 10% additional time allowance for Veterans dogs entered in the non-jumping classes (Tunnelers, Weavers, and Touch N Go) for Veterans/Disabled handlers only; i.e., only for handlers who are over 60 or have a disability and have entered the Veterans Division on that basis.

16) How do I transfer points to the Veteran’s Division?

You no longer need to.  Effective December 10, 2005, NADAC began combining points earned in the three different divisions—Standard, Veterans, and Junior Handlers—for the purpose of calculating titles and awards in the various classes for each dog. It is no longer necessary to request any transfers of points when moving a dog from one division to another. Dogs shall continue to compete with other dogs in their own division at weekend trials and at the NADAC Championships, and will receive placements and Q’s within those divisions (Standard, Vet, JH). Qualifying points will be reported to the NADAC office as previously, where they will be accumulated to class qualifiers with no regard to the division entered.

17) What is the difference between the Proficient and Skilled Categories?

Every class in a NADAC trial is split into two categories: Proficient and Skilled. Courses and SCTs are the same for both categories.

In the Proficient Category, dogs must jump their measured jump height per the jump height table. Runs must be clean, with no course faults or time faults, in order to qualify. All Special Award plaques and NATCH plaques are earned in this category.

In the Skilled Category, all runs must be clean to qualify except in Regular, where dogs may still earn 5-point qualifiers for any run with five (5) or fewer faults.  In addition, exhibitors may choose to enter their dog one jump height lower than they are required to jump in the Proficient Category. For example, a dog who measures to jump 20" in the Standard division, Proficient category, may enter a trial at 16" in the Standard division, Skilled category, and will receive the benefit of the additional time allotted to the 16" dogs. If this same dog is also a Veteran, or is handled by a Veteran/Disabled Handler or Junior Handler, he may enter the Veteran or JH Division and jump another 4" lower. This dog would receive the time allotted to the 16" Vets jumping 12". Special Award certificates and Medals are earned in the Skilled category.

Skilled and Proficient points are combined for titles and Special Awards at the Novice and Open levels.  At the Elite level, points in the two categories earn separate titles and count towards different Awards.  Proficent points earn Proficient title certificates and count towards Special Award plaques and the NATCH.  Skilled points earn Skilled title certificates and count towards Special Award certificates and Medals.  See the online NADAC Titles list for the points requirements in each category.

Dogs may only be entered in ONE category per weekend. The dog must be entered in all Proficient or all Skilled categories for all classes entered on a particular weekend.

Points earned prior to January 1, 2006 are considered Proficient points. They will remain as Proficient points unless a request is made to transfer them to the Skilled Category.  All such requests must be received by NADAC before August 1, 2006; after that date, points transfers will not be allowed. Transfer of points from Skilled to Proficient is never allowed.

18) I have a dog with an AKC Excellent title. At what level should I start in NADAC trials?

Any dog, which has not previously entered a NADAC trial, must begin all classes at the Novice level. A dog that runs at a level higher than eligible for will receive credit for points earned at that level. However, upper level titles will not be issued until the dog has completed the requirements for the lower level title. NADAC will not transfer points from a higher level to a lower level to complete the lower level requirements for a title.

19) Can I bring my non-competing dog to a NADAC trial?

Yes, provided that this is allowed by the club holding the trial, and provided that your dog has good manners, and is kept on leash and under control at all times.

20) Can I run my dog in some classes and have my friend run her in other classes during the same weekend?

Yes. Points earned will be awarded to the dog, regardless of who the handler is.

21) Can I enter my dog in the Veteran’s Division and the Standard Division at the same show?

Yes, but you may not enter a dog in more than one division of the same class at a show. Therefore, if a dog is entered in the Veterans Division of the Jumpers Class, that dog could not also be entered in the Standard Division of the Jumpers Class at the same show. On the other hand, it could be entered in the Standard or Junior Handlers divisions in any of the other classes in that show. For example, a handler might enter an eight year old dog in the Veterans Division of the Regular Agility Class and the Standard Division of the Gamblers Class and the Junior Handlers Division of the Jumpers Class.

Note: if a handler wishes to enter a class as a Veteran/Disabled handler, then they must enter all classes and all dogs that they compete with for that weekend as a Veteran/Disabled handler.

22) I would like to get Outstanding and Superior level titles for my dog. Can I go back to the lower levels to do this?

Yes. You may, at any time, enter your dog at a lower level to complete previously skipped titles.

23) If my dog earns a title, do I have to move up to the next level?

Dogs in NADAC are never required to move up in level after completing a lower level title, even a Superior title.

24) How do I request the Titles and Awards that my dog has earned?

Title certificates will be printed and sent to those who fill out a Certificate Request Form and mail or e-mail it to NADAC. The Certificate Request Forms will soon be available on this website under "Titles and Awards". Associates will have priority processing of their certificates.

Special Awards (e.g. NATCH, Triple Superior, etc.) are requested by submitting an Awards Verification Request for your dog via the NADAC website. Please allow 30 days after your dog has earned the award before submitting the request, and please submit the request only once. The award will then be verified by NADAC; if confirmed, it will be prepared and mailed to the address you provided on the request form..