Official AAC Rulebook

Please save or print this update   AAC Official Rules Update V 7.3 (2019).pdf and include it with your AAC Rulebook, V. 7.0, effective January 2018

Any rule changes related to Regional and/or National competition, or to the National Team, can be found elsewhere (see www.aac.ca for links). 

A-Rule Changes, Clarifications, and Interpretations, Effective between January 1, 2019 and July 1, 2019:

• Spread Jumps Must be Set with Five Foot Bars

• Starters Jumper Class Single Jump requirement reduced

• Masters Weave pole judging

• FEO entries

• Selecting a Red jump in Snooker

• Use of Red Jumps as start points in Snooker

• Timer Malfunction

B-Rule Changes Effective July 1, 2019: 

• “European” tire on approved equipment list

• Starters Jumper Class single Jump requirement reduced 

C-Pending Rule Changes:

The following rule changes, effective no earlier than January 1, 2020, are briefly listed here for convenience only.  

• January 1, 2020 - One piece metal jumps will be completely eliminated from the list of approved AAC equipment. (141212)
• January 1, 2020 - All contacts (including the table) must be rubberised. (141222)
• January 1, 2020 - Platinum titles to be added to sections 3.1.5, 3.1.6 and 3.1.7. Awarded for multiples of 100 Qs in all classes except Steeplechase, which will be 200. Also introduced for the Awards of Merit and Achievement Awards. (190615)
• January 1, 2020 – Challenge Stream to be introduced, consisting of open-level classes Challenge Standard and Challenge Jumpers with Weaves. (190613, 190614). 

D-Errata: 

C 2 Obstacle Construction Standards

p 65

C 2.1 Weave Poles

Paragraph

“The poles shall be marked with a contrasting colour so that approximately fifty percent (50%) of the pole is light coloured by striping or banding. Striping or banding on weave poles must be painted to lessen the chance of injury as dogs push through the poles. “

Should read

“All poles shall be marked with contrasting colours in an alternating or repeating pattern along the full length of the pole (such as, but not limited to, striping or banding) to increase the visibility of the poles. All patterns on weave poles must be painted or extruded into the plastic to lessen the chance of injury as dogs push through the poles “

(Ref: Motion 170217 – eff. Feb 2017)

p 69

C 2.7.1 Single Jumps

Remove words “or plank” from description of single jumps. 

(Ref: Motion 170204 – eff. Jan 1, 2018)

JSAC issued the following clarification. These sections of the rulebook shall be updated accordingly. (190308)

3.8.2.2 - Obstacle Selection 

In the opening sequence, an obstacle of choice or red jump shall be defined as selected to perform if the dog has touched or crossed through, over, or under the obstacle: for example, placing a paw on a contact ramp or in a tunnel, jumping over the ramp of the dog walk or the teeter, passing through the tire frame, jumping over a wing, going under a bar(s), taking a unidirectional obstacle from the wrong direction, crossing the line of weave poles, etc. 

If an obstacle of choice has been selected to perform, the dog may: 

• Perform the selected obstacle of choice. If completed successfully, the team will be awarded the point value of the obstacle. If the performance is faulted, no points will be awarded. The dog may then attempt an unused red jump, or, if appropriate, start the closing sequence. 
• Skip the selected obstacle of choice. If the dog skips the obstacle of choice, it will be deemed an unsuccessful attempt, and no points will be awarded. The dog may then attempt an unused red jump, or, if appropriate, start the closing sequence.
  Immediately selecting another obstacle of choice will result in dismissal. 

Example: A dog successfully takes a red jump and cuts through the middle of the weave poles.
The weave poles have now been selected to perform. The dog may perform the poles, in order to be awarded their point value, or may skip the poles entirely and continue with the game (either taking an unused red, or, if appropriate, starting the closing sequence). If the dog cuts through the poles and immediately selects another obstacle of choice, scoring shall cease for selecting two obstacles of choice back to back. 

If a red jump has been selected to perform, the dog may: 

• Perform the selected red jump. If completed successfully, the team will be awarded one point and the dog must then attempt an obstacle of choice. If the performance is faulted, no points will be awarded and the jump will be deemed to have been attempted and may not be reused. In this case, the dog may attempt a different unused red jump, or, if appropriate, start the closing sequence. 
• Skip the selected red jump. If the jump is skipped, no points will be awarded and the jump will be deemed to have been attempted and may not be reused. In this case, the dog may attempt a different unused red jump, or, if appropriate, start the closing sequence. If at any subsequent time in the opening the dog takes this red jump, it will be dismissed for selecting the same red jump twice. 

Example: A dog goes under the bar of an unused red jump. The red jump has now been selected to perform. The dog may perform the jump, in order to be awarded the point value, or may skip the jump entirely and continue the game. In either case, the red jump will be deemed to have been “attempted” and may not be reused. The dog may take another unused red jump or, if appropriate, begin the closing sequence. 

3.8.3.1 - Opening Sequence Rules 

The opening sequence and the clock are started when the dog crosses the Judge’s prescribed starting line. Dogs must cross the start line before point accumulation may begin. The dog and handler team accumulate points, which the judge will call out, with every obstacle completed correctly and in the proper order. In the opening sequence, all Standard class faults for that level shall apply, with the exception that refusals are not faulted on any obstacles at any level. 

Any obstacle taken out of sequence, as defined below, shall result in the cessation of scoring. 

The Ideal Snooker Sequence:
Red - Obstacle of Choice → Different Red - Obstacle of Choice → Different Red - Obstacle of Choice → {Optional Different Red - Obstacle of choice →} Closing Sequence 2-3-4-5-6-7 → Finish Point 

The opening sequence consists of performing red/obstacle of choice pairs until a minimum of three (3) pairs have been attempted. At that point, the opening sequence is considered complete. The handler may elect, at their discretion, to attempt a fourth red/obstacle of choice pair (if four red jumps are available), or to move directly to the closing sequence.
Each red jump may be performed only once. Red jumps may be taken from either direction and in any order. Red jumps must be performed successfully before an obstacle of choice may be attempted. If a bar was displaced, then this red jump is considered attempted, and the dog must either attempt another red jump, or start the closing sequence (if the opening sequence has been completed, or if no more red jumps are available on course).

JSAC issued the following clarification. These sections of the rulebook shall be updated accordingly. (190607)

3.8.2 - Course Layout & Obstacle Requirements

The Judge must define one or more start lines, and a finish point, which may be a line or a table. If a table is used as the finish point, the table must be set at the appropriate height, and time will stop as soon at the dog is on the table. The clock is stopped when the dog reaches the finish point or crosses the finish line as prescribed by the Judge. Any number of red jumps may be designated as start lines but those red jumps used must align with the Timekeeper's position (permitting a line of sight across the edge of each red jump) in order to ensure accurate timing of the start. Obstacles of choice may not be used to start or stop the time. Red jumps may not be used to stop the time.

Alternatively, the judge has the option of designating a maximum of two additional jumps that are not part of the course. One of these jumps may be used as a start  jump and the other as a finish jump (only one start and one finish jump are permitted). Start and finish jumps are to be used solely for timing purposes, and will not be live during the run, norwill they be faultable in any way. These start/finish jumps must be bidirectional and must be set to the dog’s correct jump height.

Motions 171223 and 180212 (December 2017 and February 2018) have been combined to read as follows:(190305)

2.11 - Accidents & other Unforeseen Events. 

Timer Malfunction - In a case in which the stopwatch or electronic timer malfunctions, or the Timer makes an error, the Timer must notify the Judge as soon as the problem is discovered and the run must be halted. 

For Standard, Jumpers, Challenge: In the event that a dog completes the run clean, but cannot be assigned a time due to timer malfunction, the handler will have a choice of running again for time only OR accepting a score equivalent to a clean run at standard course time (target course time in Challenge) for their height/class division. If the handler elects to re-run for time only then they must run the entire course as it is designed without any non-completions. In the event that the team incurs a non-completion they will be whistled off and the score will be reverted to a score equivalent to a clean run at standard course time/ target course time. Should the re-run be over the SCT then the time faults will be applied. 

For Team and Steeplechase: If there is a timer malfunction or error, the handler/handlers will be given the option to rerun. (The first run is null and void) 

For Gamblers and Snooker: If there is a timer malfunction or error, the following applies.:
In the Gamblers class, if the Gamblers 1st horn is set to more than 40 seconds, the run is void and cannot be used for scoring purposes. The handler will be given the option to rerun. If the Gamblers second horn was set over SCT for the jump height/division, no rerun will be given as the recorded time will determine whether or not the dog qualified. 

In the Snooker classes, if not enough time is given, the handler will be given the option to rerun or to keep the score earned in the first run. If too much time is given and the dog’s time is less than or equal to SCT, the score will stand. If the dog’s time is over SCT, the run is void and cannot be used for scoring purposes.
For example: If the Masters Snooker horn was set to 60 seconds instead of 55 seconds, and the dog’s time is less than or equal to 55, the score will stand. No rerun will be given. If the dog’s time is over SCT, the run is void and cannot be used for scoring purposes. The handler will be given the option to rerun. 

• All spread jumps (double, triple, ascending) must utilize five foot bars for all heights. (171010)

• The number of unique single jumps required in Starters Jumpers course design has been reduced from eightto seven. (180606)

JSAC issued the following clarification (190214)

5.2.4. Masters Weave Pole Performance 

• Until the weaves are entered correctly, every wrong entry will be faulted. If the wrong entry is followed by a retry, it will be faulted as a refusal. If the dog does not retry, it will incur a non-completion penalty. Once the dog has made a correct entry, no additional refusal faults will be called. 
• The dog must perform all the poles correctly before going to the next obstacle in sequence, or it will incur a non- completion penalty. Missing a pole and continuing constitutes non-completion. 
• Once a dog has correctly entered the weaves, a five (5) fault penalty shall be assessed each time the dog leaves the weaves and is taken back to retry at any point of entry, including: a) skipping a pole and being brought back to retry; or, b) overshooting a pole and having to back up with their rear feet to position themselves to continue correctly. 
• Leaving the poles does not automatically incur 5-faults. What the dog does after leaving the poles determines the fault: a non-completion will be faulted if the dog does not retry the weaves but goes to the next obstacle in sequence; any other act of leaving the weaves and retrying will incur 5-faults.
  Note: a dog who “weaves wide” but does not have backward motion of their rear feet against the flow and does not miss any poles shall not be faulted. 
• In Masters Snooker, during the opening, if the dog pops out of the poles after a correct entry, the obstacle is considered to have been performed unsuccessfully, and no points will be earned for the performance: 
  • If the dog is then taken back to the exact point of exit to resume the line of poles, no points will be awarded, but the dog may go on. 

If the dog is then taken back to re-start from either direction, this is considered taking a second obstacle of choice back to back, and scoring shall cease.

JSAC issued the following clarification (190307)

2.5.1-For Exhibition Only (FEO) 

For Exhibition Only (FEO) entries may be allowed at the discretion of the host club. Dogs entered FEO must have a valid Dog ID number, and must meet all other eligibility criteria, as outlined in Section 1.4.
An FEO dog shall be permitted to run at their registered height or any jump height above or below, in any class, at any performance level, and in any category, at the handler’s discretion. Dogs running For Exhibition Only are expected to attempt the course as numbered, and are subject to the same judging criteria as dogs running for qualification, including dismissal, should their actions on course warrant. 

A dog may not run the same course twice, therefore, a dog may not run a Course For Exhibition Only if they are running the same course for qualification. 

• Tire frame specification change as follows. (190107 & 190216)

C 2.6 – Tire Jump 

The tire jump shall consist of a tire-like circular hoop suspended within a sturdy frame. The inside diameter of the tire shall be no less than nineteen inches (19 in.) and no greater than twenty-four inches (24 in.). The sidewall width of the tire wall shall be no less than four inches (4 in.) and no more than six inches (6 in.). The tire shall be banded or striped with contrasting colours to improve visibility. Suggested items to be used as a tire-like hoop include carved foam formed into half circles, flexible drainage tile curved and jointed to form a circle, etc. 

There are currently two styles of tire accepted for use at AAC sanctioned events: The breakaway tire and the self-healing tire. Solid tires are not allowed. 

a. Breakaway Tire: The breakaway tire is a tire composed of two separate pieces of material, joined either horizontally or vertically by a magnet. If a dog hits the tire with sufficient force, the tire “breaks apart” as a safety measure. The breakaway style of tire must be reset by the ring crew before it can be used again. 

b. Self-healing Tire: The self-healing tire is very similar to the breakaway style of tire, except that the tire segments are always joined at the top of the tire, and if “broken apart”, the self-healing tire will automatically reset itself. 

The breakaway style of tire may only be used once per sequentially numbered course (including the closing of Gamblers and Snooker), while self-healing tires may be used more than once, where permitted. 

The tire support frame shall be of rigid construction to help prevent it from being knocked over when hit by a large dog. The frame should permit the tire to set at each of the six (6) jump heights: 4", 8”, 12", 16", 20" and 24". The height is measured from the bottom of the tire's centre opening to the ground. (Note: For the 4” jump height, the tire should be set with the bottom edge on the ground, as close as possible to 4” given the construction of the tire)

The support frame must be staked to the ground in such a way that it cannot be knocked over if hit by a large dog. Where the surface or the frame does not permit staking, it must be weighted securely. Tire frames with heavy bases may not require weighting or staking.

Effective 1 July 2019, there are two accepted types of frame: 

1. Enclosed Frame. Tire is suspended from a horizontal top bar. The gap between the outside of the tire and the frame should be no less than eight inches (8 in.) and no more than sixteen inches (16 in.). Tires used in this frame may be breakaway OR self-healing. 
2. Open Frame. Tire is fixed to the uprights of the frame. There is no gap between the outside of the tire and the frame. Frame has no top bar across the two uprights. Tires used in this frame are designated as “breakaway”. As per the breakaway tire specifications above, they can split in two either horizontally or vertically.