Official AAC Rulebook

Print this update and include it with your AAC Rulebook, V. 7.0.

Please Note: because July 1, 2018 falls on a weekend, any rule changes normally effective July 1, 2018 are instead effective July 2, 2018 (Rule Book Section 1.6).  

Effective February 15, 2018, it shall be understood that,

for all classes and all levels, dog’s time must be less than or equal to the posted SCT/TCT in order to qualify. (180211)

Effective March 15, 2018, Section 2.10.2 General Faults, Food and Toys in the Ring, shall be replaced by the following: 

“Performance Enhancing Items in the Ring - Food, drink, toys, or cigarettes shall not be permitted in the ring at any time, including walk-throughs and course building. Any handler utilizing such items, or any other performance enhancing item ( any item that, in the judge’s opinion, the dog is clearly focused on, and/or is aiding in the dog’s performance) in the ring during a titling run, whether before or during the run, must be dismissed for the run or the day, at the Judge's discretion. Please note that, if the handler has entered a run “FEO with Toy”, a suitable toy may be carried in the ring without penalty (see Section 2.5.1.1). 

If a handler is seen to have any such item on their person but not being utilized after the dog has performed the first obstacle in a qualifying run, instead of dismissing the handler, the judge will call “FEO” and the run may continue as such. 

Phones or similar devices are not permitted in the ring during a run, hearing aids excepted.” (180308)

Effective May 17, 2018, the following wording in Section 2.2.4, At the Trial 

“Although the AAC does not specify restrictions on dog training tools allowed at trial sites, competitors are reminded that host clubs are free to impose on-site bans on such things as choke or pinch collars, shock or bark collars, or extendible leashes.” 

Shall be amended to read: 

“Although the AAC does not specify restrictions on dog training tools such as choke or limited- slip collars, head halters, harnesses (no-pull or other type) or extendible leashes, competitors are reminded that host clubs are free to impose on-site bans on these types of items. Pinch/prong and electronic collars (dummy or not), including citronella spray collars, are not permitted at AAC sanctioned events.” (180506) 

Effective June 1, 2018, non-standard wheel assemblies on the dog walk and A-frame are no longer allowed.

See Rulebook Section C 2.2 for a description of the allowed wheel placements. (130507) 

The following description of an AAC-approved measuring device shall be added as Section C2.7: 

“2.7 Measuring Device 

An exact measuring device (aka swing-arm measuring device) must have a scale marked in inches and the vertical scale arm must be perpendicular to the ground. The measuring arm must be level and parallel to the ground. It must be long enough to reach over a large dog in order to make contact with the withers. 

Wickets may be constructed of wood, metal, PVC or other rigid material. Each wicket should be wide enough to comfortably span the dog. The following heights, as measured from the ground to the bottom of the horizontal bar, are required: 12”, 15”, 18” and 22”. An optional 23” wicket may be provided. 

There is ZERO VARIANCE ALLOWED on the measuring device readings or the wicket dimensions. 

Hand-held laser measuring devices may be approved for use as long as they measure in inches and they include suitable instructions on calibration, inspection and use.” (180217) 

The following wording in Section C.2.3 Table, 

“The surface of the table may be any colour or combination of colours except solid black. The colours may be arranged in any design, as long as the pattern does not cause a distraction to the dog.” 

Shall be amended to read: 

“The top of the table must be a light colour or combination of colours, so that the surface does not get excessively hot. These obstacles shall be painted with an exterior paint and treated with an anti-slip additive, or covered with a rubberized coating. Rubberised table surfaces may be any colour or combination of colours except solid black.” 

If used, the maximum course time (MCT) shall be set to mini veteran time plus 20 seconds. For Challenge class, the MCT shall be set to mini veteran target course time (TCT) plus 20 seconds. (170907)

In Section 2.10.2, General Faults, the penalty for leaving the ring during a run is changed from dismissal to elimination. (180604) 

The current wording of Section 2.11 Accidents and Other Unforeseen Events, Timer Malfunction, includes the following: 

“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. The handler will be allowed to attempt the course a second time. If the handler elects to run a second time, only the second score and time shall be recorded and used for the determination of placements. The first run is null and void and cannot be used for scoring purposes. 

In Gamblers and 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 before the final whistle blows (e.g. If the Masters Snooker horn was set to 60 seconds instead of 55 seconds), the run is void and cannot be used for scoring purposes. The handler will be given the option to rerun.” 

This section shall be amended as follows: 

“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. The handler will be allowed to attempt the course a second time. If the handler elects to run a second time, only the second score and time shall be recorded and used for the determination of placements. The first run is null and void and may not be used for scoring purposes. 

In Gamblers and 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 before the final whistle blows (e.g. If the Masters Snooker horn was set to 60 seconds instead of 55 seconds), the run is void and cannot be used for scoring purposes. The handler will be given the option to rerun.” 

For Standard, Jumpers, and Challenge: In the event that a dog completes the run and is 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 division/category. 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 revert to a score equivalent to a clean run at standard course time/target course time. Should the re-run be over the SCT, time faults will be applied. 

For Snooker, Gamble, Team and Steeplechase: If there is a timer malfunction or an incorrect amount of time given, the handler/handlers will be given the option to rerun for points and time (the first run is null and void). In the case where not enough time was given, the handler will also be given the option to rerun or to keep the score earned in the first run.” (171223) 

In Section 2.10.2, General Faults, the penalty for leaving the ring and/or catch area NOT under control shall be changed from “may be given a verbal warning and/or faulted, from 5 faults to an E, at the judge's discretion.” to “elimination”. (180694)