These are some of the most common terms you will encounter in reading about agility.
- Front Cross — The handler moves in front of the dog’s path so that the dog is now on the other side of the handler. The handler turns 360 degrees so that the handler can always keep an eye on the dog.
- Rear Cross — The handler moves behind the dog so that the dog is now on the other side of the handler.
- Blind Cross — The handler performs a front cross but turns her back on the dog.
- Lead Out — The dog performs a stay at the start line and the handler moves into position away from the dog.
- Refusal — The dog balks at the correct obstacle by either stopping in front of the obstacle or by running past it.
- Wrong Course — The dog takes an incorrect obstacle.
- Q — Qualifying run. Also called a “leg”.
- QQ — Two qualifying runs on the same day.
- Standard Course Time (SCT) — The time allowed to perform the course.
- Time Fault — When a dog goes over the SCT.
- Fault — Any incorrect performance. This could be a refusal, a dropped bar, a wrong course, a missed Contact zone or a time fault.
- Contacts — (1) Contact obstacles – Aframe, Dogwalk, or teeter. (2) Contact zone – the yellow portion of the contact obstacles. A dog performing the contact obstacles must put at least a toe in the contact zone of each contact obstacle. Up contacts are judged in some venues; down contacts are judged in all venues.
- Fly Off — the dog jumps off a contact obstacle without moving into the contact zone.
- Judge’s Briefing — A talk by the judge before the handlers run the course where the judge will give important information. This is the handler’s opportunity to ask any questions about the course, rules, etc.
- Walk Through — A time for the handler to walk the course without the dog and plan a strategy for a successful run.