What the Exhibitor Needs to Know

Each obstacle on course will be assigned a number cone. The number is not the obstacle’s order in sequence but the point value the dog will earn for successfully performing that obstacle. Those values are: #2 through #10 belonging to one unique obstacle, and six one-point hurdles.Note that the judge will specify a finish obstacle which has no point value. The dog’s time will end only when the dog is directed to this obstacle. It is permissible for the dog perform the obstacle before the time whistle blows.

The finish obstacle is live as soon as the dog crosses the start line; so approach with caution.FAST includes a number of very specific performance guidelines that the dog’s handler must understand to succeed in this class:

· The four-paw safety rule is in effect for all dogs, at all levels.

· No obstacle may be taken back-to-back. If an obstacle is taken in one direction, whether or not the performance was successful or faulted, then the obstacle may not be immediately repeated in an effort to earn points.

· A dog missing a contact or earning a four-paw refusal may repeat the contact so long as he performs another obstacle first. If the dog is directed back to the contact obstacle the judge blow a double whistle, ending scoring whereupon the dog must be directed to the finish obstacle.

· On a double whistle points already earned are kept by the team. The handler should immediately direct the dog to the designated finish obstacle.

· Weave poles may be reattempted immediately from the original entry end and completed correctly to earn points. If the dog faults the poles by popping out or passing the plane of the next pole, they must be restarted at the first pole.

· All obstacles on course may be taken in either direction unless a specific direction is designated by the judge. The exceptions to this are the obvious obstacles like the collapsed chute, the teeter, the triple, and the broad jump.

· An obstacle might be designated with different point values depending on the direction that it is performed. An obstacle assigned different values depending on direction may not be taken back-to-back to earn points. [Not a double-whistle infraction: no points are earned.]

· The dog can never be directed from one technical obstacle to another without doing another obstacle first. The technical obstacles are: the weave poles and the contact obstacles. [Not a double-whistle infraction: no points are earned.]

· To earn points for an obstacle the dog must have completed the obstacles. In other words when the time whistle blows all four feet must be on the ground after the obstacle in order to earn points.The Send Bonus may be attempted at any time; Refusals are faulted only in the Send Bonus.

· The Send Bonus may be attempted at any time during the run upon crossing the start line and prior to directing the dog to the finish obstacle.

· Successful completion of the Send Bonus is worth 20 points. The dog also earns the individual value of the obstacles that make up the Send Bonus.

· The handler must be outside of the Send Zone when the dog commits to the first obstacle in the Send in the correct direction. Commitment is defined as four paws in, on, or over the first obstacle in the Send. If the handler is in the Send Zone when the dog commits, the judge will call “Fault,” negating the dog’s Bonus points. The dog may still earn the value of the obstacles.

· The dog cannot be faulted for a refusal on the first obstacle in the Send Bonus. If a dog gets less than a four paw commitment, the handler may reattempt the Send in an effort to earn the Bonus points.

· The judge will call “Fault” for any performance fault for obstacles in the Send Bonus, negating the dog’s Bonus points and the value of that obstacle.

· When the weave poles are the first obstacle in the Send the dog won’t be faulted for missing the entry or popping a pole. The handler can continue to reattempt the weave poles from the start until they are correctly completed, so long as the handler stays outside of the send Zone and time allows. If the dog back-weaves while retrying, the judge will call “Fault” and the Bonus points will be negated.

· Prior to completion of the first bonus obstacle a dog may be directed to perform any obstacle in the Send Bonus in the direction opposite of the direction specified for the Send with no penalty. Of course if the obstacle is a jump with a displaceable panel or bar, the dog will negate the Bonus points if the panel or bar is dropped as these will not be reset during a run. However, no two bonus obstacles may be taken in reverse order successively prior to attempting the Send Bonus. The judge will call “Fault” and the Bonus points will be negated.

· If the #1 obstacle in the Send Bonus is performed backwards prior to starting the Send, the dog must do another obstacle before they attempt that obstacle again. Obstacles may not be done back-to-back.

· If the first obstacle in the Send Bonus is a contact, then the obstacle before attempting the Send must be something besides a contact obstacle.

· If obstacle in the Send Bonus is designated as bi-directional it cannot be performed immediately before the start of the Send. The judge will call “Fault” and the Bonus points will be negated. This sounds a bit confusing but it’s a rarified case. Consider a U-shaped pipe tunnel that is designated by the judge as an obstacle that can be taken in either direction in the Send. Usually obstacles will be designated a clear direction for performance in the Send Bonus.

Qualifying

80 points maximum score is possible (60 pts for obstacles + 20 Send Bonus). To qualify, the dog must earn a minimum number of points depending on class:

· Beginners 50 points (30 points for obstacles + 20 Send Bonus);
· Intermediate 55 points (35 points for obstacles + 20 Send Bonus);
· Superior 60 points (40 points for obstacles + 20 Send Bonus.