AKC Agility Jump Height Card Policy and Measuring Procedure Guidelines

Measuring Procedures

All dogs competing in agility must have a valid AKC Official Jump Height Card or form. If the dog does not have a valid Jump Height Card or form it must be measured by a VMO, AKC Field Representative or by the judge(s) of record before it runs.

The following is the procedure for dogs that have not been measured by a VMO or Field Rep:

• If a VMO or Field Rep. is available, the dog should be measured before it runs. This will start the process toward getting a dog an AKC Jump Height Card.
• If a VMO or Field Rep. can not measure the dog before it runs, then the judge(s) of record needs to measure the dog prior to running. This measurement will only be effective for that set of trials.
• Dogs will no longer need to be measured by a judge of record if the handler has a valid height card or valid yellow height card form(s) in their possession.

Official measurements after a dog runs:

If a VMO or Field Rep. measures a dog after it runs and this measurement changes the jump height it is in, the measurement is effective the next day and for all future trials. If this occurs, keep in mind the following:

• If this measurement would move the dog to a higher jump height in the Regular Classes, this would also happen on the next day or trial in which the dog is entered. If the height would move the dog to a lower jump height, the dog would only be allowed to move down into that jump height at the next trial in which the dog is entered if that trial has not closed.
• If the dog is entered in the Preferred Classes, and the measurement from the VMO or AKC Field Rep. would change the jump height either up or down, this change is effective immediately for all trials in which the dog is entered regardless of whether or not the trial has met the closing date for entries.

For Dogs Under 2 Years of Age:

Once a dog has been measured by a VMO or AKC Field Representative, is between 15 months and one day short of two years of age, and has a valid yellow jump height form to present at check in, the dog does not need to be measured again until it turns two years of age.

• Dogs measuring 22 inches or less and measured by a VMO or Field Rep. will be issued a yellow jump height form which will serve as their temporary jump height card. Temporary height cards will no longer be issued and mailed by the AKC. The yellow jump height form will take its place.
• Once a dog has been issued a yellow jump height form and is between the ages of fifteen months and one day short of two years, one challenge measurement may be requested. This challenge measurement would then be recorded as the height of the dog until the dog turns two years of age. On or after the dog's second birthday, they will need to be measured for a permanent jump height card.
• If a dog is measured over 22 inches, the handler may request a permanent jump height card although the dog is less than two years old. At the time the dog is measured make sure the height card form has the box checked requesting a permanent height card or it is written on the form requesting a permanent card. The dog owner should sign the measuring form acknowledging the fact that a permanent height card is being requested. A dog having a permanent jump height card would never have to be measured again as long as this height card was presented at check-in.
• If a permanent jump height card is requested for a dog less than two years of age, the owner/handler will forfeit the one challenge measurement that could have been requested before the dog turns two years of age.
• If a dog has a temporary jump height card and turns two on the second day of a trial, it will need to be measured before it runs, unless it was over 22 inches and the handler has a permanent jump height card in their possession.

Dogs 2 Years Old and Older:

When a dog turns two years of age it is required to have two measurements from two different VMOs or AKC Field Representatives. If the two measurements place the dog into the same jump height, AKC will issue a permanent jump height card for the dog. If the dog is measured into two different jump heights, then a third measurement to determine the jump height will be required from a VMO or AKC Field Representative unique to the first two measurements. After the dog has reached two years of age or older and has been measured once by a VMO or AKC Field Representative the following will be in effect:

• The dog no longer needs to be measured by the judge of record before it runs, as long as the handler has the most current valid yellow jump height form to present at the trial.
• If a VMO or AKC Field Representative is measuring at a trial, dog(s) entered without a permanent jump height card must be measured.
• If the measurement takes place before the dog runs, that measurement takes precedence over the previous measurement(s) that the dog had.
• If the dog is measured after it runs, the measurement is effective the following day and for all future trials.
• If the second measurement places the dog in the same jump height as the first measurement, the dog will be issued a permanent jump height card from the AKC.
• If the dog is entered in the Regular classes and the measurement would move the dog into a higher jump height, this would be effective on the date the dog is measured.
• If the measurement would allow the dog to move down in jump height, the owner/handler may enter the dog at the lower jump height effective for all trials that have not met their closing date for entries.
• If the dog is entered in the Preferred Classes and the official second measurement (or third if needed) changes the dog's jump height, the dog must be moved to the correct jump height (up or down) on the date of the measurement.
• A third measurement is required by a unique (one that was not involved in the first two measurements) VMO or AKC Field Representative if the first two measurements did not place the dog in the same jump height. The third measurement will be the measurement that determines the dog's permanent jump height, and a permanent jump height card will be issued by the AKC.

Remember all dogs competing in agility must have a valid official jump height card or yellow jump height form, which the handler can present at the trial if requested or the dog will be subject to measuring.

Important - If a dog is measured twice in one day, it is very important for the VMO's to put the Time of day the dog was measured on the jump height form.

Lost, stolen or forgotten cards.

• If an exhibitor has lost their card or if it was stolen, they should contact Ina West-Tatum, Agility Coordinator at (919) 816-3821, or by e-mail at INT@AKC.org for a replacement. Lost cards will be replaced at a fee of $15.00.
• For Lost or Forgotten cards, the exhibitor will fill out a height card form at the trial and provide that to the measuring official. The exhibitor must check the box on the form "Forgot Card" or write "Lost Card". The exhibitor will present it to the event secretary to check-in for the trial and return the form to the measuring official. This form (both yellow and white copies) will be sent to the AKC for verification.
• Remember, if a measurement is necessary, it is the exhibitor's responsibility to have their dog(s) measured prior to running.
• All exhibitors should carry the original valid AKC official Jump Height Card with them to each trial, in order to present the card upon request.
• Misrepresentation of a dog, including altering information on a Jump Height Card, is grounds for misconduct.
• The initial permanent jump height card will be sent to the owner of record free of charge.