ABA 2009 Triathlon Rules  

 The triathlon will be comprised of competition in three areas:  1) Conformation, 2) Standard Agility, 3) Obedience or Rally. 

• Dogs must be entered in regular classes for Obedience or Rally and Standard Agility.

• Dogs will compete at the levels they are eligible for and additional points will be awarded for upper level classes. 

• Teams participating in the Triathlon can choose to compete in either Rally or Obedience.  However, scores will be adjusted to allow for the significant difference in level of difficulty and skills required between Rally and Obedience. For teams competing in both Rally and Obedience, the highest score earned will be counted. 

• The same team of dog and handler must complete all three phases of the competition, with no exceptions. The handler must be a registered owner of the dog, or a member of the immediate family of a registered owner of the dog. To be eligible to participate, dogs must compete in a regular Standard Agility class, a regular Obedience class or a Rally class. Dogs will also compete in Triathlon Conformation.  Placements will be determined by the total points earned and calculated as follows: 

Conformation:

Dogs will be judged according to the AKC standard, with the exception that spayed and neutered dogs may compete in Triathlon conformation.

A judge will be appointed by the National Show Committee with the approval of the ABA Board.

A total of 100 possible conformation points may be awarded by the judge, with dogs to be scored and placed according to points awarded. 

Any dog disqualified by the judge will receive no score.

Obedience:

Novice: Score divided by 2*

Open: Score + 20 divided by 2*

Utility: Score + 40 divided by 2*

For dogs competing in both Open and Utility, the highest score earned will be used; for dogs competing in obedience and rally, the highest score will be used.

Rally:

Novice: Score multiplied by .45

Advanced: Score multiplied by .55

Excellent: Score multiplied by .65

For dogs competing in both Excellent and Advanced, the highest score earned will be used; for dogs competing in both obedience and rally, the highest score will be used.

Standard Agility – Regular and Preferred Jump Heights

-Novice: Score

-Open: Score + 10

-Excellent: Score + 20

-Faults scored as follows: Failure (F) = 10 points; Refusals/run outs (R) = 5 points; Wrong course (W) = 5 points; Excusal (E) = No score (eliminating in ring, judge determines dog is out of control, leaving ring, course not completed); Time faults = 1 pt per second

 

Notes:

 -For Rally and Agility, a maximum score of 100** is possible. Obedience has a maximum score of 200**, so the score is divided by 2. (**Before Triathlon adjustments for levels).

 -There is a significant difference in difficulty between Rally and Obedience competition. Rally competition does not require the same skills as obedience (i.e., In Rally, handlers may talk/encourage/praise dogs, give multiple commands, retry exercises, and complete only a short sit or down stay exercise on lead. In Obedience, dogs work without multiple commands, encouragement/praise during exercises, exercises are not retried, dogs complete much longer sit and down stays off lead in a row of other dogs across the ring from their handlers.) So while a choice is given to compete in Rally or Obedience for the Triathlon, scores must be adjusted to reflect the level of difficulty for each.

LAN – 6/15/2009