General Practice Information

Who qualifies for practice? In order to participate in the RAT practices you must meet the following criteria:

1.

The dog being worked has earned at least one qualifying score in the Regular/Standard Class at the Novice/Starters Level in a sanctioned agility trial.

2.

The handler must have earned a minimum of an Elite/Masters/Excellent title on a dog that you have trained.

3.

The handler must have permission from the Person in Charge (PIC).

1.

Ensure that all guidelines are followed.

2.

Make sure equipment is properly and safely set up and put away.

3.

Set the amount of time per run.

4.

Notify the facility owner, if necessary, at least 5 days prior to the scheduled practice, and if necessary, post a notice of the scheduled practice at the facility.

5.

Be there early and open any gates or trailers.

6.

Determine what time and day the practice is to be held. Practices at Kent are generally held on Saturday or Sunday mornings, however the times may vary if the facility is available at other times and days.

7.

Schedule practice sessions by notifying the practice committee. Notice of the scheduled practice must be published at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled practice time. The practice committee may reject any practice proposed with less than 72 hours notice.

8.

Notify the RAT Treasurer when a practice has occurred.

9.

Be responsible for asking a dog-handler team to leave the practice if a dog or handler is behaving inappropriately, as deemed by the PIC.

The PIC (person in charge) must have competed at the Masters/Elite or Excellent level at agility trials and have the approval of either the RAT Board or the RAT Practice Committee. The RAT Board can approve special cases where the PIC does not meet the competition requirement.

1.

All participants are required to be at practice to set up and tear down the course.

2.

It is the responsibility of the participants to know in advance what time practice begins. Information on practices can be obtained from the RAT website and is circulated on the RAT email list. The practice begins at the time posted, starting with the set up of equipment.

3.

Every dog attending practice is required to be supervised at all times. The dog may be in an x-pen, crated, leashed or physically restrained in some manner.

4.

Members will be expected to stay and tear down the equipment and not leave early.

6.

Members may use their time as appropriate for their training objective. They may choose to run the course as set or not. Members are encouraged to train their dog at a level appropriate to their dog’s experience level; for example, a Masters level course may be too hard for a Novice dog.

7.

The PIC has the authority to deny a team the opportunity to practice if the team demonstrates a pattern of poor adherence to these guidelines (for example, by arriving late, unsafe handling, or disruptive or unsportsmanlike conduct).

8.

The PIC has the final authority to plan and set the practice course, specify the time allowed for each handler and dog team on course, and to decide if a timer is to be used

9.

Exceptions to these rules include emergencies, illness etc. This policy should be enforced using “common” sense decisions by the PIC. RAT encourages a common sense approach to these Guidelines.

1.

Participants will add their dog’s names to the sign up board.

2.

Running order will be by jump height.

3.

The next handler team will be on "deck" and ready to run when it is their turn.

4.

If a timer is used, the clock will start when the previous team leaves the course or a jump height change has been completed.

5.

Please ask in advance if you want assistance, i.e. targets, judges, stewards etc.

6.

All members are expected to help set courses, change bars, straighten chutes etc.

7.

In the event of a smaller practice, the PIC may choose to relax these guidelines.

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