Mail Bag
Susan, Sarah and I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who reached out to us about Gitchi. Your kind words, thoughtful messages, and shared memories have meant the world to us during this time. It’s a reminder of how lucky we are to be part of an incredible community that understands the bond we share with our dogs.
FCI Agility Commission Meeting
What happens when top agility minds from around the world gather in one room? Big ideas, bold proposals, and decisions that shape the future of the sport. That’s exactly what unfolded in Stockholm during the FCI Agility Commission’s latest meeting (February 1-2, 2025). With 26 proposals from different countries sparking thoughtful debate and exciting developments, the stage has been set for transformative changes in the sport. From groundbreaking measurement methods to tech innovations like the VAR system, there’s plenty to talk about.
How should we measure dogs?
Measuring dogs in the U.S. has often been a subjective process, leading to complaints about fairness. It can also be a hassle to get your dog measured and their height card filled out. In Europe, the FCI is looking into ways to make the process more objective. They’ve formed a new working group to explore using ulna measurements as an alternative. The ulna is one of the two long bones in a dog’s front leg, and because its length isn’t influenced by how a dog stands, it could provide a more consistent and accurate way to measure height. FCI has also added more judges to streamline the measuring process.
VAR System Introduction
The FCI will use a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system in 2025 competitions (AWC and European Open), becoming mandatory in 2026. VAR allows judges to review video footage to make more accurate decisions, reducing the chance of errors that can impact results. At Bad Dog Agility, we are strong advocates for video review at big events, especially when it comes to judging contact performance, where split-second decisions can make all the difference. VAR is a huge step toward enhancing fairness and consistency in the sport.
SOAWC’s Future as an Official FCI Event
Due to its popularity, the Senior Agility Open World Championship (SOAWC) is under consideration to become an official FCI event. The SOAWC has age groups 55-65 and 65+. providing a competitive platform that recognizes the contributions and skills of senior handlers in agility. Honestly, I’m not too many years away from being able to compete at this event myself! The 2024 event saw strong participation, with the U.S. fielding one of the largest teams and winning Gold in the Individual Intermediate 55-65 with Dudley Shumate and Border Collie Jammy. This comes as no surprise, as the average age of U.S. competitors tends to be higher compared to European countries. Final confirmation as an official FCI event will depend on adjustments and feedback from the upcoming 2025 competition.
Potential for Dogwalk Changes
The discussion around potential changes to the dogwalk is ongoing worldwide. A newly formed FCI group will focus on standardizing contact obstacle sizes and evaluating possible adjustments to the dogwalk. It’s great to see that they’re taking this seriously and exploring the possibilities. It would be especially interesting if FCI decided to make changes to the dogwalk first, potentially putting pressure on organizations like AKC, USDAA, and UKI here in North America to follow suit.
Judging and Competition Format Changes
Clarifications added to judges’ guidelines, including seesaw judging protocols, so international competitors will want to check that out and make sure their sketchy teeters are FCI legal!
Fans of the podcast will recall that there was a tie for the gold medal at the most recent AWC, and I was not happy with how the situation was resolved. I firmly believe that in the case of a tie, both competitors should be given the title of World Champion, with the third place competitor winning Bronze. While the FCI did not completely agree with me, the run-off at AWC has been eliminated. Per the new rules, in a tie, the agility run result will determine the winner. If still tied, both competitors share the title of Agility World Champion.
UKI Dash
Do you love fast and flowy courses? UK Agility International has just announced an exciting new series of tournaments designed for handlers who “love flowing, fast courses with streamlined handling.” Fittingly—and cheekily—named DASH (Dog Agility Streamlined Handling), this series promises to be a hit for those who thrive on speed and smooth runs.If this sounds like your kind of event, you’ll have to wait a bit—tournaments kick off in 2026. Winners will earn Byes into the Speedstakes Finals at both the US Open and West Coast Open, as well as Round 2 National Byes at the US Open and Canadian Open.
AKC February Board Minutes
Sarah here! The AKC Board of Directors met February 6-7 and voted on several agility rule changes. Two changes, in particular, have the community talking:
- BIS at ISC (page 26): Allowing bitches in season (BIS) to compete has been a long-standing request among agility competitors. Starting May 1, ISC (International Sweepstakes Class)-only trials—those that offer ISC but do not include regular title classes—may permit BIS to compete. This change is at the discretion of the hosting club and will be offered on a one-year trial basis. Could this change eventually apply to all AKC Agility events? Possibly. The official justification states it aims to keep ISC regulations “consistent with changes in international Agility.” Still, a pilot program has often been AKC’s way of testing broader changes.
- MACH to PACH Points (page 25): Here’s a common-sense change that’s finally been approved: MACH points can now be converted to PACH points! This one-time conversion can be requested but only applies to MACH points and double Qs that have not yet been applied toward a MACH title. It always seemed odd that MACH points couldn’t be transferred to a PACH title, especially since the same courses were run—arguably under tougher conditions with higher jumps.
But wait—there’s a hidden gem in the meeting minutes! On page 18, there’s a fascinating update about AKC’s programming on ESPN, now celebrating its fifth year. Of the 16 shows mentioned, five focus specifically on the sport of agility.
From the board meeting minutes (page 19):
“2024 delivered another strong year of programming hours for AKC, including 169 hours of broadcasts, which reached an audience of +15 million (according to ESPN). December 2024 was the most active month for AKC premieres, with 23 total hours of broadcasts across ABC and ESPN networks. December broadcasts once again included holiday programming, with three-hours of AKC programming on Christmas Eve and four-hours on Christmas Day. 2024 marks the fourth annual year that ESPN has chosen to feature AKC content on Christmas Day.
AKC & NFL In 2024, the American Kennel Club (AKC) partnered with the National Football League (NFL) to create NFL Dog Plays of the Year, a new television special that showcased the top moments from the AKC on ESPN series, as well as stories of NFL players and their dogs. The collaboration with the NFL marks a significant milestone for the AKC, positioning us alongside one of the most recognizable sports organizations in the world. It expands AKC’s audience reach, enhances brand visibility, and reinforces the connection between the love of dogs and sportsmanship. This initial show also opens the door to future collaborations, further strengthening the AKC’s presence in mainstream sports media and driving broader engagement with our dog-loving audience.“
Captain America: Brave New World
We recently watched Captain America: Brave New World and really enjoyed it. Having seen The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+, which sets up the events of the movie, we felt the transition from streaming series to big-screen action was well done. Anthony Mackie continues to do a great job as the new Captain America, bringing depth and confidence to the role. It was also surreal to see Harrison Ford step in as former General Thaddeus Ross. Ford was excellent in the role, seamlessly taking over the character previously played by William Hurt, who sadly passed away in 2022.
The film serves as a lot of setup for the next wave of Marvel movies and series, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to navigate a rough transition period following Avengers: Endgame—with the notable exception of the excellent Spider-Man series, both live-action and animated (Into the Spider-Verse).
Captain America: Brave New World crossed the $100 million mark at the box office over the four-day weekend, according to Disney, making it one of the stronger openings for Marvel in recent years. We’re especially curious to see how this movie ties into Thunderbolts, which, based on the trailers, seems like it will take a slightly more humorous approach.
If you’re a Marvel fan, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the movie—did it live up to your expectations?
As always, we love hearing from you! Whether you have thoughts on the latest rule changes, upcoming events, or Captain America, don’t hesitate to reach out. Send any comments or questions to team@baddogagility.com.
