SADAA in a Nutshell

The South African Dog Agility Association (SADAA) is a non-profit organisation established in 2001 to promote and develop the sport of dog agility in South Africa. SADAA welcomes dogs of all breeds and mixes, giving handlers and their dogs the opportunity to enjoy and compete in this exciting sport.

SADAA is affiliated with the South African Working Dogs Association (SAWDA), the umbrella body for several working dog disciplines in South Africa.

Internationally, SADAA is a member of the International Federation of Cynological Sports (IFCS). Founded in 2000, the IFCS brings together national canine sporting organisations and promotes the development of dog sports at an international level.

Height Categories

SADAA divides dogs into five height categories:

Toy – Dogs under 30 cm at the withers | Jump height: 25 cm
Mini – Dogs under 35 cm at the withers | Jump height: 30 cm
Midi – Dogs under 42 cm at the withers | Jump height: 40 cm
Large – Dogs under 50 cm at the withers | Jump height: 50 cm
Maxi – Dogs over 50.1 cm at the withers | Jump height: 60 cm

Grades & Disciplines

SADAA offers four competitive disciplines:

Agility • Jumping • Gamblers • Snooker

Each discipline has three competitive levels:

Grade 1 – Beginner
Grade 2 – Intermediate
Grade 3 – Advanced

Dogs and handlers compete at trials and earn qualifications to progress from Grade 1 through to Grade 3. Once competing at Grade 3 level, teams can work towards Performance and Championship titles.

The Sport of Dog Agility

Dog agility is one of the world’s most exciting canine sports. It originated as a demonstration for spectators at the Crufts Dog Show in England during the late 1970s and quickly developed into a competitive sport enjoyed around the world.

SADAA describes dog agility as “a fast sport for handlers and dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes.”

Agility challenges the partnership between dog and handler, testing fitness, training, communication, accuracy and speed as they negotiate a numbered course.

Depending on the discipline, obstacles can include jumps, tunnels, tyre jumps, weave poles, the A-frame, dogwalk, seesaw and other challenges.

SADAA Events

SADAA holds trials throughout South Africa, giving handlers and dogs the opportunity to compete, earn qualifications and progress towards titles.

Club Trials

Club Trials are hosted by affiliated clubs within each region, with regions permitted to host a maximum of 20 Club Trials per year.

Formal Agility, Jumping and Games classes are offered, with host clubs also able to include fun events at their discretion.

Dogs can earn qualifications in Grades 1 and 2. Grade 3 clear rounds can count towards Agility 3 Dog and Jumping 3 Dog titles.

Regional Trials

Regional Trials are normally held once a year in each region and may include up to four sets of Agility and Jumping trials over a weekend, together with Games trials.

Dogs can qualify in Grades 1, 2 and 3 during a Regional Trials weekend.

Grade 3 dogs can earn QCs towards Performance and Championship titles, while Grade 3 results are also used towards qualification for the SADAA National Trials.

National Trials

The SADAA National Trials are held annually and bring together qualifying dogs and handlers from across South Africa to compete for national honours.

To receive an invitation to compete at the National Trials, a dog must accumulate 60 points during the qualifying period, with at least 30 points earned in Agility classes.

SADAA Disciplines

Agility

Agility courses can include a full range of obstacles:

Jumps – Single, spread, long and tyre
Contact Obstacles – A-frame, Dogwalk and Seesaw
Tunnels – Rigid tunnels
Weave Poles
Wall Jump

The handler must guide their dog around the numbered course as accurately and quickly as possible.

Jumping

Jumping is similar to Agility but excludes contact obstacles.

Courses can include:

Jumps – Single, spread, long and tyre
Tunnels – Rigid tunnels
Weave Poles
Wall Jump

Speed, accuracy and teamwork are essential.

Gamblers

Gamblers showcases a dog’s ability and willingness to work independently and at a distance from their handler.

The game consists of two parts:

Point Accumulation Period – The dog and handler attempt to collect as many points as possible within the allotted time.

The Gamble – The team must successfully complete a designated sequence while the handler remains behind a specified distance line.

Gamblers challenges strategy, distance handling and the communication between dog and handler.

Snooker

Snooker is a strategic agility game where the objective is to score as many points as possible within the course time set by the judge.

The course consists of three or four red jumps together with other obstacles representing the remaining Snooker colours.

The game consists of two parts:

Opening Sequence – Handlers choose their route and attempt to accumulate points.

Closing Sequence – Obstacles must be completed in a prescribed order.

Each obstacle carries a point value, with points awarded when it is successfully completed. All points must be earned within the time limit set by the judge.