AKC Obstacle Table Finally Gone?
With so many rumors flying around about what's going to happen with the AKC agility table, is it going to stay? Is it going to be optional? Is it only going to be in certain classes?
Watch the video:
Before I answer that question, if you're newer to me my name is Lisa Selthofer and I'm an actual AKC agility judge competitor and of course I'm also an agility coach. By the way I also do judge UKI and I love to do all of the different venues AKC, USDAA, UKI, etc., but today we are going to talk about AKC and that table.
So here's the question... is the Table obstacle going to go away?
Well the answer is yes and no. Will it be optional? No it's not.
Before I explain more, let's first talk about a little bit of the history of the table in AKC since many of you may not know how this obstacle performance has actually evolved. Back in the day, it used to be that an AKC judge would say "Today, or in this class, the table is going to be..." a certain position. The Judge would determine whether the dog would get on the table and either sit or down and that would be announced ahead of time.
At one point the table then went to what we call a position-less table, which is where it's currently at right now. So right now the dog can stand, sit, down, do a roll over, it doesn't matter what position the dog is in.
Moving forward, what the proposal is to the AKC board is to have the table removed from the Excellent and Master Standard classes. It would not be optional and it would no longer be an obstacle that would be in the Excellent and Master standard classes. However, it would still be in the novice and the open classes.
I know quite a few people are thrilled with this and then I also know quite a few people who liked the table because it gave them a good stopping point, so I think this is a good happy medium between allowing those excellent Master people who have already proven they can do that obstacle control performance, they no longer have to do that. However this is a great opportunity for Novice and Open people who may like to break their courses up just a little bit, this gives them a chance to get through all of those obstacles and having that 5-second table position can really help them do that.
So that's where we're at potentially with where the table is going.
The other question people have asked me is "Do you think this is going to pass?" Once something gets to the Board, the likelihood of it passing is almost 100%.
As a bit of knowledge, the table removal came from the last advisory committee which was approximately 5 years ago. This is one of those hold-offs that now the agility department is having the opportunity to put into play. If you're asking "What's the delay from?" Well we had covid and that impeded at least three years of what was going on with the agility staff due to a bit of downsizing, then other projects that were coming in.
They do listen to the advisory committee and when the committee last met, it's my understanding from people who were on the committee that the table that was one of the big things that people wanted to be removed. Remember when AKC looks at all of these different things they also want to take into account the equipment manufacturers because this does impact them as well.
So that's a little bit about the table, again this was highly recommended by the advisory committee, the ones who have put it forward, now to the board.
Another question everybody has been asking me when is the advisory committee going to be meeting next. My guess is not until 2025 at the earliest. I think that they would like to do it now, but that's likely not going to happen.
Other items people have been asking about change on are things like Bitches in Season (BIS) and that they would like to see them be allowed to compete. If you're asking "Who do I write to?" on that one, well you can write to [email protected]. They will put your suggestion in the file to bring up at the appropriate time. They do listen to those items and save tor the advisory committee since they should look at big change items.
I hope that helps. Again the proposal is that the table will be going away in the Excellent and Master class and will be an obstacle in the Novice and Open Standard classes.
All right everybody have a great day!
- Lisa Selthofer
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