A competitor navigates the field in the Large Dog Agility content.

The purpose of an Agility competition is to demonstrate a dog's willingness to work with its handler under a variety of conditions.

Featuring that partnership between dogs and handlers, the agility competition leads dogs in a fast-paced race through a maze of obstacles and jumps. Completing the course in the shortest amount of time with the fewest number of faults wins. Faults include deviation from flow of course and improper maneuvering in and around the obstacles. The course consists of teeter-totters, tires, hurdles, chutes and poles and the competing dogs will run the course three times each. At the ESPN Great Outdoor Games we have divided the dogs into two categories — large dogs (with a 26" jump height) and small dogs (16" jump height.)

Competitors: 10 small dogs, 20 large dogs and their handlers

Judges: Five (5); One Head Judge, Three Gatekeepers, One Scribe Duration of Run Standard Course Time as determined by the Head Judge (Approximately 55 seconds)

Competition Format Standard Round One:
The order of competition will be determined by random draw with influence. Each of the dogs will complete the agility obstacle course according to the course design and will be assigned a ( Standard ) Round One Score based on number of Standard Course Faults (if any) added to the number of Standard Time Faults (if any). The dogs will be ranked based on the lowest to highest Standard Round One Scores. The time in which it takes each dog to complete the course will be recorded as their Standard Course Time for the purposes of assessing Time Faults and resolving ties.

Speed Round One: :
The order of competition will be based on the highest to lowest Standard Round One Scores. Each of the dogs will complete the Speed course according to the course design and will be assigned a Speed Round One Score based on the time in which it takes the dog to complete the run, plus the number of Speed Course Faults (if any). The Standard Round One Scores and (Speed) Round One Scores will be added together and the dogs will be ranked based on the lowest to highest Combined Round One Score.

Final Standard Round:
The order of competition will be determined by the reverse order of the rankings based on the Combined Round One Scores. Each of the dogs will complete the agility obstacle course according to the course design and will be assigned a Final Standard Round Score based on the number of Standard Course Faults (if any) added to the number of Standard Time Faults (if any). The dogs will be ranked based on the lowest to highest Final Standard Round Scores. The time in which it takes each dog to complete the course will be recorded as their Standard Course Time for the purposes of assessing Time Faults and resolving ties.

Final Speed Round:
The order of competition will be based on the highest to lowest Final Standard Round Scores . Each of the dogs will complete the Speed course according to the course design and will be assigned a Final Speed Round Score based on the number of Speed Course Faults (if any) added to the duration of the dogs run. The Final Standard Round and Final Speed Round Scores will be added together and the dogs will be ranked based on the lowest to highest Combined Final Round Time.

Competition Flow Standard Round One
The handlers will be given seven (7) minutes prior to the round during which they may walk the course for observation of the course set-up. The dogs will not be allowed on the course during this time period.

Each of the dogs and handlers will begin the course at the start line. The Timekeeper will indicate the start of the run by announcing "Course Clear". When the dog crosses the start line they will break a laser beam and the time clock will begin running. The dog and handler will complete the course in the sequence defined by the course designer. The Head Judge will indicate any faults as they occur by the raising of his/her hand and the Scribe will record them accordingly. The time clock will be stopped at the point at which the dog crosses the finish line and the duration of the dogs run will be recorded by the Scribe.

Speed Round One:
The handlers will be given seven (7) minutes prior to the round during which they may walk the course for observation of the course set-up. The dogs will not be allowed on the course during this time period.

Each of the dogs and handlers will begin the course at the start line. The Timekeeper will indicate the start of the run by announcing "Course Clear". When the dog crosses the start line they will break a laser beam and the time clock will begin running. The dog and handler will complete the course in the sequence defined by the course designer. The Head Judge will indicate any faults as they occur by the raising of his/her hand and the Scribe will record them accordingly. The time clock will be stopped at the point at which the dog crosses the finish line and the duration of the dogs run will be recorded by the Scribe.

Final Standard and Speed Rounds:
The handlers will be given seven (7) minutes prior to the round during which they may walk the course for observation of the course set-up. The dogs will not be allowed on the course during this time period.

The order of competition for the Final Standard Round will be determined by the reverse order of rankings from the Combined Round One Score. Each of the dogs and handlers will begin the course at the start line. The Timekeeper will indicate the start of the run by announcing "Course Clear". When the dog crosses the start line they will break a laser beam and the time clock will begin running. The dog and handler will complete the course in the sequence defined by the course designer. The time clock will be stopped at the point at which the dog crosses the finish line and the duration of the dogs run will be recorded by the Scribe. The order of competition for the Speed Round will be determined by the reverse order of rankings from the Final Agility Round. Each of the dogs and handlers will begin the course at the start line. The Timekeeper will indicate the start of the run by announcing "Course Clear". When the dog crosses the start line they will break a laser beam and the time clock will begin running. The dog and handler will complete the course in the sequence defined by the course designer. The time clock will be stopped at the point at which the dog crosses the finish line and the duration of the dogs run will be recorded by the Scribe.