FCI Agility Rules Explained: Classes, Height Categories and Faults

Agility looks simple: run the course in the right order, fast and clean. But the rules contain plenty of detail that decides who takes home the rosette. This article explains the international rules of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the umbrella organisation for most of Europe's kennel clubs, in plain English.

The source is the FCI Agility Regulations, approved in May 2025 and in force since 1 July 2025, with amendments approved in February 2026. The FCI explicitly lets national organisations adapt the rules for national competitions. In Belgium, organisations such as VOE (Hondenfederatie Vrienden onder Eén) and DSAB (DogSport Agility Belgium) run their own competitions with their own rulebooks, classes and promotion rules. The core ideas below apply everywhere, but always check the regulations of the organisation you're entering. Our guide How to Start Competing in Agility in Belgium explains the Belgian details.

Height categories

Dogs compete in one of four categories based on their height at the withers (the highest point of the shoulder blades):

The Intermediate category was added in 2023. Before that, a 47 cm dog had to jump the same height as a 65 cm dog, which was hard on mid-sized breeds.

Dogs in S, M and I are usually officially measured by a judge, and the height is recorded in the dog's record book or licence. A dog can compete in only one category.

Classes and levels

There are two types of run:

• Agility: includes the contact obstacles (A-frame, dogwalk, seesaw).
• Jumping: no contact obstacles.

Each type has three levels:

1. Level 1: for beginner dogs. No spread hurdles.
2. Level 2: for dogs that have met the national requirements to move up. The FCI gives as an example placing three times with a clear round.
3. Level 3: the top level. The FCI example: three clear rounds placed in the top three at level 2.

The exact promotion criteria, and whether dogs can move back down, are set nationally. Many organisations also run open or fun classes, team runs and games outside this structure.

Age and eligibility

Under FCI rules:

• National competitions are open to dogs over 18 months, with or without a pedigree.
• FCI international competitions (where the CACIAG title can be awarded) are open to dogs over 24 months with an FCI-recognised pedigree (including appendix registrations).
• Dogs must be microchipped or tattooed, and handlers need a valid record book or licence from their national organisation.
• Pregnant bitches, dogs that are ill, injured or unfit, and doped dogs may not compete. Bitches in season are allowed at FCI international trials.

National organisations can set their own requirements for national competitions, so the rules at a VOE or DSAB competition are not necessarily the same as at an FCI international event.

The course

• The ring measures at least 20 × 40 m.
• The course is 100–220 m long with 15 to 22 obstacles, including at least seven jumps.
• The weave poles must appear on every course; weaves, tyre and wall may be used only once.
• An agility course must include all three contact obstacles.
• Up to five tunnel performances are allowed.
• The natural handling side must change at least twice, so handlers have to show more than one side of their body.

Before the class starts, competitors walk the course without their dogs. No practice on the equipment is allowed. See How to Walk an Agility Course. Want to design a course to these rules yourself? Our free course designer checks the FCI distances and the number of obstacles.

During the run

• The dog runs without collar or lead. Wearing a collar is elimination.
• The handler may not hold anything in their hands, no toys, no treats, not even the lead.
• The handler may stand anywhere, use any voice commands or signals, but may not touch the dog or the obstacles.
• Time starts when the dog crosses the start line and stops when it completes the last obstacle in the correct direction.

Faults

All course faults count in units of 5.

Course faults (5 each)

• Knockdown: any part of an obstacle (bar, wall element, long jump unit) falls.
• Missed contact: the dog doesn't touch the down contact zone of the A-frame or dogwalk, or either contact zone of the seesaw.
• Seesaw: the dog leaves before the plank touches the ground.
• Tyre: the tyre breaks apart as the dog goes through.
• Weave poles: each error after the entry (one fault per attempt).
• Handler touch: the handler gains an advantage by touching the dog or an obstacle.

The team continues after a fault; it does not have to be corrected.

Refusals (5 each, must be corrected)

• The dog stops in front of an obstacle, turns away or runs past it.
• It goes under a jump bar or jumps over a tunnel or wing.
• It puts its head or a paw into a tunnel and comes back out.
• It takes the long jump from the side.
• It jumps off a contact obstacle early (before the down ramp, or before the seesaw pivot).
• A wrong weave entry.

A refusal can only be called when the dog is on the correct side of the obstacle. Refusals must be corrected: the dog has to take the obstacle again correctly before continuing.

Time faults

If the dog's time exceeds the standard course time (SCT), the number of seconds over (to the hundredth) is added as time faults. 2.37 seconds over the SCT means 2.37 time faults.

Elimination

Among the reasons for elimination:

• Three refusals.
• Taking an obstacle out of sequence or in the wrong direction.
• Exceeding the maximum course time (MCT).
• Not touching the up ramp of the A-frame or dogwalk with all four paws.
• Weaving backwards through more than two gates.
• The dog wearing a collar, fouling the ring, leaving the ring or no longer being under control.
• The handler holding something, going over or under an obstacle, starting before the judge's signal, or training on the course.
• Harsh handling of the dog, or unseemly behaviour towards the judge.

When eliminated, you leave the ring promptly unless the judge lets you finish.

Standard and maximum course time

• SCT at FCI international events (World Championship, European Open, Junior Open) is the time of the fastest dog with the fewest course faults plus 15%, rounded to the nearest second.
• SCT at national competitions is often set by dividing course length by a chosen speed. A 160 m course at 4.0 m/s gives an SCT of 40 seconds. The judge picks the speed depending on the level, difficulty and surface.
• MCT is course length divided by 2.5 m/s in agility or 3.0 m/s in jumping. For a 160 m agility course that's 64 seconds.

How the ranking works

1. Lowest total faults (course faults + time faults) wins.
2. If total faults are equal, the faster dog wins.

This means a dog with one knocked bar (5 faults) but fast can beat a clear dog that was 6 seconds over time (6 faults). Results are entered into the dog's record book or digital licence and count towards promotion.

Force majeure

If something outside the handler's control interferes, such as a bar blown down by the wind or a moving obstacle, the judge can stop the run, have the course repaired and restart the team. Faults earned before the stop still count, and new faults only count after the point where the team was stopped.

Behaviour and sportsmanship

The judge's decision is final. Harsh handling leads to immediate elimination and possibly a complaint. The organising club may refuse entries. In short: be kind to your dog, polite to the volunteers and judges, and remember that everyone is there for fun.

Belgian national rules

In Belgium most weekend competitions are national competitions run under the rules of the organising body. Each organisation has its own licence or performance book, class structure, promotion rules and season championship. VOE and DSAB both organise busy calendars, and KKUSH (Section 4C), as the Belgian FCI member, handles FCI international competitions and the selection for FCI championships. Read our complete guide to agility in Belgium to find out how they differ.

Further reading

• FCI Agility Regulations (official PDF)
• Every Agility Obstacle Explained
• Your First Agility Competition