> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://dogsports.be/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Your First Agility Competition: What to Expect - URL: https://dogsports.be/en/your-first-agility-competition/ - Published: 2026-09-20T10:07:37.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-10T15:56:08.000Z - Description: Entering your first agility competition? From registration and measuring to the course walk, your run and the prize-giving, here's how a competition day works and how to make it a good one. - Author: Giovanni Vandewaetere - Tags: Agility, Competition, Beginners, #en Your first agility competition is a big day: nerves, excitement, a car full of gear and a dog that can sense something special is happening. Knowing what to expect takes away much of the stress. This guide walks you through a typical competition day, with notes on how things usually work in Belgium. ## Are you ready? Your team is probably ready to compete when: - Your dog can run a complete beginner-level course in training without help. - Contacts and weaves are reliable, also in new places. - Your dog stays with you off lead in a busy environment, and doesn't run off to visit other dogs or people. - Your start-line stay holds (or you have a plan if it doesn't). - Your trainer thinks you're ready. You don't need to be perfect. Most first runs are wonderfully imperfect. What matters is that your dog is safe, under control and having fun. ## Before the day ### Paperwork In Belgium you'll typically need club membership, a competition licence or performance book for your dog, and to be registered with the organisation that runs the competition. **VOE** and **DSAB** each have their own system, and FCI competitions and selections through KKUSH have extra requirements. The step-by-step details, including measuring and minimum age, are in [How to Start Competing in Agility in Belgium](https://dogsports.be/en/competing-in-agility-in-belgium/). ### Choosing a competition For your first event, look for: - A competition that's not too far from home. - A venue you or your club know, ideally your own club's competition. - A moderate number of entries, so the day isn't too long. - Friends from your club who are also entered. Calendars are published by the organisations themselves. See [The Belgian Agility Year](https://dogsports.be/en/belgian-agility-calendar-and-events/) for where to find them. All upcoming competitions in Belgium are listed together on our [competition calendar](https://dogsports.be/en/competition-calendar/). ### Entering Entries usually open weeks in advance and popular competitions fill up quickly. Register online via the organisation's platform or the organising club, with your dog's details, category and level. Pay the entry fee on time and keep the confirmation. ### Training in the week before - Keep training light and positive. Don't try to fix everything now. - Practise your start routine and a few short sequences. - Rest your dog the day before. ## What to pack - **Paperwork:** licence or performance book, your dog's passport or vaccination booklet, entry confirmation. - **Dog gear:** collar or harness and lead (remember: no collar during the run), crate or bench, blanket, coat for cold weather, cooling mat for hot days. - **Food and water:** plenty of water and a bowl, your dog's meals, high-value treats and toys for warm-up. - **For you:** shoes with good grip (and a spare pair for when they get soaked), rain gear, a folding chair, food and drinks, sun protection. - **Poo bags.** Lots. - **A notebook or phone** to note your start numbers and times. ## On the day ### Arrival and check-in Arrive early: at least an hour before the start of your first class. Find a spot for your car or tent, then go to the secretariat to check in. Hand in your licence or performance book if required, and collect your start number. Find out: - In which ring your classes are. - The order of the classes and approximate start times. - When the course walk is. ### Measuring If your dog hasn't been officially measured yet, you may need to have it measured by a judge or measuring official. The dog stands on a flat surface and the height at the withers is measured. Practise standing still and being touched at home. ### Let your dog settle Walk your dog around the venue, let it sniff, have a toilet break, then let it rest in the car or crate. A dog that spends hours on the sidelines watching other dogs run will be exhausted before its own turn. ### Course walk Walk the course with the other handlers in your class. Learn the numbers, plan your handling and rehearse. Our guide [How to Walk an Agility Course](https://dogsports.be/en/walking-an-agility-course/) explains how. ### Warm-up About 10 to 15 minutes before your turn, take your dog out, warm it up (walk, trot, circles, a few tug games and short sprints) and toilet it again. Check the running order so you know how many teams are before you. See [Fitness, Warm-Up and Injury Prevention](https://dogsports.be/en/agility-fitness-and-injury-prevention/). ### Your run 1. When your number is called, enter the ring with your dog on lead. 2. Go to the start, take off the lead and collar and give them to the steward or leave them at the indicated spot. 3. Set your dog up and lead out if you planned to. 4. **Wait for the judge's signal.** Starting before the judge is ready is an elimination. 5. Release your dog and run your plan. 6. After the last jump, praise your dog, put the lead back on and leave the ring promptly. 7. Reward your dog *outside* the ring with its toy or treats. Food and toys are not allowed in the ring. ### If it goes wrong If you're eliminated, the judge will usually whistle. Often you may finish the course or a few obstacles, unless the judge asks you to leave. Either way, end with something positive for your dog, and don't show frustration. Your dog did what it thought you asked. ## Results and prize-giving Results are posted after each class, often online in real time. You'll see your faults, time and ranking. If you ran clear, congratulations! In many organisations, clear rounds or good placings count towards promotion to the next level and towards season rankings. Stay for the prize-giving if you can; it's part of the atmosphere, and in many classes there are rosettes or prizes for the best placed teams. ## Etiquette - **Keep your dog under control** and on lead outside the ring. - **Clean up after your dog** everywhere. - **Don't train on equipment** outside designated warm-up areas. - **Be kind to volunteers:** competitions run on club members giving up their weekend. - **Respect the judge's decisions.** - **Cheer for others.** Agility is a friendly sport. - **Offer to help.** Clubs always need people for building courses, scribing and timekeeping. It's also the best way to learn. ## After the day - Cool your dog down and let it rest. - Write down what went well and what you'd like to improve. - Watch any videos of your runs. - Celebrate. You did it! ## Further reading - [How to Start Competing in Agility in Belgium](https://dogsports.be/en/competing-in-agility-in-belgium/) - [FCI Agility Rules Explained](https://dogsports.be/en/fci-agility-rules-explained/) - [Agility in Belgium: The Complete Guide](https://dogsports.be/en/agility-in-belgium/)