Foleys Dog Training

Quick Guide to Agility at Westminster Kennel Club

Beginnner's Guide to Watching Westminster Agility 2022

How are dogs selected for Westminster Agility Championships?

Dogs can enter the preliminary rounds of the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster if they have a MACH or PACH (AKC agility champion title). A maximum of 350 dogs are entered in the preliminary rounds.

Westminster Agility Course Maps – Preliminary Rounds

The Master Standard course for Westminster 2022, judged by Ben Gibbs
The Master Jumpers with Weaves course for Westminster 2022, judged by Ronda Bermke.
The preliminary rounds consist of two courses – Standard (all obstacles) and Jumpers with Weaves (jumps, tunnels, weaves). Once those two rounds are scored, the teams for the finals are chosen.

Who made the finals at Westminster Agility 2022?

For TV purposes, the finals are NOT the top 10 dogs in each heigh class. Why? Westminster wants to showcase as many breeds as possible on TV. It would be boring for Joe Q. Public to watch 30 border collies and 10 shelties.
The Top 10 for TV. Numbers 1-3 are the actual top 3 dogs in the jump height, regardless of breed/mix. Number 4 is a mixed breed (“All-American”) dog if one is not already in the top 3. The rest of the top ten is the highest scoring dogs of any breed not already represented in that jump height.

What dog breeds were represented in the finals?

According to the Westminster website, the breeds in the finals were:

  • All-American Dog (mixed breed)
  • Australian Cattle Dog
  • Australian Shepherd
  • Belgian Tervuren
  • Border Collie
  • Boston Terrier
  • Bracco Italiano
  • Brittany
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Chesapeake Bay Retriever
  • Chihuahua
  • Cocker Spaniel
  • English Cocker Spaniel (working cocker, wocker)
  • English Springer Spaniel
  • German Shepherd Dog
  • Golden Retriever
  • Havanese
  • Irish Setter
  • Labrador Retriever
  • Lakeland Terrier
  • Miniature American Shepherd (MAS, mini aussie)
  • Miniature Pinscher
  • Papillon
  • Pomeranian
  • Poodle (mini)
  • Poodle (standard)
  • Portuguese Water Dog
  • Pyrenean Shepherd
  • Rat Terrier
  • Shetland Sheepdog (sheltie)
  • Vizsla
  • Weimaraner

What is the final Westminster agility course from TV?

The final course is a Standard course without a table. It is scored by time. Any faults (dropped bars, wrong obstacles, missed contacts) are added to the overall time.
The 2022 Westminster agility finals course judged by Ronda Bermke and Ben Gibbs.

How do they pick the winner of Westminster Agility?

In a normal agility trial, there is no overall winner. That’s because you can’t compare a border collie jumping 20″ to a cocker spaniel jumping 12″. But for TV, they crown an overall winner. Because… TV. They also give big ribbons to the top dog in each jump height, which is how it’s normally done.

Where can I watch the Master Agility Championship at Westminster?

On Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s YouTube channel, there is a playlist called 2022 Masters Agility Championship at Westminster. You can watch the preliminary rounds there — look for your dog’s jump height! The winning dog and best All-American dog Final rounds are also there. The rest of the Final Round can be seen on FOX and FOX Sports.

In the Maryland area and want to try agility with your dog?

I offer private lessons and group classes at my home in Burtonsville, MD.

My colleagues Kristina & Evann teach agility classes at Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC.

Beginners are welcome! Hope to see you and your pup soon.

About the Author

E. Foley, CPDT-KA

E. Foley (she/her) is the owner and lead trainer at Foley's Dog Training, LLC. She lives in Burtonsville, Maryland with her husband and three cocker spaniels.