Dog Agility Organizations and Venues in the US
By Tania, Co-Founder of Happy Dog League Published November 12, 2026
In the US you can trial in agility with AKC, UKC, UKI, USDAA, CPE, NADAC, ASCA and TDAA, and AKC also runs ISC, a separate set of international-style classes with no titles. They all use jumps, tunnels and weaves, but each has its own levels, classes, jump heights and way of earning titles, and every one of them welcomes mixed breeds.
None of them is better or worse. They’re different venues with their own feel, and plenty of handlers run in more than one. Below is how they compare side by side, then how each one differs from AKC. For how their levels line up, see dog agility levels compared, and for every other dog sport, see American Kennel Club alternatives for dog sports.
Dog Agility Organizations at a Glance
| Organization | How titles are earned | Top titles |
|---|---|---|
| AKC | Qs: 3 per title until Master, which takes 10 | MACH, PACH, AGCH |
| AKC ISC | No Qs or titles; placed on faults, then time | ISCH at the annual finals |
| UKC | Qs: runs scored out of 200, 170 to qualify, 3 Qs at 3 trials per title | UACH, UACHX, UGRACH |
| UKI | Points from clear rounds, from 12 for the first title to 60 at Champion | IAC, CSS |
| USDAA | Qs: 3 per Starters and Advanced title, 5 per Masters title | ADCH, Champion titles |
| CPE | Qs in a set mix of classes for level titles, plus point titles | C-ATCH, C-ATE |
| NADAC | Points: 30 per title in each class and level | NATCH and its versatility versions |
| ASCA | Points: 30 for Regular titles, 20 for Jumpers and Gamblers | ATCH, ACE |
| TDAA | Titles at each level, for small dogs only | TACh |
Qs or Points: How Each Organization Counts
The biggest difference between agility organizations is what a title is made of. AKC, USDAA and UKC count qualifying runs, so a title is a set number of Qs. UKI, NADAC and ASCA count points, which a dog earns from clean runs (and in NADAC and ASCA, from Regular runs with a few faults), and CPE uses both: Qs in a set mix of classes for its level titles, and points for its point titles.
Championships follow the same split. MACH, PACH, ATCH, ACE, NATCH, IAC, CSS and UACH add up points, though MACH and PACH also need 20 double Qs. AGCH, C-ATCH, ADCH, UACHX and UGRACH count qualifying runs, and C-ATE needs both. The agility championship titles compared page goes through each one.
Agility Jump Heights by Organization
Jump heights are set from your dog’s height at the withers, and the bands differ a little in each organization. Here’s where a 17-inch dog ends up in regular classes, with its lower option where there is one. The dog jump height chart works it out for any height.
| Organization | A 17-inch dog jumps (inches) |
|---|---|
| AKC | 16, or 12 in Preferred |
| AKC ISC | 20 at its FCI height, or its regular AKC height of 16 |
| UKC | 14 (Division 2) |
| UKI | 16 |
| USDAA | 16, or 12 in Performance |
| CPE | 16, with lower options in Veterans, Enthusiast and Specialist |
| NADAC | 16 |
| ASCA | 16, or 12 in ACE |
How Each Agility Organization Compares to AKC
AKC is the organization most handlers start with, so here’s how each of the others differs from it.
AKC Agility
AKC runs Standard, Jumpers With Weaves and FAST, each with its own title ladder, plus Time 2 Beat and Premier. A Q needs a score of 85 at the lower levels and 100 at Master, and a MACH takes 750 points and 20 double Qs from Master Standard and Jumpers. Preferred dogs jump 4 inches lower and get 5 extra seconds.
AKC ISC vs Regular AKC Agility
ISC is part of AKC but works differently: international-style courses built to FCI guidelines, often longer and more technical, with back side jumps. There are no Qs or titles. Faults add up from zero, dogs are placed on faults and then time, and any AKC dog can enter any of the three levels.
UKC Agility vs AKC
Where AKC scores a run out of 100, UKC scores it out of 200, and a Q needs every obstacle done and 170 or more. UKC has its own jump divisions, with 14 and 20 as the two big heights instead of AKC’s 16, 20 and 24, and optional Dynamic Agility classes (Tunnels, Hurdles and 3 of a Kind) scored pass or fail.
UKI Agility vs AKC
AKC counts Qs, and UKI counts points, which a dog earns only on a clear round with no course or time faults. UKI has two programs: International, which mixes Agility, Jumping and Games, and Speedstakes, with jumps and tunnels only. Its courses are more spread out, with at least 18 feet between obstacles.
USDAA Agility vs AKC
Like AKC, USDAA counts Qs, but across five classes: Standard, Gamblers, Jumpers, Snooker and Relay, plus tournament classes like Grand Prix and Steeplechase. Its Performance program is the lower-jump option, like AKC Preferred, except that Championship Qs also count toward Performance titles. ADCH takes all five Masters titles plus Tournament Dog.
CPE Agility vs AKC
Where AKC has two main title classes, CPE has seven, from Standard to Jackpot and FullHouse, and a dog can be at a different level in each one on the same weekend. CPE also has the most jump height options, with Veterans, Enthusiast and Specialist, and its C-ATCH takes 40 Qs across all seven classes at Level 5.
NADAC Agility vs AKC
NADAC counts points rather than Qs, and every title takes 30 points in that class and level. It has eight classes, including Tunnelers, Weavers and Touch N Go, its courses are known for flow and distance between obstacles, and its jump heights never go above a dog’s own height.
ASCA Agility vs AKC
ASCA runs Regular, Jumpers and Gamblers, and counts points: a clean run earns 10. Its ATCH takes 200 Elite Regular points plus 100 each in Gamblers and Jumpers, and its ACE program jumps 4 inches lower with 10% more time, much like AKC Preferred.
TDAA vs AKC
TDAA is agility for small dogs only, 20 inches or under at the withers, with obstacles scaled down and jumps from 2 to 16 inches. Any breed or mix can enter once registered with TDAA, from 12 months.
Types of Dog Agility Competitions
Most agility events are titling trials, where each run can count toward a title in that organization. Alongside them are classes with no titles at all, like AKC ISC, where dogs are simply placed, and tournament classes like USDAA’s Grand Prix, Steeplechase and Dog Agility Masters, which count toward its tournament titles.
At the top are national events won on the day. AKC’s National Agility Championship crowns a winner at each jump height, the UKI US Open crowns its winners at one event, and the AKC International Sweepstakes Championship awards the ISCH to the finals winner at each height. Our AKC agility Nationals qualification page covers how to get to the AKC Nationals.
Running in More Than One Organization
Many dogs run in two or three organizations, often because of which trials are close to home. Each one keeps its own titles and record, so your dog climbs a separate ladder in each, and a run counts only in the organization that held the trial. If you’re weighing two of them, our UKI vs AKC agility and ISC vs AKC agility posts go into more detail.
Questions People Ask
What are the dog agility organizations in the US?
AKC (including its non-titling ISC classes), UKC, UKI, USDAA, CPE, NADAC, ASCA and TDAA all hold agility trials in the US. Each one has its own levels, classes and titles.
Can mixed breeds do agility?
Yes, in every organization here. AKC takes mixed breeds through Canine Partners (spayed or neutered), UKC through a Performance Listing, and UKI, USDAA, CPE, NADAC, ASCA and TDAA welcome mixed breeds once the dog is registered with them.
Do agility titles carry over between organizations?
No. Each organization keeps its own titles and record, so a dog starts its own ladder in each one. UKI is the exception for where you start: it sets your dog’s starting level from its level in other organizations.
Which agility organizations count points instead of Qs?
UKI, NADAC and ASCA build titles from points earned on clean or near-clean runs. AKC, USDAA and UKC count qualifying runs for their regular titles, and CPE uses both: Qs for its level titles and points for its point titles.
Every Agility Organization, One Tracker
Dog Title Tracker keeps your dog’s AKC, UKC, UKI, USDAA, CPE, NADAC and ASCA agility side by side, each counted its own way, and logs your ISC runs too. See every agility tracker.
3 months free. Full access included. Then $5/month.
Each organization’s own rulebook is the official word on its levels, titles and jump heights, and rules change from time to time, so check there before you enter.
Independent tracking note
Dog Title Tracker is an independent tracking tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially connected to any dog sport organization, registry, club, event provider, or governing body listed on this site.
The tracker is for personal tracking and organization. Users should always verify official points, qualifying scores, titles, awards, eligibility, and records directly with the appropriate organization.
About the Author
Tania, Co-Founder of Happy Dog League
Tania writes every article on the Dog Title Tracker blog. She started dog sports with Tucker in 2021 and now competes with Moose, a Miniature American Shepherd, in AKC, UKI, and ASCA agility. Together they also participate in Fast CAT, Barn Hunt, dock diving, and herding classes, and Rally is next on their list. Tania regularly attends seminars and workshops to keep learning about different dog sports and brings that firsthand experience to her writing and the title tracker.
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