The Agility Association of Canada (AAC) keeps its progression system refreshingly straightforward. Unlike some organizations with four or five levels, AAC uses just three: Starters, Advanced, and Masters. It's clean, easy to understand, and gives you clear goals at every stage of your agility journey.
The Three Levels
Starters
This is where every dog begins. Starters courses are designed to be approachable, with simpler sequences and more forgiving course times. The goal at this level is to build confidence — for both you and your dog. Judges keep the courses fair, and the atmosphere is usually supportive and encouraging.
Advanced
Once you've proven yourself at Starters, you move up to Advanced. The courses get more challenging — tighter turns, longer sequences, and higher expectations for accuracy. Advanced is where many teams really start to polish their handling skills. It's a meaningful step up, but not an overwhelming one.
Masters
Masters is the top level in AAC. Courses are designed to test experienced teams with complex sequences, distance challenges, and tricky obstacle combinations. Running at Masters level means you and your dog have developed a strong partnership and can handle whatever a judge puts in front of you.
How Do You Move Up?
The requirement is simple: earn three qualifying runs (Qs) at your current level to advance to the next one. That's it. No complicated point systems, no math. Three clean runs and you're moving up.
This applies to each class type independently. So you might move up to Advanced in Standard while still working on your third Q in Starters Jumpers. Each class tracks its own progression.
Title Tracks
AAC titles follow a logical naming pattern that reflects both your class type and level. Here are the main ones:
Standard Titles
- ADC — Agility Dog of Canada (completed Starters Standard)
- AADC — Advanced Agility Dog of Canada (completed Advanced Standard)
- MADC — Master Agility Dog of Canada (earned at Masters Standard)
Jumpers Titles
- JADC — Jumpers Agility Dog of Canada (completed Starters Jumpers)
- JAADC — Jumpers Advanced Agility Dog of Canada (completed Advanced Jumpers)
- JMADC — Jumpers Master Agility Dog of Canada (earned at Masters Jumpers)
There are also titles for Gamblers, Snooker, Steeplechase, and other class types, each following a similar Starters → Advanced → Masters pattern.
Why Handlers Like This System
The three-level approach has some real advantages:
- Easy to understand — New competitors can grasp the system in minutes. There's no confusion about where you are or what you need next.
- Clear milestones — Three Qs per level means you always know exactly how close you are to moving up.
- Less grinding — Some organizations require many more qualifying runs to advance. AAC's system lets you progress at a steady pace without feeling stuck.
- Independent class tracking — You can focus on the classes you enjoy most or work on weaker areas without being held back.
Tips for Moving Through the Levels
- Don't rush out of Starters. Use it to build a solid foundation of good habits.
- When you reach Advanced, pay extra attention to course walks — the difficulty jump is noticeable.
- At Masters, focus on consistency over speed. Clean runs are what earn titles.
- Enter multiple class types to keep things fun and build a well-rounded dog.
Tracking Qs across multiple classes and levels is a lot easier with the right tools. Barkloop helps trial secretaries manage AAC progression cleanly — so every qualifying run gets counted and every move-up happens on time.