It's Saturday afternoon at a three-day trial. A handler walks up to the score table and asks, “My dog just got her third qualifying score in Novice — does she have to run Advanced tomorrow?”
If you're the trial secretary, you need a clear answer. Move-ups are one of the most common sources of confusion at multi-day trials, and getting them wrong can lead to invalid results, frustrated handlers, and a lot of extra work.
The General Rule: Move Up the Next Day
In most organizations, including UKI, the rule is straightforward: if a dog earns enough qualifying scores to advance to the next level, the move-up takes effect the next day of competition. The dog finishes out the current day at their current level and starts the new level the following morning.
This means you need to process all results at the end of each day and identify which dogs have moved up before the next day begins.
When the Next Level Isn't Offered
Here's where it gets tricky. If a dog moves up to Advanced but Advanced isn't being offered on the remaining days, what happens? The answer depends on the organization:
- Some orgs allow the dog to run at the higher level even if it wasn't originally scheduled, as long as there's room
- Others require the dog to sit out that class for the rest of the trial
- A few allow the dog to continue at the lower level but mark the runs as non-qualifying
Know your organization's rules before the trial starts. If you're not sure, contact the sanctioning body ahead of time so you have a clear answer ready.
Notifying Handlers
Handlers don't always realize their dog has moved up, especially if they're not tracking their qualifying scores closely. It's the trial secretary's job to notify them, and sooner is better than later.
Good ways to communicate move-ups:
- Post a move-up list near the score table or results board at the end of each day
- Announce move-ups over the PA system before the end of the day
- Personally notify handlers if possible, especially for less experienced competitors
- Include move-up information when you post end-of-day results
Some handlers will be thrilled. Others will be caught off guard or even disappointed if they weren't ready to move up. Either way, they need to know as early as possible so they can plan for the next day.
What Changes When a Dog Moves Up
A move-up isn't just a label change. Several things can be affected:
- The dog may be in a different run order at the new level
- Different rules may apply (refusals counted, stricter time limits)
- The dog's jump height might change if the organization uses different height cards at different levels
- The handler may need to adjust their strategy for harder courses
Make sure your run orders and scoring are updated to reflect the new level. This is one of those areas where a small oversight can cause big problems.
Handling Disputes
Occasionally a handler will disagree with a move-up, either because they think a qualifying score was recorded incorrectly or because they weren't aware of the rule. Be prepared to:
- Show the handler their qualifying history for that class
- Reference the specific rule in the organization's rulebook
- Escalate to the judge or trial committee if needed
Having clear records and being able to pull up a dog's history quickly makes these conversations much easier.
A Move-Up Checklist for Secretaries
- At the end of each day, review all qualifying results
- Cross-reference with each dog's existing qualifying count
- Identify which dogs have met the move-up threshold
- Check whether the next level is offered on remaining days
- Update run orders and class assignments for the next day
- Notify affected handlers before they leave the venue
- Document the move-up in your records
Barkloop tracks qualifying scores across trial days and flags move-ups automatically, so you never miss one. Handlers get notified, run orders get updated, and you can focus on keeping the trial moving.