Walk into any agility training group and ask whether running contacts or stopped contacts are better. Then step back, because you've just started an argument that might last all afternoon.
Both methods work. Both have genuine advantages. And both require significantly different training investments. Choosing between them is one of the most consequential decisions a new competitor makes — and one of the most commonly regretted when the choice is made without full information.
The Core Difference
| Running Contact | Stopped Contact (2o/2o) | |
|---|---|---|
| What the dog does | Runs through zone without stopping | Stops at end with 2 feet on, 2 feet off |
| Speed impact | Minimal — dog maintains full stride | Costs 1–3 seconds per contact obstacle |
| Training time | 6–18 months to train reliably | 4–12 weeks to a working stopped contact |
| Reliability under pressure | Moderate — degrades with stress or speed | High — easier to maintain under pressure |
| Handler skill required | High — must train criteria on moving dog | Lower — stop is visible and easy to reward |
| Handler position benefit | None — dog drives forward independently | Handler can get significantly ahead during stop |
| Best for | Fast dogs; handlers comfortable with advanced training | Most handlers, especially beginners; any dog |
The Case for Stopped Contacts
Stopped contacts are the default choice for good reason. The criteria is binary and clear — the dog is stopped, or they're not. You can see it. Your dog can understand it. The judge can see it. There's no gray area in training or competition.
A reliable stopped contact gives you a genuine advantage: while your dog holds position at the bottom of the A-frame or dogwalk, you have 1–2 seconds to move ahead and set up for the next sequence. Paradoxically, this often makes the overall course faster than a running contact that saves time on the obstacle but costs time because the handler is out of position.
The released contact is also far more durable under stress. At a trial, with adrenaline, distractions, and handler nerves, a stopped contact will hold for years. A running contact has a higher maintenance requirement and more failure modes.
The Case for Running Contacts
At the elite level — especially in UKI and international competition — running contacts are extremely common, particularly on the A-frame. The fastest dogs and fastest handlers use running contacts because the time saved on three contact obstacles per course is measurable and matters at the highest levels.
Running contacts also don't interrupt the dog's momentum. A dog who runs through the A-frame carries speed into the next sequence. A stopped contact dog must stop, wait for release, and re-accelerate — which costs energy and rhythm.
For dogs with extraordinary natural speed, a stopped contact can actually be a limiting factor. Some dogs are so fast that maintaining a stopped position at the bottom of the A-frame requires a level of impulse control that is genuinely difficult to train reliably under competition pressure.
Running Dogwalk: A Special Case
The running dogwalk is somewhat different from the running A-frame. The dogwalk is longer with a narrower plank — the dog's strides naturally bring their feet through the contact zone more consistently. Many handlers who use stopped contacts on the A-frame use running contacts on the dogwalk. This is a common and effective compromise.
Which Should You Choose?
| If you are... | Consider... |
|---|---|
| A beginner handler | Stopped contacts — build reliability first |
| Running a fast dog with a fast handler | Running contacts on A-frame; consider both for dogwalk |
| Competing primarily at Masters/Elite level | Evaluate what your contact time vs handler position tradeoff actually is |
| Running a slower dog | Stopped contacts — time savings from running contacts minimal at slower pace |
| Working with an experienced trainer | Follow their recommendation based on observing your team |
The Biggest Mistake: Switching Mid-Stream
Many handlers start with stopped contacts, get competitive, see someone's beautiful running contact, and decide to switch. This is the contact trap. Retrained contacts are almost always less reliable than contacts that were trained one method from the beginning. Pick a method, commit to it, and train it correctly before you consider any change.
Tracking your contact fault rate over time with Barkloop will tell you whether your current method is working. If you're seeing contact faults regularly across multiple trials, that's data — whether it means your training needs work or your method needs reconsideration.