UKI (UK Agility International) has a progression system that rewards well-rounded dogs. Unlike some organizations where you can advance by running one class type over and over, UKI requires you to prove yourself across multiple class types before you can move up.
If you're new to UKI or just confused about what you need, this guide breaks it all down.
Two Separate Programs
The first thing to know is that UKI runs two completely independent programs:
- The International Program — Agility, Jumping, and Games classes
- The Speedstakes Program — Speedstakes classes only (jumps and tunnels, no contacts)
These programs are separate. Your progress in one has no effect on the other. A dog can be Champion in International and still be Beginner in Speedstakes.
International Program Levels
The International Program has four levels. You start at Beginner and work your way up by earning qualifying rounds (“Qs”) in Agility, Jumping, and Games classes. Each Q earns you 4 points (more if you place in bigger classes).
Beginner → Novice (12 points needed)
- At least 8 points must come from Agility classes
- The remaining 4 can come from any International class
- That's roughly 3 qualifying runs, with at least 2 in Agility
Novice → Senior (20 points needed)
- 12 points from Agility
- 4 points from Jumping
- 4 points from Games (Gamblers, Snooker, Snakes & Ladders, or Power & Speed)
- That's roughly 5 qualifying runs spread across all three class types
Senior → Champion (36 points needed)
- 12 points from Agility
- 12 points from Jumping
- 12 points from Games
- About 9 qualifying runs, evenly distributed — you can't skip any class type
Champion Level Titles
Once you reach Champion, you're working toward the IAC (International Agility Champion) title. You need 60 points with at least 12 each from Agility, Jumping, and Games. You can earn the IAC title multiple times (IAC 2, IAC 3, etc.).
There's also the IWAC (International Win Agility Champion) for dogs who earn 60 points specifically from wins (first place finishes). Getting an IWAC automatically earns you an IAC too.
Speedstakes Program Levels
Speedstakes is simpler — there's only one class type, so there are no cross-class requirements.
- SS Beginner → SS Novice: 12 points
- SS Novice → SS Senior: 20 points
- SS Senior → SS Champion: 36 points
- CSS (Champion of Speedstakes): 60 points at Champion level (repeatable)
How Points Work
Every qualifying run earns you at least 4 points. But if you place in a bigger class, you earn more:
- 1–10 entries: 1st place = 6 pts, 2nd = 5, 3rd = 4, 4th = 4, Clear Round = 4
- 11–30 entries: 1st = 12 pts, 2nd = 8, 3rd = 7, 4th = 5, Clear Round = 4
- 31+ entries: 1st = 12, scaling down to 10th = 4, Clear Round = 4
A “Clear Round” means you ran clean (no faults, under Standard Course Time) but didn't place high enough to earn extra points. You still get 4 points.
The Select Option
UKI offers a Select Option that lets your dog jump one height lower than their regular height. This is great for older dogs, dogs recovering from injury, or breeds that find their regular height challenging.
When running Select, there are no spread jumps, a lowered A-frame (5'3”), and a reduced long jump. You can switch between Select and Regular at any time, and all your previous results still count.
Important Rules to Know
- Once you earn enough points to move up, you must move up. You can't stay at a lower level. If you earn your points mid-trial, you move up the next day.
- If the next level isn't offered at your current trial, you can stay in your entered level for that trial only.
- Combo classes (Masters Series heats, Biathlon, Games Challenge, Speedstakes Challenge) all count toward your International progression points.
- Dogs must be at least 18 months old for most classes. Nursery and Speedstakes allow dogs 15 months and older.
Title Summary
Here's a quick reference for all the International titles:
- BID — Beginner International Dog (graduated Beginner)
- IND — International Novice Dog (graduated Novice)
- ISD — International Senior Dog (graduated Senior)
- IAC — International Agility Champion (60 pts at Champion, repeatable)
- IWAC — International Win Agility Champion (60 pts from wins, repeatable)
And for Speedstakes:
- SSB — Speedstakes Beginner
- SSN — Speedstakes Novice
- SSS — Speedstakes Senior
- CSS — Champion of Speedstakes (repeatable)
- WCSS — Win Champion of Speedstakes (repeatable)
Wrapping Up
UKI's progression system rewards versatility. You can't just hammer Agility runs and skip Games — you need to be good at all of it. That's what makes earning your IAC feel like a real achievement.
If you're a trial secretary tracking all this progression manually — point thresholds, cross-class requirements, move-up notifications — it's a lot to keep straight. That's exactly why we built Barkloop to handle it automatically.
Barkloop tracks UKI progression automatically. Enter results, and Barkloop calculates points, checks thresholds, and flags when dogs are ready to move up. No spreadsheets, no manual counting.