* Many Organizations took advantage of the “Super Early Bird” and “Regular Early Bird” discounts last year and we will be continuing the options in 2026 with a $15 or $10 per Dog discount for COMPLETE entries received by 4/10 or 4/24, 2026!

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COMPLETE entries will need to include signed liability waivers from all Teammates and a

SINGLE PAYMENT for all entries (NOT individual checks from each teammate).

 

Like last year, an online entry form will be created for each Organization. We will need to receive an “Intent to Participate” email (replacing, on a test basis for 2026, the Organization’s Roster requirement) from each Organizations’ Team Captain or Organizer.

 

And please remember, if elective changes are made at the request of the Team/Handler after the discount period(s) - other than to correct possible Trial Secretary entry errors - then the regular entry fee will apply and additional payment will need to accompany any elective change before the Trial Secretary will process the change.

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Of course, all these dates can be found on our web page, DACOF.com at the “Important Deadlines” tab. For those who access the dacof.com web page from a mobile device, the gray square at the upper-right of the web page is a link for the “Tabs” on the DACOF page.

 

For DACOF 2026, based upon input from our Members, we will:

 

1. Continue with the online entry & payment process. We received outstanding feedback on the new process implemented last year! Thanks again to Jen Young for all her work modifying and streamlining the process!

2. Continue with the rule change on “uncompleted” obstacles to reduce the chances of a zero score for a run. This change was very well received last year as an effort to reduce the stress of new handler/dog Teams! Replacing the requirement of Dogs to completing every obstacle, (which can cause countless attempts at weaves, or the teeter, or other contact obstacle) if three attempts at an obstacle are attempted, but the obstacle has not been successfully completed, the handler/dog Team may move on with 5-point Refusal Faults and 10-point “Fail Fault,” instead of receiving a score of zero (as long as three attempts are made before moving on).

3. Mike Padget will be returning to groom the arena surface!

4. FOUR (4) Excellent/Masters Dogs on each Team is now a permanent rule! Please remember, only the highest two (2) scores from each level (Novice, Open, Excellent/Master) will count towards the Team’s score, and a Handler can only run one (1) dog at each DACOF Competition Level per Team

5. Pause Table is permanently removed! While the AKC has removed the Pause Table at the Master/Excellent level, it has been permanently removed from ALL LEVELS (including Novice and Open) at DACOF.

6. Continue to score Preferred dogs with the dogs from their standard (Regular) jump height. AND we will continue to award “High in Trial” trophies to both Preferred and Standard Dogs so that both a Preferred and a Regular dog, at each jump height, will be presented a “High in Trial” award.

7. Continue providing the option of having 16” dogs run during either the Small or Large dog sessions. Team Captains will select either 16” Small (to run during the session with the 4” / 8” / 12” dogs) or 16” Large (to run during the session with the 20” and 24” dogs) on the Team Entry Form. This will allow each session to be more evenly matched in number of dogs running per session, and will provide Team Captains the flexibility of having handlers of 16” dogs available to work during either the Large or small dog session.

8. Continue to synchronize the rings so that each round starts at the same time for all the dogs – allowing Teams to get their workers to the rings with less stress.

9. “CATCH” (Crate Area Decorating Challenge) will continue to be judged on Saturday. The judging time for the “CATCH” (Crate Area Decorating Challenge) will be Saturday afternoon/evening during our annual meeting.

 

Additionally, based on the substantial feedback we received from our Members on how to increase DACOF Participation, we will be piloting the “Unlimited Class” and other modifications previously announced in July 2025 for the 2026 DACOF Event.

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✨ New “Unlimited Class” Teams

We will pilot a new “Unlimited” class for DACOF 2026.

• These teams can be made up of dogs from any competition level.

• Teams will still follow the traditional 3-3-4 format:

• 3 dogs running on Novice courses

• 3 dogs running on Open courses

• Up to 4 dogs running on Excellent/Master courses

 

So, theoretically, a team can consist entirely of ten (10) Ex/Master dogs running across the three levels of courses (Novice, Open & Ex/Master).

 

Additional Structure:

• Each organization can field one “Unlimited” team for each “Classic” team they bring to DACOF.

  • A “Classic Team” would require at a minimum at least two (2) dogs each at the Novice, Open & Ex/Master Levels to qualify to bring an “Unlimited Team.”

  • Organizations can bring up to three Classic teams and three Unlimited teams (six teams total).

• Unlimited teams will be scored and ranked separately from Classic teams, and will receive different awards.

• For scoring purposes, instead of Ex/Master, Open & Novice, we will break out Unlimited entries into the following divisions:

  • Unlimited A (Excellent/Master Courses), Unlimited B (Open Courses), Unlimited C (Novice Courses)

 

Bonus for Senior Dogs competing on an “Unlimited Class” Team:

Senior Dogs (aged 7 Years Old as of the DACOF Competition date – or with documented medical condition pre-approved by the Board) entered on Unlimited teams could compete in a “Super Preferred” option - up to two jump heights lower than their regular AKC height (if running the Open or Novice Courses). For example, a Senior 24” Ex/Master dog entered on an Unlimited Team could run the Novice (or Open) courses at the 16” jump height as “Super Preferred” in the Unlimited class - for actual scoring, not just FEO - providing a great opportunity for senior dogs to continue participating meaningfully at DACOF.

 

 

Additional Benefits of Unlimited Teams:

• Unlimited Teams bypass the Title Cross-Reference and Competition Level Eligibility requirements and checks.

• However, Dogs must still meet the Preferred Jump Height Cut-off Date to run Preferred or Super Preferred on Unlimited Teams.

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!!! PLEASE NOTE – DIFFERENT AWARDS FOR UNLIMITED TEAMS !!!

Team Placement Trophies for “Unlimited Teams” will be awarded at 10% Participation, rounded up.

For Example:

• 8 Unlimited Teams entered → 10% = 0.8 → Only 1 set of Team Placement Trophies & Medals awarded for 1st Place

• 12 Unlimited Teams entered → 10% = 1.2 → 2 sets of Team Placement Trophies & Medals awarded for 1st and 2nd Place

• 26 Unlimited Teams entered → 10% = 2.6 → 3 sets of Team Placement Trophies & Medals awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place

 

2” x 8” Flat Pinked Ribbons will be awarded for individual “Unlimited Class” placements (instead of trophies) and will be available on a self-serve basis.

 

2.5” x 10” 2-Layered Square Top Ribbons will be awarded to “Unlimited Class” High-in-Trial participants (instead of trophies) and will be available on a self-serve basis.

 

Additional Accommodations we will pilot in 2026:

• Roster Requirement Replaced with Intent to Participate:

  • Reduces administrative burden.

  • Organizers would submit a simple declaration of how many Classic and Unlimited teams they plan to enter.

• Allow One “Out-of-State” Team Member (with Florida ties) per Team (Classic or Unlimited):

  • Includes former Florida residents, seasonal residents (Snowbirds), or those who regularly trial in Florida.

 

The DACOF Entry Fee will remain at $150, and will be inclusive of the $25 Membership Fee

And, the “Super Early Bird” discount and the “Regular Early Bird” discounts return in 2026! However, any elective changes requested after the deadlines will negate the discount and will need to be submitted to the Trial Secretary with payment before the Trial Secretary will process the change.

 

The Dog-On-It Dazzlers, our DACOF 2025 Winning Team, has chosen the A-FRAME as the “Obstacle” of choice for modeling of the 2026 DACOF Pin and T-Shirt!

So, start reviewing your agility pictures picking out your favorites of the A-Frame to submit when we ask for them!

!!! PLEASE REMEMBER !!!

Any pictures that will be submitted to us for consideration must have the photographer’s permission! Additionally, for us to be able to work with the picture, the file size of the picture must be 1MB in size at a minimum.

 

Lastly for this communication, as previously mentioned, the first “Important Deadline” of the 2026 DACOF year is the Preferred Jump Height Cut-off Date, which is February 2, 2026. So, all Handler/Dog Teams planning on running Preferred (or Super Preferred on an Unlimited Team) at DACOF 2026 must compete ONLY at their Preferred Jump Height after 2/2/2026. For complete DACOF Preferred Eligibility Rules, please see our web page, DACOF.com / Send a Team tab / Preferred Eligibility drop down.

 

Once again, Happy New Year to all our Members!

We are looking forward to another exceptional DACOF Year!

Best Regards,

Bill, Kathy, Jen, Erica & Ashley

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