Ziti has been running in both AKC (American Kennel Club) and CPE (Canine Performance Events) agility trials. CPE has more “games” classes than AKC, and one that is particularly difficult for handlers (as least newbies like us) to figure out is Snooker. A Snooker course has 14 obstacles (jumps, tunnels, or 6 weave poles), but often one of the obstacles involves multiple jumps or tunnels, and you have 45 seconds to finish. The obstacles are labeled 2 through 7 and you get 2 points for taking obstacle #2, 3 points for obstacle #3, and so on. Then there are four red jumps worth 1 point each. You start with a red jump, followed by any numbered jump, and you do this three times, with a different red jump each time. After three red-number combinations, you run the numbered course in order, #2 to #7. If you knock one of the red jumps, you have to find another red jump to continue. If you knock two red jumps, you’re out. The team with the most points wins first place. The maximum points you can get is 51 by doing the #7 obstacle three times, but it can be tortuous to find a new red jump between each #7 obstacle. If there’s a tie in points, the team with the faster time wins.
To earn a C-ATCH title (CPE Agility Trial Champion) Ziti has to complete all lower levels and then complete all classes at Level 5, which means five each of Jumpers, Colors, Wildcard, Full House, Jackpot, and Snooker, along with 10 Standards. Ziti completed everything by 2025 except for the fifth Snooker. Charissa and Ziti ran a very conservative (minimal points) Snooker on January 17, 2026, and Ziti received plenty of meatball treats! Click here for a video of her successful run.
