USA Breed Show Regulations
INTRODUCTION
The United Schutzhund Clubs of America, Inc. (USA) is a German Shepherd Dog Breed
Organization. In order to preserve and develop the breed, to
accomplish the goals laid down in Article II and III of the
constitution and bylaws of USA in general and in particular, and to
put on Breed Shows indispensable for the maintenance of the breed, USA
sets down the following Breed Show Regulations which are submitted by
Johannes Grewe as a modified translation of the SV Breed Show
Regulations, Edition 1996 and officially published in 1998.
These regulations
have been recommended by the 1998 Breed Advisory Committee and have
been approved by the Executive Board at the meeting in Bangor, Maine
on May 6, 1998.
The adoption of
these Breed Show Regulations invalidates all previous ones.
I. DEFINITIONS
AND JURISDICTIONS
1 .
We distinguish between:
1.1
Local breed shows
1.2
Regional breed shows
1.3
The USA Sieger Show
2. Local Breed
Shows
are held by and
are the responsibility of local USA Clubs.
2.1
Show dates for local breed shows must be approved by the region.
2.2
Planning and scheduling of the local breed shows is carried out by the
respective region.
2.3
Selection of the judges and payment of the judge's expenses is the
responsibility of the local clubs.
2.4
The local club sponsoring the breed show must prove that insurance
coverage has been arranged for the event.
2.5
The sponsoring local club is responsible for the flawless organization
and execution of the show and observance of all applicable USA rules.
This includes availability of a sufficiently large ring.
3. Regional
Breed Shows
3.1
Each region is obligated to hold one regional breed show per year. The
regional office may delegate the event in its entirety or in part, to
one of its local clubs.
3.2
The date of the yearly regional breed show is chosen by the region
sponsoring the show.
3.3
Selection of the judges for the regional breed shows is made by the
region holding the shows.
3.4
The date of the regional breed show must be approved by USA
headquarters.
3.5
Insurance must be provided as set forth under 2.4
4. USA Sieger
Show
USA conducts one
Sieger Show per year.
4.1
USA is the sponsoring organization, which delegates the event to a
region. Implementation of the show may in part be delegated to the
region however; the USA President has final authority.
4.2
The show date is determined by USA.
4.3
Judges are selected by the Board of Directors.
4.4
In addition, special directives published in the information materials
(USA Magazine, catalogue i.e.) apply.
II.
ORGANIZATION of BREED SHOWS
1 .
For breed shows described under I. 1, a printed catalogue must be
issued.
1.1
The catalogue must indicate name, registration number, date of birth,
name of sire and dam, name and address of the breeder, and name and
address of the owner for each dog entered.
1.2
Only dogs fulfilling conditions below my be entered and listed in the
catalogue:
1.2.1
Must be registered with a WUSV Registry.
1.2.2
Must be registered with USA when owned by a resident of the United
States of America.
1.2.3
Are over 12 months old.
1.2.4
Are free of all signs of illness.
1.2.5
Are not barred from progeny registration.
1.2.6
The owner must be a USA member when they are a resident of the United
States of America.
1.2.7
May not be owned by persons barred from exhibiting dogs.
2. Show
Classes .
Dogs exhibited at
breed shows are subdivided into classes. The key date for shows of
more than one day is the first show day.
2.1
Youth Class applies to dogs older than 12 months, but under 18 months.
2.2
Young Dog Class applies to dogs older than 18 months, but under 24
months.
2.3
Adult Dog Class applies to dogs more than 2 years old.
2.4
Working Dog Class applies to dogs over 2 years old and they must have
at least at SchH 1or HGH title.
2.5
Herding Dogs fall under age definitions set forth in II. 2.1 to 2.3.
The Herding Dog Class only includes dogs actually serving in a herding
capacity. Adult Herding Class is limited to dogs who have earned a
Herding Dog title.
2.6
Breeders' (Kennel) Groups
A breeder's group
consists of at least three and at most, six animals per kennel who
have been shown on the same day at the same show and have received a
minimum rating of "good". The breeders' groups are rated
according to guidelines established for this purpose: uniformity
(taking into account as many different parent animals as possible) and
the quality of the individual animals. If several breeders' groups are
presented, placings are made.
2.7
To promote breeding activities, a puppy show where no ratings are
awarded may be held. Dogs between 4 and 6 months old, 6 and 9 months
old, and 9 and 12 months old can be entered in this show. Puppy
Classes are only possible in conjunction with a regular breed show.
The Puppy Class must precede the breed show and take place on the same
day. Assessment of the dogs must be made by SV, USA, or USA approved
judges.
2.8
Dogs older than six years may be shown in a separate class, the
Veterans Class. No ratings are awarded, but the animals are ranked and
placed according to quality.
3. Assessments
In Puppy
Classes under 2.7 the following assessments are made:
"Very
Promising”: Animals conforming fully to the breed standard or have
minimal anatomical shortcomings;
"Promising”:
Animals conforming to the standard, but presenting clearly
recognizable anatomical and developmental shortcomings.
"Less
Promising": Animals who are not outgoing enough or have faults
which make them unfit for breeding.
The assessments
cannot be interpreted as an evaluation of breeding worth.
4. Ratings
4.1
At breed shows as set forth under para. I. 1.1.1. to 1.1.3, the
following ratings can be issued:
"Excellent"
- Animals in the Adult Class who, after undergoing a thorough
examination, fully conform to the breed standard, who are
self-confident, outgoing, and indifferent to gun fire, whose pedigree
shows the "a" stamp or proof of OFA certification and when more than
3-1/2 years old, must be breed surveyed. Double premolars #1 are
allowed.
"Very Good"
- The highest rating in the Youth and Young Dog Classes for animals
who fully conform to the breed standard. In the Adult Classes, this
rating goes to animals which meet the requirements for "excellent",
but show minor anatomical shortcomings. It also applies to
anatomically faultless animals who measure up to one centimeter over
or under size limits, or have one missing premolar #1 or one incisor.
"Good"
- Applies to animals who conform to the standard, but show clearly
recognizable anatomical shortcomings. Missing teeth as follows: two
missing premolars #1; or one missing premolar #1 and one missing
incisor; or one missing premolar #2; or one missing premolar #3; or
two missing incisors; or one missing premolar #2 and one incisor; or
one missing premolar #2 and one missing premolar #1, or 2 missing
premolars #2.
"Sufficient"
- Applies to animals who are on the day of the show, sensitive to gun
fire, do not display the required outgoing behavior or whose overall
condition including anatomical factors does not permit award of a
higher rating.
"Insufficient"
- Applies to animals who are gun shy, show poor character and/or do
not display the required degree of outgoing behavior or have faults
which preclude their use for breeding. This ranking applies also to
animals that exceed the upper and/or lower measurement limits by more
than one centimeter. The rating "insufficient" mandates issuance of a
"Unavailable for Progeny Registration" notation which must be
requested by the breed judge.
4.2
At the National Breed Show, the rating "Excellent-Select" is awarded
in addition to the ratings shown under 4.1, which requires proof of
the following criteria:
To qualify for a
V-Select rating, dogs must have currently a breed survey ranking of
Class 1, have complete and faultless dentition, or must have a dental
notation as established by the breed book office, and must have at
least a SchH 2 title or equivalent. They must come from a survey and
performance breeding. Dogs competing for the V-Select
rating a second time must have a SchH 3 title.
4.3
Extraordinary circumstances which resulted in partial tooth damage or
tooth loss do not affect breed ratings.
The requirement
here is that the previous presence of healthy, strong teeth, a
faultless scissor bite without faulty incisor tooth line is
established without doubt and this fact has been documented.
The original
presence of missing teeth can be documented by:
- A
certification of dental completeness by a USA or SV conformation
judge documented in the scorebook or the appropriate window of the
pedigree.
- The
presence of the breed survey documentation in which the dental
completeness has been notified at the breed survey.
- A dental
notification entered by the USA office on the pedigree.
III. OTHER
REGULATIONS
1 .
Show entry fees must be paid for a dog entered but not shown.
2. Dogs who are
present for examination (standing) and are then removed from
competition without permission from the officiating judge, must
receive an "Insufficient" rating. An "Insufficient" rating mandates
that this dog's progeny be barred from registration. This ban takes
effect at the same time this rating is issued and is reported to
headquarters by the judge.
3.
Ratings awarded by a judge during a breed show are final. Protests are
not permitted.
4 .
The exhibitor must give truthful information about his dog. Attempts
to mislead result in USA penalty proceedings.
5 .
The exhibitor must display good sportsmanship when showing their dog.
Offenses may entail disqualification of the dog, removal from the show
grounds, and/or initiation of penalty proceedings. Anyone who
purposely refuses to answer inquiries or makes false statements and
anyone who changes the dog's appearance, (including surgical
interventions), in order to mislead the judge or permits others to do
so, loses any awards already earned at this show and may, depending on
the severity of the case, be excluded from further shows or may be
fined by USA.
6 .
It is not permitted to judge dogs at breed shows who are owned or
who are in the possession of the judge officiating that day or whose
caretaker he is. Utmost discretion should be practiced with dogs who
are owned, are in possession of, or in residence with persons close to
the judge. This includes close personal relationships, breeding
partnerships, co-ownerships, and persons who share his residence.
7 .
It is not permitted to use acoustic enhancers (powered by electricity,
gas, compressed air) when calling to the dog. It is also prohibited to
use pistols, whips, or protection sleeves for double handling.
Transgressions may lead to disqualification of the dog, removal from
show grounds of the double handler, and the initiation of internal
proceedings against the dog's owner and double handler.
