[ SHOWGSD-L ] Working Dog Sport approved!!! Hooray!
- From: Peggy <pmick@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: showgsd <Showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 00:35:00 -0400
This is good news! Shared by Peggy!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 10, 2006
Contact: Daisy Okas
Phone: 212-696-8343
AKC APPROVES WORKING DOG SPORT
-- Board Approved Parent Clubs Request for New Competition --
New York, NY - The American Kennel Club® Board of Directors has granted the
request of four Parent Clubs to approve the Working Dog Sport (WDS), effective
January 1, 2007 with regulations to be approved by the AKC Board. The breeds
approved to compete in AKC®'s newest sport are the Bouvier des Flandres,
Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd Dog, and the Rottweiler. The regulations
will be finalized by a committee consisting of a representative from each of
the four Parent Clubs and AKC staff. Upon completion, the regulations will be
forwarded to the AKC Board for approval.
"The Working Dog Sport is designed to enable dogs of applicable breeds to
demonstrate the physical and mental abilities needed to perform scent and
protection work, while maintaining a high level of control and a strong degree
of obedience," said William Speck, AVP Performance Events.
The AKC Delegate Parent Club Committee endorsed the WDS and recommended four
criteria that have been incorporated into the program:
* Each Parent Club - the American Bouvier des Flandres Club, the Doberman
Pinscher Club of America, the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, and the
American Rottweiler Club - is directly responsible for its own events and may
not assign this responsibility to others.
* The Parent Clubs involved are directly responsible for this program. A WDS
Advisory Committee will be formed with representatives from the participating
Parent Clubs.
* Each Parent Club may run up to five events in a calendar year.
* The program will be run on a test basis for three years and then reviewed.
The WDS will be held only at the allowed breeds' National Specialties and not
at All-Breed dog shows. For more information please reference the Frequently
Asked Questions below.
The Working Dog Sport
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Working Dog Sport (WDS)?
A: The Working Dog Sport is a competitive AKC Performance Event designed to
demonstrate the progress that has been made in breeding for the physical and
mental abilities necessary for performing scent and protection work, while
maintaining a high level of control and a strong degree of obedience.
Q: Why is this an AKC event with AKC titles rather than strictly a Parent Club
program?
A: The same question could be applied to any AKC Performance event. The
sponsoring of events that enable breeders and owners to demonstrate the
progress that has been made in breeding for type and quality, and/or for
practical use, stamina, and obedience, is part of the mission of AKC consistent
with the provisions of its Charter and Bylaws. AKC approval and AKC titles also
give an event more national and international credibility than it would
otherwise reflect.
Q: These events are now limited to four breeds. How many other breeds will
become eligible to compete?
A: This is a Parent Club driven program. Only AKC breed Parent Clubs may hold
these events and only breeds represented by Parent Clubs in the program may
participate. Any Parent Club wishing to participate must document that:
* Historically the breed was developed to have these characteristics tested for
WDS.
* There is sufficient interest within the Parent Club's membership to support
this activity.
* The WDS competition will be held only at National Specialties with a largely
breed-specific expert audience in attendance. The WDS will not be held at
All-Breed dog shows.
Q: Is it unusual for breeds from different Groups (Working and Herding) to
participate in the same Performance Events?
A: It is in fact common for breeds of different Groups to compete in the same
Performance Event. The Groups are a dog show classification. There are many
cases where dogs assigned to different Groups were developed to perform similar
tasks. AKC's Herding, Lure Coursing, and Earthdog events all have participants
from more than one Group.
Q: The Parent Club is responsible for the conduct of these WDS events. How will
the Parent Club ensure that their club members entrusted with handling events
are capable?
A: WDS personnel must have experience in participating in this activity. They
must also attend an AKC approved WDS Institute/Seminar and successfully
complete a written exam on the regulations and procedures of the WDS. AKC may
establish additional requirements. The regulations specifically provide for WDS
personnel to have extensive experience in this activity.
Q: Who may judge these events?
A: An individual who is in good standing with AKC, and who meets the following
criteria, may judge WDS events:
* Documented experience in this activity.
* Be at least 21 years of age.
* Successful completion of an AKC-approved WDS institute/seminar.
* Two references from among the President, Training Director, or Director of
WDS judges for a Parent Club in the program.
Additional requirements may be added by AKC, based upon recommendations from
the Parent Clubs in the program.
Q: How is the WDS different from the program proposed two years ago?
A: The previous proposal put forward by AKC was open to all AKC-registrable
breeds with events held by all AKC clubs. The current WDS was requested by four
breed Parent Clubs (the American Bouvier des Flandres Club, the Doberman
Pinscher Club of America, the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, and the
American Rottweiler Club). The events may only be held by these Parent Clubs,
and only these breeds are eligible to enter. The program has been endorsed by
the AKC Delegate Parent Club Committee, with certain provisos that have been
incorporated, as follows:
* Each Parent Club is directly responsible for its own events and may not
assign this responsibility to others.
* The Parent Clubs involved are directly responsible for this program. A WDS
Advisory Committee will be formed with representatives from the participating
Parent Clubs. This is consistent with the administration of other AKC
Performance Events.
* Each Parent Club may hold up to five events in a calendar year.
* The program will be run on a test basis for three years and then reviewed.
For the past five years, a number of these events have already successfully
been held by the Doberman Pinscher Club of America and the German Shepherd Dog
Club of America as special attractions with AKC permission.
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