USCA CONFORMATION SHOW HOST GUIDELINES

 

INTRODUCTION

The United Schutzhund Clubs of America, Inc. (USCA) 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 USCA in general and in particular, and to put on breed shows indispensable for the maintenance of the breed, USCA 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. (updated GBM 2022)

The adoption of these Breed Show Regulations invalidates all previous ones.

1. DEFINITIONS AND JURISDICTIONS
2. We Distinguish Between
   • Local breed shows.
     • USCA clubs organize, and host breed shows for stock hair and long stock hair with undercoat. The judging of the dogs is to be carried out separately and in accordance with their type of coat, subdivided into classes and breed groups. See I.2.
   • Regional breed shows.
     • USCA clubs organize, and host breed shows for stock hair and long stock hair with undercoat. The judging of the dogs is to be carried out separately and in accordance with their type of coat, subdivided into classes and breed groups. See I.3.

1.3 The USCA Sieger Show (odd years) and the USCA National Show (even years).

2. Local Breed Shows are held by and are the responsibility of local USCA 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 judges’ 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 USCA 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 USCA headquarters.

3.5 Insurance must be provided as set forth under 2.4.

4. USCA Sieger Show

Every WUSV member country shall only organize and hold one national winner show called the Sieger show per year where the ranking of Excellent Select (VA) may be granted. USCA conducts the United States Sieger Show (odd years) by agreement with the other WUSV club located in the United States.

4.1 USCA 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 USCA President has final authority.

4.2 The show date is determined by USCA.

4.3 Judges are selected by the Board of Directors.

4.4 In addition, special directives published in the information materials (USCA magazine, catalogue, i.e. etc.) apply.

1. ORGANIZATION OF BREED SHOWS
2. For breed shows described under I.1 – I.4, a printed catalogue must be issued.

1.1 A printed breed event catalogue shall be mandatory. The catalogue must indicate name, registration number, their microchip or tattoo number, their date of birth, their trial titles, breed survey information if applicable, the hd/ed certifications, sire and dam information (name, registration, titles), name of the breeder, and name of the owner (and co-owner) for each dog entered.

1.2 Only dogs fulfilling conditions below may be entered and listed in the catalogue and only dogs in the official catalog shall be subject to evaluation.

1.2.1 Must present a WUSV or FCI recognized pedigree.

1.2.2 Must have microchip or tattoo.

1.2.3 Are free of all signs of illness.

1.2.4 Are not barred from progeny registration.

1.2.5 Females cannot be presented from the 42^nd day of pregnancy on. Lactating females may only be shown 70 days after giving birth to the litter.

1.2.6 The owner must be a member of a WUSV organization.

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 closing date for class division shall be the first day of the show in case an event is scheduled for longer than one day. The dogs shown at a breed event are divided into the respective classes for stock hair and long stock hair with undercoat.

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 Open Dog Class applies to dogs older than two years without working title.

2.4 Working Dog Class applies to dogs over 2 two years old, after having successfully passed a character test (WB), proof of hd/ed certification on the pedigree, a recognized trial title (IGP 1, IPO 1, RH 2-A, HGH). (WB will be required to enter working class for all dogs born on or after 1/1/2025.)

2.5 Herding Dogs fall under the age definitions set forth in II.2.1 to II.2.4. The herding dog class only includes dogs serving in a herding capacity. Working Dog Herding Class is limited to dogs who have earned a Herding Dog title.

2.6 Breeders’ (Kennel) Groups –. Each Kennel Group consists of a minimum of (3) three dogs and a maximum of (5) five dogs that possess the name of the kennel. These dogs must come from at least two different mothers and two different fathers. Dogs entered in the kennel group must also be entered and shown in a regular class with a minimum rating of “G” “Good”. The dogs must be of the same coat variety. Breeders may enter more than one Kennel Group. Stock Coat and Long Stock Coat Kennel Group will be judged separately. The judging will be based on uniformity of the group, quality of the individual animals and the most possible combinations of parents.

2.7 Progeny Groups may be presented. The groups must consist of a minimum of (5) dogs that were born by at least three different mothers.

2.8 The Maternal Family consists of 4 animals (dogs and/or bitches) from one Kennel, which can be attributed to the direct dam line (maternal kennel name), and must bear the same kennel name. For registration purposes at the Show, the entry “Maternal-Family“ will be an individual registration form A minimum of 4 dogs entered from 1 maternal name – male or female – must be be presented. The dogs must come directly the from dam’s line and must have the maternal kennel name The Maternal Family may consist of either permitted coat type (SC/LC) The presentation and evaluation of maternal family is a separate competition. 50% of the participating animals do not have to be shown in their respective classes. However, registration applies for all animals entered All dogs must have the appropriate qualifications for their age in terms of titles, breeding surveys and HD/ED results

 

1. Dogs over 2.5 years of age with no working title are not eligible.
2. Dogs over 3.5 years without a breed survey are not eligible.
3. All dogs entered must be from parents that are titled/breed surveyed
4. At least one of the dogs must be presented in the working class.

 

If a dog entered in the Maternal Family class becomes ill before the final evaluation, the breeder is free to continue competing or to withdraw the Maternal-Family. If the minimum number cannot be reached due to a dog falling ill, the Maternal Family cannot participate in competition The evaluation of the Maternal-Family will take place in the ring for Breeders Group Mother-Family Class presentation will immediately precede the performance of the Progeny Group Participation in the Maternal-Family competition must be recorded in the catalog. All dogs that are part of the presentation must be listed individually, under the maternal name. A breeder may register several Maternal Families in the same event

 

2.9 To promote breeding activities, a puppy show where no ratings are awarded may be held. Dogs between four and six months old, six and nine months old, and nine and twelve months old can be entered in this show. Puppy classes are only possible in conjunction with a regular breed show. The puppy classes must precede the breed show and take place on the same day. Assessment of the dogs must be made by SV, USCA, or USCA-approved judges. (2003 GBM)

2.10 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 and they must meet the same qualifications as the Working Dog Class.

3. Assessments

In puppy classes under paragraph 2.8 the following assessments are made:

Very Promising (VP) – Animals conforming fully to the breed standard or have minimal anatomical shortcomings.

Promising (P) – Animals conforming to the standard, but presenting clearly recognizable anatomical and developmental shortcomings.

Less Promising (LP) – Animals who are not outgoing enough or with 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 I.1 – I.4, the following ratings can be issued:

Excellent Select – VA – Only awarded at the United States Sieger Show – Animals in the Working Classes who, after undergoing a thorough examination, fully conform to the breed standard, who are self–confident, outgoing, and indifferent to gun fire. Must be minimum IGP 2 or IGP 3 if vying for 2nd United States VA title. Must have proof of the “a” stamp normal or fast normal rating from WUSV approved hd/ed certification stamped on the pedigree. OFA elbows are not accepted for dogs born after October 1, 2021. Must have a valid breed survey and the first breed survey examination must be with TSB pronounced. Must have DNA stored with USCA office. Parents and grandparents must be titled prior to breeding and parents/grandparents must be breed surveyed within the calendar year after the birth of the litter.

Excellent – Animals in the Working 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 proof of WUSV recognized hd/ed certification; and, when more than 3-1/2 years old, must be breed surveyed. (At a Sieger Show, the dog must have a breed survey to achieve an excellent rating.) Double premolars #1 are allowed. OFA elbows will no longer be accepted for dogs born on or after October 1, 2021.

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 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 and a faultless scissor bite without faulty incisor tooth line is established without doubt and this fact must be documented. The original presence of missing teeth can be documented by:

1. A certification of dental completeness by a USCA or SV conformation judge documented in the scorebook or the appropriate window of the pedigree.
2. The presence of the Breed Survey documentation in which the dental completeness has been notified at the breed survey.
3. A dental notification entered by the USCA Office on the pedigree. (2003 GBM)

III. OTHER REGULATIONS

1. Show entry fees must be paid for a dog entered but not shown.
2. Breed Shows shall be open to the public.
3. On all breed events, the mentality in terms of tolerance of the dogs shown has to be taken into consideration. The possibility for appropriate gait exercises has to be guaranteed.
4. The steadiness to gun shot is verified at a distance of approximately 15 steps with a 6mm caliber starter pistol.
5. 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.
6. Ratings awarded by a judge during a breed show are final. Protests are not permitted.
7. The exhibitor must give truthful information about his dog. Attempts to mislead result in USCA penalty proceedings.
8. 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 USCA.
9. Only judges who are recognized by USCA are authorized to judge breed shows that are subject to the WUSV breeding program.
10. 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. The 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.
11. 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.