GSCA Annual Awards

The Giant Schnauzer Club of America is proud to recognize excellence in our Giants and in our members and to promote the trainability and versatility of the Giant Schnauzer through our GSCA Annual Awards program.

Unless specified otherwise, all awards cover the time period of January 1 – December 31 of the award year and are presented at the Annual Awards Banquet which is held in conjunction with the National Specialty during the following year. To be eligible for any of these awards, a Giant must be primarily owned by a GSCA club member. Individuals must be members in good standing for both the year the award was earned as well as the year in which it is presented.

Refer to the GSCA Annual Awards Program documentation for more details.


TOP 10 AWARDS

New title and event result data provided monthly by AKC are used to compile reports for the following categories with the Top 10 Giants in each category at year end being recognized:

  • Conformation – breed and all-breed

  • Obedience – regular and preferred/optional classes

  • Agility – regular and preferred classes

  • Rally

  • Tracking

  • Herding

  • Scent Work

Top 10 reports for the current and previous years and additional title information can be found at New Titles and Statistics .


GIANTS OF THE YEAR

The top Giant in each of the following categories is additionally designated as “Giant Schnauzer of the Year” and recognized accordingly:

  • Conformation Giant Schnauzer of the Year – Breed

  • Conformation Giant Schnauzer of the Year – Opposite Sex – Breed

  • Conformation Giant Schnauzer of the Year – All-Breed

  • Conformation Giant Schnauzer of the Year – Opposite Sex – All-Breed

  • Owner Handled Conformation Giant Schnauzer of the Year

  • Owner Handled Conformation Giant Schnauzer of the Year – Opposite Sex.

  • Top Producing Giant Schnauzer of the Year – Dog

  • Top Producing Giant Schnauzer of the Year – Bitch

  • Obedience Giant Schnauzer of the Year – Regular Classes

  • Obedience Giant Schnauzer of the Year – Preferred/Optional Classes

  • Agility Giant Schnauzer of the Year – Regular Classes

  • Agility Giant Schnauzer of the Year – Preferred Classes

  • Rally Giant Schnauzer of the Year

  • Tracking Giant Schnauzer of the Year

  • Herding Giant Schnauzer of the Year

  • Scent Work Giant Schnauzer of the Year


COMBINED AWARDS

Giants who have earned both their AKC conformation Championship title and select, significant working titles as listed below are honored via the Combined Awards program:

  • Champion and Utility Dog (CH/UD)

  • Champion and Preferred Utility Dog (CH/PUTD)

  • Champion and Master Agility Excellent (CH/MX)

  • Champion and Master Excellent Jumper (CH/MXJ)

  • Champion and Master Agility Excellent Preferred (CH/MXP)

  • Champion and Master Excellent Jumper Preferred (CH/MJP)

  • Champion and Variable Surface Tracker (CH/VST)

  • Champion and Tracking Dog Excellent (CH/TDX)

  • Champion and Rally Master (CH/RM)

  • Champion and Herding Excellent (CH/HX)

  • Champion and Scent Work Detective (CH/SWD)


PERFORMANCE AND COMPANION CHAMPIONS

Giants who achieve the highest level of success, as indicated by earning a Championship title in performance, companion, or working events are recognized for the significance of these achievements. The following titles are eligible for these awards:

  • Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH)

  • Preferred Obedience Champion (POC)

  • Master Agility Champion (MACH)

  • Preferred Agility Champion (PACH)

  • Champion Tracker (CT)

  • Rally Champion (RACH)

  • Herding Champion (HC)

  • International Gebrauchshund Prufung 3 (IGP3)



OUTSTANDING AKC RECOGNITION

Giants who distinguish themselves from their competition at AKC events by earning the following special recognitions are recognized and awarded by GSCA:

  • Highest Scoring Dog in the Regular Classes (Obedience)

  • Highest Scoring Dog in the Preferred Classes (Obedience)

  • Highest Combined Score in the Regular Classes (Obedience)

  • Highest Combined Score in the Preferred Classes (Obedience)

  • Highest Combined Score in the Advanced B and Excellent B Classes (Rally)

  • Highest Scoring Triple Qualifying Score (Rally)

  • High-in-Trial (Herding)

  • Reserve High-in-Trial (Herding)


VERSATILITY PROGRAM

Giants that demonstrate capabilities in a wide range of performance sports, conformation, and/or working trials are recognized through the Versatility Program. Points are allocated based on the highest title earned in any of the recognized categories with the levels of Versatility Awards given as follows:

  • GSCA Versatility – 14 or more points across 3 or more categories

  • GSCA Versatility Excellent – 22 or more points across 3 or more categories

  • GSCA Versatility Master – 30 or more points across 3 or more categories

  • GSCA Versatility Elite – 40 or more points across 6 or more categories

Refer to the GSCA Annual Awards Program documentation for more details on the Versatility Program.


MEMORIAL AWARDS

Special trophies have been established to recognize accomplishments by individuals or their Giants, often those achieved in conjunction with the National Specialty.

MARYANN BISCEGLIA MEMORIAL TROPHY – Presented to the breeder of the Giant Schnauzer that is awarded Best of Breed at the National Specialty. This trophy remains with GSCA. Friends of Maryann Bisceglia will provide a plaque commemorating the win to the Breeder. A plate with the winning name is placed on the trophy.

NOMINATED AWARDS

There are several nominated awards which recognize outstanding achievements, dedicated service, and sportsmanship by our members and/or their Giants. All are determined by member nomination followed by Board approval, and none are mandatory yearly awards. Nominations may only be submitted by a GSCA member in good standing.

OUTSTANDING GIANT SCHNAUZER AWARD – Presented to the individual Giant Schnauzer who through its outstanding conformation and intelligence has accomplished a feat that is first for the breed, or an outstanding achievement, which has brought recognition and honor to the breed.

LADY FERGIE AWARD – Presented to the individual Giant Schnauzer whose actions and outstanding achievement in public and/ or community service has brought recognition and honor to the breed.

THE PRINZ WILHELM (WILLIE AWARD) – Presented to the GSCA member who has done the most to further the principles of obedience training and sportsmanship.

DEDICATED SERVICE AWARD – Presented to up to 3 GSCA members who have made substantial or extraordinary effort to further the best interests of the Club and our breed.

AKC SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD – In the American Kennel Club’s ongoing efforts to recognize and celebrate its volunteer club members, The AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award program was established in 2006 to provide each member club with an AKC Medallion to award to one of its own on a yearly basis. This award honors those individuals who deserve special recognition that have made a difference in the sport of purebred dogs, embodied the AKC Code of Sportsmanship, and have been an active and valued member of an AKC member club. Medallions are awarded solely at the club’s discretion.

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS – The GSCA President may recognize a club member(s) for outstanding service to the club or breed at his/her discretion. Nominations or Board approval are not required for this award.

NEW MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD – Presented to a new member having joined the club in the last three years (2021 - 2023 for this year''s award) who has distinguished themselves through a combination of participation and results in AKC events, engagement with their local club(s), and contributions to support the efforts and objectives of GSCA.

BREEDER OF THE YEAR AWARD – Presented to a Giant Schnauzer breeder and club member who embodies the spirit of a responsible breeder through both their words and their actions. Minimum requirements are fully health testing before breeding and taking responsibility for all dogs they have produced for life. A GSCA Breeder of the Year always puts the interests of the Giant Schnauzer breed above their individual dogs and kennel, always towards the betterment of the breed. The award is not intended to simply recognize quantitative results (puppies produced, titles earned, etc.) but rather qualitative impact through the support of puppy owners and the encouragement of others. However, this is certainly not limited to dogs they have produced and should include helping other Giant owners and even supporting other breeders.