GSCA Performance Award Programs

 

The GSCA has several award programs available to current members. The following awards, which are presented at the National, are based on AKC records and titles (the GSCA is an AKC club and all club rating systems are based on AKC events)¹earned in the previous calendar year by Giants whose physical owner² is a club member (i.e. for a giant to be eligible for the 2007 awards presented at the 2008 National, the physical owner needs to be a member in 2007 and 2008).

These programs are to recognize and support club members that participate and title their Giants in AKC events. Club members that train and title their Giants not only have fun and develop their relationships with their dogs, but they are supporting the breed by demonstrating what well-trained Giants are capable of doing.

 

Top Ten (year)

 

The top ten members with Giants in the GSCA rating systems for obedience, rally, tracking, herding and agility are presented a rosette for their Giant’s accomplishment.

 

Please see current rating systems spread sheets on the GSCA website under statistics & standings for the ranking system used for each performance event.

Starting in 2008, the GSCA obedience ranking system will only record the first ten qualifying scores in Novice. This limit is to promote fairness among Giants competing at different levels, which was not needed before the AKC changed the rules to allow unlimited showing in Novice. This change does not limit a Giant from showing in the novice ring, it only limits the statistics. Additionally the GSCA hopes to encourage Giant owners to train and compete at the higher levels.

 

In 2009, the AKC has added some optional titling classes in obedience. These optional titling classes will not be part of the Top Ten since they are optional.

Please note: tracking is a pass/fail event and although there could be an issue with everyone ranking the same, the GSCA wants to support tracking and we have yet to have more then ten members qualify for the top ten. Also, due to the non-competitive status of tracking, the GSCA does not offer a top tracking dog, but all Champion trackers are recognized with an award and tracking is counted within the GSCA Versatility program.
 

Top Obedience Giant (year), Top Opposite Sex Obedience Giant (year)

 

The top member and top member with the opposite sex in the GSCA agility rating system are presented a trophy for their Giant’s accomplishment. 

 

Top Agility Giant (year), Top Opposite Sex Agility Giant (year)

 

The top member and top member with the opposite sex in the GSCA agility rating system are presented a trophy for their Giant’s accomplishment.

 

Top Rally Giant (year)

 

The top member in the GSCA Rally rating system is presented a trophy for their Giant’s accomplishment.

Top Herding Giant (year)

The top member in the GSCA Herding rating system is presented a trophy for their Giant’s accomplishment.

CH/CDX, CH/UD, CH/VPG3¹, OTCH, MACH, CT and HC Awards

Any club member with a giant that earns one of the combination or single titles, CH and CDX, CH and UD, CH and VPG3¹, OTCH, MACH, CT, or a HC, needs to notify the awards/trophies committee or performance events committee by April 1 to be presented a trophy for their Giant’s accomplishment earned in the previous calendar year.

HIT Award (all breed)

 

Any club member with a giant that earns a High in Trial at an all-breed obedience show, needs to notify the awards/trophies or performance events committee by April 1 to be presented a trophy for their Giant’s accomplishment earned in the previous calendar year.

 

GSCA Versatility Program:

 

GSCA Versatility Award - - Giant must earn 14 points from Table 1. 

GSCA Versatility Excellent award - - Giant must earn 22 points from Table 1.

GSCA Master Versatility award - - Giant must earn 30 points from Table 1. 

 

Points are accumulated based on the highest level earned within a column (Table 1). Levels are additive across the columns, but not down.  Points must be accumulated from at least three categories (columns).  All categories are AKC except the titles of VPG 1-3.  Titles/major must be earned while the physical owner of the Giant is a member of GSCA. 

 

Any club member with a giant that earns one of the versatility awards needs to notify the awards/trophies committee or performance events committee by April 1 to be presented with a trophy for their Giant’s accomplishment in the previous calendar year.

 

Table 1:  Point Value of AKC Titles/major and VPG 1-3¹ Titles

VPG 1-3 titles are versatility titles, and therefore they are listed/ credited in three columns.

 

If you have any questions about these awards, please contact the performance committee or your local regional director.

 

¹ VPG titles in the CH VPG 3 program and within the versatility program are exceptions to basing awards on AKC records and titles.  The GSCA is providing support for the second oldest giant career (the first being herding/all purpose farm dogs).  Also VPG 1-3 titles do not currently have equivalent AKC titles.  Other VPG titles are similar to AKC titling programs and therefore are not included in the GSCA Versatility program.  A VPG 1-3 is not a certificate for completing part of a VPG 1-3 title. All phases A (tracking), B (obedience) and C (bite work) need to be completed and passed at the same trial to earn a VPG 1-3 title.

For the purpose of the GSCA awards a VPG (or SchH – schutzhund title) is equivalent to an IPO. Therefore, VPGI=IPOI=SchHI, VPGII=IPOII=SchHII, and VPGIII=IPOIII=SchHIII for all GSCA award programs were VPG is used.

² Membership affiliation due to a breeder co-ownership does not qualify, due to the intent of the performance program is to honor members that are actively working Giant Schnauzers in performance events.

^* In 2009, Rally Novice (RN) will be worth one (1) point instead of two (2) points on the GSCA Versatility Program. However, for the annual 2008 award year offer at the National in 2009, RN will still be worth 2 points.

Updated:  12/31/08