West Highland White Terrier Club of America

RULES FOR Versatile Dog AWARD PROGRAM

Awards in the Versatile Dog Award program are presented to members whose Westie achieves high levels of accomplishment in his lifetime. Awards are based on a point system, where each level of achievement in an area earns a point. The Awards have other requirements as described below.

There are 5 categories across 11 activities.

VIEW Points Chart (pdf)

Versatile Dog Award Rules:

• Points are calculated by category – For categories with multiple activities, this is the sum of the highest level plus one-half the points for the other activities in that category. Example: Dog has a UD, RAE, ThDD. All 3 titles are within the companionship category. UD is the highest level and counts for 8 points, RAE counts for 3 points (half of 6 points), and ThDD counts for 2.5 points (half of 5 points) for a total of 13.5 points for the category.
• Total Points is the sum of points for the five categories.
• A Threshold Category is one with 3 or more points in a single activity. This requires the dog to demonstrate proficiency in an activity to demonstrate versatility.
• A Championship, Earthdog title, RATS title, or at least 7 total points in any category is required for all awards.

The Versatile Dog Award (VDA) requires at least one of the following:

• 3 categories and 9 points,
• 2 threshold categories and 10 points and at least 7 points in Conformation or Earthdog or any two other categories,
• 2 threshold categories and 12 points and at least 9 points in any category.

The Versatile Dog Excellent Award (VDX) requires at least one of the following:

• 4 threshold categories and 16 points,
• 3 threshold categories and 17 points and at least 7 points in Conformation or Earthdog or any two other categories, or at least 9 points in any category.

The Master of Versatility (MV) requires at least one of the following:

• 5 threshold categories and 23 points,
• 4 threshold categories and 24 points and at least 7 points in Conformation or Earthdog or any two other categories, or at least 9 points in any category,
• 3 threshold categories and 25 points and at least 7 points in Conformation or Earthdog or any two other categories, or at least 9 points in any category.

The Master of Versatility 2 (MV2) requires at least one of the following:

• 5 threshold categories and 29 points,
• 4 threshold categories and 30 points and at least 7 points in Conformation or Earthdog or any two other categories, or at least 9 points in any category.

The Master of Versatility (MV3) requires at least one of the following:

• 5 threshold categories and 35 points,
• 4 threshold categories and 36 points and at least 7 points in Conformation or Earthdog or any two other categories, or at least 9 points in any category.

The Master of Versatility (MV4) requires at least one of the following:

• 5 threshold categories and 41 points.

Examples:

• VDA: 3 categories and 9 points from CH CD NAP or BN RN ThDN TD JE. The latter shows how points combine within a category, 2 for the RN plus ½ for the BN and ½ for the ThDN.
• VDA: 2 categories and 10 points from CH ME. This shows how a high level accomplishment in Earthdog can be combined with just one other category.
• VDX: 4 categories and 16 points from GCH RA OAP OJP RATO or CH RAE ThD NAJ JE. The latter shows how points combine within a category, 6 for the RAE plus 2/2 for the ThD.
• MV: 5 categories and 23 points from CH RAE TDX AXP AJP JE.

 

Fine Print:

• VD Awards will be awarded at the 2019 banquet based on this revised system.
• No VD Award based on the rules prior to 2016 will be retracted after the change.
• Conformation Top 10 levels:
  • Level 5 is the top 10 dog or top 10 bitch in the calendar year "AKC TopDog By Breeds using Breed totals" report.
  • Level 7 is the Top 10 Westies (inter-sex) in the calendar year "AKC TopDog By Breed Using All-Breed Totals
  • Level 9 is the Top 10 All Terriers Dogs or Bitches in the calendar year "AKC TopDog By Group Using All-Breed Total".
• Earthdog 10+10 requires 10 extra SE legs & 10 extra ME legs not necessarily at the same test.
• A dog that achieves these requirements while one or more of his owners were not members needs to earn at least one further title while all his co-owners are members.
• All titles must be AKC titles to be counted except Nosework titles which must be NACSW titles
• Members who do not choose to have AKC recognition of Therapy, Flyball and Barn Hunt titles, or whose Flyball or Therapy accomplishment predates AKC's recognition, or who earn Nosework titles must provide written proof of the accomplishment including the dog's AKC registered name and the date of the accomplishment.
• Members must provide documentation for Conformation Top 10 accomplishments or for Earthdog 10+10 from AKC reports.
• Members should notify the performance committee in writing or email when their dogs earn a VD Awards to be sure the Club Database is up to date.