PWDCA Futurity Stakes Program

The PWDCA Futurity Stakes Program shall maintain all Futurity records and oversee the deployment of the Futurity at the PWDCA National Specialty.

PURPOSE:

To encourage breeding of Portuguese Water Dogs of the finest quality, soundness, type, and structure, and to reward breeders for their efforts. The futurity stake is weighted toward the breeder. Owner(s) are given recognition, in whose hands lay the responsibility of developing the inherited potentialities. The owner of the sire is recognized for his/her dog's genetic contribution.

HOW DOES IT WORK? THREE EASY STEPS:

  1. Breeder nominates the litter (after breeding but prior to whelping). Fee is $25
  2. Owner or Breeder may nominate an individual puppy from the nominated litter. Nomination must be made before puppy is five (5) months old. Fee is $25
  3. Puppy is entered in the appropriate futurity stake class at the national specialty. Fee is $10

PDF Futurity Litter Nomination Form
PDF Futurity Puppy Nomination Form

GENERAL RULES:

  • Nomination fees are non-refundable except as provided in Nomination of Puppy, section "c". Please make sure the litter and/or puppies qualify before sending in the nomination form.
  • Correct and timely nominations of both the litter and the individual puppy are required for stake eligibility.
  • Prize moneys can only be won through competition in stake judging.
  • Nomination forms may be obtained either from the futurity coordinator or from the PWDCA Web page.
  • Both sire and dam of litter must have "current" health records on file with the PWDCA Health and Litter Database at the time of nomination. Current is defined as consistent with the health certification requirements as outlined in The Courier for breeding related ads.
  • Frozen semen from deceased male - Date of Death (DOD) must be specified. Health certifications must have been in accordance with the PWDCA Advertising Policy in effect at the time of the dog's death.
  • (Historical iterations of The Courier breeding ad policy are outlined on the Litter Nomination form.)
  • After whelp, breeder must list litter in PWDCA Health and Litter Database.
  • Spayed/neutered puppies may NOT be entered in the futurity stake (regardless whether they were intact when they were nominated).
  • Futurity coordinator may nominate his/her own litter(s) and puppy(s).
  • Futurity stake shall be held only once per year in conjunction with the PWDCA national specialty.
  • Disputes, which arise in relation to general aspects of the futurity stake, shall be jointly handled by the PWDCA President and futurity coordinator. Any dispute which specifically addresses the eligibility of puppies entered in the futurity must be in writing and submitted to the futurity coordinator by mail within five (5) days from the date of the futurity stake. The name of the breeder and registered name of the pup in question must be included along with a detailed description of the nature of the dispute.
  • The PWDCA Board, by majority vote of the full Board of Directors, may revise the futurity program from year to year with such adjustments, if any, to go into effect as of January 31 of each year. The PWDCA Board shall notify the PWDCA membership of any changes to the futurity stake program.
  • Un-awarded monies from non-entered class placements and un-awarded moneys due to absentees will return to the futurity stake fund for the following year, which moneys may first be used to offset any excess administration expenses (including costs related to hiring judge and their related expenses), with the balance, if any, to be included with the next distribution of futurity stake moneys. Such un-awarded monies shall be given to the PWDCA Treasurer at the close of the national specialty for depositing into the futurity operating fund.
  • Futurity judge (and related judge's expenses) is paid for from the futurity operating fund. The regional club hosting the PWDCA National Specialty selects the Futurity judge. Prospective judges must be AKC approved, with either provisional or full licensing, for at least three years prior to judging; or, a breeder-judge may be selected if such breeder has been a PWDCA member for at least five years prior to the stake and which breeder-judge has been the breeder of at least three AKC conformation champions. In addition, any AKC rules and/or restrictions in place at the time of the specialty/futurity stake relating to owners of puppies where such puppies were bred and sold by the judge must be adhered to. (If no regional club is the host of the national specialty during any given year, and the PWDCA hosts the national specialty, then the futurity judge is selected by the PWDCA membership under the same general selection/voting guidelines as set forth by the PWDCA in selecting the national specialty conformation judge.)

NOMINATION OF LITTER:

  1. Must be by breeder or co-breeder, at least one of whom, preceding the date of litter nomination, must be a member of the PWDCA in good standing. The nominator, if living, must still be a member in good standing of the PWDCA at the time of stake judging. This requirement does not apply to the owner of the sire.
  2. Must be after the breeding, but before puppies are whelped. Postmark on envelope containing nomination establishes date of nomination. Faxed nominations will not be accepted.
  3. Fee is $25 (checks/money orders only, payable to the PWDCA, in U.S. funds).
  4. Nomination of litter makes each puppy in litter eligible for individual nomination.

NOMINATION OF PUPPY:

  1. Must be by owner and/or breeder, who need not be a PWDCA member.
  2. Nomination must be before puppy reaches five (5) months of age and before futurity stake entries close. The date of nomination shall be determined by the postmark on the envelope containing the nomination, which must be dated no later than the day prior to the date the puppy reaches the age of five months or at least one week before the futurity stake entries close, whichever occurs first. Faxed nominations will not be accepted.
  3. Fee is $25 (checks/money orders only, payable to the PWDCA, in U.S. funds). There are no refunds except that breeders who have nominated puppies but cannot show because of any AKC/PWDCA rules restricting who may show to a particular judge shall have their puppy nomination fee(s) refunded.
  4. Breeder may individually nominate an entire litter if the breeder pays the $25 nomination fee for each puppy and supplies the whelping date, name, sex, and color for each puppy. If neither litter nor individual registration number is available at time of nomination, breeder must supply said number(s) to futurity coordinator as soon as possible, but in no event any later than one week before futurity stake entries close or at least one day before puppy(s) reaches the age of five months, whichever occurs first.
  5. Any changes in the identifying information, which will be included in the futurity or PWDCA specialty show catalog from that previously provided the futurity coordinator, must be received by the futurity coordinator at least one (1) week before futurity stake entries close. Failure to provide such information will result in disqualification of puppy, and no refunds will be issued.

ENTRY FOR STAKE JUDGING:

  1. Must also be entered in one of the regular classes at the PWDCA national specialty show. Fee for this entry must be paid.
  2. Futurity stake entry must be indicated as an additional class. Additional class entry must include age division (e.g., futurity 6-9 months). Puppies are eligible only for the futurity stake which is held in conjunction with the first PWDCA national specialty on or after the date a puppy reaches six (6) months of age (i.e., properly nominated puppies may be over 18 months of age when the next futurity stake is held for which such puppies may be entered and shown if the immediately preceding futurity stake was held before the puppy(s) was six months of age).
  3. Entry fee is $10. Entry fee refunds are made solely at the discretion of the show superintendent.

CLASS DIVISIONS/SEQUENCE OF JUDGING:

  • Stake is divided into four age groups, which are separated by two age divisions: 6-9 months and 9- 12 months, which are the "Junior Puppy Division" classes; and 12-15 months and 15-plus months of age, which are the "Senior Puppy Division" classes.
  • Each age group is further divided by sex (with males to be judged first). Thus, there are two classes in each age group--one for each sex (for eight classes).
  • There will be no more than four placements in each class.
  • After all eight classes are judged, all first place class winners from the Junior Puppy Division re-enter the ring, and a Best Junior Puppy will be selected; then all first place class winners from the Senior Puppy Division re-enter the ring, and a Best Senior Puppy will be selected. There will be no Best of Opposite Sex to Best Junior/Senior Puppy selected, nor will there be an overall Best in Futurity Puppy selected.

DIVISION OF TOTAL FUTURITY STAKE MONIES:

  • 18% of total nomination fees (plus non-entered and absentee monies from the previous year, if any) to operating expense fund ("futurity operating fund"). If total futurity expenses exceed 18%, then such overage shall be the responsibility of, and paid for by, the PWDCA national specialty committee.
  • 48% of total nomination fees to class placements (6% per class). (See Division of Individual Stake Monies defined below.)
  • 8% of total nomination fees to Best Senior Puppy in Futurity.
  • 8% of total nomination fees to Best Junior Puppy in Futurity.
  • 18% of total nomination fees to breeders/owners of record. (See Division of Individual Prize Monies defined below.)

DIVISION OF INDIVIDUAL STAKE MONIES:

  • 40% -- first place
  • 30% -- second place
  • 20% -- third place
  • 10% -- fourth place

DIVISION OF INDIVIDUAL PRIZE MONIES:

Of the 18% to be awarded to the breeder(s) and owner(s) of record, 9%, divided as follows, shall be awarded to the breeder(s)/owner(s) of the Best Junior Puppy, and 9%, divided as follows, shall be awarded to the breeder(s)/owner(s) of the Best Senior Puppy.

  • 50% to breeder(s) of record.
  • 35% to owner(s) of puppy on date of stake judging.
  • 15% to owner of sire on date dam was bred.

TROPHIES and RIBBONS:

  • Ribbons shall be awarded for each class placement (1-4).
  • Rosettes shall be awarded for Best Junior Puppy and Best Senior Puppy in Futurity.
  • Trophies shall be awarded for Best Junior Puppy and Best Senior Puppy in Futurity.
  • Trophies will be paid for with funds from the futurity operating fund. Ribbons and rosettes may be sponsored and paid for by PWDCA members.

RECORDS:

  • It is recommended that breeders and/or owners who have made entries in the futurity stake have copies of all pertinent correspondence regarding acceptance of nominations, name changes, etc., available at the time of judging.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR RULES:

  • PWDCA member-breeder must nominate litter before it is whelped.
  • Owner or breeder must nominate puppy before it reaches five (5) months of age.
  • Both sire and dam of litter must have "current" health records on file with the PWDCA Health and Litter Database. Current is defined as consistent with the health certification requirements as outlined in The Courier for breeding related ads.
  • After whelp, litter must be listed with PWDCA Health and Litter Database.
  • Futurity is an additional class at a regional specialty or supported entry held in the spring following the national specialty, in another area of the country, and premium list/entry form must so indicate. (No points are awarded).
  • All information on entry form for stake judging must be consistent with that which has been supplied the futurity coordinator; otherwise, puppy will be disqualified and no refunds will be given.

HOST CLUB RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Provide host club liaison name and contact information to futurity coordinator.
  • Provide superintendent's contact information to futurity coordinator.
  • Make sure that host club liaison has rosettes, trophies, and stake monies ringside prior to stake judging beginning.
  • Make sure that liaison has stake monies separated into individual envelopes; with envelopes clearly marked as to what class win the monies represent (e.g., Puppy Dogs, 9-12 months, 3rd place).
  • Return any excess monies (e.g., the 3rd and 4th place cash awards for a class that only had two entries) to the PWDCA Treasurer with an accounting of such sums to futurity coordinator.

COORDINATOR JOB DESCRIPTION:

Futurity coordinator is only responsible for:
  • Verifying breeder's PWDCA membership; receiving litter and puppy nominations and forwarding nomination fees to PWDCA Treasurer on a monthly basis; checking to make sure that nominated litters are subsequently filed in Health and Litter Database, as well as checking with Health and Litter Database coordinator that sire and dam of nominated litter have all current health information on file as stated under General Rules; supplying and coordinating with national show secretary and superintendent a list of eligible futurity stake puppies; handling correspondence with nominators; ordering and maintaining necessary supplies/forms/postage; maintaining a computer database of all nominated litters/puppies and forward a copy of the database to the PWDCA President the first of each quarter; filing an annual report with PWDCA Board as well as advising Board of any suggestions to rule, etc., changes to ensure futurity program runs smoothly from year to year; Notifies PWDCA President of any written disputes and moves promptly to investigate the charges contained in the dispute. After investigation, reports findings to PWDCA President and along with PWDCA President determine if charges are substantiated. Prepares written notification to member who filed dispute and advises them of decision.
  • Coordinating with PWDCA web site administrator, that current information on the futurity stake program and forms are correct on the Futurity section of the web site.
  • Coordinating with futurity specialty committee the ordering of trophies, ribbons, and rosettes.
  • Retaining futurity stake nomination forms for one year after stake is held, after which time such records may be destroyed.


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Last Edited:  September 1, 2009