Great Pyrenees Club ofAmerica 2014 G.P.C.A. VERSATILITY TITLE AWARD SIGNATURES
LEVEL I: Versatility Ambassador (VA) Owner: Date:
Versatility Chair: Date:
LEVEL II: Versatility Emissary (VE) Owner: Date:
Versatility Chair: Date:
LEVEL III: Versatility Excellent (VX) Owner: Date:
Versatility Chair: Date:
LEVEL IV: Versatility w/Adv. Excellence (VAE) Owner: Date:
Versatility Chair: Date:
LEVEL V: Versatility Ultimate (VU) Owner: Date:
Versatility Chair: Date:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Signature Page Inside Front Cover Purpose , '" 2 Title Definitions...... 2 Example of Activity Selections '" 3 Versatility Activity Boxes '" '" '" 4 Procedure...... 5 Notes to the Applicant. '" '" '" ,. 5 Identification of Dog...... 6 Photograph of Dog '" ,.. 6 List of Qualifying Activities... . 7 Agility Course Completion... 8 Backpacking...... 9 Boating/Canoeing/Sailing , '" 10 Carting...... 11 Hiking '" 12 Livestock Guardian Dog...... 13 Mountain Climbing...... 14 Public Education , , , '" ,.... 15 Search and Rescue...... 17 Service Dog...... 18 Skiing: Cross Country...... 19 SkIJonng , , ,, , , '" ., ,.. , 20 Therapy Dog: Nursing Home/Hospital/Institutional visits; Children's Reading Programs and Hospice/Disaster Relief/Other* Visits...... 21 Title Certificate: Temperament Test and/or Therapy Dog Card ,...... 22 Therapy Dog: Letters/Documents Verifying 50+,100+, & 200+ Visits...... 23 Walkathons , , , , '" '" 24 Title Certificate(s): Canine Good Citizen... 25 Title(s): Agility...... 26 Title(s): Animal Assisted Therapy and Activities...... 27 Title(s): Conformation Champion.. ,, '" , , '" 28 Title(s): Draft Dog and/or Tracking...... 29 Title(s) Coursing Ability, Barn Hunt, and/or Musical Freestyle... 30 Title(s): (Obedience (including Pre-, Beginner, and Optional Titles)... 31 Obedience: Completion of Obedience Class '" '" 33
Puppy Titling Classes (AKC) , 0" ,...... 33 Title(s): Rally Obedience...... 34 SUMMARy...... 35 Attach Here '" , , '" 36 Additional Certificates and/or Photos ,., 37
Illustrations Copyright © 2010 by Arlene Oraby Text Copyright © by The Great Pyrenees Club of America PURPOSE 1. To present Great Pyrenees in a positive manner to the public. 2. To interact with the public to enhance the image of purebred dogs in general and of Great Pyrenees in particular. 3. To promote understanding of our breed and its historic usefulness to Man. 4. To acknowledge GPCA members and members of GPCA affiliated clubs actively involved with their dogs in service to others. 5. To encourage people to interact with their dogs in a positive, experiential and educational manner and to provide a format as an aid towards this goal. 6. To honor the versatile nature of the dog whose accomplishments are documented herein. 7. To provide an opportunity to participate in a GPCA sponsored activity for all members and affiliated club members living anywhere in the world.
TITLE DEFINITIONS LEVEL I: Versatility Ambassador (VA) This is the first level of recognition in the Great Pyrenees Club of America Versatility title series. To complete this level, your dog must participate in three activities from at least two of the five boxes listed under Versatility Activities.
LEVEL II: Versatility Emissary {VEl This level of recognition requires that your dog complete requirements for a VA title, plus two more activities from the boxes. One of these activities must be one of the following: • Obedience CD (Companion Dog) title from the AKC or kennel club of your country of residence. • verification of 54 or more Therapy Dog visits (any category) or the AKC Therapy Title plus four visits to equal 54 visits. • verification of 50 events chosen from the Service Work, Sports, and Community Participation list in at least three activities with at least five events in each activity. These events or excursions are in addition to those already earned for the Versatility Ambassador (Le., no event can be counted twice.) For example, 20 public education events, 25 therapy visits and five hiking excursions qualify, but none of these may have already been counted for the VA. • qne or more years of Service Dog work. • two obedience Freestyle performances.
LEVEL III: Versatility with Excellence (VX) This is an intermediate level of recognition in the Versatility Ladder program. To receive this award, your dog must have earned a VE title. In addition, the dog must earn an AKC or foreign registry title (Le., CH, CD, COX, RN, TO, etc.) or a GPCA title (Le., DO, AAT&A, LGD. etc.) plus two additional activities from any of the five Versatility Activity boxes to total eight activities. At least one of these three additional activities must be one of the follOWing: • an additional Certificate: • a second Novice or above Title in a different title series; • or verification of 104 cumulative or more Therapy Dog Visits.
2 LEVEL IV: Versatility with Advanced Excellence (VAE) This is the fourth level recognition in the Versatility Ladder program. To achieve this award, your dog must have first earned a VX from the GPCA. In addition, the dog must accomplish one of the following: • earn a second level AKC title (i.e. CDX, OA, OAP, OJP, RA, TDX, etc.); • or a second level GPCA title (i.e. DDX, etc.); • or verification of 154 cumulative or more Therapy Dog visits in at least two different venues, with a minimum of 20 visits completed in the second venue; • or a Search and Rescue Certification. In addition, the dog must also complete three more activities from the Versatility Activities boxes to total twelve activities. Only Novice titles from a different discipline listed in the Titles box can apply at this level. Beginner Novice and all Optional Novice Obedience titles do not qualify at either this or the Ultimate levels. At least three of these twelve activities must be from the Certificates box.
LEVEL V: Versatility Ultimate (VU) This is the most challenging level of recognition in the Versatility Ladder program. To achieve this award, your dog must have earned a VAE from the GPCA, complete four additional activities from two or more boxes must plus accomplish one of the following: • earn a second level or higher AKC title (i.e. CDX/UD, RA/RE/RAE, OA/OAP, OAJ/OJP, AX/AXP, AXJ/AJP, TDX, VST, etc).; • or a second level or higher GPCA title (i.e. DDX, etc.); • or verification of 254 cumulative or more Therapy Dog visits in at least three different venues, with a minimum of 20 visits completed in the second and third venues; • or a Search and Rescue Certification. This AKC/GPCA title is in addition to the AKC/GPCA title(s) earned for the VX and VAE levels. No title can be counted twice nor can any Novice or Optional Novice title in any discipline be counted at this level. Five new/additional activities will be needed to total seventeen activities from all the boxes.
EXAMPLE OF ACTIVITY SELECTIONS LEVEL I -- VA = Public Education, Nursing Home Visits and Hiking LEVEL II – VE = VA plus 50 more Nursing Home Visits and Coursing Ability title
LEVEL III – VX = VE plus a Championship, Canine Good Citizen and Carting LEVEL IV – VAE = VX plus CDX title in Obedience, Therapy Dog certification, Walk-a-thons, and Agility Course Completion LEVEL V-- VU = VAE plus RE in Rally Obedience, OA title in Agility, Advanced AAT&A from GPCA, Advanced Canine Good Citizen, and Backpacking.
3 VERSATILITY ACTIVITY BOXES
CERTIFICATES Agility Course Completion Search and Rescue Canine Good Citizen Service Dog Canine Good Citizen Advanced Therapy Dog Musical Obedience Freestyle Temperament Test Obedience Optional Titling Classes Obedience 8-week class completion certificate Puppy Titling Activities
COMMUNITY PART1CIPATION Public Education Events1 Walkathons
SERVICE WORK Livestock Guarding Search and Rescue School/Library Reading Programs Therapy Dog Visits2 Service Dog
SPORTS Backpacking Hiking Boating/Canoeing/Sailing Mountain Climbing Carting Skijoring/Cross Country Skiing
TITLES3 Agility Draft Dog Animal Assisted Therapy and Activities Livestock Guardian Barn Hunt Obedience Conformation Champion Rally Obedience Coursing Ability Tracking
1. PUBLIC EDUCATION EXCURSIONS: Excursions include breed presentations to groups such as 4-H, classrooms, senior citizens, dog club booths at shows, breed information booths, fairs, parades, demonstrations, assemblies and workshops. 2. THERAPY DOG ACTIVITIES: Include hospital, institution, patient visits, airport visits, and any visitation program supervised by medical professionals or certifying therapy dog organizations or individual institutions/businesses who verify participation by a program supervisor signature. 3. TITLES: Only GPCA, foreign kennel club, and AKC conformation and performance titles qualify for this activity requirement. The titles listed in this box, except for Livestock Guardian, have a title series, from beginner to a defined advanced level.
4 PROCEDURE Versatility titles are awarded based on information submitted to the current Versatility Chairperson. This information may be submitted by filling out a Versatility Workbook or downloading the pertinent pages from the Versatility section under Events/Activities on the GPCA website: www.gpcaonline.org. Everyone is required to submit the following pages with each title award application (all are included in the print and online Workbook) in addition to the Workbook/Email requirements: • Identification of Your Dog. • Photo of your dog-good quality for printing in the Bulletin. • List of Qualifying Activities with documented pages supporting each accomplishment, including copies of titles, certificates, 10 badges, and (if possible) photos. • Summary page from the back of the Workbook. SUBMISSION BY WORKBOOK: Obtain a Versatility Workbook from the Versatility Chair, listed in the GPCA Bulletin, by mailing a request including a stamped (for 8 ounces) manila letter-sized envelope, or contact the Versatility Chair listed in the website. • Fill out the pages identifying and documenting your dog and the dog's accomplishments, including verifying signatures for activities and all the information requested on the page(s). • Send the completed workbook to the Versatility Chair by the deadline, usually in March. • Your workbook for each dog will be returned to you with your titling certificate(s). SUBMISSION BY EMAIL: Download the pertinent pages from the GPCA website (www.gpcaonline.org), including those pages noted as required above. • Complete as directed on each page, including required verification signatures. Scan all the completed pages, including title certificates, ID badges, and all documentation supporting the accomplishment of each activity into one file and email to the GPCA Versatility Chair. ANY QUESTIONS, CALL OR EMAIL THE VERSATILITY CHAIR.
NOTES TO THE APPLICANT Updates are included every time a new workbook is published. Updates include new AKC and GPCA titles, and Versatility requirement changes. In determining your eligibility for the title levels, please note the following: • All AKC Canine Good citizen, pre-, graduate, optional obedience and therapy-certification titles qualify for Certificate activities, but not for conformation or performance titles. • As the AKC Therapy Titles require verification of visits, either AKC Therapy Titles or the list of verified visits is acceptable. However, only one can be used, as submitting a list of visits that applied towards an AKC Therapy title, along with the AKC Therapy title is a duplicate count. Therapy visits are cumulative, one by one, and cannot be double counted. • To show the dog's versatility, different activities from the boxes are required. For example, a dog cannot earn a Versatility Excellent and above title if all the titles and certificates are achieved in the Obedience and Rally Obedience titles, or the Conformation Champion title series. The VE, VAE, and VU titles all require a combination of activities from all five boxes or a combination of different titles from different disciplines. • Only one optional obedience title/certificate may be submitted per level with an obedience title at the same level. Pre, Beginning and Graduate Optional novice classes may not be submitted for either the VAE or the VU titles. • Yearly renewals of therapy dog certificates do not count as new certificates. Only the first certificate from the certifying agency counts.
5 IDENTIFICATION OF YOUR DOG
Call Name:
If Registered with AKC, Registered Name of Dog:
Registration, ILP or PAL Number:
Birth Date (if known): Sex:
Owner’s Name: (or who the dogs lives with)
Address:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:
Fax: E-mail:
PHOTOGRAPH of YOUR DOG (required) (Please submit on photo paper or email a large jpg file so the image can be reproduced in the Bulletin.)
6 LIST OF QUALIFYING ACTIVITIES
Versatility Ambassador Date Submitted: _ 1. 2. 3.
Versatility Emissary Date Submitted: _ 4. 5.
Versatility Excellent Date Submitted: _ 6. 7. 8.
Versatility Advanced Excellent Date Submitted:----- 9. 10. 11. 12.
Versatility Ultimate Date Submitted:----- 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
7
AGILITY COURSE COMPLETION This activity is to acknowledge the dog that completes an agility course as an event or activity by itself, not in pursuit of a title.
Location: Date:
Sponsoring Group:
Description of Agility Course:
Signature and title of witness:
PHOTOS: AGILITY COURSE COMPLETION
8 BACKPACKING Requirements: 1. The distance packed must be at least five (5) miles round trip. 2. Three (3) excursions are required to qualify for this activity. 3. The backpack should be fitted properly to your dog. The contents should relate to the dog’s experience, age, and weight.
Excursions: 1. Route and distance of hike:
Description of pack and contents:
Signature of witness: Date:
2. Route and distance of hike:
Description of pack and contents:
Signature of witness: Date:
3. Route and distance of hike:
Description of pack and contents:
Signature of witness: Date:
PHOTOS: BACKPACKING
9 BOATING/CANOEING/SAILING Requirements: 1. Dogs must be a passenger in a boat, canoe or sailboat. 2. Travel distance must be a minimum % mile. •.~~~~~~.. 3. Appropriate safety precautions must be ~:"S~",,"..;::J followed. •~~,~~...~.;~~~~ 4. Dogs must go on four (4) different excursions.
Excursions: 1. Name of lake, river or other waterway: Type of water vessel: Distance traveled:
Date: Description of experience:
2. Name of lake, river or other waterway:
Type of water vessel: Distance traveled: Date: Description of experience:
3. Name of lake, river or other waterway:
Type of water vessel: Distance traveled: Date: Description of experience:
4. Name of lake, river or other waterway:
Type of water vessel: Distance traveled: Date: Description of experience:
PHOTOS: BOATING/CANOEING/SAILING
10
CARTING Requirements: 1. Course must include pulling a cart forward, backing up in harness, right turn, left turn, and the use of a gate. 2. Weight in cart must be at least 5 pounds and not more than 30 pounds. 3. Three (3) separate events, each minimum ¼ mile. Excursions: 1. Description: Purpose, audience and course:
Describe the cart/wagon, weight hauled, and harness:
Signature of Witness: Date:
2. Description: Purpose, audience and course:
Describe the cart/wagon, weight hauled, and harness:
Signature of Witness: Date:
3. Description: Purpose, audience and course:
Describe the cart/wagon, weight hauled, and harness:
Signature of Witness: Date: PHOTOS: CARTING
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HIKING Requirements: 1. The distance hiked must be at least five (5) miles round trip. 2. Three (3) hikes are required to qualify for this activity.
Excursions: 1. Date: Distance: Route of hike:
Person hiking with dog: Witness Signature:
2. Date: Distance: Route of hike:
Person hiking with dog: Witness Signature:
3. Date: Distance: Route of hike:
Person hiking with dog: Witness Signature:
PHOTOS: HIKING
12 LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN DOG Requirement: Dog must complete at least one year of full-time protection work for a flock, gaggle or herd of at least eight (8) animals.
Description of work environment:
Location:
Type of livestock: Number in flock or herd: Description of terrain:
PHOTOS: LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN DOG
13 MOUNTAIN CLIMBING Requirements: 1. The mountain must have a vertical rise. 2. Minimum elevation change must be 1,500 feet. 3. Dog must climb three (3) mountains, or one mountain three times, or any other combination.
Excursions: 1. Date: Name of Mountain: Location: Beginning Elevation: Ending Elevation: Distance Climbed: Witness Signature:
2. Date: Name of Mountain: Location: Beginning Elevation: Ending Elevation: Distance Climbed: Witness Signature:
3. Date: Name of Mountain: Location: Beginning Elevation: Ending Elevation: Distance Climbed: Witness Signature:
PHOTOS: MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
14 PUBLIC EDUCATION Events include breed presentations to groups such as 4-H, classes, senior citizens, scouts; participation in club booths at shows, Canine Learning Experience, fairs; parades, etc. Requirement: Attend four (4) separate Public Education events.
Excursions: 1. Group Name: Number in Audience: Audience Description:
Topic of class, workshop, demonstration, or assembly:
Location: Date: Signature and title of person in charge:
2. Group Name: Number in Audience: Audience Description:
Topic of class, workshop, demonstration, or assembly:
Location: Date: Signature and title of person in charge:
3. Group Name: Number in Audience: Audience Description:
Topic of class, workshop, demonstration, or assembly:
Location: Date: Signature and title of person in charge:
15 4. Group Name: Number in Audience: Audience Description:
Topic of class, workshop, demonstration, or assembly:
Location: Date: Signature and title of person in charge:
PHOTOS: PUBLIC EDUCATION
16 SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG Requirements: 1. Dog must pass at least a half-mile tracking test. 2. Handler must have human/canine First Aide certification &/or CPR certification. 3. Handler must pass an SAR test. 4. Attach copies of handler’s and dog’s certificates/cards.
Describe dog’s tracking test:
Date: Weather: Distance: Terrain:
Dog’s response during various phases of the test:
PHOTOS: SEARCH AND RESCUE and Handler’s and Dog’s certificates/cards.
17 SERVICE DOG: Description of Services Provided
Name of Training or Certifying Organization or Individual:
Length of time served (minimum one year): Description of Duties:
Recap of a Typical Day:
Any Interesting Anecdotes:
COPY OF ID CARD (or other indication of service work, eg, vest, etc.):
PHOTOS: SERVICE WORK
18 SKIING: CROSS COUNTRY Dog hikes in snow with skier/handler. Dog may or may not be attached with a harness or leash, but must be under control, i.e., not running away and exploring independently. Requirements: 1. Dog/handler team must travel a minimum one (1) mile on a trail. 2. Dog must accompany skier on six (6) separate hikes.
Excursions: 1. Location: Description of terrain: Date: Witness Signature: 2. Location: Description of terrain: Date: Witness Signature: 3. Location: Description of terrain: Date: Witness Signature: 4. Location: Description of terrain: Date: Witness Signature: 5. Location: Description of terrain: Date: Witness Signature: 6. Location: Description of terrain: Date: Witness Signature:
PHOTOS: SKIING: CROSS COUNTRY
19 SKIJORING Dog is connected to the skier-handler with a tagline attached to appropriate harnesses on both the skier-handler and the dog. Requirements: 1. Dog must respond to “gee” (right turn); “haw” (left turn) and “whoa” (halt) commands. 2. Dog/handler team must travel a minimum ½ mile on a trail. 3. Dog must complete four (4) different outings.
Excursions: 1. Location: Description of terrain:
Date Witness Signature:
2. Location: Description of terrain:
Date: Witness Signature:
3. Location: Description of terrain:
Date: Witness Signature:
4. Location: Description of terrain:
Date: Witness Signature:
PHOTOS: SKIJORING
20 THERAPY DOG: Nursing Home/Hospital/Institutional visits; Children’s Reading Programs and Hospice/Disaster Relief/Other* Visits * Please check with Versatility Chair for clarification of non-usual/traditional visits to individuals, organizations and institutions. Requirement: Dog must complete four visits.
Excursions: 1. Facility Name: Date: Description:
Location: Approximate number of people visited: Signature and title of person in charge: Organizer of visitation program:
2. Facility Name: Date: Description:
Location: Approximate number of people visited: Signature and title of person in charge: Organizer of visitation program:
3. Facility Name: Date: Description:
Location: Approximate number of people visited: Signature and title of person in charge: Organizer of visitation program:
4. Facility Name: Date: Description:
Location: Approximate number of people visited: Signature and title of person in charge: Organizer of visitation program:
21 TITLE CERTIFICATE: TEMPERAMENT TEST and/or THERAPY DOG CARD
Test Date: Describe test format and activities. Describe how your dog reacted to the various phases of the test. Attach copy of certificate/card. Please also attach copies of subsequent qualifying renewal years’ cards for each year your dog is active in therapy work and working towards higher titling levels.
PHOTOS: THERAPY DOG
22 THERAPY DOG: LETTER(S)/DOCUMENTS VERIFYING 50+, 100+ and 200+ VISITS Attach a letter/documentation from the visitation site(s) verifying the visits.
23 WALKATHONS Walkathons are often fundraising activities for nonprofit organizations and are usually a set distance, e.g., two miles or three K. Requirements: Six separate walkathons with minimum distance of two miles each.
Excursions: 1. Sponsoring Organization: Distance: Location: Date: Description:
2. Sponsoring Organization: Distance: Location: Date: Description:
3. Sponsoring Organization: Distance: Location: Date: Description:
4. Sponsoring Organization: Distance: Location: Date: Description:
5. Sponsoring Organization: Distance: Location: Date: Description:
6. Sponsoring Organization: Distance: Location: Date: Description:
PHOTOS: WALKATHONS
24 TITLE CERTIFICATE(S): CANINE GOOD CITIZEN Please reduce AKC certificate copies to 50% size and tape sequentially to page.
25 TITLE(S): AGILITY
Agility course completion cannot be counted unless applied to a VA or VE level, BEFORE any Agility titles are earned.
26 TITLE(S): ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY and ACTIVITIES (AAT&A) Attach copy of GPCA title certificate awarded for titling qualifying hours in therapy visits to nursing homes/hospitals/institution visitation sites.
27 TITLE(S): CONFORMATION CHAMPION Please reduce AKC certificates to 50% size, and tape sequentially, to reflect all Championship titles.
28 TITLE(S): DRAFT DOG and/or TRACKING
Please reduce Breed Club/AKC certificate copies to 50% size and tape sequentially to page.
29 TITLE(S): COURSING ABILITY, BARN HUNT, and/or MUSICAL FREESTYLE
Please reduce AKC certificate copies to 50% size and tape sequentially to page.
30 TITLE(S): OBEDIENCE (including pre-, beginner, and optional titles)
Please reduce AKC certificate copies to 50% size and tape sequentially to page.
31 TITLE(S): OBEDIENCE (including pre-, beginner, and optional titles), Continued from page 29.
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OBEDIENCE: COMPLETION OF OBEDIENCE CLASS
Requirements: 1. Class must be designed to train for attaining AKC Obedience titles. 2. Class must meet for at least (8) weeks. 3. Dog must attend all eight classes. 4. Attach copy of completion certificate here.
and AKC PUPPY TITLING CLASSES Requirement: Attach copy of AKC Puppy Title certificate.
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TITLE(S): RALLY OBEDIENCE
(actual sign reproduced from AKC website)
Please reduce AKC certificate copies to 50% size and tape sequentially to page.
34 SUMMARY
1. Briefly summarize your contribution in relation to the education of the public concerning Great Pyrenees. In what ways has your dog been a “Goodwill Ambassador” for our breed and purebred dogs in general?
2. What new things have you learned about your dogs by participating in the Versatility activities?
3. What new things have you learned about Great Pyrenees as a breed?
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS to you from the G.P.C.A. Versatility Committee for taking the time and interest to work with your dog and creating a new “Goodwill Ambassador” for our beloved breed.
35 ATTACH HERE:
This is the place to attach the following:
1. Pages to confirm completion of new events approved by the GPCA Board of Directors after the printing of this booklet.
2. Ideas you may have to add new activities or materials to the Versatility Title series.
3. Anything else relating to the Versatility Title series.
4. More Photos and Certificates (please reference in the subject page earlier.)
36 ADDITIONAL TITLES, CERTIFICATES and/or PHOTOS
37 ADDITIONAL TITLES, CERTIFICATES and/or PHOTOS
38 ADDITIONAL TITLES, CERTIFICATES and/or PHOTOS
39 ADDITIONAL TITLES, CERTIFICATES and/or PHOTOS
40