Addendum to USCA Sieger Show Rule regarding VA Excellent Select rating 2nd time

EB Ballot# 40-16

Motion by Michele Scarberry NBW, presented on behalf of the BAC, to add clarification (addendum) to the current USCA Sieger Show Rule regarding VA ratings for a second time. Motion seconded by Nathaniel Roque, DOJ

The current rule states: “To qualify for a VA Excellent Select rating, dogs must have a current breed survey ranking of KKL, a complete and faultless dentition or must have a dental notation as established by the USCA Breed Book Office or the SV Office, “a” Stamp or OFA Certification for hip and elbows, must have at least a SchH 2/IPO2 title or equivalent. They must come from a survey and performance breeding, dogs competing for the VA Excellent Select rating a second time must have a SchH3/IPO3 title.”

ADDENDUM : Dogs previously awarded the VA Excellent-Select show rating in the United States, or another country, that are competing for the VA Excellent-Select rating for a second time – at a USCA Sieger Show must have a SchH 3/IPO 3 title

Background:
A question was posed by a member challenging USCA Sieger Show rule.
2015 SS rule: ”To qualify for a VA Excellent Select rating, dogs must have a current breed survey ranking of KKL1 or 2, a complete and faultless dentition or must have a dental notation as established by the USCA Breed Book Office or the SV Office, “a” Stamp or OFA Certification for hip and elbows, must have at least a SchH 2/IPO2 title or equivalent. They must come from a survey and performance breeding, dogs competing for the VA Excellent Select rating a second time must have a SchH3/IPO3 title.
2016 SS rule: Dogs previously awarded the VA Excellent-Select show rating in the United States, or another country, that are competing for the VA Excellent-Select rating for a second time – at a USCA Sieger Show must have a SchH 3/IPO 3 title
A. This rule has been interpreted 2 ways: A dog that goes VA at a show in the United States needs to have an IPO3 before it can VA again at either a USCA or GSDCA show.
B. Also interpreted as: A VA dog from another country can VA here once as an IPO2. We have the example with Schumann. Schumann was VA in Germany as an IPO2 and he was awarded VA at the GSDCA Sieger Show as an IPO2.
(with the GSDCA rules being the same as the USCA rules)
The committee requested the opinion of two SV Judges
1. SV Judge Harald Hohmann opinion [ I checked with Harald and he said they need VA3 for second VA no exceptions, does not matter if the second showing for VA is in a different country than the first.] 2. SV Judge Richard Brauch opinion [ It is my opinion that, if at all, you should limit the IPO3 requirement for repeat VA titles to US awarded titles. I would actually eliminate the requirement completely. The US adapted a rule that was established for Germany, no one really knows for what purpose. Dogs should have to pass bitework, if they pass it, that should be enough. Class entries in the US surely aren’t big enough that the club has to add more requirements. I don’t think GSDCA has a rule like that. This rule would possibly lead to another shift (in membership/entries)
The BAC has discussed this issue, a majority agreed to clarify the rule: The dog would not be eligible for VA again unless the dog makes IPO3.

BAC Reasoning: The objective is to support/implement objectives of USCA Breed Improvement Plan. A VA dog should be the best of the best, therefore IPO3.
The SV judge that allowed Schumann to make VA for a 2nd time at the GSDCA show with IPO 2 – we believe should be incorrect in the SV’s eyes. We are surprised that the SV/GSDCA allowed the result to go through but these types of things have fallen through the cracks before.
a) The original VA on Schumann was SV judge awarded. A 2nd VA by an SV judge, no matter what country, would NOT be allowed under SV rules and licensing.
b) we can certainly see their point, that this is a different country and possibly should be allowed to VA here too…. BUT our rules accept that VA show rating from Germany, so in our eyes, the dog already has first valid VA rating.
with that reasoning, the dog must be IPO3 before it can make a VA rating a second time in our country.
c) Another reason that the dog should be IPO3 before being eligible for VA again is, in some countries, i.e. Czech Republic, the dog only has to be IPO1 for a VA rating. If a VA dog from CZ with IPO1 entered our Sieger Show, that dog would never make VA as IPO1, even if it holds a VA somewhere else. IF we followed the “once a VA should always remain a VA” then the IPO1 VA dog should remain VA in this country but our rules prevent that. Just like our rules should prevent any VA dog from going VA a second time if it is only IPO2.
d) A clarification in our rules would be in order so it is very clear. “Dogs previously awarded the VA Excellent-Select show rating in USA or another country that are competing for the VA Excellent-Select rating for a second time at a USCA Sieger Show must have a SchH 3/IPO 3 title.”

VOTE RESULT:
YES 19 (Jim Alloway; Vadim Plotsker; Carolyn Daniel; Sean O’Kane; Michele Scarberry; Nathaniel Roque; Mike Diehl; Dennis Vander Linde; Laurie Copolla; Gary McGillivary; Deb Krsnich; Chris Thompson; Carissa Kuehn; Mark Chaffin; Gail Kendall; Dena McGowan; Hal Lymus; Mark Scarberry; Don Yelle)
No Response 1  (Pedro Jimenez)

Motion Carried: November 15, 2016