Regular and Amateur Division (revised 12/13/2012)

• Dogs must be from a properly nominated litter.
• Non-members may enter the Futurity but only GSDCA members may enter the Maturity.
• Dogs may not be shown unless entries have been received and listed in the show catalog. The only exception would be in the event omissions are due to a printer's error.
• In order for any animal to be eligible for the Maturity Section, it must have been entered, but not necessarily shown in one of the previous year's regional Futurity shows (Regular or Amateur) and the owner must be a member in good standing of the GSDCA.  If not previously entered, the owner may pay a fee of $250 to enter Maturity only in addition to the regular entry fee(s).
• Change of judge:  Due to a change of the named judge, should an exhibitor wish to pull their entry, he/she can enter next year’s Maturity, but would not be eligible to enter a different Futurity this year.
• The same dog may be entered in both venues, Amateur and Regular Futurity, and not necessarily in the same Region.
• A dog/bitch that is only entered in the Amateur Division of the Futurity may be entered and exhibited in the Regular Maturity OR the Amateur Maturity the following year.
• Exhibitors may NOT enter their dogs under the owner or co-owner, or any member of the household of the immediate family (defined under judges) of the owner or co-owner of the dam of their entry.
• Puppies or adults that were bred by the breeder judge may not be shown under that breeder/judge.
• Puppies or adults that were out of a bitch owned or co-owned by the breeder judge may not be entered under that breeder judge.
• The entry fee will be listed on the entry form. Canadian exhibitors must remit entry fees in U.S funds.

Checks for entry fees are to be made payable to the GSDCA and mailed with the entry form to the Independent Show Secretary listed on the entry form.  Entries will close at 8:00 PM CST, on Wednesday, February 27, 2013.

Regular Division

• All Futurity/Maturity exhibitors may enter their dogs in the region of their choice; Double entries will be accepted (see below) but the dog may be shown in only one region.
• Exhibitors may NOT enter their dogs under any judge with whom they co-own any dog.
• Judges, handlers and exhibitors are REQUIRED to abide by the AKC Policy regarding handlers not showing under a judge for whom they have handled within 4 months before or after their judging assignment.

Amateur Division

All Amateur Futurity/Amateur Maturity exhibitors may enter their dogs in the region of their choice; Double entries will not be accepted within the Amateur Division.

• An amateur handler may not show under the judge if the judge and amateur handler currently co-own or have co-bred within the last six (6) months.
• Amateur Judges may exhibit in the Regular Futurity/Maturity the same weekend.
• If the selected amateur Judge is a handler, he/she may handle in the Regular Futurity/Maturity the same weekend.
• Dogs/bitches that are owned or bred by a professional handler may be entered in the Amateur Division.  Futurity/Maturity but may not be exhibited by any professional handler. (see below)
• No reserves shall be awarded in the Amateur Futurity & Amateur Maturity.

ONLY AMATEURS MAY HANDLE IN THE AMATEUR FUTURIY/MATURITY

Rules for Doubling Entering Two Futurity/Maturity Shows

1. Beginning in 2011, an exhibitor may enter a dog in two different regions; however that dog may only be EXHIBITED in one region.
2. If an exhibitor does choose to enter a dog in two different regions, both the entries are made at the same time, on two separate forms.  There must be an entry form filled out for the dog for each region entered, and the box on the entry marked “Additional Region Entered” – must be filled in with the name of the additional region.  IF it is discovered that an entry is not marked as a double entry, that animal’s awards may be disallowed.
3. The National Chairman will be notified of all double entries.
4. The National Chairman will keep a spread sheet of all double entered dogs and their respective regions.  After each Show she will check this spread sheet against each marked catalogue as they are received.
5. Since everyone is a responsible adult, no Regional Chairman will be expected to police their Futurity or try to stop a presumed double entered dog from double showing.  The National Chairman will check to be sure each double entered dog is marked absent from at least one of the two futurities in which it was entered.
6. Any owner, handler or agent that chooses to make two entries is responsible to make sure the dog is only shown one time.  Penalties are severe and will be enforced.
7. If a dog is shown in more than one Futurity/Maturity, any and all awards given to that animal will be disallowed.
8. Violations of the Futurity Rules regarding the double entry of a dog or dogs in the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, inc. Futurity/Maturities shall be referred to the Board of Directors by the chairperson of the Futurity/Maturity Committee, pursuant to Article 7 of the By-Laws for investigation and possible action.
9. The penalty for violation of such Futurity/Maturity rules could be prohibition for the owner, co-owner, handler or agent of a dog or dogs in question for up to one year from the date of the decision of the Board of Directors regarding such violation.

Professional Handlers: Definition

A rule as set forth by AKC in Chapter 2, section 11, allows clubs to limit participation of professional handlers. For the purpose of the Amateur Futurity/Maturity the following rules will apply:

• One who has a rate card, or one who has accepted compensation of any kind for handling, or who conditions and/or trains dogs for others, within one (1) year of the scheduled date of the Amateur, will be considered a Professional Handler
• An individual who trains and conditions dogs for others, but who is otherwise not a "Professional Handler" nor has ever been a "Profession Handler" may handle in the Amateur Classes if they are the breeder or in the family of the breeder of record of the dog showed.
• To be eligible to handle in the Amateur Classes, one must not have received compensation for handling for one full year preceding the Amateur Date.
• The rules applying to Junior Handlers as set forth by the American Kennel Club shall also be applicable to the Amateur Futurity division.
• Juniors as defined by AKC will be allowed to handle in the Amateur classes, regardless of those residing in the same household of someone defined as Professional

Prizes & Awards

Regular & Amateur Divisions

Prizes shall be awarded as follows:

• First place – through Fourth place – Plaque & Ribbon
• Plaques and Rosettes will be awarded to the Best in Futurity & Best Opposite Sex to Best In Futurity and to the Best in Maturity & Best Opposite Sex to Best In Maturity in each region.
• The winner of each class in the Futurity and Maturity Section will have its picture in the German Shepherd Dog Review.
• Pictures of Best of and Best Opposite in Futurity and Maturity shall be included in the Futurity pages of the Review.

Regular Division

• Rosettes will be awarded to the Reserves in each region.
• The German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc. will award a Silver Medal to the Best in Futurity and Maturity and the Best Opposite Sex to Best in Futurity and Maturity at the National Specialty Show.
• Three ROM points will be given to the sires & dams of the Best in Futurity Best of Opposite Sex in Futurity, Best in Maturity & Best Opposite Sex to Best in Maturity at the National Specialty Show.  If five or more animals are exhibited in these classes at the National Specialty, the winners will be awarded the title of Futurity Victor & Victrix and Maturity Victor & Victrix as determined by sex.  The Futurity and Maturity Victor & Victrix each will be featured on a cover page of The German Shepherd Dog Review.

Amateur Division

• There are no reserves.
• Best In & BOS Amateur Futurity/Maturity shall be eligible to compete at the GSDCA National Specialty Show from each of the represented regions for the title of GSDCA Amateur Victor/Victrix and shall be handled by amateurs commencing in the year 2008.

If You Don't Follow the Rules Carefully, your Dog's Win May be Disqualified

• Beginning in 2011, an exhibitor may enter a dog in two different regions; however that dog may only be EXHIBITED in one region.

• If an exhibitor chooses to enter a dog in two different regions, both entries must be made at the same time, on two separate forms. The box on the entry marked “Additional Region Entered”  must be filled in with the name of the additional region.
  
  If the entry is not marked as a double entry, the animal’s awards may be disallowed.

• There will be an additional $5.00 charge on each entry for the costs of the paperwork of checking the entries. i.e. The charge for a double entered dog is $33.00 per region.

• The National Chairman will be notified of all double entries and will track all double entered dogs and their respective regions.

• Since everyone is a responsible adult, the Regional Chairman will not be expected to police their Futurity or try to stop a presumed double-entered dog from showing for the presumed second time. The National Chairman will check to be sure each double-entered dog is marked absent from at least one of the two futurities in which it was entered.

• Any owner, handler or agent that chooses to make two entries is responsible to make sure the dog is only shown one time. Penalties are severe and will be enforced.

Violation Penalties:

• If a dog is shown in more than one Futurity/Maturity, any and all awards given to that animal will be disallowed.

• Violations of the Futurity Rules regarding the double entry of a dog or dogs in the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, inc. Futurity/Maturities shall be referred to the Board of Directors by the chairperson of the Futurity/Maturity Committee, pursuant to Article 7 of the By-Laws for investigation and possible action.

• The penalty for violation of such Futurity/Maturity rules could be prohibition for the owner, co-owner, handler or agent of a dog or dogs in question for up to one year from the date of the decision of the Board of Directors regarding such violation.

The objectives of the Futurity System, created by the Futurity Re-Evaluation Committee, headed by Connie Beckhardt in 1984, are the same today as they were then:

• To bring together each year as many young animals as possible from different bloodline combinations so that the fancy can share and learn by the accomplishments of each other.
• To provide all club members, large breeders or single puppy owners alike, the opportunity to compete year after year under conditions equally favorable to all.
• To provide an incentive to improve Shepherd bloodlines and add to the excellence of the breed as a whole. The Futurities provide the breeder with the opportunity to nominate his/her litter as a statement of faith in his/her breeding program.
• To provide a means of early identification to breeders of the strength and weaknesses of current stud dogs.
• To provide a Judging environment that will promote the highest level of sportsmanship, thereby eliminating direct perceptions of unfairness.

REGION #1 NORTHEASTERN: Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut

REGION #2 MID-ATLANTIC: New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia

REGION #3 SOUTHEASTERN: North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Puerto Rico

REGION #4 GREAT LAKES: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky

REGION #5 MIDWESTERN: Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota

REGION #6 SOUTHWESTERN: Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico

REGION #7 SOUTHERN PACIFIC: Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Southern California (all counties south of San Luis Obispo, Kern and San Bernardino)

REGION #8 MID-PACIFIC: Nevada (except Las Vegas), Utah, Northern California (all counties north of San Luis Obispo, Kern and San Bernardino), Hawaii

REGION #9 NORTHWESTERN - Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Oregon, Montana, North Dakota, Alaska, ALL OF CANADA