CDCA Top Performance Awards

To recognize the achievements of performance Canaan Dogs and their owner/handler, the Canaan Dog Club of America has implemented seven new annual performance awards, effective January 1, 2008:

1. Top Novice Performance Handler/Dog Team (first time owner/handler; first time performance Canaan Dog)
2. Top Obedience Canaan Dog (Novice, Open, or Utility)
3. Top Rally Canaan Dog (Novice, Advanced, or Excellent)
4. Top Agility Canaan Dog (Novice, Open, Excellent, or FAST)
5. Top Preferred Agility Canaan Dog (Novice, Open, Excellent, or FAST)
6. Top Herding Canaan Dog (trial-level only qualifying scores - no test level pass/fail scores)
7. Top Overall Performance Canaan Dog (qualifying trial-level scores in different performance venues)

Only purebred Canaan Dogs or those ILP-registered dogs of known Canaan Dog parentage (validated either by the breeder or the Canaan Dog Rescue Network [CDRN], intact or neutered, of at least six (6) months of age are eligible; dogs do not need to reside in the United States to be eligible. In addition to the owner/handler information, the dog's registered and call names, the dog's AKC registration number and names of its sire and dam must be supplied with each score submitted to assist in validation. Only dogs owned or co-owned by CDCA members in good standing are eligible; the dog may be handled by the owner/co-owner or a member of the owner/co-owner's immediate family (partner, spouse, parent, or sibling) and the handler must be at least nine (9) years of age (based upon the minimum age for AKC Junior Showmanship) to be eligible for any handler-based award.

It is the responsibility of the owner/handler to submit regular class, trial-level qualifying scores, and, in the case of agility, course times to the Awards Chair either electronically (email) or hard copy (via postal service) no later than 4 weeks (28 days) following the trial in which the qualifying score was obtained (use the Performance Awards Achievement Form). Qualifying scores are to be obtained from American Kennel Club (AKC) events only, including those sanctioned/supported by the CDCA; non-regular class scores are ineligible. Event categories will be added and/or deleted to the initial list as recommended by the CDCA Awards Chair and the Board of Directors with the knowledge that such changes will be effective beginning in the following eligibility year to allow all CDCA members equal chance for submission of scores within an eligibility period. The period of eligibility will be from January 1^st to December 31^st of each year; scores submitted during the period of eligibility cannot be used in previous/subsequent periods (i.e., no carryover from year to year). The names of the recipients of the top performance awards will be published in the issue of The Canaan Kibitzer newsletter following the termination of the eligibility period and the actual awards, including “goodie awards” for the dogs, will be presented at the subsequent annual awards banquet (example: winners whose scores were submitted during the January 1 - December 31, 2008, eligibility period will have their names published in the January - March 2009 edition of the newsletter and the awards presented at the 2009 National Specialty awards banquet).

Top Novice Performance Handler/Dog Team Award
This award is limited only to a first time owner/handler of a first time performance Canaan Dog. The owner/handler must never have put a performance title from any organization on any purebred or mixed breed dog. The Canaan Dog must never have earned any performance title in any national and/or international organization (the dog may have a Championship title from any organization).

The average of the three best scores for each team will be the basis of this recognition. All scores must be obtained within a particular category (obedience, rally, agility or herding) at the novice, “A” division, or equivalent entry level of that particular category. Scores for each category will be calculated as listed below for each Top Canaan Dog recognition award, with the exception that bonus points for class placements and, in the case of agility, time under the Standard Course time, will not be included in the reported scores. However, in case of ties between the candidates' averaged scores, class placements will be used as tie breakers with additional points awarded (1^st place = 4 pts., 2^nd place = 3 pts., 3^rd place = 2 pts., and 4^th place = 1 pt.) after the scores have been averaged. For comparison between teams, scores will be adjusted to the highest maximum score (i.e., obedience 200 points) accordingly for equality. The team with the highest average would win the award.

Examples of points calculated:

Team	Category (Class)	Score (Adjusted)	Placement (in case of tie)
Joe Bloke/”Dog”	Rally Novice	198.0	None
Joe Bloke/”Dog”	Rally Novice	199.0	2nd
Joe Bloke/”Dog”	Rally Novice	185.5	None
Average =		194.2 (582.5 / 3)
Jane Doe/”Pet”	Agility Novice	200.0	1st
Jane Doe/”Pet”	Agility Novice	190.0	2nd
Jane Doe/”Pet”	Agility Novice	185.0	None
Average =		191.7 (575.0 / 3)
J.Q. Public/”Foodie”	Obedience Novice	179.5	None
J.Q. Public/”Foodie”	Obedience Novice	182.0	None
J.Q. Public/”Foodie”	Obedience Novice	189.5	4th
Average =		183.7 (551.0 / 3)

Of these three teams, Joe Bloke and “Dog” would be declared the Top Novice Performance Handler/Dog Team with the highest average score of 194.2. If there had been a tie in the averaged scores of Joe Bloke/”Dog” and Jane Doe/”Pet”, the team of Jane Doe and ”Pet” would win based upon the number and level of the class placements.

Top Obedience Canaan Dog Award
The average of the three best scores for each dog will be the basis of this recognition. Members reporting more than three qualifying scores shall have only the three highest counted in the average calculation. Points for a given class will be computed in two parts. The first part will consist of the score the dog receives for that class, ranging from 70 to 200 (minimum to maximum qualifying score), regardless if it was obtained in the “A” or “B” division of that class. The second part will consist of additional points for any placement (1^st - 4^th) for each class, such that 1^st place = additional 20 points, 2^nd place = additional 15 points, 3^rd place = additional 10 points, and 4^th place = 5 points. The dog with the ^highest average would win the award. In case of a tie between candidates' averaged scores, the dog achieving the most scores in the highest level class of all candidates would be the winner.

Examples of points calculated:

Dog Call Name	Class	Score	Placement	Points
“Alpha”	Novice	185.0	None	185.0 (no bonus points)
“Alpha”	Novice	190.0	2nd	205.0 (190+15)
“Alpha”	Open	189.5	4th	194.5 (189.5+5)
Average =				191.5 (574.5 / 3)
“Beta”	Open	185.5	1st	205.5 (185.5+20)
“Beta”	Utility	183.0	3rd	193.0 (183+10)
“Beta”	Utility	179.5	None	179.5 (no bonus points)
Average =				192.7 (578.0 / 3)

For these two dogs, “Beta” would be declared the Top Obedience Canaan Dog due to having the highest averaged score of 192.7. If there had been a tie in the averaged scores, “Beta” would still be declared the winner based upon having at least one score in the higher level class (i.e., Utility).

Top Rally Canaan Dog Award
The average of the three best scores for each dog will be the basis of this recognition. Members reporting more than three qualifying scores shall have only the three highest counted in the average calculation. Points for a given class will be computed in two parts. The first part will consist of the score the dog receives for that class, ranging from 70 to 100 (minimum to maximum qualifying score), regardless if it was obtained in the “A” or “B” division of that class. The second part will consist of additional points for any placement (1^st - 4^th) for each class, such that 1^st place = additional 20 points, 2^nd place = additional 15 points, 3^rd place = additional 10 points, and 4^th place = 5 points. The dog with the highest average would win the award. In case of a tie between award candidates' averaged scores, the dog achieving the most scores in the highest level class of all candidates would be the winner.

Examples of points calculated:

Dog Call Name	Class	Score	Placement	Points
“Tortoise”	Novice	99.0	2nd	114.0 (99+15)
“Tortoise”	Novice	99.0	None	99.0
“Tortoise”	Novice	100.0	4th	105.0 (100+5)
Average =				106.0 (318.0 / 3)
“Hare”	Advanced	100.0	3rd	110.0 (100+10)
“Hare”	Advanced	100.0	3rd	110.0 (100+10)
“Hare”	Excellent	75.0	4th	80.0 (75+5)
Average =				100.0 (300.0 / 3)

Of these two candidates, “Tortoise” would be declared the Top Rally Canaan Dog, having the highest averaged score of 106.0. If the averaged scores had been the same between the two dogs, then “Hare” would have been declared the winner based upon having higher level class scores in Advanced and Excellent versus “Tortoise's” Novice class scores.

Top Agility and Preferred Agility Canaan Dog Awards
The average of the best six scores for each dog will be the basis of this recognition. Both Standard (Std.) and Jumpers With Weaves (JWW) classes will be eligible for the ratings; members may combine their best scores from standard and JWW, or chose to submit scores from only one type of class (Standard or JWW). Regular agility and preferred agility scores may not be combined; these are considered separate award categories. Members reporting more than six qualifying scores for each category shall have only the six highest calculated in the average for that category.

Points for a given class will be computed in two parts. The first part will consist of the score the dog receives for that class, ranging from 85 to 100 (minimum to maximum qualifying score), regardless if it was obtained in the “A” or “B” division of that class. The second part, which is conditional upon the dog receiving a score of 100, will be a multiple of the number of seconds the dog's time is less than the Standard Course Time (SCT). For the Novice class, the multiple is 1; for Open, the multiple is 2; for Excellent, the multiple is 3. The dog with the highest average will be the Top Canaan Dog for their category. In case of any tie of averaged scores, class placements (1^st - 4^th) will be used with points awarded after the scores are averaged as 1^st place = 4 pts., 2^nd place = 3 pts., 3^rd place = 2 pts., and 4^th place = 1 pt. per class. If there is a second tie due to similar class placements, the dog with the class placement(s) in the higher level class would win the award.

Examples of points calculated (regardless of regular or preferred):

Dog Call Name	Class	SCT	Score	Time, sec.	Points
“Willing”	Novice Std.	67	100	62	105 (100 + [5 x 1])
“Willing”	Open JWW	46	90	31	90 (90 only)
“Willing”	Open JWW	52	100	52	100 (100 only, no time)
“Willing”	Open Std.	61	100	54	114 (100 + [7 x 2])
Average =					102.2 (409 / 4)
“Able”	Open Std.	61	85	63	85 (85 only)
“Able”	Exc. JWW	47	100	43	112 (100 + [4 x 3])
“Able”	Exc. JWW	51	100	39	136 (100 + [12 x 3])
Average =					111.0 (333 / 3)

Of these two dogs in (regular) agility, “Able” would be declared the Top Agility Canaan Dog with the highest averaged score of 111.0. If there had been a tie in the averaged scores, any class placements (not shown here in the example) would break the tie.

Dog Call Name	Class	SCT	Score	Time, sec.	Points
“Sure”	Nov. Pref. Std.	72	100	62	110 (100 + [10 x 1])
“Sure”	Nov. Pref. Std.	68	100	65	103 (100 + [3 x 1])
“Sure”	Nov. Pref. Std.	72	85	62	85 (85 only)
“Sure”	Open Pref. JWW	51	90	31	90 (90 only)
“Sure”	Open Pref. Std.	66	100	54	124 (100 + [12 x 2])
Average =					102.4 (512 / 5)
“Steady”	Open Pref. Std.	66	85	63	85 (85 only)
“Steady”	Exc. Pref. JWW	52	100	43	127 (100 + [9 x 3])
“Steady”	Exc. Pref. JWW	56	100	39	151 (100 + [17 x 3])
Average =					121.0 (363 / 3)

Of these two candidates in the Preferred classes, “Steady” would be declared the Top Preferred Agility Canaan Dog with the highest averaged score of 121.0. If there had been a tie in the averaged scores, any class placements (not shown here in the example) would break the tie.

Top Herding Canaan Dog Award
The average of the three best scores for each dog will be the basis of this recognition. Members reporting more than three qualifying scores shall have only the three highest counted in the average calculation. Points for a given class will be computed in two parts. The first part will consist of the score the dog receives for that class, ranging from the minimum qualifying score (60-all classes) to the maximum qualifying score (100-all classes). The second part will consist of additional points for any placement (1^st - 4^th) for each class, such that 1^st place = additional 20 points, 2^nd place = additional 15 points, 3^rd place = additional 10 points, and 4^th place = 5 points. The dog with the highest average would win the award. In case of a tie between award candidates' averaged scores, the dog achieving the highest placement(s) in the highest level class(es) would be the winner.

Examples of points calculated:

Dog Call Name	Class	Score	Placement	Points
“Baa”	Started	79.9	None	79.9
“Baa”	Started	85.0	3rd	95.0 (85+10)
“Baa”	Started	89.9	1st	109.9 (89.9+20)
Average =				94.9 (284.8 / 3)
“Ram”	Started	81.0	None	81.0
“Ram”	Intermediate	75.0	None	75.0
“Ram”	Intermediate	90.0	1st	110.0 (90+20)
Average =				88.7 (266.0 / 3)
“Ewe”	Advanced	70.5	None	70.5
“Ewe”	Advanced	75.0	None	75.0
“Ewe”	Advanced	80.5	4th	90.5 (80.5+5)
Average =				78.7 (236.0 / 3)

Of these three dogs, “Baa” would be declared the Top Herding Canaan Dog with the highest averaged score of 94.9. If there had been a three-way tie between all the candidates in this example, “Ewe” would have been declared the winner based upon the placement in the Advanced class; even though the other two dogs had higher and, in “Baa's” case, more placements in their respective classes, “Ewe” obtained the class placement in the highest level class (i.e., Advanced).

Top Overall Performance Canaan Dog Award
This award differs from the CDCA Versatility and Versatility Excellent awards as the latter are based upon performance and conformation titles plus require health clearances, whereas, this award is based solely upon qualifying scores within individual performance categories. Owners must submit scores for more than one performance category (obedience, rally, agility, herding) to be considered for this award.

The three best qualifying scores within the above performance categories will the basis of this recognition; in the case of agility, scores may be obtained from Standard and/or JWW. The points for each score will be deducted from the maximum available points within its respective category (i.e., for rally, agility and herding = 100 maximum points and for obedience = 200 maximum points). The three sets of deducted points in each category will be totaled, then added with the other categories and that sum will be divided by the total number of scores submitted to obtain an average. Overall performance factor points and any bonus points will then be deducted from that averaged subtotal to yield the final total. Overall performance factor points are based upon the number of categories in which scores are submitted and will be awarded as follows: 4 categories = 3 points deducted, 3 categories = 2 points deducted, 2 categories = 1 point deducted. Even though a pass/fail test, the AKC tracking test is informally considered a trial level event. Successfully completion of any AKC tracking test level within the eligibility period will be considered a bonus addition and calculated as follows - Tracking Dog (TD) will be awarded a deduction of 1 point; Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) will be awarded a deduction of 2 points; Variable Surface Tracking (VST) will be awarded a deduction of 3 points; a Tracking Certification, though a pass/fail tracking prerequisite and overseen by a licensed AKC judge, cannot be used for bonus points as it is a requirement to enter an AKC tracking test and not an actual AKC test.

The dog with the lowest final total points would win the award. If the calculations result in a negative number, it would be considered the lowest final total. In case of a tie, the dog with the most categories submitted would win. If there is a tie between dogs with equal numbers of categories, any class placements submitted with the qualifying scores will be used to break the tie (i.e., whoever has the highest number of placements at the highest level will win).

Examples of points calculated:

Dog Name	Category (Max Pts)	Scores	Deducted Pts	Placements (# submitted)
“Beauty”	Agility (100)	100, 100, 90	0+0+10 = 10.0	1st(2),		3rd(1)
“Beauty”	Obedience (200)	187, 188, 193.5	13+12+6.5 = 31.5				4th(1)
“Beauty”	Rally (100)	97.5, 99, 85.5	2.5+1+14.5 = 18.0	1st(1),	2nd(1)
“Beauty”	Herding (100)	92, 87, 89	8+13+11 = 32.0		2nd(1),	3rd(1)
Sum = 91.5				1st(4),	2nd(2),	3rd(2),	4th(1)
Averaged Subtotal = 91.5 / 12 scores			7.6
Performance Factor Deduction (3 pts. for 4 categories)			3
Final Total			4.6
“Beast”, TD	Agility (100)	100, 100, 90	0+0+10 = 10	1st(2),			4th(1)
“Beast”, TD	Obedience (200)	187, 188, 193.5	13+12+6.5 = 31.5				4th(2)
“Beast”, TD	Rally (100)	97.5, 99, 85.5	2.5+1+14.5 = 18			3rd(2)
Sum = 59.5				1st(2),	2nd(0),	3rd(2),	4th(3)
Averaged Subtotal = 59.5 / 9 scores			6.6
TD Bonus (1 pt.) + Performance Factor Deductions (2 pts. for 3 categories)			3
Final Total			3.6
“Whozit”, TDX	Agility (100)	100, 100, 90	0+0+10 = 10	1st(2)
“Whozit”, TDX	Obedience (200)	187, 188, 193.5	13+12+6.5 = 31.5	none
“Whozit”, TDX	Rally (100)	97.5, 99, 85.5	2.5+1+14.5 = 18.0	1st(2),	2nd(1)
“Whozit”, TDX	Herding (100)	92, 87, 89	8+13+11 = 32.0	1st(1),	2nd(1),	3rd(1)
Sum = 91.5				1st(5),	2nd(2),	3rd(1),	4th(0)
Averaged Subtotal = 91.5 / 12 scores			7.6
TDX Bonus (2 pts.) + Performance Factor Deductions (3 pts. for 4 categories)			5
Final Total			2.6
“Whatnot”	Obedience (200)	187, 188, 193.5	13+12+6.5 = 31.5	1st(3)
“Whatnot”	Rally (100)	97.5, 99, 85.5	2.5+1+14.5 = 18.0	1st(1),	2nd(1),		4th(1)
Sum = 49.5				1st(4),	2nd(1),	3rd(0),	4th(1)
Averaged Subtotal = 49.5 / 6 scores			8.3
Performance Factor Deductions (1 pt. for 2 categories)			1
Final Total			7.3

Of these four candidates, “Whozit” would be declared the Top Overall Performance Canaan Dog with the lowest final total of 2.6. If there had been a four-way tie between all the candidates in this example, “Whozit” still would have been declared the winner based upon having all four performance categories plus having the most highest level placements (i.e., five 1^st place awards) as compared to “Beauty”, who also had four categories, but only four 1^st place awards.