Working Pack Dog Advanced/Excellent Application
Purpose of the scheme
The purpose of this scheme is to encourage owners of the Canadian Eskimo Dog to take part in recognised working events and to provide a method of identifying and celebrating dogs who achieve the required levels by offering certification. It is hoped that this scheme will encourage the breeding of Canadian Eskimo Dogs that are fit for purpose.
Scope
The scope of the scheme is:
- To establish criteria for certification of the working Canadian Eskimo Dog.
- To establish the rules for certification.
- To revise the criteria as required to improve the certification program.
The criteria may only be modified, changed or discontinued upon the recommendation of the majority of the Working Dog Committee and approval of the CEDCGB General Committee.
The Working Dog Certification Scheme shall be self-supporting and thereby not be a financial burden to CEDCGB. Certification charges shall be sufficient to pay for printing and mailing of certificates and any unforeseen costs.
Eligibility
The Canadian Eskimo Dog must be registered to The Kennel Club or other country’s recognised registration society (AKC, CKC, etc.). The scheme will not apply to unregistered or cross-bred dogs.
Basic Requirements
Backpacking events may be organised or informal. In all cases the person leading the walk must be sufficiently fit to undertake the distance and terrain and have basic first aid skills. In the higher certification levels the group leader must have a good knowledge of map reading and/or GPS reading skills and will be responsible for making decisions for the continuation of a walk based on such things as weather, terrain and the health of the other participants, both human and canine. No walk shall continue where there is a risk to the health and wellbeing of those involved.
No higher certification level shall be attempted with less than 3 people participating in case of accident and/or injury. It is the responsibility of the group leader to inform a responsible person of the planned route and the expected date/time of return ahead of the trip.
It is the responsibility of the dog owners to make sure that their dogs are sufficiently trained and conditioned and that they pose no hazard to the health or welfare of themselves or other dogs participating in the event. Any team proven a hazard to other dogs or owners shall be disqualified from certification.
It is the responsibility of the dog owner to obtain and mail all the necessary documents, signatures and otherwise complete all requirements to get their dogs certified by the CEDCGB.
Common courtesy and good sportsmanship shall prevail during all events. Any applicant who is abusive to his dogs or other people shall not be eligible for a Working Dog award for his dogs.
Certified Dogs
Any dog certified by the Canadian Eskimo Dog Club of Great Britain shall be privileged to use the title in any CEDCGB literature. This title does not constitute part of a dog’s Kennel Club registered name.
Protests
Any person wishing to protest the eligibility of a dog or dog team, the qualification of an event for certification purposes, or protest any violation of race rules or certification requirements, must do so immediately following the conclusion of the event. The protest may be verbal but must be followed by a written statement to the event organiser within 10 days with a copy to the Working Dog Certification committee. The committee shall notify the concerned parties of the protest in order that they may file an appeal. It shall be the responsibility of the Working Dog Committee to decide whether or not the protest is valid by a 2/3 majority vote.
Officials of the Scheme
The scheme shall be managed by the Working Dog Committee of the CEDCGB, overseen by the General Committee. Judges, or other necessary officials, may be CEDCGB members or other person the Committee recognises and accepts as having necessary qualifications to confirm eligibility of working applications.
Certification Requirements
If a club event, the witness may be a club officer or event organizer. If an individual event, the witness may be a park official, forest ranger or similarly qualified person. The witness shall not be the breeder or owner of the dog but may be someone taking part in the event themselves such as a friend not involved in the dog. The mailing address of the official must be provided on the application form.
A dog’s weight should be verified within 7 days of the start of the excursion. The loaded backpack must be weighed at the start of the excursion via a simple portable luggage weighing scale and verified independently.
When determining suitable routes for the Advanced and Excellent certification, is it suggested that clarification be sought from the Working Dog Committee before commencement of the excursion to avoid disappointment. For clarity, areas such as the Cairngorms, Lake District and Brecon Beacons are considered suitable terrain for the Excellent level.
Where possible, the route taken for the certification should be recorded on a GPS system or phone app and a printout sent in with the application. If this is not possible, a copy of an Ordnance Survey map with the route clearly marked is acceptable.
Photographs of landmarks and way signs with dogs may be submitted with the application as additional evidence for certification.
A fee of £6.50 shall be paid to the Canadian Eskimo Club of Great Britain for production and postage of certificates.
Any person found guilty of willingly falsifying documents in order to certify a dog shall be ineligible for certification. (Falsifying records may consist of a dog’s name, forging documents or otherwise making false claims to certify a dog).
The Working Dog Committee shall consist of a pre-determined number of persons appointed by the General Committee.
Certification application forms may be obtained by writing to the Working Dog Committee whose name will be listed on the CEDCGB website and in the club magazine. The completed forms shall be returned to the Committee for review.
Working Pack Dog (WPD)
Dog must carry a daily initial weight equal to a minimum of 30% of the dog’s weight. This weight shall not decrease except by normal consumption of items such as food or water.
Pack trips must be on natural terrain such as hiking trails or cross country. Any distance made on tarmac or pavement may not be included in the total mileage.
There are two options for completing the WPD certification requirements:
- OPTION 1: Dog must pack a minimum of 30 miles. Each trip must be a minimum of 10 miles per day or an overnight camp out with a minimum of 5 miles in and 5 miles out. A minimum of one trip must include an overnight camp out.
- OPTION 2: Dog must pack a minimum of 40 miles. Each trip must be a minimum of 10 miles per day.
Elevation gain may be substituted for mileage in the following manner: 1,000 feet of elevation is equivalent to 1 mile of flat terrain. Elevation gain will be figured as the difference between the highest and lowest points of the trip.
Packing requirements shall be spread out over a minimum of 2 trips.
An impartial witness must sign the form to be sent to the Committee verifying proof of distances and dog competing.
Working Pack Dog Advanced (WPDA)
The dog’s weight and the weight of his pack must be verified by an impartial witness or trip official prior to the start of the trip. The dog shall carry an initial load of at least 30% of his body weight. The weight carried shall not decrease except by normal consumption of items such as food or water.
Pack trips must be on natural terrain such as hiking trails or cross-country. Campouts will be necessary due to the distance requirements.
A total of 80 miles shall be completed in 1 to 4 trips.
Each trip shall be a minimum of 20 miles with an average of 10 miles per day on traveling days under normal conditions such as maintained trails and normal weather conditions. Day trips from the base camp must adhere to the weight requirements unless the applicant does not wish to include those miles in the trip total.
Because some trips will take place in mountainous terrain, each 1,000 feet of elevation gain may be substituted for a mile of the total mileage requirement. Elevation gain will be figured as the difference between the highest and lowest points of the trip across all days.
An impartial witness must sign the form to be sent to the Committee verifying proof of distances and dog competing.
Working Pack Dog Excellent (WPDX)
The dog’s weight and the weight of his pack must be verified by an impartial witness or trip official prior to the start of the trip. The dog shall carry an initial load of at least 30% of his body weight. The weight carried shall not decrease except by normal consumption of items such as food or water.
Pack trips shall be backcountry trips with the dogs carrying equipment necessary for the trip. Backcountry is a remote area, inaccessible and unsuited to vehicular traffic at the time of the trip, where support and aid is not generally available. Campouts will be necessary due to the distance requirements. Campouts will take place in the backcountry, not at trailheads, roadside campgrounds and the like. Suitable locations for pack trips are National Forests, Parks, hiking trails and undeveloped natural terrain.
A total of 120 miles shall be completed in 1 to 3 trips.
Each trip shall be a minimum of 40 miles with an average of 10 miles per day on traveling days under normal conditions such as maintained trails and normal weather conditions. Day trips from the base camp must adhere to the weight requirements unless the applicant does not wish to include those miles in the trip total.
Because some trips will take place in mountainous terrain, each 1,000 feet of elevation gain may be substituted for a mile of the total mileage requirement. Elevation gain will be figured as the difference between the highest and lowest points of the trip across all days.
An impartial witness must sign the form to be sent to the Committee verifying proof of distances and dog competing.