Wet Dog (possibly no longer offering titles–you must contact the yahoogroup owner for more information)
WET DOG offers the following Back Packing titles: Back-Pack Started, Back-Pack Junior, Back-Pack Advanced, Back-Pack Master and Back-Pack Grand Master
Back-Packing: Testing:
BPS 10 accumulated miles AND THEN 2 mile pack
BPJ 50 accumulated miles AND THEN 5 mile pack
BPA 75 accumulated miles AND THEN 10 mile pack
BPM 125 accumulated miles AND THEN two separate 10 mile packs
BPGM 175 accumulated miles AND THEN over-night camp out with at least 10 mile pack
Handlers may be on foot, bicycle or horseback, skis etc., no motorized vehicles. Most of each pack must be on natural terrain e.g. park trails, country roadsides, cross country, beaches, river banks etc.
Back-pack for each dog must include: 1.compass 2. matches 3. flashlight 4. pocketknife 5. first-aid kit 6. persons ID 7. map if needed 8. dog bowl 9. water sufficient for trip 10. extra leash and collar 11. minimum of 3 clean up bags.
Dog Scouts of America
50 miles + 5 mile test = Packdog title (PD)
100 miles + 10 mile test = Packdog Excellent (PDX)
200 miles + 2 ten-mile tests = Utility Packdog (UPD)
To obtain the titles, the handler need only to register his dog with Dog Scouts of America and be a member of DSA. If the membership lapses, the titles will not vanish–they will be maintained on the records. The dues must be paid for the year in which the person achieves the title with his dog.
Mileage on your dog must be recorded while your dog is hiking under pack, and the pack must carry the required items:
compass, matches, pocket knife, flashlight, water, bowl, first aid kit, owner’s I.D., minimum of 3 clean-up baggies, extra collar and lead, and a map (if needed). If your dog has been to camp, he has his own backpacking log.
If your dog has not yet been to camp, you can make your own log on a sheet of paper which will record the date of hike, mileage, items carried in pack, location, weather & trail conditions, and buddy’s signature.
(from http://dogscouts.org/)
The Samoyed Club of America
· Working Samoyed (WS)
· Working Samoyed Excellent (WSX)
· Master Working Samoyed (WSXM)
In order to earn these titles, the owners and dogs have a number of choices and possibilities, as befits a versatile breed.
Working Samoyed (WS) title: the dog must have earned at least 1000 points in any one or a combination of the recognized working categories; sled and cart racing, excursion sledding or carting, weight pull, packing, skijoring, therapy, and herding. In addition, owners may request points for special applications.
Working Samoyed Excellent (WSX) title: the dog must have earned at least 2000 points in any one or a combination of the above recognized working categories. In addition, owners may request points for special applications.
Master Working Samoyed (WSXM) title: the dog must have earned at least 5000 points in at least four of the recognized working categories; sled and cart racing, excursion sledding or carting, weight pull, packing, skijoring, therapy, and herding. The dog must have earned a minimum of 200 points in each of the four categories chosen.
The entire set of requirements is published annually in the SCA’s “At Your Service”. Following is a brief overview.
Competitive sledding/carting: A Samoyed must compete in races under International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) rules. A form must be signed by a race official. Points are calculated using a formula devised by the Organization for Working Samoyeds.
Excursion Sledding and carting: A Samoyed must participate as a member of a team that pulls a sled for a minimum of 10 miles (5 miles if the team consists of only two dogs or if the dogs are pulling a cart rather than a sled.) Again, the club uses a formula to calculate points.
Weight Pull: A Samoyed must pull a minimum of 10 to 12 times its own weight (depending on whether the pull is on snow or ground) to earn points. The pull must be a competition sanctioned by ISDRA, the International Weight Pull Association (IWPA) or the Alaskan Malamute club. Points are earned by calculating the percentage of its own body weight the dog pulls in each competition.
Packing: A Samoyed must carry a minimum of 25% of its own body weight for a minimum of 5 miles. Each mile counts 5 points.
Skijoring: A Samoyed must pull a skier a minimum of 5 miles. Each mile counts 10 points.
Therapy: A Samoyed must achieve its Therapy Dog certification from a recognized organization for 250 points, and must do a minimum of 20 hours of actual therapy work in order to activate the 250 points. Each therapy hour, including the initial 20, counts 10 points.
Herding Instinct: A Samoyed will receive 100 points for each leg of its Herding Capability Test, and can also receive points for actual farm or ranch work.
Special Application: Owners can apply for special application points for work their dogs do that is not covered by the above categories. The SCA Working Samoyed Program committee determines the points allowed, case by case.
Many dogs have earned special application points through service work, search and rescue, hauling logs and brush for trail clearing, hauling equipment to an airplane crash site, and a variety of other such activities.
Points are not given for herding, obedience or agility competition because the AKC already acknowledges these activities with their own certification program. The SCA Working titles are not intended to duplicate other programs, but to honor the work Samoyeds do that has no other showcase.
Each application for a degree must be accompanied by rather meticulous documentation. Many Samoyed owners have produced wonderful books with their verification forms, pictures, and journal-type comments on their working activities. These documents are returned to the owners two years after submission. The documentation portfolios have become marvelous keepsakes of the time owners and dogs spend with each other.
(from http://www.samoyed.org/)
Siberian Husky Club of America
Overall Rules and Eligibility:
· The Working Pack Dog Program is open to all purebred Siberian Huskies registered with the American Kennel Club. ILP dogs are eligible.
· The dog must carry a canine pack, anatomically tested for safety and protection.
· The dog must carry an initial weight equal to 25% of body weight. The pack may be lightened during the course of travel due to consumption of food, water, and other supplies the ending load cannot be less than 10% of body weight.
· All pack trips must be completed on natural terrain such as cross country excursions, hiking trails, or back country hikes.
· Elevation gain may be substituted for mileage: each 1000 feet of elevation gain may be counted as equivalent to one mile of flat terrain. Elevation gain may be calculated to the nearest 0.1 mile based on the lowest and highest elevation of each trip (1300 feet gain equals 1.3 miles).
· A minimum of two trips is required to complete requirements for each degree.
Working Pack Dog (W.P.D.)
· A dog must travel a minimum of 40 total miles. At least two of the trips must cover a minimum of ten miles per day and no trip may cover less than five miles per day. As an option, one 2-day trip may be included. This trip may be accomplished by packing a minimum of five miles into a campsite and completing the trip with a minimum of 5 mile return trip the next day.
· Total pack weight must be recorded at the start of the pack trip, and include an itemized list of pack contents and the weights of individual items. The weight of the dog should be recorded on the day prior to the trip. If this is not possible, a veterinarian’s certificate attesting to the dog’s weight may be provided.
· An impartial observer must witness your progress and sign a WPD form as proof of completion. Signatures attesting to your progress may be obtained from rangers, other hikers, or any person you meet along the trail. At least one witness must provide an address and telephone number for verification. Photographs may also be submitted for proof providing they include a suitable visual reference or landmark accurately defining the location of the photo.
· Marked, initialed, and dated copies of topographic maps must be submitted with the WPD trip form as proof of mileage and elevation gain. Topographic map scale should be as detailed as possible (i.e. 1:24,000 is preferable to 1:25,000).
· Completed forms will be verified by the WPD Regional Representative prior to awarding certification. Once a degree has been completed and approved by the Working Committee the appropriate title initials denominating the degree may be used after the dog’s name.
Working Pack Dog Excellent (W.P.D.X.)
· A dog must previously have been awarded the Working Pack Dog Title. The added travel requirement is a minimum of 120 miles. At least two of the trips must cover a minimum of 40 miles, and no trip may cover less than 10 miles per day. All pack trips must be back country trips. Back country is defined as a remote area, inaccessible and unsuited to vehicular traffic at the time of the trip, where support and aid is generally not available.
· Total pack weight must be recorded at the start of the pack trip, and include an itemized list of pack contents and the weights of individual items. The weight of the dog should also be recorded on the day prior to the trip. If this is not possible a veterinarian’s certificate attesting to the dog’s weight may be provided.
· An impartial observer must witness your progress and sign a WPD trip form as proof of completion. Signatures attesting to your progress may be obtained from rangers, other hikers, or others met along the trail. At least one witness must provide an address and telephone number for verification. Photographs may also be submitted for proof, providing they include a suitable visual reference or landmark accurately defining the location of the photograph.
· Marked ,initialed, and dated copies of topographic maps must be submitted with the WPD trip form as in the WPD rules listed above.
Completed forms will be verified by the WPD Regional Representative and the Working Committee prior to awarding certification. Once a degree has been completed and approved by the Committee the appropriate initials denominating the degree may be used after the dog’s name.
(from http://www.shca.org/shcahp6e.htm )
Alaskan Malamute HELP League
WPD
For a Working Pack Dog title, the packing requirements must be spread out over at least two trips, and must be on natural terrain, such as hiking trails or cross-country. The dog must carry a weight equal to at least 30% of its own weight. You can choose between a total distance of 30 miles, including one overnight campout, or 40 miles, with each trip a minimum of 10 miles, as outlined below.
The dog must carry a daily initial weight equal to a minimum of 30% of its own weight. This weight shall not decrease except by normal consumption of items such as food or water.
Option 1: The dog must pack for a minimum of 30 miles. Each trip must be at least 10 miles per day or an overnight camp out with a 5 miles in and 5 miles out. At least one trip must include an overnight camp out.
Option 2: The dog must pack for a minimum of 40 miles. Each trip must be at least 10 miles per day.
· Elevation gain may be substituted for mileage at the rate of 1,000 feet of elevation being equivalent to 1 mile of flat terrain. Elevation gain will be calculated 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, verifying proof of distance and dog(s) 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 must carry an initial load of at least 30% of his body weight. The weight of the pack may decrease only by normal consumption of items such as food or water.
Pack trips shall be back-country trips with the dogs carrying the equipment required for the trip. Back-country is defined as a remote area, inaccessible and unsuited to wheeled traffic at the time of the trip, where support and aid are not generally available. Campouts will be necessary due to the distance requirements. Campouts will take place in the back-country, not at trailheads, roadside campgrounds and the like. Suitable locations for pack trips are Crown Reserves, Provincial Parks, hiking trails and undeveloped natural terrain.
A total of 120 miles must be completed in 1 to 3 trips.
Each trip wiill be a minimum of 40 miles with an average of 10 miles per day on traveling days under normal conditions (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.
If a trip takes place in mountainous terrain, each 1,000 feet of elevation gain may be substituted for a mile of the total mileage requirement.
(from http://www.malamuterescue.com/packdog.html )
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America ( http://www.gsmdca.org )
The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America allows Bernese Mountain Dogs to earn their Working Pack Dog title. This title requires the dog to carry a percentage of its weight on a ten mile hike on four separate occasions. At the novice level the dog carries 20% of its weight and at the pack dog level the requirement is 30%.
(from http://www.bmd.org/working.html )
Alaskan Malamute Club of America
Working Pack Dog. The packing requirements must be spread out over at least two trips, and must be on natural terrain, such as hiking trails or cross country. The dog must carry a weight equal to at least 30% of its own weight. Beyond that there are choices of a total distance of 30 miles, including one overnight campout, or 40 miles, with each trip a minimum of 10 miles.
Working Pack Dog Excellent
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 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.
(from http://www.alaskanmalamute.org )