Ultimate Dog Performance Inc.

Standing Rules

ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Responsibilities

UDP depends on its board of directors and members to fulfill its purpose as outlined in the Articles of Incorporation, namely:

1) to provide dog owners multiple sports venues; with no limitations on

    participation because of breed of dogs, availability or absence of

    registration in any kennel club.

2) to set standards for educational seminars, judges’ education,

    competitions, exhibitions, and titles.

3). to encourage family participation in a variety of dog sports, while increasing knowledge of dog care, humane treatment, positive training        methods, and an understanding of dog behavior.

Section 2: Dues

Persons/Clubs initially joining UDP shall pay one twelfth (1/12) of the annual dues from application for each month remaining in the membership year. Thereafter, membership dues are payable on January 1st of each year. Dues not paid by January 15th will be considered Lapsed Members

The amounts for memberships are stated in the “Standing Rules”. Membership dues may be changed upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors.

The following fee shall be charged for making application for handler membership and dog registration in the corporation:

(a) A one time fee of ten dollars ($10.00) per dog registered with UDP Inc for a tracking number.

(b) The annual dues payable to the corporation by members shall be:

Single handler membership $10.00

Dual handler membership $15.00

Junior handler membership $5.00

Challenger handler membership $5.00

Club membership $25.00

                  ARTICLE II: BY-LAWS and VENUE PROGRAMS UPDATES

Section 1: 

       By-laws will be reviewed for updates, at a minimum, bi-yearly in June and December.

Section 2:

       Venue Programs will be reviewed for updates, at a minimum, bi-yearly in June and December.

ARTICLE III: VENUES and VENUE FEES

Section 1: Venues

            The venues to be offered at a UDP Inc event include:

• UDP Agility-Standard
• UDP Agility-Games
• UDP Agility-Ultimate Team (to be determined)
• UDP Rally Obedience
• UDP Obedience
• UDP Dock Dog (to be determined)
• UDP Tracking (to be determined)
• UDP Lure Coursing (to be determined)
• UDP Stock Dog Arena -Sheep/Goats
• UDP Farm/Ranch Chore Work-Sheep/Goats
• UDP Open Field Work-Sheep (to be determined)
• UDP Stock Dog Arena -Cattle
• UDP Farm/Ranch Chore Work-Cattle
• UDP Stock Dog Arena -Ducks/Geese
• UDP Farm/Ranch Chore Work- Ducks/Geese
• UDP Disc Dog Toss and Fetch
• UDP Disc Dog Freestyle
• UDP Flyball (to be determined)
• UDP Dog Dancing (to be determined)
• UDP Challenged Handler

Any number of venues can be offered at a UDP Event.

Section 2: Venue Levels

          All venues will consist of five (5) levels. 

Level 1:  Introductory Level – This level is for dogs and puppies just starting out in a venue.  Training has been started for the venue.

Level 2:  Novice Level – This level is for dogs that have training in the venue and can consistently perform simple skills for that venue.

Level 3:  Open Level – This level is for dogs performing increasingly difficult skills in the venue.  The dog should have been consistently earning qualifying scores at the Novice or Beginner level of the venue.

Level 4:  Advanced Level – This level is for dogs that have been trained to exhibit advanced skills for the venue.  The dog should have been consistently earning qualifying scores at the Open or Intermediate level of the venue.

Level 5: Ultimate Championship Level – The dog must have earned the necessary qualifying scores at the Advanced level to earn a Championship with UDP Inc.

This level is to allow a fully trained dog a venue to compete against other dogs at the same level of competency.

Information on the venues and updates will be posted on the UDP Inc website and through the weekly electronic magazine, Ultimate Dog Performance.

Section 3:  Sanctioning Fees

            A sanctioning form must be turned in to the UDP Corresponding Secretary 45 days before the event.  The sanctioning fee must accompany the sanctioning form.  Costs will vary depending on whether UDP insurance is used to cover the event or the member/ club in good standing can provide proof of their own insurance.

Section 4:  Venue Fees

Venue fees will be determined by the member or club in good standing who will host the UDP Inc event.

A recording fee of $1 will be charged for each run at a UDP Inc event and collected by the Corresponding Secretary of UDP Inc.

An office fee will be charged to cover expenses for the UDP Inc event.

Remaining monies will be slated for payout to the contestants.

The recording fee, office fee, and amount of entry slated for payout must be listed on the premium. I.e. entry $25:  (recording fee $1, office fee $10, payout $14)

Section 5: Payout Schedule

Yearly earnings will be computed and updated for each UDP registered dog in each venue.  Lifetime Earnings will be computed and maintained for each UDP registered dog.  All earnings count towards yearly earnings and lifetime earnings. Awards leading up to induction in the Ultimate Dog Performance Hall of Fame will be tabulated from the points earned in the National Standings Classes not used for titling, but used for Top 15 Dogs of the Year in each Performance Venue. This information will be available on the UDP Inc website.  Earning can be found using each dog’s registration number.  The Top 25 dogs in each venue will be listed and updated monthly with current point totals.

 Payout Schedule:

Section 6: Event Payouts

          Pre-entry for UDP Inc events is encouraged.  Payouts can then be formulated before the event. Payouts can be cash or checks from a club/member in good standing.  The secretary can then have the payment checks or cash ready for disbursement to participants at the conclusion of the trial.

The UDP Inc Excel Spreadsheet can be used to determine payouts.

UDP Inc Performance events will only pay the placements for qualifying runs.  Any placement money not paid out due to a participant not attaining a qualifying run will remain with the club or member in good standing, to be used towards expenses or towards hosting another event. 

Section 7: Insurance

          Insurance coverage can be purchased from UDP Inc., or proof of insurance needs to be provided with event host application.

ARTICLE IV: UDP INC SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Section 1: UDP Ultimate Junior Handler

          UDP Inc will host a Junior Handler Program to encourage education, good sportsmanship, community service, and positive dog training and handling.  The program will be titled Ultimate Junior Handler

.

Section 2: UDP Inc Ultimate Challenger

          UDP Inc will host a Challenged Handler Venue to provide a positive trialing environment and to encourage education, good sportsmanship, community service, and positive dog training and handling.  The program will be titled Ultimate Challenger.   Challenges faced by the member will include but not be limited to mental or physical challenges,

Section 1:  UDP Inc Point Schedule

Section 2: Standings for all UDP Inc National Standings Classes Begin in 2012

Points will be tabulated by the UDP Inc staff.  Current standings will be posted on the UDP Inc website. The top 25 dogs will be posted and updated monthly for the Year End Standings Class in each venue.

Ultimate Dog Certificate of Ability – 50 points

Ultimate Dog Certificate of Merit – 100 points

Ultimate Dog Bronze Award – 150 points

Ultimate Dog Silver Award – 250 points

Ultimate Dog Gold Award – 350 points

Ultimate Dog Performance Hall of Fame – 500 points

Section 4: UDP Inc Point Year Beginning in 2012

The UDP point year will start on March 1 of the current year and end on February 28 or 29 of the following year (March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2013).

All Nationals Standing Classes will require skills needed to trial on the Advanced Level.  The classes are open to all UDP registered dogs.  These classes are not part of any titling program.  They are strictly for Year End Points and Life Time earnings.

• Stock Work (Stock Dog Masters – Cattle, Sheep/Goats or Ducks/Geese)
• Obedience (Obedience Excellence, Rally Super Star)
• Agility (Can You Handle It-Precision, Stadium Jumping-Speed, Cross Country-Endurance)
• Disc Dog (Blast Off- Long Distance and Accuracy, Disc Air Dancing-Freestyle Routine)
• Flyball (to be determined)
• Tracking (to be determined)
• Lure Coursing (to be determined)
• Dock Dog (to be determined)
• Dog dancing (to be determined)

ARTICLE VI: UDP SPECIALTY AND NATIONAL EVENTS

Section 1: UDP Inc Specialty Events

Specialty Events may be held throughout the current point year.  They can be in conjunction with a club Nationals or hosted as a stand-alone Specialty.

Specialty Events must be hosted by a member in good standing or a club in good standing. UDP Inc will assist with hosting any Specialty Event.

A minimum of three (3) venues must be included.

Specialty events will include added monies in the Standings Classes and on the Ultimate Championship level. Minimum amount of added monies is $25.00 per class.

Section 2: UDP Inc Nationals

A National event will be held in March or April, based on points accumulated during the previous point year.

National events will include added monies in the Standings Classes and on the Ultimate Championship level.

The National Event will be hosted by UDP Inc.

The Nationals will include all venues offered by UDP Inc.

UDP Inc Nationals will be open to all qualified dogs.

The first UDP Inc Nationals will be held in 2013.

ARTICLE VII: RULES FOR LICENSED EVENTS

All licensed events sponsored by the Corporation will be run in accordance with the rules, policies, and procedures from which the license was granted

ARTICLE VIII: CODE OF CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION

See the Code of Conduct webpage for any updates throughout the year

The Host Club Committee holding a UDP Inc trial, and the Judge(s) of record, has full authority within UDP rules at that site for the duration of that trial. Duration of a trial begins when the first club member arrives for set up, and the last club member leaves the show grounds on the last day of the event.

The Designated UDP Members (minimum of 3) will hold a meeting in the case of any of the following altercations:  dog on dog, dog on person, person abusing a dog, or person vs. person reported incident.

Parties involved in an incident may include any of the following: judge, Designated UDP Members, handler, victim if person, dog’s owner if a dog is the victim, and witnesses. Statements must be obtained from any of the involved persons.

The Designated UDP Members has the responsibility of asking the victim(s) if they wish to file a report (a report must be filed for a dog on person attack, or dog on dog attack that drew blood). The Designated UDP Members may need to make the victim(s) aware of the seriousness of the incident, to help them decide if it is the best interests of the parties involved, the Host Club or Host UDP Member, the performance venues and UDP Inc, to file the report. If the victim(s) decline to file a report, and the Designated UDP Members feels the incident is serious enough; the Designated UDP Members may choose to file the report themselves, with statements from the other parties involved, and submit the findings to UDP Inc.

The Designated UDP Members meetings should happen the day of the incident, or sometime during the trial, if the injury is severe enough to warrant immediate veterinary or doctor’s care. If a full meeting is not possible during the show, all parties involved must produce a statement at the trial regarding the incident, and the Designated UDP Members meeting report should identify who was not in attendance and the reason why.

When a judge/course director excuses a team from a run: the judge/course director will discuss the situation with the handler. If severe enough, the

Judge/Course Director will excuse the handler from the show. The Designated UDP Members may call a committee meeting, to determine whether to submit a written report to UDP Inc – this will be at the discretion of the judge. If necessary, statements from all involved parties must be sent to UDP Inc.

The Designated UDP Members have the right to ask any person, whether they are entered in the trial or not, to leave the show grounds, without any expectation of refund of any fees connected to the trial. This can be any just cause where the handler and/or dog is behaving in a manner that is against Host Club or UDP Inc rules, or other reasons that can cause a safety hazard.

The following list is a guideline and may not be all inclusive:

Abuse towards another person or dog and/or unsportsmanlike conduct

Acting in a manner that could endanger another person or dog including not having control of their dog(s)

Their dog(s) acting in a manner that could endanger another person or dog

Acting in a manner that could cause the loss of an event site or hotel

Not following UDP Inc rules or event rules set forth in the premium

During the Designated UDP Members Meeting:

The Designated UDP Members must prove the following:

The incident happened per the facts gathered

The incident happened sometime during the duration of the event, within the show grounds

If these items cannot be proven, the report must reflect the discussion of the meeting and be sent to UDP Inc with all statements from the involved parties. If UDP Inc can determine these items can be proven with additional information, UDP Inc reserves the right to reopen the incident case for disciplinary action.

If these items have been proven, the report must reflect the discussion of the meeting and be sent to UDP Inc. The Designated UDP Members may include a recommendation of sanctions against said member/handler, however, UDP Inc may or may not utilize the recommendation.

Dog on Person Attack – a report must be filed

If a dog has made contact with a person by a bite that has or has not drawn blood, that dog is immediately marked absent from the trial, any runs the dog has already ran in are marked as E (Excused) with any qualifying runs being forfeited.

The dog is removed from the ring/spectator area and must be secured until the handler can leave the site after the Designated UDP Members meeting has been concluded.

The victim(s) must file a report with UDP Inc, no choice is offered. When state law requires a dog bite to be reported to local authorities, the victim and dog owner must do so and follow up with those local authorities.

The Designated UDP Members must notify the handler that the dog may not enter nor attend another UDP Inc trial until a final determination is made by UDP Inc from the statements and host club meeting report, received with the trial paperwork from the club or UDP member. UDP Inc will hold a review meeting for determination within 60 days upon receipt of the reports from the Designated UDP Members. A final determination will be made within 90 days, if clarification or further statements are required.

Determination is made from the Designated UDP Members report, the victim’s statement, the dog owner’s statement and any witnesses’ statements.

If it is determined that the attack was not due to aggression, the dog will receive a minimum suspension of 60 days for a first offense.

If it is determined that the attack was unprovoked or due to aggression, the dog will receive a minimum suspension of 6 months up to a full ban from UDP Inc for a first offense.

In either instance, if the same dog has a second offense of any kind of attack on dog or person, the dog could be banned for life from entering or attending UDP Inc trials. Other sanctions can also be applied on a case by case basis, including sanctions against the dog owner and related fees. During the suspension period, the dog cannot enter nor be on the grounds of any UDP Inc trial.

At the end of the suspension period, the member must petition UDP Inc for reinstatement of themselves and/or dogs.

See the reinstatement form on the website forms page.

UDP Inc’s decision is final.