Working Programs--Sled Dog Degree Program

Working Programs: Sled Dog Degree Program

The purpose of the Sled Dog Degree program is to demonstrate the ability of the registered Siberian Husky in sled dog racing competition. The program is open to all purebred Siberian Huskies individually registered with the American Kennel Club. There are three degree levels:

Sled Dog: awarded the SD suffix
Sled Dog Excellent: awarded the SDX suffix
Sled Dog Outstanding: awarded the SDO suffix

Rules and Eligibility:

The applicant must be a purebred Siberian Husky registered with the American Kennel Club. Dogs with an ILP registration are eligible.
Spayed or neutered dogs are eligible.
The applicant may work as part of a mixed breed team.
All races must be on snow with sleds held under the direction of a Recognized Race Giving Organization with race rules and recorded results.
The applicant dog runs the entire race as a member of the team.
No more than three races per season may be on the same trail and administered by the same Recognized Race Giving Organization. You are encouraged to race in a variety of locations against a bread spectrum of competition.
An applicant dog may include any combination of successfully completed races to apply for the Sled Dog Degree. Successfully completed races shall be as follows:

For Distance Races: the total MINIMUM mileage shall be: eight (8) times the number of dogs for the six (6) dog maximum class; nine (9) times the number of dogs for the ten (10) dog maximum class and ten (10) times the number of dogs for the unlimited class.

For Sprint Races -- Limited and Unlimited: the total MINIMUM mileage shall be equal to or greater than the class team size per heat in limited and not less than ten (10) miles in unlimited class. In no event shall the mileage be less than four (4) miles per heat.

For Triathlon Races: the total mileage of heats may be used if each division meets class requirement mentioned in distance & sprint.

Teams may choose to compete in any division offered by a Race Giving Organization for each size restricted class. The calculation, however, a "successfully completed race" is based on the fastest times for all teams of the same size restriction running the same trail and distance. ( since 11/91) For the SD degree, the calculation may be based on the fastest times for all Purebred teams if the class is clearly defined in the official published results.
Where subsequent heats of a race are canceled or reduced, qualifying mileage from complete heats may be counted towards a degree.
Mileage for a single degree may be accumulated from season to season.
Mileage earned for one degree may not also be applied to a higher degree.
Races held outside the USA may be used to accumulate qualifying mileage.
Mileage cannot be "rounded up" to the next whole number. The dog must actually complete the full required distances.
The degree must be applied for within two years of completing requirements for that dog.

Each individual application for a degree must include:

A copy of the dog's AKC Registration (or ILP Registration) papers
A Completed Sled Dog Degree Program application from SHCA
Certified Race Results for applicant team signed by Race Marshal, Chief Judge, or Timer
Printed Race results which include date, finishing times & placing

Requirements for Award of a Sled Dog Degree

SLED DOG (S.D.) This degree recognizes the registered or ILP-registered Siberian Husky who has demonstrated a basic level of proficiency in sled racing by earning a total accumulation of not less than 100 miles in not less than five successfully completed races.

SLED DOG EXCELLENT (S.D.X.) This degree recognizes the registered or ILP-registered Siberian Husky who demonstrated a high level of proficiency in sled dog racing by completing the S.D. degree. The finishing date for this degree is prior the start of a race to accumulate mileage for the S.D.X. degree. Compilation of not less than 150 miles in not less than five successfully completed races is required.

SLED DOG OUTSTANDING (S.D.O.) This degree recognizes the registered or ILP-registered Siberian Husky who demonstrated an outstanding level of proficiency in sled dog racing by completing the S.D.X. degree. The finishing date for S.D.X. is prior to accumulating miles toward the S.D.O. Compilation of not less than 200 miles in not less than five successfully completed races is required.

"SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED RACE" means completion of a race:

With a time that is not greater than 1.33 times the average finishing time for the fastest three Purebred teams in the same size restricted class as the applicant for the SLED DOG degree. In all breed competition, a time that is not greater than 1.39 times the average finishing time for the fastest three teams in the same size restricted class as the applicant for the SLED DOG degree.
With a time that is not greater than 1.29 times the average finishing times for the fastest three teams in the same size restricted class for the SLED DOG EXCELLENT degree
With a time that is not greater than 1.25 times the average finishing times for the fastest three teams in the same size restricted class for the SLED DOG OUTSTANDING degree
If there are six (6) or fewer teams competing on the first day of the event then the team must also finish in the top 50% of the finishing teams as well as meeting the appropriate time factor. For the 8-dog class, the 10 dog class, the unlimited class and all distance classes if there are eight or fewer entrants at a race in a class then a "successfully completed race" means:

with a time not more than 1.33 times the winner's time for SD against purebred competition
with a time not more than 1.39 times the winner's time for SD against all breed competition
with a time not more than 1.29 times the winner's time for SDX
with a time not more than 1.25 times the winner's time for SDO

In the event the applicant dog successfully completes a distance race of 900 miles or more within the qualifying times the five race requirement will be waived and the appropriate sequential degree will be awarded. This program will be retroactive to December 1, 1983.

Once a degree has been completed and approved by the Working Committee the appropriate initials denominating the degree may be used after the dog's name. The dog's name will be listed in both the SHCA Newsletter and the SHCA Annual Directory in recognition. A Certificate suitable for framing will be awarded.

Rules Revised January 2008

Click here to download the Application for SHCA Sled Dog Degree form in "PDF" format: SD Application. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read, view, and print these forms. Reader is available free of charge from the Adobe website.

Then, contact the chairman for the name and address of the appropriate regional reviewer to whom you will send your application directly:
Debra Fitzgerald, SHCA Working Programs
5579 Catholic Church Road
Jefferson, MD 21755-8415

Or, you can e-mail her at: amorok@aol.com

Current regional reviewers are:

Barbara Schaefer, Grass Valley, California: qualobo@hotmail.com
Tim & Cheryl Scheall, North Royalton, Ohio: snowdog@nls.net
Roland & Carolan Appleton, Grist Mills, Pennsylvania: knegakennel@comcast.net
Contact the chairman or regional reviewers with questions. A reviewer evaluates fully your sled dog application and then forwards it to the Working Chair for final approval.

Contact the Chairman when you are ready to mail in your application. She will tell you which reviewer you should forward your complete application packet to. We share the workload. Your application may not always be assessed by your nearest local reviewer.

Last update of this page: 01/2008

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