Working Program > Dryland Performance Dog Degree Program

 Dryland Performance Dog Degree Program

The purpose of the Dryland Performance Dog Degree program is to demonstrate the abilities of the Siberian Husky in dog-powered sports competition, while recognizing that this may not necessarily take place with a sled on snow. The program is open to all purebred Siberian Huskies individually registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) or having received a Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) number from the AKC. This degree is a step up from the Dryland Working Certificate program, in that it requires successful completion of races within a qualifying time.

Upon completion of the requirements below, the dog will be issued a Dryland Performance Dog (DPD) degree, and the owner may add the suffix “DPD” to the dog’s registered name. This will continue as long as the dog continues to meet the requirements, which reset after each certificate level is earned. The dog must earn 30 qualifying miles for the first DPD title.  Each additional 30 miles will add a number to DPD such that 60 miles = DPD2, 90 miles = DPD3, etc.

Rules and Eligibility:

  • The dog for which the application is submitted must be a purebred Siberian Husky registered though the AKC or having an AKC PAL registration.

  • Spayed or neutered dogs are eligible.

  • The applicant may work as part of a mixed breed team.

  • The races included in the application must meet the definition of a “qualifying race” (see below).

  • The team in which the dog has run must meet the qualifying time requirements (see below) in a qualifying race to earn miles toward a degree.

  • A team may include fewer dogs than the class designation (but not more).

  • A dog may participate in more than one class at a single race.

  • Miles earned from each race are rounded down to the nearest 1/10 mile.

    • Example:  A two-day race that is 1.93 miles each day = 3.8 earned miles (rounded down from 3.86).

  • During multi-day events:

    • The dog must participate in the class for which it is entered on ALL days of that race to earn miles.  No partial race miles will be awarded to dropped dogs regardless of reason. 

    • The dog must run the same class(es) each day of the race. The dog cannot be switched from one class to another.

Definition of a “Qualifying Race:”

  • Race must be organized and conducted by a regionally-recognized Race Giving Organization (RGO) or local club/organization. Races organized and conducted by a private group or individual are not eligible.

  • Race entries must be open to all mushers.

  • Race may be one or more days in length.

  • The distance on each day must be at least one mile.

  • Motorized vehicles are not eligible.

  • Eligible classes:

    • Scooter (1 or 2 dog)

    • Bike (1 or 2 dog)

    • Rig (2-8 dogs)

  • Official results of the race must be posted on RGO/club websites or social media and must include race date(s), name of event, class, and division (if applicable).

  • No more than three races per season, held at the same location and on the same trail, may be used in an application.

Qualifying Time Requirements

  • Qualifying times are determined by averaging the fastest three times in a class and then multiplying them by the appropriate time factor.

  • Qualifying time factors are as follows:

    • x1.35 for purebred/Registered Northern Breed (RNB) classes

    • x1.45 for all-breed classes

  • A minimum of three teams must be entered in the division in order to earn miles; however, if the purebred/RNB division size is smaller than three teams, the applicant may use the top three times among all divisions in a class (same team size, same trail, same rig) and the all-breed time factor (1.45) to calculate their qualifying time (provided the total entry of the combined divisions equals three or more teams). See example below.

  • When using the x1.45 factor, the three fastest overall times from among all divisions in a class will be used to determine the first three placements.

    • Example: You enter the Sportsman division of the 2-dog scooter class. When you calculate your qualifying time, you see the times for First Place in the Pro division, First Place in the Sportsman division, and Second Place in the Pro division are the three fastest overall times in the 2-dog scooter class. These are the three times you average and multiply by 1.45.

Application Forms

Applications for the DPD degree must include an application form as well as race certification forms for each race attended. A race summary sheet may also be included for convenience.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view, fill, or print these forms. Reader is available free of charge from the Adobe website.

Dryland Performance Dog Application

Dryland Race Certification Form

Race Summary Sheet

Contact the Working Programs Chairman when you are ready to mail in your application packet. The Chairman will tell you which reviewer should receive your completed application packet. Your application may not always be assessed by your nearest reviewer.

Wayne Curtis, SHCA Working Programs Chairman
PO Box 874615
Wasilla, AK 99687-4615
E-mail: teamsw@mtaonline.net

Current reviewers:
Carol Nash, PO Box 877591, Wasilla, AK 99687-7591, marlytuk@yahoo.com
Mary Groth, 3465 Boston Mills Road, Richfield, OH 44286, mgrothshca@gmail.com