Working Program > Sled Dog Degree Program
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 registered with the American Kennel Club or assigned an AKC PAL number. The program includes three degree levels, as defined below.
Sled Dog Degree Definitions
SLED DOG (SD) This degree recognizes the AKC-registered or AKC PAL-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 three (3) successfully-completed distance races, or five (5) successfully-completed races when using sprint or combining sprint, mid-distance, and distance. (1/2017)
SLED DOG EXCELLENT (SDX) This degree recognizes the AKC-registered or AKC PAL-registered Siberian Husky who has demonstrated a high level of proficiency in sled dog racing and has been previously awarded the SD degree. Accumulation of an additional 50 miles in not less than three (3) successfully-completed races is required. Please include a copy of the dog's SD title certificate when applying for an SDX title. (03/2026)
SLED DOG OUTSTANDING (SDO) This degree recognizes the AKC-registered or AKC PAL-registered Siberian Husky who has demonstrated an outstanding level of proficiency in sled dog racing and has been previously awarded the SDX degree. Accumulation of an additional 50 miles in not less than three (3) successfully-completed races is required. Please include a copy of the dog's SDX title certificate when applying for an SDO title. (03/2026)
Rules and Eligibility:
The applicant must be a purebred Siberian Husky either registered with the AKC or having an AKC PAL number.
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 (RGO) with publicized/advertised race entry, established race rules, and recorded results.
The applicant dog must run the entire race as a member of the team.
No more than three (3) races per season may be on the same trail and administered by the same RGO. You are encouraged to race in a variety of locations against a broad spectrum of competition.
A dog's application may include any combination of successfully-completed races. See below for race mileage requirements and definition of a “successfully-completed race.”
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.
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.
Race Mileage Requirements:
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 Classes: the MINIMUM mileage per heat shall be equal to or greater than the class team size. In no event shall the mileage be less than four (4) miles per heat.
Example: The mileage in an advertised six (6)-dog class must be at least 6 miles per heat; otherwise, that race cannot be counted toward a sled dog degree.
For Sprint Races – Unlimited Classes:The MINIMUM mileage per heat for unlimited classes shall be not less than ten (10) miles.
For Stage Races: the total mileage of heats may be used if each division meets the mileage requirements mentioned above for distance & sprint.
Class/Division Rules:
Teams may choose to compete in any division (e.g., pro, sportsman, purebred) offered by an RGO for any class. The calculation for a “successfully completed race,” however, must be based on the fastest times for all teams of the same size, running the same trail and distance. (11/1991)
Example: You enter your purebred team in the six-dog class at a race offering only a six-dog pro and a six-dog sportsman class, both of which run on the same six-mile trail. No purebred class is offered, so you elect to run in the sportsman division. Your time must be within the qualifying time factor of the average of the top three fastest times (taken from both classes) in order to qualify for a degree.
For the SD degree only: The time factor calculation may be based on only the fastest purebred team times IF the class is clearly defined as a purebred class in the official published results.
Definition of a Successfully-Completed Race
A “successfully-completed race” is defined as follows:
For the SLED DOG degree in purebred class competition: Team completes the race with a time no greater than 1.33 times the average finishing time for the fastest three purebred teams in the same size class. NOTE: Purebred classes must be defined as such in the official published results.
For the SLED DOG degree in mixed-breed class competition: Team completes the race with a time that no greater than 1.39 times the average finishing time for the fastest three teams in the same size class.
For the SLED DOG EXCELLENT degree: Team completes the race with a time that is not greater than 1.29 times the average finishing times for the fastest three teams in the same size class.
SLED DOG OUTSTANDING degree: Team completes the race with a time that is not greater than 1.25 times the average finishing times for the fastest three teams in the same size class.
Low Entry Classes
A “low-entry” class is defined as having six entries or less for the six-dog or smaller classes, and eight entries or less for seven-dog and larger classes.
For low-entry classes, a "successfully completed race" means:
For SD against mixed-breed competition: Team’s time is no greater than 1.39 times the winner's time.
For SD against purebred competition: Team’s time is no greater than 1.33 times the winner's time.
For SDX: Team’s time is no greater than 1.29 times the winner's time.
For SDO: Team’s time is no greater than 1.25 times the winner's time.
Special Rules for Long-Distance Races (03/2026)
Due to a variety of factors (e.g., the shrinking number of distance races available, access to the resources required to field a competitive distance team, etc.), it is becoming much more difficult for Siberian Husky mushers to participate in true “long-distance” racing. The SHCA believes any team capable of training for and finishing a longer-distance race should be given special consideration, and has therefore established the following degree requirements:
Upon completion of a race of at least 250 miles, an applicant with no previous degree may be awarded the SD degree. Upon completion of an additional race of at least 250 miles, that applicant may be awarded the SDO degree.
Upon completion of a race of at least 250 miles, an applicant with an existing SD or SDX degree may be awarded the SDO degree.
Application Packet Information
Each individual application for a degree must include the following documentation:
A copy of the dog's AKC registration (or PAL registration)
A completed Sled Dog Degree application*.
Race certification forms* for each race being used in the application, signed by the Race Marshal, Chief Judge, or Timer.
Published results for each race being used in the application. Results must include date, finishing times, & placements.
NOTE: We encourage you to use a Race Summary* form for convenience when submitting multiple applications at once. Rather than duplicating the same race results for each application, just summarize the races on each applicant’s form and submit only one copy of the race results.
*You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view, fill, or print these forms. Reader is available free of charge from the Adobe website.
Application Submission Information
Although application packets may be printed and snail-mailed to reviewers as always, we encourage digital submission via email to the appropriate reviewer.
Digital Submission Guidelines
When possible, combine each applicant’s packet into a single PDF using the dog’s registered name as the file name.
When submitting multiple applications, send each dog’s application packet in a separate email (no more than one application packet per email!).
If it is not possible to combine an application into a single PDF file, please help your reviewer by clearly naming files (e.g., jan12_results.jpeg, jan12_raceform.pdf, application.pdf, etc.)
Contact the Working Programs Chairman when you are ready to submit your application packet. The Chairman will tell you which reviewer you should send your completed application packet to (your application may not always be assessed by your nearest local reviewer).
Once a degree has been applied for and approved by the Working Programs Committee, a certificate suitable for framing will be awarded and the appropriate initials for the degree may be used after the dog's name. In addition, the dog's name will be listed in both the SHCA Newsletter and the SHCA Annual Directory in recognition.
Working Programs Committee Contact Information
Wayne Curtis, SHCA Working Programs Chairman
PO Box 874615
Wasilla, AK 99687-4615
E-mail: teamsw@mtaonline.net
Current Reviewers:
ALASKA & WEST: Carol Nash, PO Box 877591, Wasilla, AK 99687-7591, marlytuk@yahoo.com
MID-WEST & EAST: Mary Groth, 3465 Boston Mills Road, Richfield, OH 44286, mgrothshca@gmail.com