2008 UKC Hunting Beagle Total Dog Program Revamped Again

The 2008 UKC Hunting Beagle Total Dog program, sponsored by Black Gold Premium Dog Food as previously announced (last month) has once again been overhauled. Don’t worry there is still a 2008 Total Dog program but with significant changes. With the recent announcements of the elimination of the Black Gold Challenge Series, it was an impossibility to conduct the Total Dog program as announced.

In the October issue we announced that all Black Gold Challenge Series events would also be Total Dog events in 2008. Since the Challenge Series was eliminated or even better yet improved, there was a need to change the Total Dog program or even better yet, improve it.

As you have probably already read, in the new Black Gold State Races points are earned at all events which includes the local clubs events and all of the major events. The new and improved Total Dog program will follow suit and points will be earned at every hunt and show in the country.

The Total Dog program is essentially going back to the very similar format to the Top 10 program. There is one BIG catch! Dogs MUST hunt the day of the show to be eligible for Total Dog points, no exceptions. We will once again go back to showing for Best of Breed and the Best of Breed winner will get credit for one point for each dog entered in the show (minus their self).

The only real issue with the hunting requirement is what happens if a dog doesn’t complete their cast. The exact same rules for hunting and eligibility for the shows will be used for the Total Dog requirements. They are as follows:

To be eligible for Total Dog points the dog must have been entered in and completed the full 120 minutes cast time or the designated first round cast time in an Elimination event in the hunt portion of the UKC Licensed Hunting Beagle event the day of the show or be scratched by the Judge. Dogs withdrawn by handler or scratched in accordance with rule 6 (b) or any action deemed to be an intentional scratch are not eligible for Total Dog Points.

The biggest question is “what happens if the dog that wins Best of Breed doesn’t hunt that day” The answer to that is pretty simple, nobody gets Total Dog points that day. The same will hold true if the Champions and Grands hunt after the Bench Show and the Best of Breed winner withdraws from their cast. No Total Dog points will be awarded that day.

Each month UKC will run a list of the top 10 ranked dogs in the Total dog program. The list will be updated monthly and at the end of the calendar year dogs will receive their final “ranking” for the year. The highest scoring dog at the end of the year will be crowned the #1 ranked Total Dog winner for that year. They will be recognized as the dog that has earned the most Total Dog points in the country for that year.
Each year at the Hunting Beagle Nationals, each of the top 10 dogs in the previous years Total Dog program will be invited to show in the Total Dog Show. One dog will be selected in this show and will be crowned the Total Dog Show winner.

Both dogs will be recognized equally, the one that scores the most points throughout the year and the dog that wins the year end show.

Questions and Answers

Question - What is Best of Breed?

Answer - Best of Breed class at each show will consist of the Best of Winners, Champion of Champions and the Grand Champion winner. At the conclusion of the show, each of these dogs will show against each other to determine Best of Breed. The winner of this class will be awarded “Best of Breed” for the days show. No additional championship points will be awarded for this class, only Total Dog Points.

Question - How do I earn Points?

Answer – The Best of Breed winner gets all the points for the days show. They get credit for 1 point for each dog defeated. The total points scored is the number of dogs entered minus one dog.

Question – Who is the winner, the dog that scores the most points throughout the year or the dog that wins the year end show?

Answer – Both dogs will be recognized equally for their accomplishment.

Question – When does the Total Dog program start?

Answer – January 1, 2008