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Dog of the Year Clarification

June 20, 2023

Source: Domenick Muoio
Job Title: Field Trial & Hunt Test Program Manager
Email: dmuoio@ukcdogs.com

With the start of the new format and a couple of events in, there have been a few reoccurring questions so I wanted to address them for all who may be wondering but havent reached out.

The first point I would like to address is about judges dogs in relation to contention for DOY points. A dog may not earn DOY points if it is running in the same class that its owner is judging. This extends to dogs being handled by a non-owner and judged by a substitute judge when the primary judge of the class is the owner.

Example: if I judge Champion class at a DOY event and own a dog that is running in Champion class at that DOY event but handled by a friend and judged by someone else, my dog will not earn DOY points.

Conversely, if I judge Working class at a DOY event and own a dog that is running in champion class at that DOY event handled by me OR a friend, my dog can still earn DOY points.

The second point to address is slightly in relation to the above but in relation to the random running orders. The randomly drawn running order for each class should include ALL dogs running in that class. The only exception is that the judges and planters of THAT class run their dogs first.

Example: If I judge Working and I run my dog in Champion, my dogs place in the Champion class running order is random. It is up to the clubs to determine how they would like to handle the logistics of those situations.

Note to clubs: Some points to keep in mind are, if you substitute a judge while one goes to run their dog, will that substitution affect anyones eligibility for DOY points? And, does the substitution possibly violate any rules or conditions?

Third and possibly the most important clarification is regarding the DOY points system. For this season, DOY points are earned based on a points factor which rewards placing dogs based on their placements and the size of the event. The size of the event considers the number of dogs placing dogs had to beat to earn a spot on the podium and rewards them accordingly.

The points factor calculation is as follows:

Date corrections

  • Great Lakes DOY event is July 1 & 2
  • Buckeye Antler Dogs DOY event is September 2 & 3

As always, if you have more questions or want further clarification, feel free to reach out!

FINISH CALCULATION EXAMPLE (for a 30-dog class)
FINISH

1st

CALCULATION

# of dogs run in class x 1.00 = DOY points

EXAMPLE (for a 30-dog class)

30

FINISH

2nd

CALCULATION

# of dogs run in class x 0.75 = DOY points

EXAMPLE (for a 30-dog class)

22.5

FINISH

3rd

CALCULATION

# of dogs run in class x 0.50 = DOY points

EXAMPLE (for a 30-dog class)

15

FINISH

4th

CALCULATION

# of dogs run in class x 0.25 = DOY points

EXAMPLE (for a 30-dog class)

7.5

FINISH

Pass

CALCULATION

# of dogs run in class x 0.10 = DOY points

EXAMPLE (for a 30-dog class)

3

Guided by the belief that dogs make a difference by being the best partner a human can have in the field, on the job, or in a competition event, UKC is a community for people and dogs to pursue excellence together. Founded in 1898, UKC has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of Dogs That Do More, and their owners, by providing essential resources to help owners and breeders make informed decisions. The dog-human bond is celebrated through family-friendly programs highlighting the instincts and heritage of purebred and mixed-breed dogs alike at over 18,000 licensed events annually.

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