USRC Team Competition

Please consider designating funds for our AWDF and/or IFR team
	donate to assist our AWDF Team
	donate to assist our IFR Team

 If you wish to make a more significant donation via Paypal, please send it to membership@usrconline.org with a note detailing where you wish the funds to be used.

The AWDF Championship offers IPO1, IPO2 and IPO3 level competition. This is a threefold competition – individual, breed club and preparation and selection of the AWDF’s team to the FCI Championships. USRC members interested in competing at the AWDF Championships should contact a member of the Schutzhund Committee by January 1^st of the trial year. The handler and owner must be USRC members and the dog must be registered with the USRC. The handler and owner are fully responsible for all trial costs including lodging and transportation. Partial reimbursement of the USRC Team entry fees is possible.

AWDF Team to the FCI IPO World Championships:

The AWDF annually sends a team to compete at the FCI IPO World Championships. Highest score selects the team with more weight given to scores earned at national championships. The same year’s AWDF Champion and Vice Champion are automatically on the team as long as they fulfill all the requirements. To qualify for the AWDF team to the FCI Championships the handler and owner must be USRC members, the dog must be registered with the USRC and an FCI recognized organization (for example AKC or ADRK). The scores submitted for consideration must be earned in the 18 months prior to the entry deadline, at least one score must be earned in the United States and all scores should preferably be achieved with the same handler as declaring for the team. USRC members interested in declaring for the FCI IPO World Championships should contact a member of the Schutzhund Committee prior to May 1^st of the trial year. The handler and owner are fully responsible for all trial costs including lodging and transportation. The AWDF supplies a team uniform and covers the entry fees.

AWDF Team to the FCI FH2 World Championships:

The AWDF annually sends a team to compete at the FCI FH2 World Championships. Highest score selects the team with more weight given to scores earned at national or regional championships. To qualify for the AWDF team to the FCI FH2 Championships the handler and owner must be USRC members, the dog must be registered with the USRC and an FCI recognized organization (for example AKC or ADRK). The scores submitted for consideration must be earned in the 18 months prior to the entry deadline, at least one score must be earned in the United States and all scores should preferably be achieved with the same handler as declaring for the team. The FCI FH2 World Championship consists of three FH2 tracks run over four days. The trial typically takes place in March or April of each year. USRC members interested in declaring for the FCI FH2 World Championships should contact a member of the Schutzhund Committee prior to December 1^st of the year prior to the trial. The handler and owner are fully responsible for all trial costs including lodging and transportation. The AWDF covers the entry fees.

American Team to the IFR World Championships:

The IFR World Championship is a Rottweiler only SchH3 or IPO3 event. The championships run on a previously determined schedule. The American Rottweiler Club is the US representative to the IFR Congress and as such the ARC determines the make up of the team. USRC members interested in competing at the IFR should read the following:

To All Rottweiler Competitors-

These are the final specifications for the qualification to the American team as of March 31, 2006.

The qualifications have been opened up to include more events, as there will not be an IFR qualifying event this year. This was done at the request of many past and present competitors to provide as fair a basis for evaluation of all American Rottweilers as possible.

Changes in IFR Regulations
There is a new set of regulations proposed for IFR IPO events. They are to be voted at the IFR Congress this summer in Mexico City.

We do not know if these requirements will be in effect for the next IFR World Championship in Ohlsdorf, Austria, October 27-29, 2006. The Austrians are displaying these regulations as the official regulations for the event. ALL COMPETITORS SHOULD ASSUME THAT THE AUSTRIANS WILL USE THESE REGULATIONS, unless we are told otherwise by the IFR Board of Directors. For complete text of proposed regulations, go to http://www.rottweiler.at .

Important changes in the IFR IPO Regulations:
- A team will be allowed 5 members, 3 on the team and 2 alternates.
- All team members must be members of the Parent Club of the country they are representing.
- Each competitor is responsible for the damages caused by his dog and the organizing club has the right to demand that the handler can prove that his liability toward third parties is covered by an insurance.
The most immediate point is that all team members would be required to be members of the American Rottweiler Club. Because of the time required for the application process, it is suggested that you apply immediately, if you hope to compete in 2006.

Video of the 2005 IFR world Championship is Available
All the stadium work and photos from tracking are included. This two DVD set is $47. This includes a $20 contribution to the IFR Team for their expenses to attend the next IFR Championship. Please mail checks to Dennis Hughes, 2707 59th Drive, Union Grove, WI 53182 or contact Dennis at 224-588-2899 or dennisjhughes@yahoo.com.

American Rottweiler Club & WDS
The Board of Directors of the ARC has authorized the change of the IFR competition Committee to the WDS Committee of the American Rottweiler Club. The ARC WDS Committee will be responsible for all aspects of the sport for the club as described under the AKC WDS proposal. The primary task of this committee will be to hold an annual WDS event either with or separate from the National specialty. The selection of the American team for Board approval will be the responsibility of this committee or a subset of this committee. Membership in the American Rottweiler Club is required. We are seeking knowledgeable working dog people as committee members.

Peter Piusz
IFR Competition Committee
March 31, 2006

Application Requirements
IFR World Championship Team
to represent the United States
at the IFR World Championship 2006
in Ohlsdorf, Austria October 27-29, 2006

The World Championship will consist ONLY of III level dogs. However, there will be competition at the event for Rottweilers at the SchH I and SchH II levels. We will publish details as available. The web site for the event is http://www.rottweiler.at .

These requirements are final for the 2006 competition.

1. Each team member must accept responsibility for their own travel expenses and expenses while in attendance at the event. While the IFR Committee will make ever effort to raise money to support the team for this event, we cannot specify any support beyond supplying the team uniforms and paying the entry fees.

2. The Team shall consist of 4 SchH III dog and handler teams. All four dog and handlers will compete in the IFR World Championship. One dog and handler team will be the alternate and their score will not count in the team score.

3. The IFR World Championship will be conducted under the rules of the FCI. The event will be an IPO III competition, at the discretion of the host country.

4. As the American Team, all handlers of the dogs and at least one owner of each dog must be legal residents of the United States at the time of qualification for the American Team and at the time of the IFR World Championship.

5. The dog must be registered by the American Kennel Club. The dog must have a score book recognized by the FCI.

6. The handler at the IFR World Championship must be the same handler with whom the dog achieved its qualifying scores.

7. Dog and handler teams will be evaluated based on an average of two qualifying scores at the SchH III level of competition. In both cases, the dog must be evaluated with a "P" for pronounced in courage and hardness. One of the two trials MUST be a NATIONAL event from the following list:

USRC National; ARV National; DVG National; USA North American; AWDF; IFR World Championship

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT. DOGS NOT PARTICIPATING IN ONE OF THESE EVENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE TEAM. The score from the National Event must be from the last event before the cut-off date of August 15, 2006. This means that the USRC National will be a 2005 event. All others are 2006 events. THERE WILL NOT BE an IFR Qualification Trial in 2006.

The second qualifying score must be from an event within one year of August 15, 2006. There is no limit to the number of NATIONAL events used to calculate the dog and handler team's average score. The scores from the non-NATIONAL events must be earned in SchH III level competition at any recognized DVG/USA Schutzhund trial. NO score earned on the handler's or dog's home field or at the handler's or dog's home club will accepted. Each score must be earned under a different judge or judges.

The selection of the Team will be based on the highest average score of the two highest scores submitted, where at least one of the events is a NATIONAL event. The Committee will examine all score books for the consistent performance expected of a representative of the American Rottweiler community. Consistency of performance is essential at international competitions. In exceptional circumstances, a dog and handler team can be replaced with a dog and handler team with a lower average score. This may only be done by a majority vote of the IFR Competition Committee.

When the team is named, the results will be published. There will be a listing of all handler and dog teams that have submitted letters of intent, their two scores, and their average score. If any handler and dog team is set aside from their standing based on their average score, the reason for this decision by the IFR Competition Committee must be given to the handler of the team.

8. A letter of intent to compete MUST BE RECEIVED at the address below on or before July 1, 2006 by:
Peter Piusz
339 County Highway 106
Johnstown, NY 12095
Telephone: 518-883-5806
The letter of intent should state the dogs name and registration, the handler's name and address, the dog's owner name and address, the handler's home club, and the handler's uniform size.

9. Scores and a copy of the scorebook (including the cover page of the scorebook) should be RECEIVED by August 15, 2006 at the above address.

10. Once the handler-dog team have been notified of their membership on the team, if the decision is made not to compete at the IFR World Championship for whatever reason, they must inform the IFR Delegate immediately so an alternate can be found. Failure to comply or acting without regard to the American Team could compromise future ability to compete.

Future Events
The IFR Congress in 2006 will determine the schedule for future events. These will be published as soon as available.

Comments & Suggestions
Please address all comments, criticism, and suggestions to Peter Piusz, Chairman, IFR Competition Committee of the American Rottweiler Club, 339 county highway 106, Johnstown, NY 12095, Phone: 518-883-4006, Fax 518-883-6273, email: ppiusz@nycap.rr.com .

The USRC Schutzhund Committee is available to help in anyway those USRC members interested in the IFR Championships. For more information contact Angeli Modjeski, Schutzhund Committee Chairperson, at claymorerotts@juno.com