SDA Database

• Minimum age to trial

           9 Months - Family Obedience, Mixed Obedience,

                             SAR Instinct, SAR 1, SAR 2, Tracking 1

                             Tracking 2, Master Track, Article Search 1

                             Future Detection

           1 Year -   Protection Alert, P1

           12 Months- Obedience (only) titles for Protection 1

           15 Months  Obedience (only) titles for Protection 2   and  Protection 3 also

                               Obedience (only) titles for Police Dog 1-2.  

           18 Months- P2 PS2, P3 PS3, Police Dog 1-2,

• SDA welcomes all breeds of dogs; however, each dog must demonstrate proper temperament for the trial steward to inspect the dog/handler team's equipment prior to entering the field.
• Giant Breeds Requirements: The requirements for the giant breeds are the same as other dogs for all titles except protection. The judge may ask for a pretrial evaluation of the dog prior to performing protection. The pretrial evaluation would require the dog to be back tied and then stimulated with a possible grip being given by a helper. If the dog releases the grip properly and the handler demonstrates control over the dog; the dog/handler team will be allowed to participate for a protection title.
• All dogs must demonstrate that they are in good health and up to the task.

Liabilities

BY PARTICIPATING IN ANY SDA Dog Ultimate DOG Sport Event, THE PARTICIPANT AGREES TO AND MUST:

• Be willing to take full responsibility for all actions and liabilities concerning their dog's behavior while participating or attending SDA event or activity.
• Understand that participating in any SDA Dog Sport  event or activities can be physically and mentally intense. The handler must be and agrees to be totally responsible for injuries to himself/herself and all third parties and must assume all known and unknown risks arising from the negligence of the organization hosting the event.
• On behalf of handler’s heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin, hereby releases and holds harmless Service Dogs of America, their officers, employees, officials and representatives with respect to any and all injury, disability, death or loss or damage to person or property.
• For junior handlers, (Under the age of 18) the parents or legal guardian are totally responsible for the actions or injuries of the minor. A parent or legal guardian must sign an entry form and assume all liabilities for a junior to participate.
• SDA Rights to Vides and Pictures at SDA Events & Trials: SDA reserves the right to use any video or picture that are created from an SDA event or trial.

Title Requirements for the SDA Ultimate Dog Sport Program

  (Protection & Obedience)

• All dogs must earn a Family Obedience title prior to any other Dog Sport Title except full time police officers that are entering a SDA Trial to earn a PD2 title. The Family Obedience title and either the Protection Alert or one gripping title can be obtained at the same event. Example, a dog /handler team could earn a Family Obedience title and a Protection Dog Alert or a Family Obedience and a or Family Obedience and a PD1 at the same trial.   Furthermore, a dog/handler team could earn a Family Obedience Title and one more title in obedience, tracking etc at the same trial. In addition, handler/dog teams will not be required to repeat the Family Obedience routine for dogs that are also seeking the Protection Alert in the same trial since the obedience routine for both the Family Obedience and Protection Alert are identical.
• Gripping titles must be earned in order. For example, a Protection 1 (P-1) must be earned to go for a P-2 or PS2 and P-2 or PS2 must be earned to go for a P-3 or PS3. Likewise, a Police Dog 1 (PD-1) must be earned before going for a PD-2. The exception to this rule is that a full time K9 Officer's, may trial for a Police Dog 2 title if their dogs are active police K9 that want the titles as another form of certification on their dog. Moreover, only one gripping title may be earned each day at the same trial. A dog may seek the P-1 or PD1 title after obtaining the FO title and need not obtain the PA.

Title Requirements for SDA Tracking and Future Detection titles.

• All dogs may participate in Tracking and future Detection titles without any other titles.
• A team may also earn a single Tracking or Detection title each day of a SDA Trial. 
• Handlers may select to participate in any tracking or detection titles offered at an SDA Trial.

Equipment Requirements.

• Handler/dog teams will report to specified area for trial inspector or Stewart to examine equipment before entering the field. The handler may report with the dog in a wire muzzle or the Stewart may ask the handler to place a muzzle on the dog prior to inspecting. Muzzles will be provided if needed. SDA will have approved equipment for loan if any equipment is not acceptable. The purpose for a muzzle is for safety and to make handlers aware of wire basket muzzles. The inspecting Stewart may request any dog going for a protection title to be muzzled prior to inspection.
• Protection titles requiring a dog to be on leash require that a leash be no longer than six feet and no shorter than three feet.
• The Protection alert, Protection-1 and Police Dog-1 titles allow for the use of two collars during the protection routines; one collar can be a flat collar, fur savor on dead ring, choke collar on dead ring, or a pinch collar on dead ring. A harness may be used in place of one collar. Pinch collars must be worn with an additional collar attached; except when used with a harness.
• Only one collar, a flat collar or retracting collar on dead ring must be used for all obedience titles and for all advanced protection, tracking and detection titles. Pinch collars or electric collars may not be used
• Only one collar is allowed during obedience. Pinch or electric collars are not allowed.
• Tracking and SAR equipment requirements are specified in the rules for those titles.

SDA Club Requirements.

• Each club must have a minimum of four SDA members.
• Club dues each year. Dues will be two hundred and fifty dollars; each club will receive six SDA memberships; four for Directors or officers and two memberships designated for club helpers/decoys.
• Each SDA club must have by-laws that are acceptable to SDA.
• Each SDA club must have or co-sponsor one trial each year.
• Club Officers or Directors must be members of SDA. 
• In choosing a club name one should include the SDA name with the club name.

Hosting SDA Event .

• Only SDA Clubs can host an Ultimate Dog Sport event. SDA (only) clubs can host an event offering SDA titles.
• Only SDA members can participate as an official of the trial for the Ultimate Dog Sport titles.
• Facilities to host an SDA Ultimate Dog Sport event must be approved by SDA.
• All SDA Ultimate Dog Sport events must be schedule through SDA.
• The Trial Chairman or his or her designee should apply for scheduling a trial.
• SDA Clubs must provide helpers that have been pre-approved.
• SDA Judges will provide helper books at the beginning trials.
• Trial Chairman will be responsible for all activities, paper work requirements, assisting the judge concerning any trial manner and the person to intervene for discussing and problems or disputes that may occur. In addition, it will be the direct responsibility of the Trial Chairman to make sure that all paper work requirements and fees are sent back to the SDA National designated administrator.

In Summary.

Participants of SDA events must abide by all rules and guidelines of Service Dogs of America. Requirements and guidelines may be added or changed from time to time. Members are responsible to exercise diligence and check for such changes periodically.