Most Versatile German Shepherd Competition at the GSDCA National
Phyllis Dobbs Entry Form (PDF) >>
Phyllis Dobbs Award Recipients >>
In memory of Phyllis Dobbs, who bred, owned, and trained the first Triple Champion in the German Shepherd breed, the Most Versatile German Shepherd Competition at the GSDCA National recognizes those dogs that exemplify true versatility by successfully competing in a variety of events.
The Versatility Competition is open to all AKC registered or listed German Shepherd Dogs. The dogs in the competition must be currently owned by a member of the GSDCA in good standing. Dogs must earn scores at the national in a minimum of three of the following venues: Agility, Conformation, Herding, Obedience/Rally, Scent Work/Tracking. Obedience and rally are considered one venue since the required skills are similar. Scent Work and Tracking will be considered one venue for the purpose of the versatility competition. Competitors must fill out an entry form and submit it by the deadline to ensure being listed in the catalog as being entered in the Versatility Competition. Participants must also fill out and turn in a score sheet to the Versatility Chair. Competing dogs will receive a customized participation rosette. The scoring for the competition ends after Best of Breed and the winner will be announced at the Banquet and presented with the Phyllis Dobbs Award.
Agility:
Any two qualifying runs that receive a score (Standard, Jumpers, FAST, Premier) from the two GSDCA days, will count as weighted scores towards the total. Versatility Scores will be computed as RAW SCORE plus points. Although only two qualifying runs receive a weighted score, all other qualifying runs on the GSD only days will receive points.
Conformation:
A dog may compete in the Versatility Sweeps, a sweepstakes class open only to dogs entered in the Versatility Competition, AND in the regular conformation classes. All dogs participating (and not being excused for DQs or temperament), will receive 25 points for participation in the sweepstakes or in any regular class. Class placements will be awarded additional points. Dogs competing in Best of Breed will receive 100 participation points, earning a Select, GV, GVX, or BOB will receive additional points.
Versatility Sweepstakes:
The purpose of offering a Versatility Sweepstakes class is so all Versatility dogs, even those that are spayed or neutered, may compete and earn participation points in conformation. The sweepstakes offers two classes, dogs and bitches, and is judged following the Futurity finals.
Herding:
Any two qualifying runs that receive a score (Course A, B, C, D on ducks, sheep, or cattle) from the GSDCA herding trials, will count as weighted scores towards the total. Versatility Scores will be computed as RAW SCORE plus points. Although only two qualifying runs receive a weighted score, all other qualifying runs at the GSDCA herding trials will receive points.
Obedience/Rally:
Obedience and Rally are combined as one venue since the skills are very similar. However, dogs may earn 2 raw scores in BOTH events. Any two qualifying runs that receive a score from the GSDCA trials, will count as weighted scores towards the total. Obedience Versatility Scores will be computed as 50% of the RAW SCORE plus points. Rally Versatility Scores will be computed as RAW SCORE plus points. Although only two qualifying runs from EACH event (Obedience and Rally) receive a weighted score, all other qualifying runswill receive points.
Scent Work:
Scent Work is a pass/fail event. A dog may earn points for up to 10 qualifying legs. The dog earns points for Qs along with placements and HITs.
Tracking:
Tracking is the only sport in which points are awarded for previously earned titles because the entries are very limited and dogs without titles are given entry priority over dogs that already have earned the titles. Tracking will only count as one the three required venues if dogs are entered and qualify at the National. Dogs entered and qualifying at the National will earn more points than dogs with a previously earned title to encourage people to enter Tracking at the national.
For the 2024 Phyllis Dobbs entry form, click here
Point Schedule
(every dog must participate at the national in a minimum of 3 starred events, Obedience/Rally count as one event because of the similarity of training, Scent Work/Tracking count as one event because of the skill similarity)
| Agility* | Conformation* | Herding* | Obedience* | Rally* | Scentwork* | Tracking* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxiumum of two raw scores PLUS points below for every Q on the two GSDCA days of Agility competition. Plus, or every MACH point earned, the dog will earn 10 points. For every PACH earned, the dog will earn 5 points. Victo/Victrix earn additional points. | Every participating (not excuesd) dog receives 25 points plus placement or achievement points in Versatility Sweepstakes and Regular Conformation Classes. Dogs competing in BOB will receive 100 participation points plus achievement points. | Maximim of two raw schores PLUS points below for every Q from the two GSDCA Trials (Courses A, B,k C, D). RHIT, HIT and Victor/Victrix earn additional points. Test level classes (Instinct, HT, PT) do not earn a raw score, so they receive the below points for Qs. | Maximim of 50% of two raw scores PLUS points below for every Q from the two GSDCA Trails at the national. Since this is an individual award, Brace and Team classes do not count. | Maximim of two raw scores PLUS points below for every Q from the two GSDCA Trails at the national. Since this is an individual award, Brace and Team classes do not count. | Scentwork is a pass/fail event. A dog may earn oints for up to 10 qualifying legs. The dog earns points for Qs along with placements and HITs. | Every entered dog with a Tracking Title will receive points twoards the versatility competition but they must be entered in Tracking at the national for it to be counted as one of the three required venues. Dogs competing and qualifying at the national will earn the below points. |
| Agility* | Conformation* | Herding* | Obedience* | Rally* | Scentwork* | Tracking* |
| Regular | Class participation 25 | Instinct - 15 | BN - 5 | Novice - 5 | Novice - 10 | Previously Earned Title |
| Novice - 10 | HT - 30 | Novice - 10 | Inter - 10 | Advanced - 20 | TD or TDU - 100 | |
| Open - 20 | 4th Place - 25 | PT - 60 | Open - 30 | Adv - 15 | Excellent - 30 | TDX or VST - 150 |
| Exc - 30 | 3rd Place - 50 | Started - 10 | Utility - 50 | Exc - 25 | Master - 40 | CT - 250 |
| Master - 50 | 2nd Place - 75 | Inter - 30 | UDX Leg - 10 | Master - 40 | Detective - 50 | |
| T2B - 20 | 1st Place - 100 | Advanced - 50 | Veteran - 10 | RAE leg - 10 | ||
| Prem - 30 | RWD/RWB - 50 | Wild Card Nov - 10 | Triple Q - 10 | |||
| Preferred | WD/WB - 50 | Wild Card Open - 15 | 4th Place - 5 | Qualifying at National | ||
| Novice - 5 | Wild Card Utilty - 20 | 3rd Place -10 | TD or TDU - 200 | |||
| Open - 10 | BOB Participation - 100 | RHIT - 25 | Pre Utility - 18 | 2nd Place - 15 | TDX or VST - 300 | |
| Exc - 15 | Select - 75 | HIT - 50 | Grad Nov - 12 | 1st Place - 20 | CT - 500 | |
| Master -25 | Grad Open - 17 | |||||
| T2B - 10 | Versatility - 18 | |||||
| Prem - 15 | RHIT - 25 | HIT Novice - 10 | ||||
| MACH pts X10 | HIT - 50 | Hi Triple Q - 25 | HIT Advanced - 20 | |||
| PACH pts X5 | HC - 50 | HC - 25 | HIT Excellent - 30 | |||
| Agility Victor/Victrix 100 | Grand Victor/Grand Victrix - 100 | Herding Victor/Victrix 100 | Obedience Victor/Victrix 100 | Rally Victor/Victrix 100 | Scentwork Victor/Victrix 100 |
