Working Dog Title Program

The Working Alaskan Malamute  

The Alaskan Malamute Club Victoria's Working Dog (WD) Program was initiated in 1997 to encourage people to work their dogs. Dogs can be certified in three fields: sledding, backpacking and weight pulling.

The awards in sledding are WTD (Working Team Dog) or WLD (Working Lead Dog); in weight pulling WWPD (Working Weight Pull Dog); and in backpacking WPD (Working Pack Dog). Each field has a number of specific requirements which must be met, and these are set out in the Rules.

Working Team Dog:  For the Working Team Dog in sledding the dog must qualify in three different races, but beyond that there are a number of options as to distance, number of dogs per team, and what speed will be acceptable. A sledding award can be won by "excursion" miles as well as by racing, or a combination of the two.  There is a freight team where a minimum weight per dog must be added to the weight of the sled: and a cross country team with a suggested minimum distance of 32 km per day.

Working Lead Dog:  For the Working Lead Dog, the same requirements as for Working Team Dog apply, except that the dog must run single lead on a team consisting of at least three dogs.

Working Weight Pull Dog:  The dog must qualify in four separate events. On natural surfaces the dog must pull at least 8 times its weight (over a specified distance and within a specified length of time), and on artificial surfaces, 12 time its weight.

Working Pack Dog:  The packing requirements must be spread out over at least two trips, and must be on natural terrain, such as hiking trails or cross country. The dog must carry a weight equal to at least 30% of its own weight completing of a total distance of 64 kilometres, with each trip a minimum of 16 kilometres. 

Working Dog Excellent (WDX) Programs consist of the same fields but with considerably more stringent requirements in each. The corresponding titles are WTDX, WLDX, WWPDX and WPDX.

Awards may be earned at events that are not AMCV-sponsored and at non-competitive events such as backpacking trips and sledding trips, however unless the circumstances are extenuating these events are to be conducted by a recognised organisation or club. In these instances an applicant must provide the required forms, signed by an approved official or impartial witness.

The WD level requires a minimal amount of training and conditioning and should not be beyond the means of any sound Malamute. The WDX on the other hand was intended to recognise a very considerable achievement, and a dog without a good attitude and physical abilities would not be able to complete the WDX requirements as written.

Owners of Alaskan Malamutes wishing to earn a working award may obtain the application forms by writing to the Secretary or any member of the Working Dog Certification Subcommittee.  

AMCV WORKING DOG CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS  

Purpose

To encourage people to work their Alaskan Malamute in the pursuits for which they were intended.  To provide certification for those Alaskan Malamutes or associate dogs proven in these pursuits.  To thus encourage the breeding of a better Alaskan Malamute.   Scope The role of the Working Dog Title Subcommittee is to:

  • establish criteria for certification of the working Malamute.
  • establish those specialties for which a Malamute may receive certification.
  • establish the rules for certification.
  • revise the criteria as required to improve the certification program.

The criteria may be modified, amended, corrected, or otherwise changed, or the program may be discontinued upon the recommendation of the majority of the Subcommittee upon the approval of the AMCV membership.

The working dog certification program shall be self supporting and thereby not be a burden to AMCV.  Certification charges shall be sufficient to pay for printing and mailing of certificates and any unforeseen costs.  

Fields of Certification

  • Working Team Dog
  • Working Lead Dog
  • Working Weight Pull Dog
  • Working Pack Dog  

Eligibility

  1. The Alaskan Malamute shall be registered or registrable with a recognised kennel club (FCI recognised).
  2. Associate titles:  Dogs that do not comply with the eligibility requirements of a) above may achieve the title of Associate Working Dog in each of the fields of certification.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

All races or weight pull events entered shall be open events and must meet the requirements of this document. Open events are those that are not restricted to club members only and are sufficiently advertised so that non-club members may participate for a nominal charge. 

It is the responsibility of the dog owners to make sure that their dogs are sufficiently trained and conditioned that they pose no hazard to the health or welfare of themselves or other dogs participating in the event.  Any team proven a hazard to other teams or mushers shall be disqualified from certification.  Any driver/handler who displays poor sportsmanship, places any dog’s welfare in jeopardy or abuses his dogs shall be disqualified from certification.

It is the responsibility of the dog owner to obtain and mail all the necessary documents, signatures and otherwise complete all requirements to get their dogs certified by AMCV. 

In order to discourage irresponsible practices that could place the wellbeing of a dog in jeopardy, the event organiser has the right to disqualify a dog or team for any valid reason as agreed on by the working or event committee.  

CERTIFIED DOGS

Any dog certified by AMCV shall be privileged to use the title in any AMCV literature.  

PROTESTS

Any person wishing to protest the eligibility of a dog or dog team, the qualification of an event for certification purposes, or protest any violation of race rules or certification requirements, must do so immediately following the conclusion of the event. 

The protest may be verbal but must be followed by a written statement to the race Marshall or chief judge of the event within 10 days with a copy to the certification committee.  The committee shall notify the concerned parties of the protest in order that they may file a rebuttal.  It shall be the responsibility of the certification committee to decide whether or not the protest is valid by a 2/3 majority vote.   

DOCUMENTS AND PROCESSING

Any person found guilty of willingly falsifying documents in order to certify a dog shall be ineligible for certification.  (Falsifying records may consist of a dog’s name, forging documents or otherwise making false claims to certify a dog).

The Working Dog Title subcommittee shall consist of the AMCV Vice President - Activities (Chairperson), the three AMCV working Activities Co-ordinators (Sledding, Weight-pull & Backpacking Co-ordinators), plus one other Committee member to be appointed by the AMCV Committee following the Annual General Meeting.  This additional subcommittee member should preferably have experience in all three working activities, and preferably have titled dogs in some or all of the activities (Excellence level preferred).

Certification application forms may be obtained from the Working Dog Title Subcommittee Chairperson, AMCV Secretary or can be downloaded from the AMCV website "Documents & Forms" page.  The completed forms, with payment, shall be returned to the AMCV Secretary, and will be forwarded to the Working Dog Title Subcommittee for review. 

If the applicant has completed the requirements and documentation to the satisfaction of the Working Dog Title Subcommittee, the application will then be tabled before the AMCV Committee for approval and the member notified of the outcome.  

OFFICIALS

Judges, or other necessary officials may be AMCV members or other persons the Committee recognises and accepts as having necessary qualifications. 

Applications from competitive events must be signed by an event official. Officials for approving a packing excursion shall be impartial persons accepted by the committee as having the necessary qualifications and integrity. 

If a club event the witness may be club official or event organiser. If an individual event, the witness must be experienced in the field being assessed, preferably who has completed titles to the AMCV WD or WDX standard, and is sufficiently experienced to assess the ability of the dog and, if necessary, be prepared to disqualify the participants if the standards are not being met or if the dog’s wellbeing is in jeopardy. The mailing address of the official must be provided on the application form.  

Definitions

  • Race Marshall  is appointed by and reports to the race giving club, but has complete and full charge and responsibility for the race from the time it starts through to its completion.  All other officials report directly to him and are responsible to him in all matters.  He has the final word and the power to cancel or stop the race under extenuating circumstances, weather or trail conditions.  Can disqualify or refuse teams at the start, at his discretion.  He must be experienced, capable and responsible expert in the sport of dog racing.  He will chair the drivers meeting, officials meeting and protest committee.

  • Time Recorder     is responsible for the recording of the time made by all teams during the race.  He may have an assistant known as a recorder.  He is responsible to the race Marshall.  It is his responsibility to use proper and adequate equipment for this purpose.  He shall act on the protest committee.

  • Chief Judge     shall report and be responsible to the race Marshall.  He shall be in charge of the judges, the dog marker and his assistants.  He shall deal directly with all drivers and will receive any protests or complaints.  He shall be in charge of starting and finish line, and remain at this position during all heats of the race.  He will examine teams at the start and finish and has power to disqualify dogs unfit to run in his opinion.

  • Trail Judge     shall report directly to the race Marshall and is responsible for laying out, preparation of, and marking the race trail.  He should be familiar with the requirements of a race trail suitable for dog teams, to do his utmost to prepare a trail that will not have dangerous corners, road crossings, etc. that can be hazardous to dogs and driver.  He is responsible for patrolling the race trail during the race, and placing the trail stewards at locations as may be required.

  • Protest Committee     shall consist of race Marshall, chief judge, trail judge, and time keeper to settle all disputes, complaints and protests.  To levy all penalties and disqualifications.  Decisions of this Committee are final and irrevocable.

  • Spotter and Trail Steward     is a person located at corner or intersection of trail, responsible for directing teams in corrections and reporting any incorrect occupants to trail judge.
    Racer     is a person participating in a race or races.

  • Trainer     is a person who trains sled dogs for racing, freighting or weight pulling.  

SLEDDING EVENT RULES AND REQUIREMENTS

  • Sledding - snow or wheeled cart.
  • Races shall be held under AMCV or ISDRA rules plus any amendments created by the officiating club’s race rules, as long as they do not change the basic requirements of AMCV/ISDRA rules.
  • The applicant shall pay the costs of entries plus payment to the AMCV for certification processing.    

Working Team Dog

To earn the "WTD." title the following requirements must be met:

  1. Vehicle may be snow sled or wheeled cart.
  2. Team does not have to be all Malamute.
  3. Dog does not have to run on same team each time.
  4. Certification may be achieved by one of the following two methods.

Method 1 - Racing      

  1. Dog must qualify in three different races.  The races may be any class. The dog may run in any combination of three races.   Minimum number of teams competing is three. Races must be run under ISDRA rules or the rules must have been approved by the Committee. 
    Each heat may count as a race as long as it fulfils the above requirements.
  1. The team must complete the race in an acceptable speed as determined by the committee.  Under normal conditions this will be 14.5 KPH for the sprint class and 11 KPH for freight races.  Under conditions of extreme weather or terrain, the Committee may accept a slower average time.
  2. OR the team must complete the race in the top 30% of the competition.
  1. Required distances will be determined by the class in which the dog is running. Required distances will be 1.6 kilometres for each dog on the team with a minimum of 4.8 kilometres required.  The freight class shall be a minimum of 8 kilometres with a minimum of 20 kilograms for each dog on the team added to the weight of the sled/gig.

Method 2 - Racing

  1. Dog must accumulate a minimum of 40 race kilometres. The dog must have completed the course in all races considered.  Races must be a minimum of 8 kilometres if a freight race.  Distances of Method 1 apply.
  2. The dog must complete all races in an acceptable amount of time as determined by the Committee – see Addendum.
  3. All events must be certified by a race official or an impartial witness – See addendum.

Method 3 - Excursion

Dog must accumulate a minimum of 65 sledding excursion kilometres. Dog or dogs must pull sled a minimum of 16 kilometres per excursion.  An event official or impartial witness must sign the form to be sent to the Committee verifying proof of distances and dog or dogs competing – see addendum.

Method 4 - Combination racing and Excursion

One or two 16 kilometre or longer races may count towards the total of 65 excursion kilometres. Race events must comply with the requirements of Method 2B & C. Races that comply with methods 1 & 2 above may be combined with excursion kilometres to a total of 65kms.  

In addition:

  • For an event to count towards a WTD or WLD title the dog must be working and contributing to the team effort.
  • To constitute an “acceptable” speed under Methods 2, 3 and 4 the team must achieve the following:
  • Race events (less than 16 km) –  average of at least 11.2 kph
  • Excursion distance events* (16 km or more) –  average of at least 10 kph *teams that have completed a heat of at least 16 continuous kilometres at a speed between 10 – 11.2 kph can opt to have that event counted as an excursion for the purpose of the Working Team & Lead Titles under methods 3 and 4. (amended 3/7/06)  

Addenda

  1. Each heat shall be counted as a race for the following reasons.
    ·   Heats are occasionally run to establish the top teams in each heat. The top teams or team then running in a final heat.
    ·   Occasionally the first heat is completed, but musher, dogs or equipment may be too damaged to compete in the next heat or heats.
    ·   A change in weather or other conditions may cause heats to be cancelled.
  2. When certifying by accumulating 40 race kilometres, completing one race of 40 kilometre or more is qualifying.
  3. Witness – must be acceptable to the working committee.  Must be impartial (ie friend, relative or neighbour not suitable).  Needs to be someone with knowledge of rules and experience in sledding.    

Working Team Dog Excellent

To earn the "WTDX" title the following requirements must be met:

  1. Race rules shall be AMCV, ISDRA, other nationally recognised rules, or rules previously approved by the committee.
  2.  Dogs may run on any size team and need not run on the same team for each event. Sledding may be Alaskan style or Nordic style (single file team pulling a pulk).
  3.  Teams must pull sleds or wheeled carts.
  4.  Total mileage for all applicants shall be 290 kilometres.
    The distance of each event will be as determined by the committee depending on terrain and weather conditions and must be completed in an acceptable speed as determined by the committee.
    However, generally speaking:
  1. Races must be a minimum of 96.5 continuous kilometres or two or more heats of at least 64 kilometres where the applicant has completed at least two consecutive heats.
  2. Backcountry excursion trips shall be a minimum of 96 kilometres and shall incorporate backcountry areas inaccessible by regular vehicles. The team must travel as a self-sufficient unit hauling supplies necessary for the trip. Examples of suitable places are Forests, parks or other areas. If the trip takes place in a Wilderness type area where there are no defined trails and dogs may be expected to break trail, the trip must be a minimum of 64 kilometres.
  3. Under no circumstances will acceptable distances be less than 75 kilometres ran in consecutive heats of 25 kilometres over 2 days.
  4. The team must complete the event in an acceptable speed as determined by the committee. Under normal conditions this will be 14 kilometres per hour or 11 KPH for freight and cross-country races. Under conditions of extreme weather or terrain, the Committee may accept a slower average time.
  5.  Under no circumstances will an acceptable speed be less than 10 kilometres per hour or in the case of a freight event, 8 kilometres per hour.
  6.  If participating as a freight class, teams must carry a minimum of 20 kilograms per dog added to the weight of the sled or cart, not including the musher.

E.      Dogs must be at least 24 months old. Additionally, evidence of a vet check having been undertaken no more than 4 weeks prior to the event in question, must be provided on the day of the event for any dogs over the age of 7.  The vet check must assess the dog’s suitability to take part in strenuous exercise.  Owners of dogs over 7 years of age are also required to sign a disclaimer denoting that the owner(s) & or musher of the dog will take responsibility for whatever circumstances that may arise from any such event.

 

Working Lead Dog

To earn the "WLD" title the following requirements must be met:

  1. DOG MUST RUN SINGLE LEAD on a team consisting of 3 dogs minimum.
  2. Lead dog requirements are identical to those for working team dog.
  3. Dog does not have to lead the same team each time to qualify.
  4. Dog does not have to run on an all Malamute team.
  5. Dog must run on the LEADING team if 2 or more teams are travelling together.    

Working Lead Dog Excellent

The WLDX award shall be for dogs who have completed requirements for the WTDX, who have completed at least 75%* of those requirements running single lead in a team of at least three dogs, where that team is also the lead for approximately 50% of the time if several teams are travelling together.

* The 75% requirement for a dog to be in single lead of a team of at least 3 dogs applies to the total of 290 km, and not to each qualifying event.  

WTDX & WLDX

  • For an event to count towards a WTDX or WLDX title the dog must be working and contributing to the team effort.
  • Witness – must be acceptable to the working committee.  Must be impartial (ie friend, relative or neighbour not suitable).  Needs to be someone with knowledge of rules and experience in sledding.    
     

Working Weight Pull Dog

To earn the "WWPD" title the following requirements must be met:

A.      A dog must qualify in 4 separate events. Dogs must be weighed before each event.

  1. On natural surfaces such as snow or dirt the weight pulled must equal or exceed 8 times the dog's weight.
  2. On artificial surfaces such as concrete, carpet etc, the weight pulled must equal or exceed 12 times the dog's weight.

B.      ISDRA, AMCA, IWPA or AMCV rules must be used in qualifying for a weight pull certificate.    

Working Weight Pull Dog Excellent

To earn the "WWPDX" title the following requirements must be met:

A.      ISDRA, AMCA, IWPA, AMCV or other previously approved, nationally recognised rules shall be used.

B.      All dogs must be weighed at each event.

C.     Dogs must qualify in 5 competitions by:

  1.  Pulling 14 times his body weight on snow with a sled.
  2. Pulling 16 times his weight on any other natural surface with a wheeled cart.
  3. Pulling the following weights by weight class, on a man made surface:
    •     27-36 kg class - 23 times the dog's weight
    •     36-45 kg class - 21 times the dog's weight
    •     Over 45 kg Class - 19 times the dog's weight
  4.  In addition to requirements 1, 2 or 3 the dog must place in the top 1/3 of his weight class in each event. In the event the top 1/3 comes out as a fraction, that dog will qualify.
  5.  If at a competition over 75% of the dogs pull the required weight, that pull will be disallowed.    

 Working Pack Dog

To earn the "WPD" title the following requirements must be met:

  1. Dog must be a minimum of 18 months of age.
  2. Dog must carry a daily initial weight equal to a minimum of 30% of the dog's weight. This weight shall not decrease except by normal consumption of items such as food or water.  The final pack weight must be at least 75% of the initial pack weight requirement.
  3. Pack trips must be on natural terrain such as hiking or cross country trails, but should be restricted to marked trails for safety purposes.  Suitable locations for pack trips include State Forests, parks, hiking and undeveloped natural terrain.
  4. Dog must pack a minimum of 64 kilometres.  Each trip must be a minimum of 16 kilometres per day.
  5. Elevation gain may be substituted for kilometres in the following manner: 300 metres of elevation is equivalent to 1.6 kilometres of flat terrain. Elevation gain will be figured as the difference between the highest and lowest points of the trip.
  6. Packing requirements shall be spread out over a minimum of 2 trips.
  7. An impartial witness or Committee representative must sign the form to be sent to the Committee verifying proof of distances, weights and dog competing.    

Working Pack Dog Excellent

To earn the "WPDX" title the following requirements must be met:

  1. Dog must be a minimum of 24 months of age.
  2. Dog must have successfully completed at least one hike to the WPD standard.
  3. The dog's weight and the weight of his pack must be verified by an impartial witness or trip official prior to the start of the trip. The dog shall carry an initial load of at least 30% of his body weight. The weight carried shall not decrease except by normal consumption of items such as food or water. The final pack weight must be at least 50% of the initial pack weight requirement.
  4. Pack trips must incorporate backcountry trails with the dogs and hikers carrying equipment necessary for the trip. Hikers must be self-sufficient and may not receive outside assistance other than in cases of emergency, for provision of water or medical aid.  Backcountry is a remote area, inaccessible and unsuited to regular vehicular traffic at the time of the trip, where support and aid is not generally available. Campouts will be necessary due to the distance requirements. Campouts may take place in the backcountry, at trailheads, roadside camping areas and the like, but not at commercial campgrounds or established accommodation. Suitable locations for pack trips include State Forests, parks, hiking and undeveloped natural terrain.
  5. A total of 192 kilometres shall be completed in 1 to 3 trips.
  6. Each trip shall be a minimum of 64 kilometres with an average of 16 kilometres per day on travelling days under normal conditions such as maintained trails and normal weather conditions. Day trips from the base camp must adhere to the weight requirements unless the applicant does not wish to include those kilometres in the trip total. On the second and subsequent days of hiking, the dog must commence with at least the final pack weight of the previous day, providing the weight is within the specified guidelines.
  7. Because some trips will take place in mountainous terrain, each 300 metres of elevation gain may be substituted for 1.6 kilometres of the total kilometres requirement.    

Application Forms

AMCV Working Dog Title Application forms can be obtained from the "Documents & Forms" page or from the relevant co-ordinator or the Secretary.  A fee of $30.00 is payable upon submission of applications.

Please note that AMCV Working Dog Titles are not recognised by the ANKC, and may not be used in any VCA/ANKC publication.    

Prepared by the Alaskan Malamute Club, Victoria Inc.

Amended January 1999,July 2006, June 2008. Last Revision dated 12 March, 2009