National Futurity Standards
The National Futurity, sponsored by the NGSPA, will be held for the purpose of promoting the development of National Caliber Class All-Age or Shooting Dogs and to give breeders, exhibitors, and spectators an opportunity to compare and evaluate the results of their breeding to the results obtained by other breeders.
The type of dog to be honored in this stake is one that shows the potential to go on and win the important stakes in the country including: the National Championship, the National Amateur Championship, the National Shooting Dog Championship, Species Championships (i.e., the National Pheasant Championship, the National Quail Championship, and the National Chuckar Championship), or any of the sanctioned Regional Championships of one hour duration.
The “single” futurity concept creates an environment of all-age and shooting dog potential candidates competing over the same course together. This places an extra burden on the judges. They must recognize the potential that the dog is displaying and judge it accordingly. The best dog, be it an allage or shooting dog, should emerge based on its potential and performance. In the event that an all-age and a shooting dog are being considered for the winner and the dogs cannot be separated by performance, the all-age dog will break the tie.
Because of the nomination cycles for breeders, the age range of the dogs competing will be from sixteen (16) months of age to twenty-eight (28) months of age. The judging criteria of “Minimum Derby Requirements” should accommodate all the entrants with respect to the variance of ages but should never be lowered so as to lose sight of the above-mentioned standard.
The winning dog must:
- Demonstrate intense desire to find game.
- Show determination, which is demonstrated by its application under adverse conditions, such as unusually heavy cover, unpleasant weather, bad footing, and terrain.
- Voluntarily run an aggressive forward course performing to its potential.
- Show a consistent pattern, intelligently hunting and adjusting to the terrain and cover.
- Hunt independently of its bracemate and not show a tendency to seek easy footing.
- Demonstrate Class. The term “Class” in this instance has reference to the manner of the going of the dog as to speed, loftiness, gait, and general appearance, such as you would expect to find in a superlative bird dog.
- Handle game with intelligence, although not necessarily with complete manners. If game is encountered, he should point staunchly and with style, but not necessarily steady to wing and shot.
