The goal of the new versatility program is to create an expanded versatility certification that offers several levels of recognition. This program encourages those focused on one area of activity to try other disciplines to add versatility recognition their dog’s resume. This program is offered only to GSPCA Members in good standing.

The program became active on May 15th 2006. The program intent is to make a meaningful, achievable, verifiable, and easy to run certification that the general club can embrace. If the title is too easy, it isn’t meaningful. Even the lowest level this title must challenge the owner so that, when earned, the title is treasured.

This program is a tiered approach and will encourage the hard-core enthusiast in one area (field or conformation or obedience as examples) to go out to the field, into the ring, or into the training center to try the other disciplines. The program does not require the owner to go all the way – rather, achieving a point in the field, getting a point in the ring, or getting a novice performance title will be recognized and used towards the program.

The owner must apply for this title. The application form is available HERE. The GSPCA Versatility Chairman will maintain a central record keeping function to track the history of this title so that the winners, over time, are recorded in the official GSPCA records.

GSPs with accomplishments earned before this program was created are eligible for the award. Members wishing to recognize dogs must provide documentation on the dog’s achievements (title certificates, etc). Any dog so recognized will be included in the records for this certificate program. All dogs from all time periods whose owners were members of GSPCA will be eligible. The date of the submission of the request will determine the criteria used to determine if a GSP is eligible – not the date of the title – this means that grandfathering will only happen against the rules in effect when the submission is made.

The GSPCA Water Retrieving Designations are a GSPCA award and are recognized in this program. However, the water retrieving certifications do not count towards the requirement to earn field and/or hunt points – these certifications can count for additional points only. Titles from organizations such as NAVHDA, NSTRA, UKC, USDAA, NADAC, CPE, etc. are not eligible for consideration in this program. Since GSPCA is an AKC Member Club, only AKC and GSPCA titles and certifications are allowed.

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