Applying For A Title

When you are ready to apply for a Title, use the Button to fill out the Title Application.
Then Post and upload your Application to our Facebook group.
We also accept email application: Subject “Attn: Judges”. Include a cover letter

APPLY FOR A TITLE

• No slow-motion sequences.
• No music in videos submitted for judging.
• If you are submitting a team, the dogs must work as a team – not one dog doing more than the other.
• Equipment must properly each dog. The judges will make suggestions and recommendations based on the first video submitted, and on the second. By the third video, the changes are expected to have been made.
• No blocking IADD judges and moderators on Facebook. We must be able to see all opinions and videos.
• No private messaging or contacting the judges in regards to submissions.
• Distance videos should be approximately 2 minutes long. Videos must include a controlled stop and restart.
• Arena videos must be the unaltered/unedited video from start to finish.
• Submit one photo to print in your Title Certificate. The Title will be mailed USPS to you.  At an IADD organized Arena Trial, you will receive a Certificate of Completion that day. Your Title will be mailed within two weeks.
• Drivers will need to present their work via video, photo and text. Facebook is the preferred application method, but we do accept application by email. Comments can be turned off.

LIABILITY

• The owner and driver submitting an application for a driving title do so at their own risk. IADD, its Board and members assume no risk derived from involvement in the sport of dog driving.
• Helmets are advised. Helmets are mandatory for drivers 18 years and under.
• GUIDE LINES
• No dog will be asked to pull more than 3 times its weight. No dog under the age of 6 months may apply for a Ground Driving title. No dog under the age of 20 months may apply for any other title. Vehicle, hitch, and harness must be properly fitted for the dog.
• For all title applications except Ground Driving, the dog must be pulling a driver in a safe vehicle. Acceptable vehicles include but are not limited to sulky, wagon, bicycle, tricycle, scooter, skis, snowboard, dog sled, kick sled, inline skates, skateboard. The vehicle must be able to safely carry the driver and perform each required exercise of the title for which application is being made.
• Drivers must be at least 2 years of age to earn a Fitness, Arena, or Trail Driving title. There is no age limit for Ground Driving. No driver who has been sanctioned by the IADD Board of Directors will be allowed to participate in any manner in Driving Tests until/unless re-instated.
• Any dog, purebred or not, may apply for a title. Titles may be earned by one dog running singly, two dogs running as a pair, or any number running as a team. When two or more dogs are running together, if they earn a title, each individual dog is considered to have earned the title. All dogs driven together must be seen to be useful members of the team. A pair or team must qualify or not as a unit. If the pair or team does not qualify, none of the dogs involved qualifies.
• The decision of the judges shall be final in all matters affecting the working of dogs and drivers and in evaluation of their performance in title applications. Judges officiating a driving title application under these rules will not be subjected to indignities of any kind in regard to said judging.

Please join the Facebook group “International Association of Dog Drivers“. Join the conversation, share about yourself and your dogs. It allows us to get to know you and your dogs, and, in turn, you get to know us. We learn from each other. Familiarity with you assists the Judges when you apply for a Title.

For a Master Title, please provide the name of the title you are applying for. A list of Titles already achieved, photos taken during the ten miles/km both first and second days, a brief description of the two days of driving and a screen shot or photo of a map showing the route and distance traveled.

Praise and Commands.

• The dog may be praised during any test. Commands may be used and repeated as often as necessary, but continuing disobedience may be grounds for receiving a non-qualifying score.

Substitute Driver.

• At the judge’s discretion a driver who is physically unable to perform a certain exercise may have a substitute driver for that exercise. While a substitute driver is driving, the original driver shall remain off to the side and uncommunicative.

Modifications.

• At the judge’s discretion modifications to an exercise or routine will be made to accommodate a driver with disabilities providing that such modification does not aid the dog’s performance or inhibit other dogs and the dog performs all exercises and routines.

Titles In Order.

• Within each category (Fitness, Arena, or Trail Driving), titles must be applied for in order.

Excusals.

• Reasons for excusal include but are not limited to: The dog or driver demonstrating behaviors incompatible with Association goals. The dog panicking at any time. The dog being dragged by a partner dog or by the driver. The dog being out of control or a danger to itself and/or others. The dog behaving in an aggressive manner toward people or other dogs. The dog being clearly uncomfortable with or fearful of the rig. The dog struggling to pull the rig. The dog defecating or urinating on the Ground Driving or Arena Driving course. The driver willfully interfering with another driver or dog. The driver using unnecessary force on the dog.

Non-qualifying performances.

• Reasons for failure to qualify for a title include but are not limited to: Not meeting the minimum requirements. Showing fear, resentment, or aggression. Leaving the course during an exercise. Driver disciplining the dog. Incorrect or poorly fitting equipment. The dog not successfully completing one or more of the exercises. Continual disobedience to oral or physical commands.

Qualifying performances.

• In order to qualify for a title, the dog must competently demonstrate all the exercises and requirements of that title in safe and comfortable equipment. The dog must meet the minimum requirements of the title.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

• It will be deemed unsportsmanlike conduct if any driver or owner on video, abuses or harasses any person or dog present in any capacity during performance of a test. Interfering in any way with another driver or dog will be considered unsportsmanlike behavior. Any driver or owner who displays unsportsmanlike conduct or who is seen to kick, strike or otherwise roughly manhandle a dog on any video submission will be excused from being judged.

DEFINITIONS

• Dog: any single dog (male or female), a pair of dogs, or a team of dogs taking part in a title application.
• Driver: the person responsible for the dog during the test.
• Excused: the judges will stop viewing the video and the submitting driver will be warned.
• IADD: International Association of Dog Drivers.
• Load: what the dog is pulling, or the weight (driver) in the vehicle, depending on the circumstances.
• Non-qualifying: not receiving a passing grade from the judges, did not earn the leg or title.
• Owner: the actual legal owner of the dog.
• Qualifying: earned the title or leg that was applied for.
• Rig: any acceptable vehicle for a titling attempt (see Equipment), including the vehicle itself, the hitch, and the harness.
• Vehicle: the conveyance the dog is using to pull the driver.