The following are the revised rules for the Coverdog Award Program Sponsored by Purina. The revised rules supersede previous rules.
COVERDOG AWARDS PROGRAM SPONSORED BY PURINA.
The coverdog field trial year begins on July 1st of each year and concludes on June 30th of the following year. Example: July 1, 2026, starts the year and June 30, 2027, ends the year.
All Essential Data Sheets are to be turned into the Secretary in 40 days after the completion of the trial OR by June 30th of that trial year. If a trial concludes on June 15th, the club has 40 days (July 25th) to submit Essential Data Sheet. Failure to do so will result in points for that trial being forfeited.
COMBINED RULES FOR SHOOTING DOG AND DERRBY:
The overall rules for the Coverdog Awards are that the trials must be open, pay a significant purse, and must not limit entries.
1. All Open approved Championships that run on Ruffed Grouse and North American Woodcock count for points.
2. The trial must not limit entries or refuse any eligible runnable dog as defined by "The Minimum Requirements for Dogs". Entrants must also be in "good standing" with the UKC and/or The American Field.
3. A Pursed deemed significant must be awarded to the winning handler.
4. Probationary Period: A new club or a new stake must be run for two consecutive years to be eligible for points. The club must apply and be approved by the points committee in order to receive points. The club should run in accordance with the other listed criteria during this period to best assure points eligibility during this probationary period. If a points stake is not held for two years, its status will revert back to the above-mentioned probationary period.
5. Significant format changes of a stake which may result in a significant points swing may also take 2 years until the higher points kick in.
6. Each club will receive Coverdog Award points for one stake in the fall and one stake in the spring.
7. To receive Purina support (Coverdog Award points), all trial ads placed with the UKC, must include the Purina logo. No other dog food can be advertised nor have a presence at the event.
RULES SPECIFIC TO THE SHOOTING DOG:
The formula by which the Coverdog of the Year and Coverdog Handler of the Year sponsored by Purina are calculated as follows:
Champion: 12 X number of dogs entered Runner Up: 8 X number of dogs entered
Should a Championship stake be reverted to a shooting dog stake, no points will be awarded.
RULES SPECIFIC TO DERBY:
1. A derby stake must be schedules and run in conjunction with a scheduled and officially recognized open, all-breed, broke dog stake in order to be eligible for points.
2. In order to win the award a derby must have at least one placement where a grouse and/or a woodcock was pointed.
Derby points are calculated as follows: 30 minute stake: First place: 4 X number of dogs entered Second place: 2 X number of dogs entered Third Place: 1 X number of dogs entered
Grouse Futurity Points: First Place: 4 X number of dogs entered Second Place: 3 X number of dogs entered Third Place: 2 X number of dogs entered Fourth Place: 1 X number of dogs entered
One hour stake to receive double points: First place: 8 X number of dogs entered Second place: 4 X number of dogs entered Third place: 2 X number of dogs entered
Any new rules or points trial shall require a majority vote by the committee to enact. In case of a tie, the Secretary casts a vote to break the tie.
Coverdog Awards Sponsored by Purina committee members: Great Lakes region: Scott Chaffee and Bryan Wood Mid-Atlantic Region: Joe Cammissa and Dave Hughes New England Region: John Stolgitis and Eric Rizza Secretary: Bruce Mueller
I did pin a copy of this post to the top of the board and it will stay there as long as these rules are valid. The post that stays pinned to the top can not have replies made to it.
on 7/22/2026, 6:48 am