Awards Program Overview
USASA proudly gives special recognition to its members and their dogs through several USASA awards programs. These programs are only open to USASA members.
USASA Standings Program
The USASA Standings Program recognizes the top ten Aussies in Conformation as well as in four Performance sports: Herding, Obedience, Rally and Agility. The program is available to all Aussies owned or co-owned by a USASA member in good standing.
Separate rankings are maintained in most classes and divisions within each sport. The ranking scores are based on the three highest scores and all placements received by each Aussie during the January 1 through December 31 award period. Updates to the ranking scores are calculated monthly.
The Aussies with the top ten ranking scores in each class/division at year-end are the Standings Program winners. They are listed in the Australian Shepherd Journal. Owners of the first place dogs are invited to submit a photo of their dogs to accompany the lists. First place dogs are awarded an engraved plaque to commemorate their achievement while the 2nd through 10th place dogs are awarded a certificate.
The monthly standings updates are available in the Good Shepherd email newsletter and in the Standings Program section of this web page. That section also has the complete rules for the program.
Record of Merit Program
USASA recognizes those sires and dams that have produced titled offspring through the Record of Merit Program. It consists of three sections:
Record of Merit (ROM) recognizes sires and dams that have produced titled offspring in Conformation, Obedience/Rally, or Performance. There are three levels based on the number of titled offspring from one category.
Record of Merit Excellent (ROMX) recognizes sires and dams that have produced titled offspring in all three categories: Conformation, Obedience/Rally, and Performance. There are three levels of ROMX based on the number of titled offspring in each category.
Hall of Fame Excellent (HOFX) recognizes sires and dams that have completed all six categories (ROM I, ROM II, ROM III, ROMX I, ROMX II, and ROMX III). There are three levels of the HOFX program. Level one, or HOFX I, requires the sire or dam to have earned ROMX III as well as one category of ROM III. Level two, or HOFX II, requires the sire or dam to have earned ROMX III as well as two categories of ROM III. Level three, or HOFX III, requires the sire or dam to have earned ROMX III as well as all three categories of ROM III.
Refer to the Record of Merit Program Rules and Application Form for more details.
Hall of Fame Breeder Program
USASA offers special recognition to those breeders who have bred titled dogs in all areas of competition and meet specific criteria through the prestigious Hall of Fame Breeder Program. Breeders must earn at least 100 points with at least two titles in conformation, two titles in obedience and at least four titles in performance (agility, herding, tracking) with at least two of the titles being earned in herding.
Refer to the Hall of Fame Breeder Program Rules and Application Form for more details including the point schedule.
Hall of Fame Excellent Breeder Program
In addition to the Hall of Fame Breeder Award, USASA offers the Hall of Fame Excellent Award to extend special recognition to those breeders who have not only bred titled dogs in all areas of competition, but who have also reached higher level of achievement. Breeders must earn at least 250 points with the following requirements:
20 Conformation Champion Titles
10 Obedience\Rally Titles (A dog can count CD or CDX and RE but not CD and CDX, AND at least
three (3) of the obedience titles must be CDX or higher)
10 Agility Titles (A dog can count NA or NAJ but only one agility title per dog AND at least three (3) of the agility titles must be OA\OAJ or higher)
4 Herding titles (A dog can obtain Started titles but each dog can only count one title)
5 Performance Champion Titles as follows:
Master Agility Champion (MACH) or
Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH) or
Herding Champion (HC)
Refer to the Hall of Fame Excellent Breeder Program Rules and Application Form for more details (including the point schedule).
Versatility Awards
USASA is proud to offer four awards, specifically targeted at recognizing individual Australian Shepherds and their breeders, owners, and handlers for accomplishments in diverse venues representative of the versatility of our breed. To earn the Versatility Certificate, Versatility Excellence Certificate, Performance Certificate, and Performance Excellence Certificate, dogs must have earned titles in multiple venues, proving that they are indeed, versatile.
VC REQUIREMENTS: Dog must have earned titles with points in 3 of 5 AKC categories (Conformation, Obedience/Rally, Tracking, Herding, Agility). At least one title must be earned in conformation and one must be a herding title – any stock or course, started level or beyond. A total of 20 points or more are required to earn the VC.
VCX REQUIREMENTS: Dog must have earned titles with points in at least 4 of the 5 AKC categories (Conformation, Obedience/Rally, Tracking, Herding, Agility). One of these titles must be earned in conformation and one must be earned in herding. For the VCX, the herding requirement may be fulfilled one of two ways – 1) by earning an intermediate title (any stock and course) or by earning two started titles (two different stock, any course). A total of 30 points or more must be earned.
PC REQUIREMENTS: Dog must have earned titles with points in 3 of the 4 following AKC categories (Obedience/Rally, Tracking, Herding, Agility). At least one title must be a herding title – any stock or course, started level or beyond. A total of 20 points or more are required to earn the PC.
PCX REQUIREMENTS: Dog must have earned titles with points in at least 3 of the following 4 AKC categories (Obedience/Rally, Tracking, Herding, Agility). One of these titles must be earned in herding. For the PCX, the herding requirement may be fulfilled one of two ways – 1) by earning an intermediate title (any stock and course) or by earning two started titles (two different stock, any course). A total of 30 points or more must be earned.
Please refer to the Versatility and Performance Awards Rules and Application Form for more details.
Contact Information
Annual Awards Program:
Jeff Margeson
PH: (240) 674-7158
Email: stonehavenaussies@gmail.com
ROM & HOF Breeder Programs:
Kathrin Johnson
6814 114th Street
Lubbock, TX 79424
Email: rainydayaussies@aol.com