THE PENNSYLVANIA SLED DOG CLUB
2005/2006 RACE AND WEIGHT PULL PACKET

Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club Policy on Sportsmanship

Adopted by the PSDC Board of Directors, November 1991

The sports of sled dog racing and weight pulling in Pennsylvania are now obtaining more sponsorship, media coverage and spectator support. With this additional publicity of our sport, comes added responsibility.

The Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club is aware of its responsibility to present sled dog racing and weight pulling to the public and the media in appositive, enlightened manner. To this end, The Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club Board of Directors will instruct all club officials at all club events that humane treatment of sled dogs and good sportsmanship must prevail at all times.

Competitors, both club members and non-members, may be subject to official warning(s) and/or disqualification for infractions of ISDRA rules in these areas.

The decision of the Chief Judge shall be final in all cases. The Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club Board of Directors shall support the decision(s) of its club officials.

In addition, in accordance with ISDRA procedure, entries into any ISDRA sanctioned event may be disallowed for just cause. The Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club considers disqualification at a PSDC event For abuse of dog (s) and/or bad sportsmanship to be just cause for refusing entry into subsequent PSDC events. Such refused entry into PSDC events must be approved by a majority vote of the PSDC Board of Directors.

"No Presence, No Presents Policy" adopted by the PSDC Board Aug. 7, 1998. All contestants who have won awards at PSDC events must be present at the designed award ceremony to receive his/her awards. If the award winner cannot be present, it is the winner's responsibility to designate a person to pick up the award and to notify the race organizer that a substitution is being made. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the monies not being awarded will go back to the general fund and will be added to club's contribution the following year.

ISDRA Sled Bag Rule:

A sled shall be equipped with a ventilated dog bag adequate for the safety of the dog, capable of restraining a struggling or incapacitated dog and covering a dog. No part of the dog shall be able to extend beyond the bottom, sides, or back of the basket. A minimum of 93.0 square inches (600 sq.cm) of ventilation must be provided.

Competitor Information Sheet:

All competitors will be required to provide a copy of the competitor information sheet at the time of entry. Competitor should photocopy these completed forms in advance for ease of entry. Competitor information sheets are included in this race packet and can also be printed from the club web site www.pennsleddogclub.com

New Helmet Rule:

All Juniors and Pee Wee competitors in all PSDC events are required to wear mid-impact helmets. Parents or guardians are to provide these helmets.

Purebred Status:

  1. All dogs on team must have AKC (American Kennel Club), CKC (Canadian Kennel Club), UKC (United Kennel Club) registration papers on hand for inspection by the Race Marshall. The papers should be available, but only need to be seen if challenged by another driver.
  2. Dogs do not have to be all one breed, as long as each is a registered dog. For example - lead dog is a Siberian Husky and the wheel dogs are Doberman Pinscher.
  3. Race Registrar must know about the Purebred entry before the first day start of race.

PSDC Trophy Policy:

First, Second and Third place trophies will be awarded in all classes with the following exceptions:

  • All Pee Wee competitors shall receive ribbons.
  • A trophy for the fastest 1 ? dog team will also be awarded in the 1 -2 dog Junior class.

PSDC Race & Weight Pull Policies:

  • ISDRA rule option: NO WHIPS ALLOWED.
  • Regulation dog bags are required.
  • ISDRA rules will be applied to all events and classes.
  • ISDRA membership is required for competition in ISDRA sanctioned classes.
  • All dogs must be secured at all times.
  • A time cut off of 1.5 will be used for the Unlimited Class only at Tug Hill & Pack Forest.
  • All Junior & Pee Wee competitors are required to wear helmets.
  • Freight class drivers are required to provide their own weight. PSDC policy requires ___ lbs. per dog in all PSDC freight races.
  • Driver's meeting for all PSDC events will be held promptly at 8:00 am Saturday at the race and/or weight pull site.
  • PSDC policy requires each kennel to mark their race site parking spot with a readable sign giving kennel name and driver's name. Each truck shall park in their marked spot for the entire week-end.
  • Any driver who has competed in four (4) or more ISDRA sanctioned races is ineligible to receive any awards in PSDC sportsman classes. Such competitor may participate in sportsman classes for exhibition only. Times will be posted, but no placing will be shown.
  • ISDRA Drug rules SHALL be enforced.

PSDC Sportsman/Sanctioned Class Policy:

The following policy will cover PSDC point award system for the Sportsman and Sanctioned classes for all club championships. Points will be awarded according to these guidelines in two categories. Gig races and snow races and awards will be presented in each category at the spring meeting.

A musher may complete in any ISDRA sanctioned class and may still complete in Sportsman class so long as the Sportsman class that he/she competes in has more dogs than the sanctioned class he/she competes in. He/she will be eligible to earn club points in both the sanctioned and sportsman classes and receive race awards as well as club points for the entire season.

In the event the musher moves to an ISDRA sanctioned class in a club event with the same number of dogs his/her points will move from the Sportsman class to the Sanctioned class. The musher will not be allowed to complete in that Sportsman class or one with less dogs for club points or race day awards for the remainder of the season.

In the event that amid season does not offer sanctioned classes, moochers who have earned points in the same sanctioned class will have those points added to their current sanctioned class total. In these races all musher's will be eligible for race day awards.

A musher may compete in club events in an ISDRA sanctioned class and may still run the same or less dogs in a Sportsman class "for exhibition only". The musher will receive no club points, nor may receive any race day awards in the Sportsman class.

PSDC Entry Procedure:

  1. All entries close the Wednesday prior to the race/weight pull weekend.
  2. No telephone entries will be accepted.
  3. Entrants must forward to the appropriate registrar completed entry forms, race and/or weight pull competitor's information form and a check or money order for the appropriate amount (US funds) made payable to PSDC.
  4. Late entries will be accepted until 8:00 am on the Saturday of the event at 1-1/2 (one and one half) the regular entry fee. Entries for the 1 ? 2 dogs Junior Class will not be subject to late fees.
  5. A $5.00 (five dollar) bib deposit fee is to be added to the entry fee of all competitors in ISDRA sanctioned classes, non-sanctioned classes, 1-2 dog Junior and Pee-Wee. Weight pull handlers need only pay one (1) bib deposit fee, regardless of the number of dogs handled. The $5.00 (five dollar) bib deposit fee will be refunded when the competitor/handler turns in their completed ISDRA report and PSDC bib.
  6. In the event of a race and/or weight pull cancellation, all entry checks will be destroyed unless the entrant sends a self-address stamped envelope with the entry. Entrants using a pre-paid form of payment, such as a money order, are reminded to include a stamped, self-address envelope.
  7. Regular entries may be cancelled or changed up to 8:00 pm on the Tuesday prior to the race/weight pull weekend by notifying the appropriate registrar. Entries are considered final thereafter and no refunds will be made for "NO SHOWS". Class changes made after Tuesday will be subject to late fee charges.
  8. Bib drawings will be held at the registrar's home at 8:00 pm on the Thursday prior to the race weekend.
  9. Returned checks will be subject to a $20.00 fee. Person(s) not covering both the original amount of the check, plus the $20.00 returned check fee will not be regarded as a member in good standing; and as such, will not be eligible to hold office or note and will be subject to non-member fees at club events.