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AKITA
CLUB OF AMERICA
Futurity/Maturity Rules
(April 2006)
The Futurity and Maturity Stakes offer breeders and owners a special opportunity to showcase their youngsters at two consecutive ACA National Specialties. These puppies and young adults represent not only the best efforts of ACA breeders but also the future of the Akita. Since the Futurity competition was inaugurated in 1989, many of its winners have gone on to become Top Ten Akitas and outstanding producers of new generations. In nominating a litter for the Futurity, ACA members are casting votes of confidence in their breeding decisions and indicating their commitment to improving the quality of our dogs. The Futurity and Maturity Stakes seek to encourage highly selective breeding practices and to reward breeders for their achievements. Recognition is also given to the owners for developing the Akita’s inherited potential and to the sire for his genetic contributions. The Maturity Stakes not only provides Futurity-nominated puppies with an additional opportunity to compete but also gives those unable to participate in a Futurity the chance to compete during the next National Specialty.
Futurity Stakes Rules
I. Purpose
To encourage the breeding of the best possible AKITA and to reward all involved for their efforts: the breeder, the owners of the sire, and the owners of the puppy.
II. General
A. The Futurity Stake, held in conjunction with the National Specialty, is entered by nominating a LITTER. Individual puppies from a nominated litter are then eligible to compete in the FIRST Futurity held on or after the date they reach six months of age and the next year’s Maturity, and ONLY in those stakes.
B. Correct and timely nominations of both the litter and the individual puppy are required for stake eligibility.
C. Nomination forms may be obtained from the Futurity Committee or at the ACA website http://www.akitaclub.org/web/forms/forms.html and will be printed periodically in the ACA Update.
III. Nomination of a litter
A. Must be made by the breeder or co-breeder, one of whom has been a member of the AKITA CLUB OF AMERICA for six months prior to the birth of the litter.
B. To avoid penalty, must be after the breeding has occurred but BEFORE the puppies are whelped. Postmark on envelope or date of PayPal transaction establishes date of nomination.
C. Fee is $30.00. Of the litter nomination fee, $10 will go to cover ACA expenses and $20 to Futurity prize money. A Futurity nomination is final and no refunds will be made. Nomination fees can not be transferred from one litter to another or from one Akita to another.
D. Nomination of a litter makes each puppy in that litter eligible for individual nomination and entry into both the Futurity Stakes and following year’s Maturity Stakes.
E. Upon receipt of a litter nomination, the Futurity Committee will send the nominator five puppy nomination forms.
F. Litter nominations will be accepted until four months after the whelping date, with postmark or date of PayPal transaction determining eligibility. Cost of late entry is litter nomination fee plus penalty fee of $40.00. This late fee will be designated to help support rescued Akitas.
IV. Nomination of the Puppy
A. Must be made by the breeder, owner, or co-owner of the puppy. Owners need not be ACA members.
B. To avoid penalty, must be made before the puppy reaches four months of age. Postmark on envelope or date of PayPal transaction establishes date of nomination.
C. Fee is $20.00. Puppies nominated for the Futurity are also automatically nominated for the Maturity Stakes one year hence. Of the puppy nomination fee, $3.00 will go to cover ACA expenses, $10.00 to Futurity prize money, and $7.00 to the next year’s Maturity prize money. A Futurity/Maturity nomination is final and no refunds will be made. Nomination fees can not be transferred from one litter to another or from one Akita to another.
D. Any changes in the identifying information to appear in the ACA National Specialty catalog from that previously provided must be received by the Futurity Committee by the date entries close for the National Specialty. Failure to provide such information will result in ineligibility to compete.
E. Puppy nominations will be accepted until the puppy reaches seven months of age, with postmark or date of PayPal transaction determining eligibility. Cost of late entry is puppy nomination fee plus penalty fee of $40.00. This late fee will be designated to help support rescued Akitas.
V. Entry for Stake Judging
A. Must be entered in one of the regular classes: conformation, obedience, agility, or rally at the ACA National Specialty Show.
B. Futurity Stakes entry must be indicated as an additional class on the official AKC entry form. There is a $10.00 fee for this additional class.
C. Additional class entry must include age division. Individual puppies from a nominated litter are eligible to compete in the FIRST annual Futurity held on or after the date they reach six months of age, and ONLY in this Stake.
VI. Class Divisions
Stake is divided into four age groups: 6-9 months; 9-12 months; 12-15 months; 15 months and over. Each age division is further divided by sex.
VII. Sequence of Judging
A. The four dog classes will be judged in order, followed by the bitch classes. The Judge will make four placements for each class.
B. The Judge will select Best Futurity Puppy first, followed by Best Opposite Futurity Puppy, from the four winners of the 6-9 and 9-12 month classes.
C. Best Futurity Junior and Best of Opposite Futurity Junior are selected from the four winners of the12-15 and 15 months & over classes.
D. The Best Futurity Puppy and the Best Futurity Junior then compete for GRAND FUTURITY WINNER, followed by the two Best Opposite Winners, who compete for Best of Opposite to the Grand Futurity Winner.
VIII. Division of Total Futurity Stakes Monies
A. General
1. Expenses of the Futurity will be deducted (not to exceed 35%) prior to disbursement of the stakes monies.
2. The stakes prize monies will be divided among the Breeder (50%), Owner (35%), and Owner of Sire at the time of Nomination of Litter (15%).
3. Prizes will be distributed by the AKITA CLUB OF AMERICA.
B. Division of the Individual Stake Monies (divided as specified above).
1. Grand Futurity Winner receives 20% of the Stake Prize Money. Best Opposite to the Grand Futurity Winner receives 10%.
2. Best Futurity Puppy and Best Futurity Junior will each receive 10%, Best Opposite Winners 5%.
3. The Winner of each age division will receive 5%.
IX. Trophies and Ribbons
A. A Rosette will be offered by the AKITA CLUB OF AMERICA for the Best Futurity Puppy, Best Futurity Junior, and Grand Futurity Winner.
B. Ribbons will be awarded for each placement.
C. Other Rosettes and Trophies may be offered at the discretion of the National Specialty Show Committee.
X. Selection & Eligibility of Futurity/Maturity Judges
A. Members nominating litters may list three names for a Futurity/Maturity judge to serve at the National Specialty two years hence. Only the names indicated on the first litter nomination a breeder submits for a given Futurity will be counted.
B. The Judge, or any member of his or her family, cannot be the owner, co-owner, breeder, or co-breeder of any nominated puppy or its sire or dam entered in the Futurity in which he or she judges.
C. A Judge cannot judge a Futurity and Maturity more than once every three years.
D. An individual must be a member in good standing of the ACA and satisfy the 12/5/4 rule (12 years in the Akita breed, five litters bred, four champion Akitas bred) to be eligible to judge the Futurity and Maturity Stakes.
Maturity Stakes Rules
I. Purpose
To encourage the breeding of the best possible AKITA and to reward all involved for their efforts: the breeder, and the owners of the sire and the puppy.
II. General
A. The Maturity Stakes will be held in conjunction with the ACA National Specialty. A puppy nominated for a Futurity is automatically nominated for the next year’s Maturity Stakes.
B. Entry or participation in the Futurity Stakes is not required for Maturity eligibility.
III. Entry for Stake Judging
A. Must be entered in one of the regular classes: conformation, obedience, agility, or rally at the ACA National Specialty Show.
B. Maturity Stakes entry must be indicated as an additional class on the official AKC entry form. There is a $10.00 fee for this additional class.
C. Additional class entry must include age division. Puppies are eligible to compete only in the first Maturity Stake held following the Futurity Stake for which they were nominated.
IV. Class Divisions
Stake is divided into two age divisions: under 24 months and over 24 months. Each age division is further divided by sex.
V. Sequence of Judging
A. The dog classes will be judged first, followed by the bitch classes. The Judge will make four placements for each class.
B. The Judge will select Best Maturity Junior first, followed by Best Opposite Maturity Junior, from the winners of the under 24 month classes.
C. The Judge will select Best Maturity Senior first, followed by Best Opposite Maturity Senior, from the winners of the over 24 month classes.
D. Best Maturity Junior and Best Maturity Senior will compete for GRAND MATURITY WINNER, followed by the two Best Opposite winners, who compete for Best Opposite Grand Maturity Winner.
VI. Division of Total Maturity Stakes Monies
A. General
1. Expenses of the Maturity will be deducted (not to exceed 35%) prior to disbursement of the stake’s monies.
2. The prize monies will be divided among the Breeder (50%), Owner (35%), and Owner of Sire at the time of Nomination of Litter (15%).
3. Prizes will be distributed by the AKITA CLUB OF AMERICA.
B. Division of the Individual Stake Monies (divided as specified above).
1. Grand Maturity Winner receives 20% of the Stake Prize Money. Best Opposite to the Grand Maturity Winner receives 10%.
2. Best Maturity Junior and Best Maturity Senior each receive 15%, Best Opposite Winners 10%.
3. The Winner of each class receives 5%.
VII. Trophies and Ribbons
A. A Rosette will be offered by the AKITA CLUB OF AMERICA for the Grand Maturity Winner.
B. Ribbons will be awarded for each placement. Other Rosettes and Trophies may be offered at the discretion of the National Specialty Show Committee.
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