STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
This competition is designed to be self supporting by those breeders and handlers who take pride in their contribution to the development of the Australian Shepherd. The intention is to showcase ASCAs finest obedience
dogs to the world so that we may share the virtues of this versatile breed with others.

SECTION 1 RUNS

1. The Obedience Finals will be run in conjunction with the National Specialty each year. It is suggested that the Finals not be on a day when another obedience competition is being held.
2. The Finals will consist of two (2) go-rounds in each category. This may be on one (1) or more days at the discretion of the Host Club(s) and will be listed in the premium list. The second go-round of Super Dog
   competition will run as Versatility. (One run under each Judge.) (See Section 6 Judging.)
3. The Host Club(s) will determine the random run order. Dogs will not run in their order of ranking.

SECTION 2 ELIGIBILITY

1. Eligible points will be those received during the ASCA Finals year. The ASCA Finals Year will be the twelve-month period from June 1st of the previous year to May 31st of the year that the Finals are held. The ASCA
   Business Office will send the Nationals Host Club an Obedience Finals entry form for each dog by the close of the pre-entries for the Nationals. The three (3) highest scores obtained during the competition year will be used to determine rankings.
2. Eligible dogs are ASCA registered Australian Shepherds that have received three (3) qualifying scores in each category that the dog will be competing in at the Finals.
3. Eligible obedience categories are: Novice, Open, Utility and Super Dog. Novice dogs may have 2 legs in Open and still be eligible for Novice competition.
4. Dogs must have their UD titles to compete in the Super Dog category.
5. Eligible dogs for the Obedience Finals are the top ten (10) obedience dogs as ranked in the Aussies Times from each category, (Novice, Open, Utility and Super Dog). There may be more than ten (10) dogs if there are ties in the top ten listings. The next ten (10) dogs in the listings will be contacted as alternates.
6. If a dog is ranked in Super Dog that dog may only show in the Super Dog category regardless if the dog is ranked in either Open and/or Utility. This will allow more dogs to compete for the finals. 

SECTION 3 VERIFICATION

1. All eligible contestants and alternates who have qualified for the Finals will be notified by certified mail by the Business Office by July 1 of the year the competition will be held. Alternates will be notified of their standing as well. The Business office will take necessary steps to notify foreign qualifiers.
2. All eligible contestants wishing to compete and alternates must complete an official entry form and send it and the entry fees (except the alternates who will pay when they become eligible) to the Business Office. This confirmationof intent to compete must be postmarked no later than July 15th of the competition year. The Business Office will send all entries of the Obedience Finals to the Host Club(s) by the close of entries for that years Nationals.
3. If an eligible contestant fails to send in an entry form the next alternate who has stated his/her intent to attend will be notified by the Business Office. If a cancellation occurs the day of the Finals, one (1) of the ten (10) alternates on the grounds will become eligible in order of their rankings. If no alternates are available, the Finals will run short. No entry fee will be refunded.

SECTION 4 FEES

1. The entry fee charged at the Obedience Finals Competition is $40 per dog, for Novice, Open and Utility. The entry fee for the Super Dog competition is $65. This money will be used to cover any expenses the Host Club(s) may incur hosting the Finals Competition as well as awards for the top Finals winners. The Host Club(s) will submit their expenses to the ASCA Board of Directors. When all expenses have been met any additional monies will be used for funding the next years competition.
2. The Business Office will keep an accounting of all monies received for the Finals fund and is responsible for informing the Host Club(s) of the Finals, the Board of Directors and the ASCA Obedience Committee as to the amount received by August 1st of the competition year. \
3. Host Club shall submit a proposed budget to the Board and the Obedience Committee at least six months prior to the finals.

SECTION 5 AWARDS

1. All classes will be placed one (1) through ten (10). Rosettes will be awarded for each placement. Special awards will be given to the winner of each class. All exhibitors not placing in the top ten, if more than ten (10) dog entered per class, will receive a participation ribbon stating they were a finalist.
2. All of the monies received from the Finals entries, minus the expense money to the Host Club(s), and all monies donated will be used for prizes at the Finals Obedience Competition only. Any unused monies will revert to the Finals fund.
3. The Host club is responsible for procuring awards and ribbons for the Obedience Finals competition.
4. All placements will be awarded including non-qualifying scores.
5. All ribbons will have the date and location of the Obedience Finals printed on them. First through Fourth will have ASCA approved regular class obedience trial colored ribbon denoting the placement. (First place is blue, second place is red, third place is yellow and fourth place is white.) The remaining ribbons will be the same color and will have the placements through 10th on them.

SECTION 6 JUDGING

1. Two (2) Judges are necessary, their scores will be added for the placing.
2. Each Judge will judge one go-round of Novice, Open ,Utility and one go-round of Versatility with exception of Super Dog.
   1. Each Judge will stay with their respective ring. The dog and handler teams will change rings.
   2. The Judges will determine which ring and class are to be held on the morning of the day of competition. (Done on the first day if more than one day of competition.)
3. Each dog will have two (2) go-rounds, one under each Judge with the exception of Super Dog. Super Dog competition will be one run of Open, one run of Utility and two runs of Versatility.
4. The scores will be added for each dog for the two (2) go-rounds to determine the placings. All scores will be used, including non-qualifying.
   1. Super Dog placements will be determined by the sum of the one (1) Open and one (1) Utility score and two go-rounds of Versatility.
   2. Which Judge will judge the Open class and which Judge will judge the Utility class will be determined by coin toss before start of judging for the Super Dog category. Both Judges will be judging a go-round of Versatility.
5. If there are tied scores, placements will be determined by a run-off using the Novice heel free exercise. Runoffs will done after all dogs have competed, this includes any bitches in season.
6. There will be a Finals winner from each of the following categories:
   Novice, Open, Utility and Super Dog. The winner will carry the title of (year won) ASCA Champion (Novice, Open or Utility) Obedience Dog. The winner of the Super Dog category will carry the title of (year won) ASCA Supreme Champion Obedience Dog.
7. The ASCA Obedience Rules and Regulations will be the standard by which these classes are judged with the following exceptions :
   1. Each directed jump in Utility will be scored separately. Each jump (high and bar) is scored 20 points.
   2. The second go-round of the Super Dog competition.
      1. There will be 3 decks of cards. One will be marked Novice, one Open and one Utility.
      2. The exhibitor will pick two cards from each deck for a total of six exercises.
      3. Group exercises will be eliminated.
   3. Bitches in season shall be allowed to compete.
8. The run-off Judge will be decided by a coin toss and that Judges ring shall be used for run-offs.

SECTION 7 RING REQUIREMENTS

1. If the ring has to be matted then the entire ring should be matted.
2. Two full sets of regulation jumps are required.
3. Each ring should have 3 stewards. A gate steward, a table steward and a ring steward. The gate steward will make sure each team is ready to enter the ring when the judge is ready. The table steward is responsible for the paper work The stewards will set the jumps, will be posts for the Figure Eight exercise, will hold the clipboard for the Judge during the moving stand, will set out scent articles and/or gloves for the retrieval exercises.

SECTION 8 MISCELLANEOUS

1. Scores will be posted as soon as they are available. It is required that two different people NOT entered in the Finals check the addition of the scores before they are posted.
2. Sits and downs will be done after a group of individual exercises are completed. The number of dogs in each group will be determined by the judge from the number of dogs entered.
3. Bitches in season will compete last after all other judging is finished with the exception of run-offs each day. This includes sits and downs which shall be held separately. A bitch in season could be competing back to back in both rings. Bitches in season must be crated (not placed in an X-pen) away from the obedience rings prior to and during the competition except when competing.
4. There will be no refunds.
5. Judges for the Obedience Finals will not be used to judge the same classes at any trial held in conjunction with the National Specialty.
6. Presentation of awards should be done in a manner to showcase the event.
7. There will be NO overall high scoring dog, only high scoring dog in each category. 

revised 5-4-99