The objective of the versatility awards program is to recognize silken windhounds who can successfully compete across various disciplines to showcase the diverse abilities of this breed. The program also seeks to encourage heightened representation of silkens across all dog sports.
This program is separate from ISWS’s Dual Champion program. Its aim is to award silken windhounds who excel in a variety of areas. While this versatility program does recognize conformation and/or running achievements, these are not mandatory. Owners are encouraged to pursue excellence in their dog sports of choice.
The program is designed to award dogs with achievements in various categories of dog sports, thus demonstrating a wide range of skillsets, rather than dogs competing in one sport through multiple organizations. The program also aims to recognize high levels of
proficiency in a multitude of sports with the creation of the Award of Versatility Lifetime Achievement (AVLA) title.
Versatility Awards
- The Award of Versatility Silken (AVS) recognizes the achievements of a Silken
Windhound that has competed in a minimum of 3 performance categories with a total of at least 10 points during the dog’s lifetime. - The Award of Versatility Silken Excellent (AVSX) recognizes the achievements of a Silken Windhound that has competed in a minimum of 4 performance categories with a total of at least 20 points during the dog’s lifetime.
- The Award of Versatility Lifetime Achievement (AVLA) recognizes the achievements of a Silken Windhound that has competed in a minimum of 5 performance categories with at least 30 points during the dog’s lifetime.
Requirements for the Versatility Awards
Applicants for versatility titles do not have to be members of the ISWS. Dogs must be registered with ISWS.
All titles must be earned or awarded by nationally recognized organizations. For Silken Windhound owners residing outside of the United States and its territories, equivalent organizations will be recognized.
Points may be accumulated from different sports within a category. For example, points can be counted from both “coursing” and “racing” sports under Category D (running sports), for a maximum of 10 points in any one category.
Only one organization per sport will be awarded points. For ease of reference, these have been grouped within the same table – within one table, only one organization will be counted for points for a maximum of 5 points. For example, if an individual competes across several nosework organizations and has a UKC Novice Nosework and NACSW NW2 title, they may submit the higher title (NACSW NW2) for a total of 2 points in the nosework sport. The UKC Novice Nosework title would not be eligible for points.
The points allocated for titles in any one sport will not be totaled. The title with the highest achieved points in the one sport will be the points counted. For example, a EN title in UKC Nosework will only earn 4 points.
Versatility titles are sequential. A silken must have AVS before AVSX, and an AVSX before AVLA.
At the time the application is submitted, all of the supporting paperwork is required. Proof of titles and achievements must be submitted with the completed application. A copy of the title certificate is required for most sports/organizations. Please provide accurate contact information. Dogs may be nominated posthumously; however, the owner must be a current ISWS member.
Examples of how to complete title application and how to determine points can be found at the end of this page in the program overview.