AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award
In the American Kennel Club’s ongoing efforts to recognize and celebrate its volunteer club members, The AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award program was established in 2006 to provide each member club with an AKC Medallion to award to one of its own on a yearly basis.
This award honors those individuals who deserve special recognition that have made a difference in the sport of purebred dogs, embodied the AKC Code of Sportsmanship, and have been an active and valued member of an AKC member club. Medallions are awarded solely at the club’s discretion. The criteria the DPCA will use to choose the recipient are outlined below.
The 2011 committee assigned to choose a recipient were Sharon Pflueger, Linda Hoff, and Michelle Kramer. If after reading the DPCA criteria AND the AKC Code of Sportsmanship (below) you would like to nominate a DPCA member, please email the committee at DPCAAKCGoodSportsmanship@dpca.org
| YEAR | RECIPIENT | |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | May Jacobson | |
| 2010 | Nancy K. Heitzman | |
| 2009 | not awarded | |
| 2008 | not awarded | |
| 2007 | Marj Brooks |
| The American Kennel Club issues an Outstanding Sportsmanship Award to clubs to award those individuals who deserve special recognition for having made a difference in the Sport of Purebred Dogs, embody the AKC Code of Sportsmanship, and have been an active and valued member of an AKC member club. The following criteria are to be used by the DPCA committee assigned to pick a recipient for the American Kennel Club Outstanding Sportsmanship Award: 1. The recipient must be a member in good standing of DPCA for more than ten continuous years. 2. The recipient must be involved in and made a difference in the Sport of Purebred Dogs for more than ten years in areas such as conformation, obedience, agility, working dog sports, Chapter Club Membership, the Parent Club and all other areas involving the Doberman Pinscher. 3. The recipient must have given back to the Breed and embody the AKC Code of Sportsmanship in all areas through mentoring the General Public, Breeders, and participants in all areas of performance venues. 4. The recipient must instill a greater appreciation for Outstanding Sportsmanship in all areas and also deepen our sense of pride in the Sport of Purebred Dogs. |
The AKC Code of Sportsmanship:
PREFACE: The sport of purebred dog competitive events dates prior to 1884, the year of
AKC’s birth. Shared values of those involved in the sport include principles of sportsmanship.
They are practiced in all sectors of our sport: conformation, performance and companion.
Many believe that these principles of sportsmanship are the prime reason why our
sport has thrived for over one hundred years. With the belief that it is useful to periodically
articulate the fundamentals of our sport, this code is presented.
• Sportsmen respect the history, traditions and integrity of the sport of purebred dogs.
• Sportsmen commit themselves to values of fair play, honesty, courtesy, and vigorous competition, as well as winning and losing with grace.
• Sportsmen refuse to compromise their commitment and obligation to the sport of purebred
dogs by injecting personal advantage or consideration into their decisions or behavior.
• The sportsman judge judges only on the merits of the dogs and considers no other factors.
• The sportsman judge or exhibitor accepts constructive criticism.
• The sportsman exhibitor declines to enter or exhibit under a judge where it might reasonably appear that the judge’s placements could be based on something other than the merits of the dogs.
• The sportsman exhibitor refuses to compromise the impartiality of a judge.
• The sportsman respects the AKC bylaws, rules, regulations and policies governing the sport of purebred dogs.
• Sportsmen find that vigorous competition and civility are not inconsistent and are able to appreciate the merit of their competition and the effort of competitors.
• Sportsmen welcome, encourage and support newcomers to the sport.
• Sportsmen will deal fairly with all those who trade with them.
• Sportsmen are willing to share honest and open appraisals of both the strengths and weaknesses of their breeding stock.
• Sportsmen spurn any opportunity to take personal advantage of positions offered or bestowed upon them.
• Sportsmen always consider as paramount the welfare of their dog.
• Sportsmen refuse to embarrass the sport, the American Kennel Club, or themselves while taking part in the sport.