The PWDCA Register of Merit program is an acknowledgment of outstanding working ability and versatility in the Portuguese Water Dog. It consists of four levels: the first level is the Bronze Register of Merit (BROM); the second level is the Silver Register of Merit (SROM); the third level is the Gold Register of Merit (GROM); the fourth level is the Platinum Register of Merit (PROM).

Award Requirements

BROM:  To be eligible for the Bronze Register of Merit, a dog must have four titles from at least three different areas of competition.

SROM:  The Silver Register of Merit expands on the degree with which the working dog must perform. To be eligible for the Silver Register of Merit, a dog must have five titles from at least three different areas of competition. One of these must be either a PWDCA water title or an award.

GROM:  The Gold Register of Merit expands on the degree with which the working dog must perform, as well as allows honors to be recognized for an outstanding single accomplishment(s). To be eligible for the Gold Register of Merit, a dog must have earned at least six titles/awards from at least three different areas of competition. Two of the dog's titles must be PWDCA titles (e.g., AWD and WWD). The dog must have earned an award, or have earned a title from a fourth area of competition. A minimum of two advanced titles are required (the WWD counts as one of these). Finally, there must be either an additional advanced title, an award, or an advanced PWDCA water title.

PROM:  The Platinum Register of Merit recognizes the truly versatile dog. To be eligible for the Platinum Register of Merit, a dog must have earned at least nine titles/awards from five different areas of competition: three of which must be PWDCA water titles (e.g., CWD), and two of which must be awards.

Definitions

PWDCA Titles:  AWD, WWD, CWD, CWDX.

Awards:

1. #1 PWDCA Obedience Dog (either Novice, Open, Utility, Overall, or Top Average)
2. #1 PWDCA Conformation Dog in breed points
3. #1 PWDCA Conformation Dog in group points
4. All-breed Best in Show
5. All-breed High in Trial (obedience)
6. All-breed High Combined (obedience utility/open classes)
7. National Specialty Best of Breed
8. National Specialty Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed
9. National Specialty Award of Merit
10. National Specialty High in Trial (obedience)
11. National Specialty High Combined (obedience utility/open classes)
12. National Specialty Agility High in Trial
13. #1 AKC Agility PWD

Advanced Titles:

1. Obedience (CDX, UD, UDX, OTCH)
2. Tracking (TDX, VST)
3. Agility (OA, AX, MX, OAJ, AXJ, MXJ, ATCH, ADCH, NATCH, MACH)
4. PWDCA (WWD, CWD, CWDX)

Areas of Competition - Titles:

1. Conformation title (Championship)
2. Obedience titles (CD, CDX, UD, UDX, OTCH)
3. Tracking titles (TD, TDX, VST)
4. Agility titles (All AKC Standard and JWW Class titles)
5. Water titles (AWD, WWD, CWD, CWDX)

Equivalent -Titles:  Except for water titles, equivalent area of competition titles earned by dogs registered in one (or more) of the below listed Accepted Registries also qualify towards a ROM award (e.g., an AKC CD and a CKC CD are considered two titles, although from one area of competition).

Flyball, free-style, non-standard agility titles, etc, are not eligible to count towards an ROM award. In addition, CGC (Canine Good Citizen), therapy dog, and temperament test certifications, as well as the abolished PWDCA producer of merit awards given out prior to 1997, do not count towards ROM awards.

Accepted Registries: American Kennel Club (AKC) and any other foreign registries whose stud books are accepted/recognized by the AKC, United Kennel Club (UKC); United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA); Agility Association of Canada (AAC), and North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC).

General Requirements

1. Dogs applying to receive any level ROM award must have all current health data (whether passed or failed) on record in the on-line PWDCA Health and Litter Database.
2. It is the sole responsibility of the ROM award recipient to provide to the Awards Committee all information necessary to verify a ROM award (i.e., photocopies of all title certificates pertaining to the ROM award).
3. ROM awards may not be used in advertising until the ROM award recipient has been notified in writing by the Awards Committee that its dog has met the requirements for the ROM award. (A ROM award cannot be advertised as "pending notification.")
4. All required information must be submitted to the Awards Committee at least 45 days prior to a National Specialty in order to receive the ROM award at that year's specialty. It is the responsibility of the ROM award recipient to ensure that there is adequate time for the committee to verify all information; otherwise, a ROM award may be postponed until the following National Specialty.
5. In the event that a National Specialty is not held during a calendar year, then the Awards Committee will mail the ROM award to the recipient. Any recipient not attending the Awards Banquet will have their ROM award mailed to them within 30 days after the banquet.
6. Dogs must be owned or co-owned by a PWDCA member in good standing at the time that it earns the final title that qualifies dog for a ROM award.

Award Procedure

1. The ROM applicant completes Awards Application Form and mails or emails to the designated Awards Committee Member ("ACM") along with photocopies of all relevant title certificates. Include an email address for communications from the Awards Committee related to the application.
2. The ACM verifies applicant’s PWDCA membership, dog's current health data on record in the PWDCA Health and Litter Database, and the application documentation. The applicant will be notified if additional information is required or if there is a problem with the application. The ROM award designation may be used in advertising upon recipient's receipt of written confirmation of the ROM award from the ACM.
3. A high resolution photo of the dog or dog/handler team must be included with the application for use in the awards banquet program. Photos may be mailed, or scanned and emailed. Original photos will be returned.

In the event that a dog who has received a ROM award is later stripped of a title (by the awarding registry), or it is discovered that incorrect or falsified documentation was provided to the Awards Committee, the Awards Committee and/or PWDCA Board of Directors retains the right to revoke a ROM award. Any dog/recipient that has a ROM award revoked shall be listed in two future PWDCA club publications.

Questions? Contact Leslie Arner, the Awards Committee Chair

Return to Top

Last Edited: July 1, 2007