DVG is the only IPO dog sport club that is not breed-specific. If your dog can do the sport, we accept it. We accept mixed breed dogs and unregistered dogs as well as purebreds. All our energy is focused on making the sport the best it can be, period.
Forming a DVG club is easy
It takes only 5 members to start.
We don’t require an affiliation trial
There’s no extended sanctioning process
Maintaining your DVG club is easy
We don’t require (but we do recommend) insurance
You don’t have to put on a yearly event (but we recommend that you do)
You don’t have to use certified helpers for club level trials (but we do recommend them)
There is no annual club membership fee to either the national or the regional organization
Your costs are lower than with other IPO organizations
We have high standards for selecting judges
Once they meet all the experience qualifications judges must go through a very extensive apprentice program.
Apprentice at a minimum of 5 trials under several different experienced judges
Write an extensive report on each trial, which goes to the judge, then to the head judge and then to the head judge in Germany, assuring oversight
Pass a final written and practical exam administered by the head judge from Germany
Give a 15 minute talk in front of a panel of judges, on a topic that is chosen for them
DVG makes sure our judges are well trained and stay up-to-date
DVG judges are all-breed judges, understanding the different characteristics of each breed and evaluating their performance objectively
Once a year the judges meet and have a formal, two-day workshop to discuss new rules and their interpretation
All our Judges are active in the sport; working dogs and competing
DVG offers trials at all levels and opportunities to compete internationally
In addition to club trials, you can compete at Regional trials, the US Championship, and the German Championship
First and second place winners of our national championship are automatically qualified to compete in the Germany championship. Sometimes 3rd and 4th place get to go as well. We cover part of the costs for representing at that event.
As a member of DVG, everyone is eligible to enter the AWDF Championship where the top several competitors earn spots on the AWDF FCI championship.
DVG is the only organization that requires its club training directors to have titled a dog and pass a test