It has been my understanding that “veteran dog” status was an accommodation for the age of the dog and that the “veteran handler” status was an accommodation for the age of the handler.
Also, I’ve had the impression that, for the well-being of the dog, NADAC has been encouraging handlers to run their dogs at the lowest jump height available to them. Many, if not most, have switched to Skilled from Proficient. There are many veteran handlers who enter their dogs in the Skilled division and receive two time allowances (and two height allowances) in all classes.
Perhaps I’m misunderstanding but you seem to be saying that when the dog reaches 9, the handler loses the veteran handler accommodation in the non-jumping classes, an accommodation they can use until the dog is 9.
“I guess I would be back to wondering if an Elite team needs more time and height breaks than the options already given to them ...”
If I haven’t misunderstood, the veteran handler situation is not a matter of needing “more time and height breaks than the options given...”, it is a matter of losing an option that they currently have.
I guess my question is, "When my dog turns 9 and has to be entered as a Skilled/veteran, do I lose my veteran handler status in the non-jumping class?"
Thanks,
Tom
Why does a handler lose their Veteran Handler status?
?
There is a "division" in NADAC that is called Veterans...... If handlers want to enter their dogs in that division, then they are "in" that division.
If a handler enters into the Veteran division they can get different breaks from the Standard division. A Veteran dog gets a height break and jump height break in the jumping classes. A Veteran Handler gets a break in all classes, since they are older and need more time to physically and mentally get around a course (
? not always!! but it is their choice!)
When a dog reaches their 9th birthday, they must be entered in the Veterans division. NADAC doesn't care if it is Veteran dog or Veteran Handler division, but they MUST be in the Veterans division and they MUST take a jump height break. On their 12th birthday they MUST enter Skilled Veteran.
Why are people jumping up and telling me they are losing their veteran status?? They are entering the Veterans division. We don't have to rewrite any software and we don't have to have our older generation offended that they are losing their rights as an older handler...
Why do you think you are losing your VH options?
I am truly missing something here.
Sharon
My post was started before your response to Rebecca Kriz: "If you enter as a Veteran Handler, then your dog is entered in the Veterans division. Why do you think that there needs to be an option to split the entry into some runs as VH and some runs as "Veteran Dog"?? I am missing something."
Had I seen it before I started my question, I would not have had a question. I think the quote also explains, at least partially, our (my) confusion. You see only one Veterans division, "…the dog is entered in
the Veteran's division.
Since the rule book's section on divisions list 5 separate divisions, including three veteran divisions - two for veteran dogs (actually, I would considered that one division with two parts) and one for veteran handler/disabled - I have considered them as separate divisions. Thus, "the dog must be entered in
the veteran's division has a different meaning than the dog must be entered in
a veteran''s division.
In any event, my question has been answered.
Thanks,
Tom