USSPWD ACT Agility Field

The USSPWD Club offers a variety of programs and events primarily focused on Portuguese Water Dogs and water-related activities. Water Camps provide opportunities for PWD owners to learn water basics, improve skills, and train with distractions from experienced handler teams. These camps are open to all levels, from new owners to experienced handlers. The club hosts PWDCA sanctioned Water Trials annually in June and October, covering all levels from Junior to Master. They also offer a Dry Land Training & Fetch Seminar, which includes obedience skills for water work such as underwater retrieve, retrieving to hand, multiple article retrieves, directional commands, and recall. The Fetch Seminar introduces participants to the AKC sport with practice runs. Additionally, the club organizes Fun Play Days, Supported Entry for Conformation events, and training for Obedience, CGC, CGCA, and Trick Dog. They have also co-hosted the Jamboree, which included water trials, obedience, scent work, and AKC Agility ACT 1 and 2.

Pricing Summary

Event entry fees vary. The June Water Trial is $45. Workshops are free for trial entrants, otherwise $35. The Dry Land Training & Fetch Seminar is free for members and $20 for non-members, with lunch at $12. Water Camps are $30/dog/day for members ($20 for additional dogs) and $40/dog/day for non-members, with lunch included for the handler. Non-members are charged an additional fee of at least $10 per person or per dog for most events, which can be refunded if they join the club within one week. Failure to register for an event incurs an additional $10 fee.

Policies

For Water Camps, fees are refundable, less processing fees, for cancellations or changes made up to two weeks before the first day of the camp. After this period, fees are non-transferable and non-refundable. If the club cancels a camp, all fees will be refunded. Membership is terminated on March 31 for members who have not paid annual dues.

The United Sunshine State Portuguese Water Dog Club (USSPWDC) is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to helping Portuguese Water Dogs (PWDs) and their owners have an amazing life together. The club’s primary purpose is to encourage and promote quality in pure-bred Portuguese Water Dogs, striving to bring their natural qualities to perfection. They urge members and breeders to adhere to the breed standard approved by The American Kennel Club (AKC) and foster sportsmanlike competition.

The USSPWDC sponsors various events and training activities to enhance the relationship between PWDs and their people. Their most popular activities revolve around water, highlighting the breed’s history as a working fisherman’s dog. These include numerous Water Camps, PWDCA sanctioned Water Trials, and Dry Land Training & Fetch Seminars. The club also supports other dog activities such as obedience trials, agility trials, tracking tests, conformation events, CGC, CGCA, and Trick Dog titles.

The club represents members from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and beyond, serving the Southeastern region of the US. Members receive priority treatment and discounts for club-sponsored events, along with annual performance awards for titles earned by their dogs. The club also offers resources like water trial exercise videos and merchandise, with proceeds supporting club activities and awards.

Accomplishments

The club was founded in 2003 by Meg DeFore, who has been involved with the Portuguese Water Dog breed for over 25 years. The club has grown to over 150 members across the Southeastern US. They honor key contributors and dogs through perpetual trophies, including the Meg DeFore Founder’s Apprentice Water Trial Trophy, the Max-A-Million Courier Water Trial Trophy (honoring Tom and Judy Leather and their dog Max-A-Million), and the Amazing Ace Master Water Trial Trophy (honoring John and Sarah Brock and their dog Ace). The club also recognizes members’ dogs annually with Achievement Awards for titles earned in nationally recognized dog sports.

How to Get Started!

To get started, new members or those with lapsed memberships must complete a New Registration membership application form and submit payment exclusively through the USSPWD Club website. For Water Camps, registration and payment are made via the website using PayPal or credit card at the time of registration. Camp registration closes three days before the first day of the camp, with late registrations requiring Water Camp Co-Ordinator approval. Water Trial entries are also online at USSPWDC.org and utilize a random draw process.