Futurity/Maturity

Updated Jan 2019
PURPOSE
The purpose of the MCOA Futurity and Maturity is to encourage the breeding of the best possible Mastiffs, reward diligent MCOA breeders for their efforts, recognize the owners for selecting the best quality puppies from responsible breeders, and reward the owners and breeders for raising and developing the inherited qualities of the puppy.

In nominating a litter for the Futurity, MCOA members are casting their vote of confidence in their breeding decisions and indicating their commitment to improving the quality of our mastiffs.

In addition, the Maturity Stakes not only provide Futurity-nominated puppies with an additional opportunity to compete but also gives those unable to participate in a futurity the chance to compete during the next National Specialty in the Maturity stakes.

GENERAL
Key steps for this are:
1. Nominate litter: $25 per litter, split $15 to Futurity, $10 to Maturity.
2. Nominate puppies: $25 per puppy, split $15 to Futurity, $10 to Maturity.
3. Enter at upcoming National Specialty based on age of the puppies.

Nomination forms may be secured from the MCOA Website.
Mail Forms to Futurity/Maturity Director.
Mail Checks to MCOA Treasurer with “Futurity/Maturity nomination” in memo section, or pay via PayPal.

DIVISION OF STAKE MONEY
GENERAL
35% to operating expense fund.
65% to be divided for futurity prize money.

Division of Futurity prize money
10% to Best in Futurity Stakes.
3% each to Best Futurity Puppy and Best Futurity Junior
2% each to BOS Futurity Puppy and BOS Futurity Junior
The 80% remaining will be split for the classes, pro-rated by the number of dogs entered in each class, with 40% going to first place, 30% to second, 20% to third place, and 10% to fourth place.

Division of Maturity prize money
10% to Best in Maturity Stakes.
3% each to Best Maturity Junior and Best Maturity Senior
2% each to BOS Maturity Junior and BOS Maturity Senior
The 80% remaining will be split for the classes, pro-rated by the number of dogs entered in each class, with 40% going to first place, 30% to second, 20% to third place, and 10% to fourth place.

Division or Prize money for Futurity and Maturity
40% to Breeder. 60% to Owner.

Prize money is awarded and claimed only at the National Specialty. Unclaimed checks will be returned to MCOA General income.

Futurity/Maturity Approved Motions:
Effective 2007 Futurity the Futurity/Maturity Director is eligible to participate in Futurity/Maturity Competition.
Effective per Motion Oct 2017 There is no longer an award for Best of Opposite Sex to Best in Futurity or to Best in Maturity.

Step 1: NOMINATION OF LITTER
Nomination must be made by be a MCOA member and be the breeder or co-breeder.
Nomination must be made after the breeding, but before puppies are whelped. The postmark on the entry envelope is the official date of nomination.
Nomination fees cannot be transferred from one litter to another nor from one bitch to another. There will be no refunds.
The nomination of a litter makes all puppies in the litter eligible for individual nomination in both Futurity and Maturity.

Step 2: NOMINATION OF PUPPY
Nomination must be made by the legal owner or co-owner of the puppy as of the date of nomination.
Nomination must be made before the puppy reaches four (4) months of age. The postmark on the envelope is the official date of nomination.
There will be no refunds.
An entire litter may be individually nominated by the breeder for Futurity and Maturity before puppies are sold by paying fee for each puppy and supplying (for each puppy): Litter Registration Number Whelping Date, Name Sex

Step 3: ENTER FUTURITY STAKES
Requirements to enter Futurity Judging:
The puppy must be entered in one of the regular classes, either in conformation or obedience at the MCOA National Specialty Show. All entries must be paid in full.

The Futurity entry must include: Futurity entry must be indicated as an additional class and include the age division (e.g., Futurity 6-9, etc.) Futurity Classes range in age from six months through the eighteenth month (until the dog is nineteen months old). Class divisions are: 6 to 9 months, Puppy 9 to 12 months, Puppy
12 to15 months, Junior 15 to18 months, Junior

Puppies are eligible only for the first Futurity Stake Show that is held in conjunction with the first MCOA Specialty Show held on or after the date the puppy reaches six (6) months of age.

Individuals handling the dogs in Futurity Competition must be: An Owner or Co-owner or A Breeder or Co-Breeder or A MCOA Member or Associate MCOA Member in good standing* with MCOA and AKC. This includes professional handlers.

*In Good Standing – members and associate MCOA members that are not in a suspended status with AKC or MCOA.

Step 4: ENTER MATURITY STAKES
Requirements to enter Maturity Judging:
Maturity entries are eligible to compete only in the first Maturity Stake held following the Futurity stake for which they were nominated.
While the nomination must have been made for Futurity, entry or participation in the Futurity Stakes is not required for Maturity judging. Thus, if a puppy is not able to attend their futurity year, they may still enter in maturity the following year.

The dog entering a Maturity class must be entered in one of the regular classes, either in conformation or obedience at the MCOA National Specialty Show. All entries must be paid in full.

The Maturity entry must include: Maturity entry must be indicated as an additional class and include the age division
(e.g., Maturity Under 24 Months or Maturity Over 24 Months) Maturity Class divisions are: Junior- Under 24 months Senior-Over 24 months

Individuals handling the dogs in Maturity Competition must be: An Owner or Co-owner or A Breeder or Co-Breeder or A MCOA Member or Associate MCOA Member in good standing* with MCOA and AKC. This includes professional handlers.

*In Good Standing – members and associate MCOA members that are not in a suspended status with AKC or MCOA.

SEQUENCE OF JUDGING – Futurity
Step 1: Judging sequence will be all dog classes (6-9 month through 15-18month) followed by all the bitch classes.
Step 2:
a. The judge will have the first-place winners of the 6-9 and 9-12 dog and bitch classes return to the ring to select a Best Futurity Puppy and a Best of Opposite Sex Futurity Puppy.
b. This sequence will be repeated for the first-place winners of the 12-15 and 15-18 dog and bitch classes and the judge will select a Best Junior and Best of Opposite Junior winner.
Step 3: The Best Puppy and Best Junior Puppy compete for Best in Futurity Winner.

SEQUENCE OF JUDGING – Maturity
Step 1; Judging sequence will be all dog classes (Junior- Under 24 months and Senior-Over 24 months) followed the bitch classes.
Step 2:
a. The judge will have the first-place winners of the Junior- Under 24 months dog and bitch class return to the ring for the judge to select Best Maturity Junior, followed by Best of Opposite Sex Maturity Junior.
b. This sequence will be repeated for the first-place winners of the Senior-Over 24 months dog and bitch class and the judge will select a Best Maturity Senior, followed by Best of Opposite Sex Maturity Senior.
Step 3: Best Maturity Junior and Best Maturity Senior will compete for Best in Maturity.

TROPHIES AND RIBBONS – Futurity
A trophy and rosette will be provided for: Best in Futurity Puppy, Best of Opposite Sex to Futurity Puppy, Best in Futurity Junior, Best of Opposite Sex to Futurity Junior. Best in Futurity Winner

TROPHIES AND RIBBONS – Maturity
A trophy and rosette will be provided for: Best in Maturity Junior Best of Opposite Sex to Maturity Junior Best in Maturity Senior Best of Opposite Sex to Maturity Senior Best in Futurity Winner

Ribbons will be awarded for each 1st – 4th placement. Duplicate copies of ribbons for the owners/co-owners or breeders/co-breeders may be purchased by requesting them from the National Specialty Ribbon Chairperson within 30 days after the national.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR RULES for Futurity/Maturity Stakes Litter must be nominated before litter is whelped. Puppy must be nominated before puppy reaches four (4) months of age.

Futurity is an additional class at the National Specialty, and the entry must so indicate on the official AKC entry. Maturity is an additional class at the National Specialty, and the entry must so indicate on the official AKC entry. Puppies are eligible to compete only in the first Maturity Stake held following the Futurity stake for which they were nominated. All information on entry form must be consistent with what was supplied to the Futurity Director eight (8) week before judging Futurity/Maturity. Entry is open to all legally eligible dogs.

For Additional Information, Contact: Julia Kriebs, National Futurity Director Mastiff Club of America, Inc. 135 Valley Road West Branch, IA 52358-8530 phone: 319-430-9515 email: nyalmast@Lcom.net

SPECIAL FUTURITY AWARD CURRENTLY OFFERED
Gladys Tangen had generously donated $500 to the Futurity as a Futurity Challenge Award. This money shall be awarded to the first person who owns the Best in Futurity Winner in three Futurities. The Futurities need not be consecutive.
Until the $500 Challenge Award is awarded, the money shall remain in the MCOA bank account..

SPECIAL MATURITY AWARD EFFECTIVE WITH FIRST MATURITY 2010
A $500 Maturity Challenge Award has been offered by the Midwest Mastiff Fanciers in memory of Fred Simon and Betts Kieffer. This money shall be awarded to the first person who owns the Best in Maturity Winner in three Maturities. The Maturities need not be consecutive. Until the $500 Challenge Award is awarded, the money shall remain in the MCOA bank account. Rev.: 10/17

RECORDS
The Futurity Director will maintain the records of Futurity/Maturity eligible puppies. However it is recommended that those who have made entries in the Futurity/Maturity Stakes have copies of all pertinent information regarding acceptance of nominations, name changes, etc., available at time of judging.