The Basset Hound Club of America was formed to do everything possible to bring the natural qualities of purebred Basset Hounds to perfection and to do everything in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breed and to encourage sportsmanlike competition. Basset Hounds compete in conformation dog shows, field trials and hunt tests, tracking tests, agility trials, therapy dog activities, obedience and rally trials, and scent work.

To promote giving Basset Hounds the opportunity to display all their skills, BHCA established the Versatility Certificate Program and makes available versatility certificates to BHCA member/owners of Basset Hounds who meet the eligibility requirements.

When an application has been approved by the Versatility Chairperson, the Basset Hound and its owner’s name(s) will be published in Tally-Ho, and the owner may use the initials “VC” (or VCX or VCM or GVC or GVCX) after the dog’s name in advertising and in publications. It should be noted that this is a BHCA title, so it should not be used on entry forms for American Kennel Club (AKC) events.

The purpose of this program is to provide an incentive to encourage Basset Hound owners to have their dogs participate in multiple fields of endeavor such as the following:

  1. AKC conformation shows or BHCA conformation certificate evaluations to display an acceptance of the breed standard as approved by AKC as the only standard of excellence for the breed. Neutered/spayed dogs ineligible to compete in AKC conformation shows may earn a BHCA Conformation Certificate to be applied towards requirements in the versatility program.
  2. AKC field trials, AKC tracking tests, BHCA hunt performance tests, or AKC scent work trials, to demonstrate consistency in scent work (the scent disciplines).
  3. AKC obedience, rally, or agility trials or AKC therapy work to demonstrate that the Basset Hound is a useful and reliable partner to mankind (the partnership disciplines).

General requirements for 5 levels of awards: VC, VCX, VCM, GVC and GVCX

BHCA Versatility Certificate Program Schedule of Points is the basis for determining the different paths you and your hound can take towards each of the versatility titles offered by BHCA.

  • Earn eleven (11) VC points from a minimum of 3 of the following disciplines: conformation, field trialing/hunt test, tracking, scent work, agility, obedience/rally, or therapy.
  • The therapy discipline may be counted as long as the dog earns points in at least 3 additional disciplines.

The VC requires conformation (show ring or Conformation Certificate) and a minimum of 2 versatility points in one of the scent disciplines (field trialing/hunt test or tracking or scent work).

Additionally

  • VC points are not cumulative within a discipline. Only the points from the highest-ranking title in a discipline are counted. For example, a UD entitles a dog to six (6) VC points. No additional points are awarded for the CDX and CD titles.
  • Points for earning partial titles are accepted for conformation and field trialing.
  • It is required that all owners be members of the BHCA.
  • Must meet the current requirements for earning the VC.
  • Must earn at least fourteen (14) VC points in a minimum of three disciplines.
  • Must have a minimum combination of 5-4-2.
  • Must have at least 5 conformation VC points.
  • No partial titles will be counted towards the 14 points.
  • The therapy discipline may be used to earn the VCX as long as other VCX requirements are met.
  • Must meet the requirements for earning the VCX.
  • Must earn at least seventeen (17) VC points.
  • Must include a minimum discipline point combination of 5-4-3.
  • Must have one discipline point value or 9 OR VC points in both scent and partnership disciplines.

This certificate is awarded for earning the Conformation championship (CH) as well as any two of the following:

  • Field Champion (FC)
  • Champion Tracker (CT)
  • Master Agility Champion (MACH) or Preferred Agility Champion (PACH)
  • Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH)
  • Preferred Obedience Champion (POC)
  • Rally Champion (RACH)
  • Scent Work Detective (SWD) or Scent Work Master Elite (SWME)

This certificate is awarded for earning the Conformation Grand Champion (GCH) as well as any two of the following titles:

  • Grand Field Champion (GFC)
  • Champion Tracker (CT)
  • Master Agility Champion (MACH) or Preferred Agility Champion (PACH)
  • Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH)
  • Preferred Obedience Champion (POC)
  • Rally Champion (RACH)
  • Scent Work Detective (SWD) or Scent Work Master Elite (SWME)

Procedure for applying for a versatility certificate

  • Complete the Versatility Certificate Form
  • Include all necessary verification as described below
  • Submit documents to the Chairperson of the BHCA Versatility Committee. The name and address of this person will be regularly published, along with that of the standing committee chairpersons, in Tally-Ho magazine.

Required verifications

It will be the responsibility of the person making the application to include the necessary verification with the application and/or update form. These will consist of the following:

For AKC titles or Certificates or BHCA titles, either:

  • Photocopies of the document provided by AKC or BHCA
  • Copies of the AKC Gazette pages indicating that these titles were earned (be sure all publication dates and page numbers are included)
  • Copy of the Summary of Title Progression from the AKC web site

For points earned toward partial completion of a title, either:

  • Copies of the AKC Gazette pages indicating the points earned or
  • Copy of the Summary of Title Progression from the AKC web site

Chairperson’s responsibility

Upon receipt of a properly completed application and pertinent documents, the Chairperson will complete a Versatility Certificate, which will be signed by the Chairperson. The names of the Basset Hound and owner(s) will be published in the next issue of Tally-Ho. At that point, the initials “VC”, “VCX”, “VCM”, “GVC” or “GVCX” may be used after the dog’s name in advertisements or publications.

Procedures were last revised by the BHCA Board in July 2021.