The Mission
The Mission of the Protection Sports Association (PSA) is to provide an outlet for civilian competition in canine obedience and controlled protection, and to recognize achievement with titles and prizes, and promote competition with club trials and championship tournaments. PSA will endeavor to set a new standard for training excellence in the protection sports, and PSA shall encourage cross-over from other protection sports, to provide a competitive venue that will test the best against the best, and encourage excellence, sportsmanship, and integrity throughout the dog training community.
History: Celebrating 18 years
The Protection Sports Association (PSA) was conceived and born in 2001 and last year celebrated its 18th anniversary in October of 2018 at the National Championship weekend held in Canada. The sport was founded by Jerry Bradshaw of Tarheel Canine Training, Inc and Joe Morris, late of Capital Cities K9 in Baltimore, MD. PSA hosts trials, seminars, regional and national competitions during a trial season that starts in January and runs through the National Championship in October. There are four regions: West, Midwest, East, and Canada, each with a director, and 2 assistant directors in each region. The regional directors approve club trials, host the regional events, and oversee the competitions. Judges are available to travel to events by invitation of the hosting clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions about PSA
What is the purpose of PSA?
PSA strives “to provide a competitive outlet for obedience and protection training in a scenario-based program of dog sport. There is a mandatory entry level certificate, called a PDC, that must be achieved by all competitors before going on to the competitive levels of PSA 1 through PSA 3.”
How does PSA work?
The first step in PSA is earning your Protection Dog Certificate (PDC). Once earned, “you may begin working towards the upper levels of PSA by pursuing your PSA 1, PSA 2 and PSA 3 in that order. In each successive levels the dog-handler team is asked to negotiate obedience and protection routines that are increasingly complex, difficult in terms of pressure from both decoys and environmental distractions, and as well the handlers must strategize how to work through scenarios involving risk-reward tradeoffs. As the scenarios can change from trial to trial in the upper levels, handlers must be able to train components of exercises, and pattern training is a virtual impossibility. The higher the levels, the more surprise scenario components in both obedience and protection are presented to the handlers.”
You earn your levels by passing at a trial. “Trials are normally held as weekend 2 day events, but many trials are held in conjunction with IPO or Ring Sport events as well.” Trails are typically organized by clubs and will have certified PSA Judges and decoys.” PSA Judges are required to go through an apprenticeship under two senior judges as well as the Director of Judges. Decoys working trials are certified by PSA, through regional directors and the PSA Director of Decoys, as knowing the trial routines, being physically fit to perform, and safe to catch the dogs.”
How do I get involved?
Glad you asked! It is easy to get involved with Protection Sport Association (PSA).
First, you will need to sign up with PSA to become a member. Cost is $75. You can sign up here: PSA MEMBERSHIP
Second, join a club. There are clubs throughout the United States and Internationally. ARMOR K9 PSA Club is located in Prescott Valley, Arizona.
Contact Lee @ 928-493-4160 for more information.
