Futurity & Maturity

Futurity/Maturity Rules updated 4/23

Futurity Litter Nomination Form (pdf) | Futurity/Maturity Puppy Nomination Form (pdf) | Or Visit our Online Forms

3-Generation Maturity Form in pdf format

Futurity and Maturity Stake Rules

The Futurity and Maturity Stakes offer breeders and owners a special opportunity to showcase their youngsters at two consecutive ACA National Specialties.  These puppies and young adults represent not only the best efforts of ACA breeders but also the future of the Akita.  Since the Futurity competition was inaugurated in 1989, many of its winners have gone on to become Top Ten Akitas and outstanding producers of new generations.  In nominating a litter for the Futurity, ACA members are casting votes of confidence in their breeding decisions and indicating their commitment to improving the quality of our dogs.  The Futurity and Maturity Stakes seek to encourage highly selective breeding practices and to reward breeders for their achievements in attempting to breed the best possible Akita.  The Stakes also reward the owners of the puppy, for developing the Akita’s inherited potential. The Maturity Stake not only provides 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.

Futurity Stake Rules

I.  General

A.  The Futurity Stake is entered by nominating a LITTER.  Individual puppies from a nominated litter are eligible to compete in the FIRST Futurity held on or after the date they reach six months of age, and in the next years Maturity, and ONLY in those stakes.

B.  Correct and timely nominations of both the litter and the individual puppy are required for stake eligibility.  Nomination forms may be obtained from the Futurity Committee or at the ACA website https://www.akitaclub.org/futurity-nomination-form/

II. Nomination of a Litter

A.  Must be made by the breeder or co-breeder, at least one of whom has been a MEMBER in good standing of the Akita Club of America for six months prior to the birth of the litter.  To be timely, nomination must be after the breeding has occurred but by the time puppies are thirty (30) days old.  Nomination of a litter makes each puppy in that litter eligible for individual nomination and entry into both the Futurity Stake and following year’s Maturity Stake, and only those Stakes.

B. Fee is $30.00.  Of the litter nomination fees, $10 will be for ACA expenses and $20 for Futurity prize money.  Late litter nominations will be accepted until four (4) months after the whelping date, with postmark on envelope or date of credit card transaction determining eligibility.  Cost of late entry is litter nomination fee plus penalty fee of $40.00, with late fees going to a current project determined by the ACA Board of Directors.  Upon receipt of a litter nomination, the Futurity Committee will send the nominator four puppy nomination forms.  A Futurity nomination is final and no refunds will be made.  Nomination fees can not be transferred from one litter to another or from one Akita to another.

C.  In the case of multiple sires, each breeding must be nominated as a separate litter with a fee of $30.00.  Once paternity is established, individual puppies can be nominated in the usual way.

III. Nomination of a Puppy

A. Must be made by the breeder, owner, or co-owner of the puppy.  Owners need NOT be ACA members.  To be timely, nomination must be made before the puppy reaches four months of age.

B. Fee is $20.00.  Puppies nominated for the Futurity are also automatically nominated for the Maturity Stakes one year hence. Of the puppy nomination fees, $3.00 will be for ACA expenses, $7.00 for Futurity prize money, and $10.00 for the next year’s Maturity prize money.  Late puppy nominations will be accepted until the puppy reaches six months of age, with postmark on envelope or date of credit card transaction determining eligibility.  Cost of late nomination is puppy nomination fee plus penalty fee of $40.00, with the penalty fee going to a current project determined by the ACA Board of Directors.  A Futurity/Maturity nomination is final and no refunds will be made.  Nomination fees cannot be transferred from one litter to another or from one Akita to another.

C. Any changes in the identifying information to appear in the ACA National Specialty catalog from that previously provided must be provided to the Futurity Committee by the date entries close for the National Specialty.  Failure to provide such will result in ineligibility to compete.

IV. Eligibility of Nominated Dogs

A. Individual puppies from a nominated litter are eligible to compete ONLY in the FIRST Futurity Stake held on or after the date they reach six months of age.

B. If a dog, its sire, or its dam is owned or co-owned by the judge or a member of the judge’s family, that dog cannot be shown at this Futurity competition.

V.  Entry for Stake Judging

A. Must be entered in one of the regular classes: conformation, obedience, agility, or rally at the ACA National Specialty Show.

B. Futurity Stake entry must be indicated as an additional class on the official AKC entry form.  There is a $12.00 fee for this additional class.  Additional class entry must include age division.  Individual puppies from a nominated litter are eligible to compete in the FIRST annual Futurity held on or after the date they reach six months of age, and ONLY in this Stake.

VI. Class Divisions & Sequence of Judging

A. Stake is divided into four age groups: 6-9 months; 9-12 months; 12-15 months; 15 months and over.  Each age group is further divided by sex.  The four dog classes will be judged in order, followed by the bitch classes.  The Judge will make four placements for each class.

B. The Judge will select Best Futurity Puppy first, followed by Best Opposite Futurity Puppy, from the four winners of the 6-9 and 9-12 month classes.

C. Best Futurity Junior and Best of Opposite Futurity Junior are selected from the four winners of the 12-15 and 15 months & over classes.

D. The Best Futurity Puppy and the Best Futurity Junior then compete for GRAND FUTURITY WINNER.

VII. Division of Total Futurity Stakes Monies

A. General

Expenses of the Futurity will be deducted (not to exceed 35%) prior to disbursement of the stake monies.  The stakes prize monies will be divided evenly between the Breeder (50%) and the Owner (50%).  Prizes will be distributed by the Akita Club of America.

B. Division of the Individual Stake Monies (divided as specified above)

1. Grand Futurity Winner receives 20% of the Stake Prize Money.  Best Futurity Puppy and Best Futurity Junior will each receive 12%, and Best Opposite Winners each receive 8%.

2. The remaining funds will be divided with the Winner of each of the eight age classes receiving 5%.  If there are not eight age classes entered, remaining prize monies will be distributed among those classes with entries.

VIII. Selection & Eligibility of Futurity/Maturity Judges

A. Members nominating litters may list three names for a Futurity/Maturity judge to serve at the National Specialty two years hence.  Only the names indicated on the first litter nomination a breeder submits for a given Futurity will be counted by the Futurity Committee. Six months prior to the National, the members nominated will be contacted to ascertain, if elected to judge, would they be willing to accept the assignment. Only those names that have agreed to accept the assignment will go on the final ballot. Balloting will be done electronically and/or via postal mail and will only include those members who have nominated litters for that year. If only one member nominated agrees to accept the assignment, there will be no ballots sent.

B. The Judge, or any member of his/her family, cannot be the owner, co-owner, breeder, or co-breeder of any puppy or its sire or dam entered in the Futurity in which he/she judges. Futurity/Maturity judges may not judge a dog owned, co-owned, bred, or co-bred by anyone they may share a room with at this event. As per AKC Rules, Futurity/Maturity judges may not exhibit on the day they judge. A multi-day specialty is considered one event, and the restriction will apply for the duration of the event. The entire National Specialty is considered one event. Futurity/Maturity judges may exhibit at any regional or pre-national specialties held prior to the National Specialty. Futurity/Maturity judges may not own or co-own any dogs exhibited at the National Specialty.

C. A Judge cannot judge a Futurity and Maturity more than once every eight years. In order to be eligible again, judges must not have judged any conformation events the previous seven nationals.

D. An individual must be a member in good standing of the ACA and satisfy the 12/5/4 rule (12 years in the Akita breed, five litters bred, four champion Akitas bred) to be eligible to judge the Futurity and Maturity Stakes. If there are no ACA members available and willing in any particular year to judge, a selection will be made from interested individuals who have attended the ACA JEC seminar. (addendum June 2019)

Maturity Stake Rules  

I. General

The Maturity Stakes will be held in conjunction with the ACA National Specialty.  A puppy nominated for a Futurity is automatically nominated for the following year’s National Specialty Maturity Stake.  Entry in the Futurity Stake is not required for Maturity eligibility.

II. Eligibility of Nominated Dogs

A. Individual puppies from a nominated litter are eligible to compete ONLY in the Maturity Stake held the year AFTER the Futurity Stake for which they were eligible.

B. If a dog, its sire, or its dam is owned or co-owned by the judge or a member of the judge’s family, that dog cannot be shown at this Maturity competition.

III. Entry for Stake Judging

A. Must be entered in one of the regular classes: conformation, obedience, agility, or rally at the ACA National Specialty Show.

B. Maturity Stake entry must be indicated as an additional class on the official AKC entry form.  There is a $12.00 fee for this additional class.  Additional class entry must include age division.  Individual puppies from a nominated litter are eligible to compete ONLY in the Maturity held the year AFTER the Futurity Stake for which they were eligible.

IV. Class Divisions and Sequence of Judging

A. Stake is divided into two age divisions: under 24 months and over 24 months.  Each age division is further divided by sex.  The dog classes will be judged first, followed by the bitch classes.  The Judge will make four placements for each class.

B. The Judge will select Best Maturity Junior first, followed by Best Opposite Maturity Junior, from the winners of the under 24 month classes.

C. The Judge will select Best Maturity Senior first, followed by Best Opposite Maturity Senior, from the winners of the over 24 month classes.

D.  Best Maturity Junior and Best Maturity Senior will compete for GRAND MATURITY WINNER.

V. Division of Total Maturity Stakes Monies

A. General

Expenses of the Maturity will be deducted (not to exceed 35%) prior to disbursement of the stake monies.  The prize monies will be divided evenly between the Breeder (50%) and the Owner (50%). Prizes will be distributed by the Akita Club of America.

B. Division of the Individual Stake Monies (divided as specified above).

1. Grand Maturity Winner receives 30% of the Stake Prize Money.  Best Maturity Junior and Best Maturity Senior each receive 15%, and Best Opposite Winners each receive 10%.

2. The remaining funds will be divided with the Winner of each of the four age classes receiving 5%.  If there are not four age classes entered, remaining prize monies will be distributed among those classes with entries.