JUNE 2024

June marks a period of exciting developments, featuring the introduction of NEW support for AFTCA trials, alongside Amateur Walking Puppy and Master Hunter Excellent stakes within our Hunt Tests!

In response to valuable feedback from our users, we've implemented a myriad of enhancements, corrections, and modifications to the app, all designed to streamline processes and clarify functionalities.

View the updates below.

• NEW

  • We now fully support Amateur Walking Puppy (AWP) stakes within Hunt Tests.
  • We introduced the 'Master Hunter Excellent' stake, including special score cards and the 'two series' format.
  • We added support for AFTCA (Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America) field trials. 
  • All required form fields are now marked with a red asterisk for easier identification by new users.
  • We added an 'Entries documents' section on the event page for easier access to waivers and related documents.
  • We added an 'I participate in these activities' section on the home page for easier management of entries.
  • Hunt test score cards now indicate if an entry is marked 'advanced'.
  • URLs in 'extra' item descriptions are now clickable.
  • The default setting for the handler in clinics is now the person entering.
  • We overhauled the 'My account' and 'My entries and extras' pages for a more user-friendly experience.
  • Actual event names (entered by the event organizer) are now included in confirmation emails and event search results.
  • Added a confirmation step for admins choosing to refund entries or extras.
  • Introduced "What's this?" buttons on the credit card payment page to explain "authorize future charges".

• CHANGES

  • Simplified the 'Alternate email / Merge accounts' section on the user profile page and removed it from the 'You' step in the entry/registration wizard.
  • Users are now prevented from clicking 'Save' on the 'report event updates' screen until all required details are provided.
  • The 'user permissions' page now allows admins to create new PerfDog users on-the-fly.
  • Simplified the 'Add dog' form in clinic entries to include only call name and breed.
  • Improved the Payee section when copying events. 
  • Fixed "Partner event" pairing issues.
  • Renamed 'My activities' to 'My entries' for better clarity.
  • Updated date fields to show '01/01/20' as a placeholder to clarify date format requirements.
  • Added Yahoo! to the list of email providers we offer information for if entrants encounter email delivery issues.

• BUG FIXES

  • Fixed issues related to the new credit card processing update.
  • Ensured proper updating of entries and transactions when merging user accounts.
  • Fixed an issue preventing admins from finalizing events.
  • Corrected the start time display issue when removing the first stake of a day.
  • Improved error messaging for email bounces to event and club admins.

MAY 2024

May brings new features for non-AKC events, PWD Water Trials, and a new checkout experience and credit card saving features for users. Read all the details below.

• NEW

  • We've introduced a new feature in the event setup process that lets organizers eliminate the paper check payment option (sending checks and registrations to PerfDog) for non-AKC events, including clinics and PWD Water Trials.
  • Cloning PWD Water Trials now comes with built-in level-specific limits, such as 10-minute runs for Juniors, to help eliminate any setup errors.
  • We've transformed the checkout experience—say goodbye to the old pop-up payment window. Now, you can effortlessly complete your purchase with credit card payments, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, seamlessly integrated right into the payment page itself.
  • From the 'My Account' page, users have the flexibility to manage, add, or modify their Credit Card info.
  • Card details refresh automatically for cards that have expired or been reissued.

• CHANGES

  • The system now tells users to retry if a stake or level becomes full at exactly the same time they move to the 'review' step during entry, allowing them to join the waiting list.
  • A specific warning message is now shown instead of an error when a stake becomes full before users select a handler for a new entry.
  • The text messaging feature was updated to prioritize the most important information, enhancing smart watch readability.
  • AKC Reports for Hunt Tests and Field Trials have been updated to distinguish between 'first entry per dog' and 'additional entry per dog' fees.
  • PWD Water Trials now see 'substitute steward' instead of 'alternate handler' during entry.

• BUG FIXES

  • Prevent errors when creating a user (handler, etc.) who does not have an account.
  • Update credit card information without errors when dealing with legacy cards.
  • Prevent double payments for the same transaction when someone clicks multiple times.
  • Avoid UI crashes when finalizing events or editing stakes with 'TBD' names.
  • Don’t show error messages when trying to copy club pages in specific instances when there's no error.
  • Correctly merge accounts even if the primary email address isn’t verified.
  • Fix issues around changing event dates to new ones that overlap old ones.

APRIL 2024

April is all about bug fixes!  See what we squashed below!

• BUG FIXES

  • Prevent errors when finalizing events that have Extras with a description, but no items to choose from.
  • Save event directions that contain unusual characters.
  • Avoid UI crashes in the registration wizard due to pre-existing entries without handlers.
  • Merge existing accounts of users into new user accounts without errors.
  • Update club membership sponsors when replacing or merging user info.
  • Finalize events without errors in rare cases.
  • Let admins acting on someone else's behalf create non-registered dogs in the registration wizard
  • Fix an issue where someone couldn't renew their club membership because they started the process many months ago but didn't finish it until their membership expired, then the club decided to require a sponsor and digital signature for new memberships, and then the user finally tried to finish their renewal process.

MARCH 2024

Exciting News - Our Website Has a Fresh Look! Discover the ease of exploring PerfDog's offerings for dog clubs on our revamped site. Features like Event Search, Event Entry, and Club Websites have moved to an exclusive app for a streamlined experience. The app's home page is also redesigned. Dive deeper into this month's changes by choosing a section below.

• NEW

  • We've launched a brand new, information-rich website designed specifically to meet the needs of clubs and event organizers/secretaries. This replaces our previous, less informative website. While the application itself remains separate, it's now easily accessible from the new home page through multiple buttons and the streamlined Event search function.
  • We redesigned the application's home page with clear category columns and intuitive UI enhancements to simplify event discovery.

   

• CHANGES

  • We've made stake/level editing easier for admins with user-friendly navigation and alerts for unsaved changes.

• BUG FIXES

  • Clinics no longer lose setup information and show incorrect group/level names.
  • Account merges now handle email address changes correctly.
  • Edits made to dogs after an event is finalized are now saved correctly.
  • Restored functionality of pre-HubSpot cut-over email links.
  • Resolved permanent spinners on event setup if the event has a partner event with an event that doesn’t partner back.

FEBRUARY 2024

In our February 2024 update, we continue to improve Account Merging and fixed a few other issues.  See more about these by selecting a section below.

• NEW

  • For events such as clinics, it's now easier for entrants to add their dog. If the dog isn't registered with a national organization like the AKC, only the call name, sex, breed, and birth date are required.

• CHANGES

  • Specific help is now provided to minimize confusion when users merge their two accounts into a third one, especially when trying to add a new junior handler without their own email address.

• BUG FIXES

  • Bugs related to email addresses have been addressed, ensuring operations like merging user accounts are not affected by typos
  • New user email addresses are forced to lowercase upon signup.
  • A critical bug preventing payment processing when an admin started an entry on someone's behalf and then sent them the admin's URL has been resolved.
  • Improved search functionality for specific event types like 'rattlesnake avoidance clinic".
  • Error messages are now shown only to the uploader when a recent image upload times out on a club web page.
  • An error that occurred when an admin went straight to their event's email history page in a new browser has been fixed.

JANUARY 2024

This minor release has brought several updates and bug fixes to PerfDog. See more by clicking a section below.

• NEW

  • Secretaries can now mark custom hunt tests or field trials as "official." These will appear in official records like AKC reports and judges' books. This helps overcome limitations like only allowing one stake of the same type per event (e.g., "Master AM" and "Master PM"). 

• BUG FIXES

  • Shopping Cart:

    • Fixed a shopping cart icon display issue (it wasn't showing fully).
    • Resolved a rare UI crash in the event finalization wizard review step for some browsers.

     

  • Account Merging:

    • Improved account merging stability, addressing issues with:
      • Family members merging accounts within the same family.
      • Merging 3 or more accounts simultaneously (including accidental merges).

     

  • Event Management:

    • Fixed a bug causing the shopping cart to "spin" indefinitely due to incorrectly configured partner events.
    • Ensured smooth removal of cart items for entries where the stake was removed from the event.

SEPTEMBER 2023

Introducing our latest addition: 24x7 assistance! This month, we are thrilled to unveil our cutting-edge knowledge base and AI-powered help widget. It's a game-changing upgrade that surpasses our previous support system by leaps and bounds! Not only that, but we've also taken care of numerous bug fixes. See more details below!

• NEW

  • New help widget and help center with an advanced AI to answer questions at any time!

• CHANGES

  • We now provide a better error message when an invalid address is entered.

  • PerfDog will begin charging clubs 4% of all credit card charges for purchases associated with their activities on January 1, 2024. First announced in February 2023 and updated in the Club Agreement, this has now been added to the list of terms when administrators set up an event.

  • Some processing fees will increase on January 1, 2024, for entries and extras priced at $75 and higher. This has been added to the list of terms when administrators set up an event. 

  • Facebook in-app browser can't be used to enter an event or pay for things due to incompatibility with the payment page, but folks can browse the site and search for events.

• BUG FIXES

  Bug fixes related to water trial judge's history, event management, transaction cancellations, waiting list issues, hunt test event results, club officer info, server exceptions, user merging, event finalization, help center, web crawlers, and help center integrations.

AUGUST 2023

In response to receiving negative feedback on the website's performance, we made the decision to migrate to a new web platform that offers enhanced monitoring capabilities and allows us to address any issues promptly. Now, during periods of high traffic, our site's performance will be optimized to ensure smooth loading experiences for our users. Take a look at all the changes we've made this August.

• CHANGES

  • Admin email reminders for checks due are now more informative.

  • Setting up "extra" item fees is now easier with our new calculator.

  • Setting up club membership pricing is now easier with our new calculator.

  • We boosted website performance in general and especially during high traffic times.

  • We moved to a new web platform to better monitor and maintain the site.

• BUG FIXES

  • When an admin changes an event's starting time, the system now automatically updates any stakes that were supposed to start when the event starts.

  • The instant message (text) history page now displays properly for admins

  • Fixed a bug involving notification emails sent after a deadline expires and waiting list entries get put back on the list

  • Fixed an issue with the screen loading after a secretary enters on someone's behalf and says they'll mail a check and forms

JULY 2023

On site event updates are now live, so you can keep everyone in the loop by sending messages during your event. We now have amazing new event setup assistant and a super handy processing fee calculator. We've also made several fixes and improvements to our waiting lists and Water Trial paperwork. Plus, we've spruced up the user interface and added a new PDF viewer. Check out all the details below.

• NEW

  • On-site event updates by email and text messaging is live! Keep everyone up-to-date by easily sending messages to participants, volunteers, and committee members when something happens. Get people to the line on time and cut down on the "what's happening?" and "when do I run?" confusion by letting them know who is running now, where they are, who is running next, and more. Any volunteer can report status changes (e.g., someone is starting their run, a brace is in the bird field) and send text messages to anyone involved in the activity without having to know phone numbers or email addresses. NOTE: messages come from 740-PERFDOG (740-737-3364), so add this number as a contact in your phone.

  • New event setup assistant! A simple set of steps guides admins through the process of setting up their new event!

  • The stake/level form now uses numbered sections so it's easier to use and also adds these new fields:
    - judges and other types of volunteers
    - breed restrictions
    - the number of dogs per run (e.g., 2 for hunt tests and field trials, 1 for most other activities)
    - check boxes to specify if dogs are being judged against a standard (e.g., hunt tests) or compete against each other for placements (e.g., field trials) or both (e.g., obedience and rally trials)
    - special dog info required to enter the stake (e.g., DNA number)
    - run duration (e.g., 30 minutes for some field trial stakes and 2 minutes for some scent work elements)
    - intra-run buffer time (e.g., 5 minutes for some field trial stakes)
    - count limits (e.g., 20 entries)
    - run time limits (e.g., 2 hours)

  • Admins can now see a history of instant messages (texts) sent in relation to their events, like we've already done for email.

  • Setting up event entry fees is now easier and more intuitive with a new processing fee calculator.

• CHANGES

  • The section showing "related activities you might like" on the shopping cart page has been redesigned to make it easier to see and understand.

  • Portuguese Water Dog Water Trial catalog levels are now sorted the same way as they are in the running order.

  • 'Opened' notices are no longer included in the email history page because they're unreliable now that popular mail clients default to a privacy mode that downloads mail messages in the background even if the user never opens them.

  • Any allowed waiting list entries ready for an entrant to accept are now shown right below the 'My entries' section on the event page.

  • Showing judges' initials at the bottom of PDF catalog pages for hunt tests and field trials is now an option. Previously, we always showed them on reports.

  • The system will now do a better job of guessing dog titles when they include a comma (like 'CH, MACH, PACH') or the dog's name includes what look like prefix or suffix titles (e.g., "Sea to Shining Sea" (SEA is a scent work suffix title)) in contexts where the dog's name without titles is already known.

  • It's now easier for people to find their entries and see the open and close dates/times of an event on the event page.

  • The process of uploading premiums, entries, and club documents is now faster and more reliable.

  • A built-in PDF viewer has been added for premiums, entries, and club documents.

  • The "move entry" page is now easier to use for admins.

  • The icons for showing and hiding table row content is now more obvious and intuitive (+ instead of triangle)

  • The running order and catalog number generation for water trials has been improved.

• BUG FIXES

  • Fixed an issue where when someone with a voting club membership type went to renew and accidentally clicked a non-voting membership type, they were unable to change back to a voting type.

  • Fixed Water trial catalog number assignments. They're now based on the current running order (levels) and also lists catalog entries in the same order as the running order if it's available.

  • Choosing a payment recipient without a verified address now remembers the choice of user instead of clearing it out after the verify address dialog closes.

  • Fixed an unexpected error that appeared in specific circumstances when a secretary tried to refund someone while cancelling an entry.

  • Fixed an issue when an admin tried to pay someone else's outstanding charges but the payment failed for some reason (expired card).

  • Fixed several waiting list entry issues.

  • A UI crash occurring when trying to add another payee for club membership payment has been fixed.

  • Changing venue name and creating a new venue on-the-fly now works as expected.

  • Fixed information page layout issues

  • A bug that could accidentally delete an admin user has been fixed.

  • A bug that caused some entries to be incorrectly marked as "late" has been fixed.

  • A bug that prevented admins from seeing if someone else had already allowed or canceled an entry has been fixed.

  • A bug that caused the manage waiting list page to be in a bad state has been fixed.

  • A bug that caused an error message to be displayed when someone was logged out while on the manage event checklist page has been fixed.

APRIL 2023

We've spruced up the user interface this month to make website use and navigation easier. We've made some improvements to Water Trials and even revamped the labels for the new AKC Hunt Test Report. And of course, we've squashed several pesky bugs along the way. Take a look at all the changes below!

• NEW

  • Confetti is now displayed when someone finishes a transaction or finalizes their event.

  • The 'Policies and notices' page now includes a 'Contact policy' that explains how PerfDog can send the user emails related to the current transaction and on behalf of activity admins and club officials regarding their participation.

  • Microsoft Word .doc files are now supported for all document uploads.

  • When an admin tries to upload a premium file that's too large, they will now be given a more specific error message instead of just 'try again later'.

  • On the waiting list and cancel entries pages, admins will now be prompted to confirm whether they want to apply an action to all checked items or just the one they clicked on.

  • Numbered icons have been added next to the areas of the payee page to make them easier to see and follow.

  • An orange warning border is now shown around entry counts and timing limits of '0' to make it easier for admins to see potential mistakes.

  • The exact opening date and time is now shown on the event page rather than time until.

  • '(ret.)' now shows after the name of retrieving field trial stakes in the quick entries view, entry counts, and stakes page.

  • '(advanced)' has been added to the stake name field for advanced hunt test entries on the PDF entries report.

  • Numbers have been added next to each step on the registration stakes page to make it easier to see and follow.

  • It's now possible to have a Portuguese Water Dog Water Trial that spans 2 days (where folks only enter one level over 2 or more days). This format is like a Pointing Breed Field Trial. This is in addition to the weekend water trials that local clubs have where folks can enter a level that is offered twice - which is similar to a Pointing Breed Hunt Test format.

• CHANGES

  • The 'finalize your event' email has been updated to make it more clear that the recipient needs to click the link to finalize their event.

  • When an admin says they have a check in hand, the amount must be exactly the amount that is currently due from the entrant. If it's not, a popup explains that they can enter the check info again later if the check covers multiple activities.

  • Activities are now categorized on the homepage to make it easier for both entrants and admins to find what they need quickly.

  • Secretaries can now create labels that better fit the new AKC hunt test report. Specifically, they combine dog and owner/handler information in a single label and no longer include the sire or dam. The old format is still available as an option.

  • Label font sizes are now more consistent.

  • The AKC judge number (if any) for the secretary is no longer shown when someone is entering a non-managed event.

  • It is now explained on the premium upload page that entry fees shown in PerfDog must match what's in the premium. A link is also provided that describes PerfDog processing fees and associated payment options.

• BUG FIXES

  • Fixed an issue where the payment page was blank.

  • Fixed a bug related to canceling a $0 entry or purchase (e.g., a free entry or a headcount for lunch).

  • Fixed a problem within the running order when changes were made to entries after the running order had been created.

  • Fixed issues with financial history and results when events are partnered with other events in the system.

  • Fixed cases when an empty "Policies and notices" page appears. 

  • Fixed a bug in the club payee field.

MARCH 2023

We've made some exciting improvements this month! Get ready for enhanced event reports, user accounts, user interface, the extras page, the Premium upload page, and the event setup. Plus, we've resolved pesky issues with the running order, finalization wizard, catalog, and even dog loading. Details are listed below!

• NEW

  • New pointing breed field trial stakes are now supported: "Regional Grand Open Limited All Age," "Regional Grand Amateur Limited All Age," and "Regional Grand Amateur Limited Gun Dog."

  • Secretaries can now export an Excel spreadsheet for Portuguese Water Dog Water Trials that includes most information they need to report qualifying scores to the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America.

  • Portuguese Water Dog Water Trials now have formal catalog numbers for dogs that don't change if they move up, etc. The numbers look like "J1," "J2," "A1," "A2," etc. according to the level.

  • A new "Show breeds" checkbox has been added to the running order and catalog screens that is unchecked by default if the event only allows a single breed (e.g., Vizsla Club of America National Gun Dog Championship).

  • If someone is editing another user and puts in their own current email address, a warning is now shown and they are asked if they are trying to choose themselves or if they want to change the email address they entered.

• CHANGES

  • The event page has been updated to make it easier for admins to find the "Setup," "Manage," and "Report" buttons.

  • A new "I manage these activities" area has been added to the home page so secretaries can get to their events faster.

  • The "extras" page for admins has been updated with improvements to instructions and messaging. 

  • It is now much more obvious to admins when their event is missing some requirements that prevent it from taking entries. 

  • The premium upload page got a facelift and now has a preview of the premium document. The secretary admin page now has a button that goes to the premium upload page.

  • The setup event flow has been completely redesigned to make it easier to understand and use. It starts with a "managed event checklist" and guides admins through the process of setting up their event.

  • The 'settlement' email that includes a spreadsheet attachment now offers a link that doesn't require the user to be an event admin to download the spreadsheet.

• BUG FIXES

  • Entrants are now required to provide their full address before entering an event. A previous bug made it possible for them to bypass this step, which caused an error later in the checkout process.

  • Premium upload is now more consistent.

  • Fixed the message 'running order is not current' so that it doesn't run off the page on small phones. 

  • A new event admin can get to their event management page before they've verified their email address, even if the event is non-managed.

  • The UI no longer hangs when someone is trying to pay outstanding charges.

  • Prevented an error message appearing after admins flipped the "managed" switch when they did not have a verified email address.

  • Improved several error messages including:

    • the error message shown when a user puts in an invalid code to verify email.

    • the error message shown when a user inputs an invalid name (such as "Lisa & John").

  • Fixed an issue with the running order when entries were canceled or dogs were moved. 

  • Fixed bugs in the finalization wizard.

  • Fixed an issue in the catalog related to missing dog registration numbers

  • Improved what the site does when someone rapidly clicks their back button after finishing the checkout process.

  • We no longer show an error message when someone rapidly adds or removes entries or extras in the registration wizard.

  • Fixed a bug related to confirming a pre-existing dog.

  • Fixed a bug occurring in manage running order when all dogs were removed/canceled from a stake.

FEBRUARY 2023

The highly anticipated Event Finalization Assistant is finally here! Event admins now have full control over finalizing their events and getting paid. Users now receive notifications if they're not receiving event emails, and admins can easily view email logs for their events to ensure that everyone is receiving PerfDog emails. Explore all the exciting changes that have been made this month in the sections below!

• NEW

  • New Event Finalization Assistant - Administrators of events are now in control of finalizing their event in order to get paid.

  • Clubs can now pay multiple parties for both events and club membership. Clubs can designate who gets paid, when, and under what conditions. This makes it easy to automate paying event vendors, parent clubs, and much more.

  • We now send final report emails (with spreadsheet attached) and mail a check when a PerfDog admin settles an event.

  • Users now get a pop up message if they're not receiving email from PerfDog along with suggestions on how to fix it.

  • Event and club admins can now see an email log that shows all email actions related to their event or club, including all entry confirmations, membership renewals, custom emails sent by admins, etc. They can see when every email was sent, delivered, opened, and clicked. They can also see the reason why we couldn't deliver an email to someone if that's the case.

• CHANGES

  • When activity administrators copy another activity, they must now manually flip the 'managed' switch afterwards.

  • We no longer allow admins acting on behalf of entrants to save credit card details, which will prevent the admin from accidentally saving their own personal card information that entrants can charge in the future.

  • We now charge clubs a 'settlement fee' for each payment we make related to their events and membership dues. The fee is currently the same as our check printing and mailing fee of $3.​

  • Club officials will see the 'Become a member' button on their club's membership page if they're not yet a member according to PerfDog.

  • We now warn entrants if they try to enter a non-AKC dog in an AKC event, but they can still enter after being warned.

  • We now warn secretaries when someone they're about to email about accepting a waiting list entry has not been receiving PerfDog emails recently.

  • It's now more clear to admins that their event premium is not an 'event entry document' and we re-route them to the Premium List uploader if they click 'Add Premium'.

  • Checks that entrants are supposed to bring to events are now handled differently and as a result, refunds they get from cancelling will only be applied to other items in the same event; it will not reduce the amount of other checks they owe for other events. 

• BUG FIXES

  • BUG: fixed multiple issues related to someone adding allowed waiting list entries to their cart and starting to pay but then not paying before the waiting list allowance expired.

  • BUG: fixed an issue where some new club memberships and renewals were showing the wrong expiration date. 

JANUARY 2023

Exciting news! PerfDog has made a major upgrade to become a fully Self-service platform. Event admins from pointing breed clubs now have the power to set up their own events, while other activities can easily be cloned from previous events. What's more, the approval process for the premium list can now be overridden. Discover all the changes below!

• NEW

  • Self-service! Many areas of the site, help center, and more have been updated to reflect our new fully self-service website. Thanks to our hundreds of help popups, articles, screenshots, videos, and wizards, clubs are now able to create and manage their own events, membership, and websites without contacting us.

  • ​Activity administrators can now copy their own activities and those from other clubs to create a new activity! This feature is only available for activities other than AKC hunt tests and field trials, such as rattlesnake clinics, water trials, fun days, training practice, and the like.

  • Event secretaries can now override issues discovered in our premium list checker if they believe all is well.

• CHANGES

  • New look to the home page in order to accommodate the new self-service message and links for guidance.

  • We now show all dog titles in the catalog instead of cutting some off due to space limitations.

  • Secretaries can now add entries after an event is finished, but not after it is 'finalized'.

  • The entries and extras cancellation confirmation page is now more clear about the fact that all items listed will be cancelled and that checking boxes only affects refunds.

• BUG FIXES

  • Events switched to 'non-visible' are now made visible to the event secretary.

  • BUG: fix entrant and handler sorting in the manage waiting list table.

  • BUG: fixed a dog wizard issue where we would sometimes lose the last digit of a registration number after showing a popup message.