News and updates

The National Dances With Dogs/Trick Dog Committee Chairperson, Barbara Murfet has confirmed the committee has identified a number of typographical and consequential errors in the Rules for the conduct of Dances With Dogs Competitions & Rules for the conduct of Trick Dog Tests.

These have been rectified and the updated rules as well as the Summary of Dances With Dogs changes to titles are now available from our website under Dances With Dogs and Trick Dog at: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/members/rule-regulations/rules/

The National Obedience & Tracking Committee Chairperson, Raelee Hedger has confirmed the committee has identified an error in the Rules & Guidelines for the conduct of Track & Search Dog Trials which were effective from 1 January 2024.

The error occurred in dot point (g) under Safety where the word “may” should read “must” to be consistent with paragraph 2 under Safety.

Currently reads:

SAFETY
The safety of competitors, tracklayers, officials, other persons, and dogs at a trial is of paramount concern. As track and search tests are conducted in urban environments where there are likely to be hazards including moving vehicles and uneven surfaces all reasonable steps to protect safety must be taken.  

A competitor who does not comply with safety requirements must be disqualified.  Before commencing judging a test the judge must check that the dog and handler have on the necessary equipment. A judge may abort or suspend a track at any time if they consider it necessary to do so for safety.
 
(g) The Judge may disqualify any Handler who does not comply with safety requirements.

Amended to read:

(g) The Judge must disqualify any Handler who does not comply with safety requirements.

Please note the updated Rules & Guidelines for the conduct of Track & Search Dog Trials are now available from the Dogs Australia website under Tracking. Click here to view.

2.4. To be eligible to compete in an Open Retrieving Ability Test, a dog must not have gained any of the following Titles as defined in the Rules for the Conduct of Retrieving Trials for Gundogs (effective 1 Jan 2010) – RRD, AARD, RT CH, Nat RT CH, Grand RT CH.  

2.4 To be eligible to compete in an Open Retrieving Ability Test a dog must have gained its Novice Retrieving Ability Test (NRA) title or gained any one of the following titles as defined in the Rules for the Conduct of Retrieving Trials for Gundogs – Qualified Novice Dog (QND) or Novice Retrieving Dog (NRD).

​Dogs are ineligible to compete in an Open Retrieving Ability Test if they have have gained any of the following Titles as defined in the Rules for the Conduct of Retrieving Trials for Gundogs: QRD, RRD, AARD, RT CH, Nat RT CH, Grand RT CH or been awarded a CM (Certificate of Merit) or DM (Diploma of Merit).

The DOGS NSW Grounds Staff will be spraying noxious weeds on Friday 8th March, 2024 in most areas of the grounds at Orchard Hills.  The spray when wet, can be toxic, however it is safe when dry.

As such, the grounds will be closed to Visitors and Members whilst the spraying work is undertaken. The Office will remain open and accessible.

DOGS NSW apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

At its recent meeting, the Board resolved to amend the following DOGS NSW Regulations:-

PART II-SHOW – Clause 10.4(c)

Currently reads:

(c)    (09/17) At an Agility and/or Jumping Trial held under the Regulations the following shall apply:

(i)      There shall be at least one sash and prize for 1st place and one sash for 2nd and 3^rd place in each Class regardless of whether the dog has qualified or not. (01/12)

Be amended to read:

(c)    (09/17) At an Agility and/or Jumping Trial held under the Regulations the following shall apply:

(i)         There shall be at least one sash and prize for 1st place and one sash for 2nd and 3rd place in each Class regardless of whether the dog has qualified or not.  The awarding of sashes and/or prizes for non-qualifying places is optional (up to the Clubs’ discretion) and must be stated on their schedule. (02/24)

AND

An additional new paragraph to Clause 10.4(c), so that Clause now reads:-

(c)       (09/17) At an Agility and/or Jumping Trial held under the Regulations the following shall apply:-

(i)        There shall be at least one sash and prize for 1^st  place and one sash for  2^nd and 3^rd place in each Class.  (01/12)  The awarding of sashes and/or prizes for non-qualifying places is optional (up to the Clubs’ discretion) and must be stated on their schedule. (02/24)

Any club requiring a signed receipt for cash reimbursement of services and/or trophies must include a notification on the Show Schedule which lists the specific details required, and that the form will be supplied by the Show Secretary. (02/24)

PART XIII-CODE OF ETHICS – Clause 9

9. A Member shall not:-
   a) (11/23) Breed a bitch that results in it whelping more than twice in two years without the prior written approval of a Veterinary Surgeon. (06/22)

Note:  The relevant form can be accessed via the following link on the DOGS NSW Website (form-26-certificate-of-fitness-2018.pdf (dogsnsw.org.au)).  Alternatively, a Veterinary Certificate which identifies the bitch by microchip is acceptable. (12/23)

       b) When a bitch has whelped litters from two (2) consecutive seasons, she must have a twelve (12) month rest from whelping any further litters. (11/23)

A breach by a Member of Clause 9a and/or 9b will result in the litter being registered on the Limited Register marked “never to be upgraded”, (11/23)

AND

The Member will be subject to disciplinary action under the current penalty regime. (11/23)

Be amended to read:-

9. A Member shall not breed a bitch that results in it whelping more than twice in two (2) years without the prior written approval of a Veterinary Surgeon.  If a Certificate of Fitness dated prior to mating cannot be supplied at the time of registration of the litter, this will result in all progeny being registered on the Limited Register marked “never to be upgraded”,

AND

The Member will be subject to disciplinary action under the current penalty regime.

The Regulations in full can be found here.

The Conformation Judges Training Committee is calling for all Clubs to hold an Open Show utilising Trainee Judges from the current Conformation Judges Education Program, where possible.  A list of current Trainee Open Show Judges can be obtained from the Dogs Australia website by clicking here, or from the relevant Group Co-ordinator.

DOGS NSW CJEP Examinations Committee will be conducting Post Practical Examinations on Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 February 2024 in Ring 13 at the DOGS NSW grounds at Orchard Hills.

The Committee is aware that Liverpool & District All Breeds Kennel Club will be conducting a Championship Show on these days.

Exhibitors are required to avoid this area on both days prior to and during the Post Practical Examinations.

Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

In recent weeks the Dogs Australia Administration has been receiving considerable correspondence from clubs, through their Member Body, protesting decisions when they have been notified that, in the approvals for Canadian Judges for their shows that the judges are not approved by the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) to award Challenges at Championship shows to some breeds. Many of the reasons for the protests are anecdotal and based on past approvals. Dogs Australia has contacted the Canadian Kennel Club in the past few days and has received the following advice:

“In accordance with our policies, CKC licensed Conformation Judges are not permitted to judge CKC recognized breeds or listed breeds that they are not licensed to judge.

This applies in Canada as well as any other country.

If there are breeds in Australia that are not recognised by the CKC or considered a listed breed, then it would be up to Dogs Australia to determine if the judge is eligible to judge those breeds.

In summary, CKC licensed judges are permitted to judge in foreign countries and issue Challenge Certificate for championship points for breeds that they are licensed to judge in Canada.

For breeds that are not recognised in Canada, it would be up to the foreign governing body to determine if the judge is eligible.

Our expectation is that the foreign governing body would communicate with the CKC and request judging qualifications or at the very least, use the CKC website “Find A Judge”.

At its meeting on Wednesday 31 January 2024, the Board of Directors unanimously resolved as follows:-

THAT first time Trainees entering the 2024/2025 Conformation Judges Education Program be given an exemption from the Group Entrance Examination for this Program (year) only.

Therefore, as there will be no examination – NO fee is required.  Aspiring Judges will only be required to complete the amended Application Form to enter the 2024/2025 CJEP as an Aspiring Judge and meet the required criteria.

The amended Application Form can be found here.

* Once the Aspiring Judges Group Entrance Application has been accepted, the Trainee will then be required to enrol in the 2024/2025 Conformation Judges Education Program and pay the relevant fee/s by the due date (9 February 2024).