News and updates

Please find the latest Press Release from Dogs Australia regarding contacting them directly here.

At its recent meeting, the Board resolved to amend DOGS NSW Regulations Part II-Show as follows (amendments in red):-

SECTION 4

4.4D         An Affiliate or licensed body may conduct Group Shows in any one year with their allocated approved Championship Shows, Group Show Format would be at the completion of the Affiliate’s All Breeds Championship Show and must be held by the same Affiliate conducting the first show.

SECTION 8

TIME AND ORDER OF JUDGING

8A          In-Group and In-Show Placing System (Optional for Shows that only offer Best Puppy in Group/Show and Best Exhibit in Group/Show)

(1) Breed Judging

(a)       Breed judging shall be conducted in the same manner as the existing system to select Best of Breed and Best Puppy of Breed.

(b)       As Runner-Up to Best Exhibit In Show and Runner-Up to Best Exhibit In Group will no longer be judged, the Runner-Up to Best of Breed awards may be at the discretion of the Show Committee.

(c)       Baby Puppy Class and Neuter Class may be included at the discretion of the Show Committee. (08/19)

(2) Breed Judging - Alternate Show Format 1,2,3,4

(a)      Runner-Up to Best Exhibit In Show and Runner-Up to Best Exhibit In Group will no longer be judged.

(b)       Only Best Puppy In Group award will be offered. Therefore, only exhibits that have won Best Puppy of Breed are eligible to compete for Best Puppy In Group.

(c)       Only Best Puppy In Show award will be offered. Therefore only Best Puppy In Group winners are eligible to compete for Best Puppy In Show.

(d)       Only exhibits that have won Best of Breed awards are eligible to compete for Best Exhibit In Group awards 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, subject to the provision of Regulation (2)(g)(i).

(e)       Only exhibits which have won Best Exhibit In Group shall be eligible to compete for Best Exhibit In Show awards 1st and 2nd are subject to the provision of Regulation (2)(g)(ii). (03/24)

(f)        The sequence of judging Best Exhibit in Group and Best Exhibit in Show awards shall be in the following order (02/22):-

1. a)        Best Exhibit in Group, placed in the order of 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st
2. b)        Best Baby Puppy in Group
3. c)        Best Puppy in Group
4. d)        Best Neuter in Group (if offered)
5. e)        Best Exhibit in Show, placed in the order of 2nd, 1st
6. f)         Best Baby Puppy in Show
7. g)         Best Puppy in Show
8. h)        Best Neuter in Show (if offered)

(g)       Where a puppy is awarded a Best in Group/Best in Show placing in accordance with 2(f)a or 2(f)e, above, the highest placed puppy shall be awarded Best Puppy in Group/Best Puppy in Show and there shall be no elimination. (02/22)

NEW ADDITION

8C      Group Shows held in Conjunction with an All-Breeds Conformation Show

Reference to Section 6-  Classes for Exhibit at a Show, with note to 6.3 (25) & (26)

8C.1   (a) A Where an All Breeds Championship Show is not concluding at General Specials the in Group awards are to be signified as Best in Group, Runner-up in Group and Classes in Group as offered.

(b) Where an All Breeds Championship Show is not concluding at General Specials all in Group awards are to be signified as Best Neuter in Group, Runner-up Neuter in Group and Neuter Classes in Group as offered.

8C.2   The ability to hold these alternate Group Shows is dependent on this additional format show following an established ALL Breeds Championship Show held by THAT AFFILIATE within their allocated show calendar week and replaces the designated All Breeds Championship Show in best in show awards system.

The Regulations in full can be found here.

Attention: All Residents of DOGS NSW residing in the Western Region

The DOGS NSW Board of Directors has appointed the following as Office Bearers of the Western Region:

Chairperson: Jackie Winders
Vice Chairperson: Jennifer Bayliss
Secretary: Sarah Gaffikin
Show Secretary: Leslie Tanks
Treasurer: Cathy Nugent

The Western Region 2024 Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Saturday 11 January 2025 and will take place at the Bathurst RSL at 114 Rankin Street, Bathurst, commencing at 1.00pm.

AGENDA

• Confirmation of Office Bearer as appointed by DOGS NSW
• Minutes of 2023 AGM
• President’s Report
• Secretary’s Report
• Treasurer’s Report
• Change of Signatories to bank account

Apologies may be sent to the Secretary, Ms Sarah Gaffikin, via email at brighthelmjacks@gmail.com

INVITATION FOR BREED CLUBS TO ATTEND THE 2025 SYDNEY ROYAL BREED DISPLAY DAY

The Royal Agricultural Society’s Domestic Animals Committee is once again holding a Breed Stall exhibition during the 2025 Sydney Royal Dog Show.
 
The date is Tuesday 22 April 2025 and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) invite you to become involved, promoting your club and breed to thousands of Sydney Royal Easter Show visitors.

Please click here for an Expression of Interest form. Applications must be sent back to Georgia Hawkins at ghawkins@rasnsw.com.au at the RAS by February 3rd, 2025. Entry and parking passes for the day are limited so don’t delay!
 
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Georgia Hawkins if you have any questions: ghawkins@rasnsw.com.au

Please click here to view a copy of the Rules and Regulations pertaining to A2O Shows which the A2O Secretariat has provided.

Please view Rule 4 on page 2 in relation to the judging of Best in Show.

It is with great sadness that DOGS NSW advises its members of the sudden passing of Pastor Peter Goldstien on 4 December 2024.

Peter, apart from his clerical status, is the son of Jack and Dulcie Goldstien, who have been highly respected and revered DOGS NSW members and leaders in the development in NSW and Australia of dog obedience training and trialing. Peter was a senior ANKC Obedience Judge of many years, and his very recent death is a serious loss to the whole of the DOGS NSW community.

Peter’s family has organised a celebration of his life at his funeral service, to be conducted at “The Vineyard Church” (the big red building), 357 Windsor Road, Vineyard, NSW, at 11.00 am on Saturday 14 December 2024.

DOGS NSW offers its sincere condolences to Peter's family.

In accordance with the Dogs Australia October 2024 Board meeting minutes, the amended Rules for the conduct of Lure Coursing Sanctioned Events which will become effective from 1 January 2025 are now available from our website.

Rules for the conduct of Lure Coursing Sanctioned Events: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/members/rule-regulations/rules/

A summary of the rules revision changes provided by the National Lure Coursing Committee Chair can be found here.

The NSW Government is seeking your feedback on draft changes to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2025 (the Regulation). 

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (the Act) is the primary legislation that sets the foundation for strategic and coordinated management of animal welfare in NSW. The Act is supported by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2012 (POCTA Regulation). 

Key amendments include: 

• Revising the circumstances with which certain procedures can be carried out on animals such as declawing of cats, debarking of dogs and tail docking of cattle under 6 months of age. 
• Prohibiting the use of glue traps for the purpose of catching animals but will still be allowed for use on insects. 
• Improving the enforcement options by allowing the use of penalty notices for additional offences and increasing the existing penalty notice amounts for a range of offences. 
• Implementing some requirements from the Poultry Standards and Guidelines to build upon existing layer fowl regulations. 

Tell us what you think

The draft Regulation and Regulatory Impact Statement will be available for public consultation and can be accessed via the DPIRD website.

Written submissions on the Regulatory Impact Statement and the draft regulation can be submitted via email at pocta.reg@dpird.nsw.gov.au or mail to: 

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2025 
Regulatory Policy & Economics - NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development 
Level 3/66 Harrington St – Foreshore House 
The Rocks – Sydney NSW 2000 

Closing date for submissions 

Submissions close at 11:59pm on Thursday 19 December 2024. Any submissions received after this time will not be considered. 

In accordance with Item 7.5.13 of the October 2024 Board meeting minutes, the following amendments have been made to Sections 1 and 2 of Regulations Part 9 – Non Resident Judges and these amendments will be effective from 1 January 2025.

1. General Regulations– All Judges

1.1        A Non Resident Judge must be able to verbally communicate with exhibitors to a degree that their directions and decisions are clearly understood or have a competent interpreter.

1.2        If a Non-Resident Judge is unable to read English, the Club Affiliate or Organisation conducting the event is to provide an assurance that all ANKC Ltd Rules, Regulations, Policies, Procedures and breed standards have either been translated in writing into a language understood by the Non-Resident Judge or communicated orally. The assurance, signed by both the Affiliate or Organisation and the judge, must accompany the application.

1.3        The Affiliate conducting the show must have some knowledge of the Non Resident Judge and their background and ability to judge.

2. Regulations – Conformation Judges

2.1        A Non-Resident Judge must be approved and have awarded in their Country of Residence Challenge Certificates, or their equivalent to a minimum of 70% of the Major breeds* in each group as per the ANKC Ltd recognised Group/Breed list. A judge approved to judge 70% of the major breeds within a Group may judge the whole or part of the Group if split. (05/05) (Amended 10/22, 5.2, Effective 01/01/2023)

2.1        Unless forbidden by the Regulations of their Country of residence, for a Non-Resident Judge to be approved to judge Group Specials in Australia, but not the individual breeds for which they are not approved at breed level, they must be approved and have awarded in their Country of Residence Challenge Certificates or their equivalent, to a minimum of 70% of the Major breeds* in each group as per the ANKC Ltd recognised Group/Breed list.

*Major Breed a breed that has an average of 60 plus registrations over the last 3 years as recorded on the Dogs Australia Website.

2.1.1     Best in Show at Championship or CACIB Shows can only be judged by judges who are approved to judge Best in Show in their Country of Residence, provided that judge is approved by ANKC Ltd to judge at least 4 Group Specials in Australia

Alternatively, should a judge from a non FCI Country be able to judge 70% of the Breeds in each of the 7 Groups as per the ANKC Ltd recognized Group/Breed list, the ANKC Ltd may then grant permission for that judge to judge Best in Show. FCI Judges Regulation 2 e prevents this alternative being applied to FCI Judges.

Delete current 2.2 as it is a duplication of current 2.1

2.2. A Non-Resident Judge must be approved and have awarded in their Country of Residence Challenge Certificates, or their equivalent. to a minimum of 70% of the Breeds in each group as per the ANKC Ltd recognised Group/Breed list. A judge approved to judge 70% of the breeds within a Group may judge the whole or part of the Group if split. (05/05)

2.2       Notwithstanding the provisions in 2.1 the following Regulations are currently applied by individual National Canine Organisations.

FCI

In accordance with FCI Show Regulations 2 e, judges from FCI National Canine Organisations may under no circumstances agree to judge a breed at any show for which they are not approved by their own NCO (National Canine Organization) and for which they are not listed in the FCI Judges Directory. The same applies for judging at Best in Group and Best in Show level.

When seeking approval to judge at an FCI International Show in Australia, a Non-Resident Judge may only apply to award the CACIB to breeds for which they are individually listed in the FCI Judges Directory, failing to comply with this requirement will result in the FCI invalidating the confirmation of the CACIBs incorrectly awarded. For non CACIB breeds listed in Appendix A to these Regulations, including the Australasian Bosdog, Murray Valley Retriever and Tenterfield Terrier, approval may be granted to award Challenges after the judge completes an ANKC Ltd Open Book Examination* on those breeds.

Canadian Kennel Club (CKC)

CKC Licensed judges are permitted to judge at Championship Shows in foreign countries and issue Challenge Certificates only for breeds that they are licenced for in Canada.

For breeds that are not recognised in Canada, that are listed in Appendix A to these Regulations, including the Australasian Bosdog Murray Valley Retriever, and Tenterfield Terrier, approval may be granted to award Challenges, after the judge completes an ANKC Ltd Open Book Examination* on those breeds.

At FCI International CACIB Shows CKC judges are only allowed to judge and award CACIB’s to the breeds that they are approved to judge at Championship Shows in Canada. For breeds that are not recognised in Canada but are recognised by both ANKC Ltd and the FCI on a definitive basis, and are listed in Appendix A to these Regulations, including the Australasian Bosdog Murray Valley Retriever, and Tenterfield Terrier, approval may be granted to award Challenges, after the judge completes an ANKC Ltd Open Book Examination* on those breeds.

The Royal Kennel Club (UK)

Where an applicant is approved by the Royal Kennel Club, to judge a group or Groups at Championship Show level, and has Open Show experience or has issued Challenge Certificates outside England, subject to compliance with 2.1, may be approved to judge at Group level in Australia for those groups/breeds so qualified, subject to the Non-Resident Judge providing the details required, listed as follows:

(a) Date of Open / FCI / Green Star Shows

(b) Name of Show

(c) List of Breed/s judged

(d) Number of Dogs judged in each Breed

(e) List of “any other variety” breeds judged together with the number of dogs in each breed judged.

The above information is to be provided with the initial application for approval.

At FCI International CACIB Shows RKC judges are only allowed to judge and award CACIB’s to the breeds that are recognised by the FCI on a definitive basis and that they are approved to judge and award Challenges to at Championship Shows in the United Kingdom.

For breeds that are not recognised by the Royal Kennel Club, listed in Appendix A to these Regulations, including the Australasian Bosdog, Murray Valley Retriever and Tenterfield Terrier, approval may be granted to award Challenges after the judge completes an ANKC Ltd Open Book Examination* on those breeds.

American Kennel Club (AKC)

AKC Licensed judges are permitted to judge at Championship Shows in overseas countries and issue Challenge Certificates only for breeds that they are licenced for in the USA. For Miscellaneous and FSS (Foundation Stock Service Breeds) and breeds that are not recognised by the AKC, listed in Appendix B to these Regulations including the Australasian Bosdog, Murray Valley Retriever and Tenterfield Terrier, approval may be granted to award Challenges after the judge completes an ANKC Ltd Open Book Examination* on those breeds.

At FCI International shows, AKC judges are eligible to judge and award the CACIB provided that the following conditions are fulfilled:

1. The breeds they are scheduled to judge are recognized by the AKC (this does not include Miscellaneous and FSS.
2. They are allowed, under AKC regulations, to judge the breeds in question at AKC events and award them championship points.

For Miscellaneous and FSS and breeds that are not recognised by the AKC but are recognised by both ANKC Ltd and the FCI on a definitive basis and listed in Appendix B to these Regulations including the Australasian Bosdog, Murray Valley Retriever and Tenterfield Terrier, approval may be granted to award Challenges after the judge completes an ANKC Ltd Open Book Examination* on those breeds.

NB *Open Book Examinations will be compiled by the Overseas Judges Approval Board, will be available on the Dogs Australia Website, the completed examinations must accompany the initial application for approval

2.3 Now not relevant, delete in its entirety

2.3. Where a Non Resident Judge has been invited to judge a single breed, or up to three breeds at any one show then that person must be approved and have awarded in their Country of residence Challenge Certificates, or their equivalent, for that or all breeds to be judged. Where the two and/or three breeds comprise the whole show and a Non Resident Judge has been invited to judge Best in Show at the show, the Non Resident Judge must be approved and have awarded in their Country of residence Challenge Certificates to one of the breeds and must have Open Show experience in each of the other breeds, to be approved to judge Best in Show. The Open Show experience must be at least three (3) shows per breed, with a total number of dogs judged for each breed to be at least 100. (10/99)

Delete current 2.4 now covered by 2.1.1

2.4. Best In Show can only be judged by judges who are approved to judge Best In Show in their Country of Residence, provided that judge is approved by ANKC Ltd to judge at least 3 Group Specials in Australia. (05/05) 2.4.1. Alternatively should the judge be able to judge 70% of the Breeds in each of the 7 Groups as per the ANKC Ltd recognized Group/Breed list, the ANKC Ltd may then grant permission for that judge to judge Best in Show. (05/05) 2.4.2. Where a judge conforms with 2.1 that judge may judge Group Specials. (05/05)

Delete Current 2.5 now covered by 2.2

2.5. Where an applicant is approved by the Kennel Club England to judge a group or Groups at Championship Show level, and has Open Show experience or has issued Challenge Certificates outside England may be approved to judge at Group level in Australia for those groups/breeds so qualified, subject to the Non Resident Judge providing the details required, listed as follows: (a) Date of Open / FCI / Green Star Shows (b) Name of Show (c) List of Breed/s judged (d) Number of Dogs judged in each Breed (e) List of “any other variety” breeds judged together with the number of dogs in each breed judged. The above information is to be provided with the initial application for approval of an Overseas Judge (05/05)

2.5 Renumbered

2.3       Where an application has been received from a Non Resident Judge who has previously been approved by their Country of Residence's Controlling Body to award Challenge Certificates, or their equivalent, in their Country of Residence, and are currently on an "inactive" list due to being employed by their Controlling Body, and their Country's Rules and Regulations prevent them from judging in their Country of Residence, they may be approved to judge in Australia, subject to:

2.3.1     The person has awarded Challenge Certificates, or their equivalent, in their Country of Residence within the previous ten [10] years, and; 

2.3.2    The person has judged the breeds they are seeking approval for within the last three [3] years at a recognised show conducted under the auspice of a recognised Controlling Body.

2.4       Judges who have moved their country of residence and are not approved to judge some or all the breeds in their new country of residence that they were approved to judge in their original country of residence, will be eligible to be approved by the ANKC Ltd to judge the breeds they were approved to judge in their original country of residence.  Judges, who have been licenced by a neighbouring Country which is not their Country of Residence, shall be allowed to Judge on furnishing documentation from their Country of Residence and their Country of Licence. (05/05)

2.5       A Non Resident Judge approved on a provisional permit or apprentice basis is not eligible for approval to Judge at Championship Shows in Australia for those breeds or Groups subject to such provisional permit or apprenticeship.

2.8 Now not relevant, delete in its entirety

2.8. A Non-Resident Judge on their first judging assignment in Australia will not be permitted to judge more than four shows in one state/territory on his first tour.

Copies of Appendix A and B as referenced in the amendments above are included in the regulations.

The Dogs Australia website has been updated and the amended regulations can be viewed at:  https://dogsaustralia.org.au/members/rule-regulations/regulations/

In accordance with Item 7.5.6 of the October 2024 Board meeting minutes, the following amendments have been made to Section 3 of Regulations Part 2 - Judges and these amendments will be effective from 1 July 2025.

Currently reads:

3.2       The number of dogs any one judge may judge on any day (excluding Group and General Specials) is 250 exhibits, except in extenuating circumstances with the prior approval of the judge and the Member Body. (09/71) (Amended 10/12 – 7.5.3, 10/13 – 5.6.4) (Amended 10/17, 7.5.7 – Effective 01/01/18)

Amended to read:

3.2.1    The number of dogs any one judge may judge on any day where that judge is only contracted to judge no more than 1 Group (excluding Group and General Specials) is 250 exhibits including Sweepstakes Classes, except in extenuating circumstances with the prior approval of the judge and the Member Body. (09/71) (Amended 10/12 – 7.5.3, 10/13 – 5.6.4) (Amended 10/17, 7.5.7 – Effective 01/01/18)

3.2.2    Where a Judge is contracted to judge more than 1 Group on any day (excluding Group and General Specials) is 200 exhibits including Sweepstakes Classes, except in extenuating circumstances with the prior approval of the judge and the Member Body.

The Dogs Australia website has been updated and the amended regulations can be viewed at:  https://dogsaustralia.org.au/members/rule-regulations/regulations/