News and updates

Over the next few months, PR Consultant, Ms Sheridan Cook, will be building the profile and awareness of DOGS NSW and addressing political issues that affect our members.

This will be done via communication to members, media outlets and DOGS NSW current and new social media channels.  This will position DOGS NSW as promoting responsible dog ownership and as a peak industry body, thought leader and subject expert as well as encouraging new memberships.  The members will need to lobby the Government through their Local Members regarding political issues which we need to provide support.

Health screening test rolled out for brachycephalic dog breeds.

The University of Cambridge and the Kennel Club (UK) Respiratory Function Grading Scheme provides an assessment for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. to objectively measure the severity of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in dogs and help make a clinical diagnosis. The intent of the scheme is also to improve understanding of the condition, increase awareness, and ultimately reduce the incidence of BOAS, the scheme has been accepted widely around the world as a viable way of repeatable way of grading dogs for respiratory function.

Dogs Australia (ANKC) with its affiliated State and Territory Members Bodies is the peak body in Australia responsible for Registered Pure Bred dogs and is a not-for-profit organisation advocating for the preservation of purebred dogs through ethical breeding. dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease, joined this international effort just prior to COVID and after being delayed by the pandemic is currently rolling out the RFG Scheme in Australia.

As part of its agreement with the Kennel Club, Dogs Australia has appointed Dr. Arthur House BSc BVMS Ph.D. Cert SAS DECVS as Australia's Chief Assessor for the RFG Scheme, an internationally recognized specialist small animal surgeon in both Australia and Europe. Arthur recently visited the UK to be briefed on the supervision of the Scheme by Dr. Jane Ladlow the Cambridge University Principal Investigator into Non-invasive Assessment of Respiratory Function in Unrestrained Conscious Brachycephalic Dogs Pre and Post Upper Airway Surgery. Dr. Ladlow gave evidence in the case at which the Norwegian Court of appeal overturned the Bulldog breeding ban.

Dr. House is currently training veterinarians to become approved assessors to carry out respiratory function grading, a number have already been trained and appointed in Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, and in conjunction with the State and Territory Member Bodies, training will take place in other states in coming months. The response to the launch of the RFG Scheme in Australia has been excellent and the National British Bulldog Breed Council is instituting respiratory function grading as one of its health screening tests.

The objectives of the scheme in Australia are;

To identify dogs at risk/subject to BOAS to allow for the best care and treatment for managing such conditions.

To give the breeder/owner the best available information in terms of the appropriateness of using a dam/sire in a breeding program.

To give other breeders the information resource of dogs affected and unaffected by BOAS to allow for the selection of the most suitable stock for breeding purposes.

To provide data and statistics in terms of BOAS to monitor the frequency and progress in the breed affected for ongoing research for the overall improvement of the relevant breeds.

For further information:  [email protected]

The University of Cambridge and the Kennel Club (UK) Respiratory Function Grading Scheme provides an assessment for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. to objectively measure the severity of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in dogs and help make a clinical diagnosis. The intent of the scheme is also to improve understanding of the condition, increase awareness, and ultimately reduce the incidence of BOAS, the scheme has been accepted widely around the world as a viable way of repeatable way of grading dogs for respiratory function.

Dogs Australia (ANKC) with its affiliated State and Territory Members Bodies is the peak body in Australia responsible for Registered Pure Bred dogs and is a not-for-profit organisation advocating for the preservation of purebred dogs through ethical breeding. dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease, joined this international effort just prior to COVID and after being delayed by the pandemic is currently rolling out the RFG Scheme in Australia.

As part of its agreement with the Kennel Club, Dogs Australia has appointed Dr. Arthur House BSc BVMS Ph.D. Cert SAS DECVS as Australia's Chief Assessor for the RFG Scheme, an internationally recognized specialist small animal surgeon in both Australia and Europe. Arthur recently visited the UK to be briefed on the supervision of the Scheme by Dr. Jane Ladlow the Cambridge University Principal Investigator into Non-invasive Assessment of Respiratory Function in Unrestrained Conscious Brachycephalic Dogs Pre and Post Upper Airway Surgery. Dr. Ladlow gave evidence in the case at which the Norwegian Court of appeal overturned the Bulldog breeding ban.

Dr. House is currently training veterinarians to become approved assessors to carry out respiratory function grading, a number have already been trained and appointed in Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, and in conjunction with the State and Territory Member Bodies, training will take place in other states in coming months. The response to the launch of the RFG Scheme in Australia has been excellent and the National British Bulldog Breed Council is instituting respiratory function grading as one of its health screening tests.

The objectives of the scheme in Australia are:

• To identify dogs at risk/subject to BOAS to allow for the best care and treatment for managing such conditions.
• To give the breeder/owner the best available information in terms of the appropriateness of using a dam/sire in a breeding program.
• To give other breeders the information resource of dogs affected and unaffected by BOAS to allow for the selection of the most suitable stock for breeding purposes.
• To provide data and statistics in terms of BOAS to monitor the frequency and progress in the breed affected for ongoing research for the overall improvement of the relevant breeds.

For further information:  [email protected]

There has been widespread discussion on the handling of dogs in the ring at CACIB Shows. Under the Dogs Australia Associate Agreement with the FCI, CACIB shows in Australia must be conducted under FCI Regulations, the relevant Regulations from both organisations are as follows:

Dogs Australia Regulations Part 5 Conformation Shows
Section 9.5.7 In accordance with the terms of the Associate Membership between Dogs Australia and FCI, all Dogs Australia CACIB Shows are to be conducted under FCI Regulations including group nomenclature and breed standards for the duration of the event.

FCI Regulations Part 12 Restrictions for Judges at CACIB Shows
The dogs that a judge handles at an FCI-CACIB show where he is not acting as a judge must be either bred, owned, or co-owned by him, by a partner, by a member of his immediate family, or by any person living with him in his household.

At its recent meeting, the Board resolved to amend DOGS NSW Regulations Part II-Show, Section 4: Approval of a Show, Clause 4.4, as follows:-

Currently reads
4.4A An Affiliate or licensed body may conduct two (2) Championship Shows in any one year, and may also conduct one or more Parades and/or Open and/or Sanction Shows, except in the case of an Associate Affiliate which may conduct one (1) Championship Show or two Championship shows if both are held on the same day in any one year and a Specialty Club that may, but only on the invitation of the DOGS NSW Spring Fair Dog Show Committee, conduct a third Championship Show in any one year. (02/20)

Be amended to read:
4.4A An Affiliate or licensed body may conduct two (2) Championship Shows in any one year, and may also conduct one or more Parades and/or Open and/or Sanction Shows, except in the case of an Associate Affiliate which may conduct one (1) Championship Show in any one year and a Specialty Club that may, but only on the invitation of the DOGS NSW Spring Fair Dog Show Committee, conduct a third Championship Show in any one year. (02/23)

Please click here to view the full version of Regulations Part II - Show.

Members are asked to please note the following change of dates of the Yuggera Canine Club approved CACIB Shows for 2023, 2024 and 2025:

2023 – Sunday 11th June now changed to Saturday 10th June
2024 – Sunday 9th June now changed to Saturday 8th June
2025 – Sunday 8th June now changed to Saturday 7th June

DOGS NSW Scent Work Working Party and the sport of Scent Work want to take your Club in a fresh and exciting new direction in 2023!

Scent Work is one of the fastest growing sports worldwide, so please take this opportunity to introduce yourself to this thrilling new discipline and the trialling opportunities for both your Club and Members.

Scent Work Trials require minimal equipment to host and, dependant on the club's individual preference and situation, there are options to offer one element/one class trials, multiple elements/classes, single element or full trials. Elements include interior, exterior, container and vehicle searches and, similar to other dog sports, there are four classes (levels) commencing at Novice to Masters. Elements and classes can be mixed and matched to suit club space and member power.

The DOGS NSW Scent Work Working Party and Judges are eager to work with Clubs to offer support and guidance, from applying for a trial date, to completion of trial.

Find out more about how to start to share this popular sport with your members; interest in holding a Scent Work Trial; or if the Club would like to host a demonstration of the sport to your club members.

For more information: 0433 127 245 or Email: [email protected]

The booklets have been released by FCI and cover the following to present an in-depth explanation of the importance of dog welfare related matters and their connection to our activities.  These documents target the everyday dog keeper, presenting complex materials related to responsible dog keeping to prevent dog welfare matters and better understand the importance of registered breeding.

What Does Responsible Breeding Mean?

Why Choose a National Canine Organisation Registered Breeder?

Preparing and Caring for your Puppy

In accordance with the October 2022 Dogs Australia Board meeting minutes (Item 5.2) please find copy of Regulations Part 9 – Non Resident Judges which has been amended in relation to Clause 2.1 on page 3, Section 4 on pages 4 & 5, Clauses 5 and 7 of the Procedure on pages 7 & 8.  The amended regulations can be viewed here at the Dogs Australia website.

Also available are a copy of the amended Overseas Judges Application form, which now incorporates both Conformation and Performance Sports Judges.  This form will replace the existing Overseas Judges application forms for Conformation and the various Disciplines. The form can be downloaded here under the Conformation and Disciplines as well as being made available with Regulations Part 9.

These amended documents are effective from 1 January 2023.