News and updates

The Office of Local Government has extended the closing date for expressions of interest in its NSW Pet Registry Closed Pilot Recruitment Scheme.

Please click here to view the revised NSW Pet Registry Recruitment Flyer.  

Pilot Objectives
The new NSW Pet Registry will support positive animal welfare outcomes and the successful identification and ownership transfer of cats and dogs. There will be dramatic improvements in the
functionality of the system for all users. The features prioritise instant interactions, accurate data collection, rapid task completion, enhanced communications between users, as well as elevating the experience to be easy and enjoyable.

The pilot is an important step forward in the development of an exciting new system for all users. The pilot starts with entering litter details into the system and ends at the stage of transferring litters to new homes. It is focused on NSW Breeders and Owners and is a full digital experience.

Pilot Timing and Scale
The pilot will run over a period of approximately 5 months, commencing mid December 2022.
• 10 NSW Breeders
• 30+ Kittens or Puppies
• 30+ Owner

In accordance with Item 6.12 where the National Lure Coursing Committee Chairperson’s report was endorsed, Dogs Australia website has been updated with the amended Regulations Part 3L – Regulations for the Conduct of Lure Coursing Judges Training & Assessment Program which are effective from 1 January 2023.  

The approved changes do not make significant changes to the requirements for Judges Training.  It has been updated to clarify which of the attributes and pre-requisites are required to enter a Judges Training Scheme, and what is required after training is completed to be elevated as a Judge.  It also adds an additional title to the pre-requisites to provide for a pathway for Judges who have Coursing Ability dogs, instead of Sighthounds. The amended regulations can be accessed from Dogs Australia website by clicking here. 

In addition, the Board approved the Lure Driver Competency Standards document which is effective from 1 January 2023 and is available under the Lure Coursing Rules from Dogs Australia website. Click here to view. 

At its December 2022 meeting, the Board of Directors resolved to amend DOGS NSW Regulations Part VI: Judges-Performance Disciplines, as follows:-

THAT DOGS NSW Regulations Part VI: Judges – Performance Disciplines, Section 2 – Entrance Qualifications, which currently reads as follows:-

2.1.8.5 have personally trained a dog to Rally Excellent Title, applied and been granted the dog’s title and supply full details thereof to the Board of Directors.

Be amended to read:-

2.1.8.5 have personally trained a dog to Rally Master Title, applied and been granted the dog’s title and supply full details thereof to the Board of Directors.


THAT DOGS NSW Regulations Part VI: Judges – Performance Disciplines, Section 5 - DOGS NSW Obedience Judges Training & Examination Scheme, which currently reads as follows:-

Section 5.6: Eligibility

6.4.2.3 The applicant must have judged at, at least, three (3) recognised Community Companion All Breeds Obedience Club Trials and supply details prior to the Practical Examination.

Be amended to read:

Section 5.6: Eligibility

6.4.2.3 The applicant must have judged at, at least six (6) recognised Community Companion All Breeds Obedience Club Trials and supply details prior to the Practical Examination.

At its October 2022 meeting, the Dogs Australia Board of Directors resolved to amend Dogs Australia Regulations Part 6: The Register & Registration, Section 6: Rules for Registration, by the inclusion of an additional Clause, numbered 6.13, and which reads as follows:-

6.13 Prefix Application and Examination (Added 10/22, 5.16. Effective 01/01/23)

6.13.1 Each Member Body to follow the Dogs Australia National Prefix Examination Framework.

6.13.2 No Member of a Member Body may be granted a prefix prior to completing and passing the Prefix Examination requirements of the relevant Member Body, as per the Dogs Australia National Prefix Examination Framework.

6.13.3 No Member of a Member Body be granted a prefix unless they have been a Member of a Member Body for a minimum period of 6 months.

6.13.4 No Member of a Member Body may mate a bitch in their ownership on the Dogs Australia National Register prior to the granting of a prefix.

6.13.5 No Member of a Member Body may apply to register a litter on the Dogs Australia Register prior to the granting of a prefix.

6.13.6 Reciprocal recognition of prefixes will apply between Member Bodies who apply the same minimum standard as per the Regulations.

A copy of the full Regulations Part 6, as amended, can be accessed on the Dogs Australia website by clicking here.

At its December 2022 meeting, the Board resolved to amend DOGS NSW Regulations as follows:-

• Part I-The Register & Registration:  Section 3 Clause 3.1 and Section 5 Clause 5.1
• Part XI-Inquiries, Investigations & Appeals:  Section 7 Clause 7.1 and Clause 7.2(b) and Clause 7.4 and Clause 7.10

The Board also resolved to include an additional Clause, numbered 32, into DOGS NSW Regulations Part XIII-Code of Ethics.  Please note that any breaches of this new Clause 32 attracts a penalty in accordance with DOGS NSW current penalty regime as follows:-

             1st Offence             $200

             2nd Offence            $500

             3rd Offence             $1,000

             4th Offence             Member to Inquiry

Please click here to view all of the changes.

At its December 2022 meeting, the Board of Directors resolved to amend DOGS NSW Regulations Part III-2022/2023 Conformation Judges Education Program as follows:-

THAT DOGS NSW Regulations Part III-2022/2023 Conformation Judges Education Program, Clause 9.3, which reads as follows:

9.3    Where there is an FCI approved breed that is rarely seen in the show ring and has few or nil registrations (eg Caanan dog, Eurasier, Canadian Eskimo Dog, Shikoku), after attending a breed lecture, Trainees will sit an online open book exam for the selected breeds to be completed by the end of the relevant Sub-Group.  These breeds will not form part of the examined breeds in the Sub-Group Theory Examination.

Be amended to read:-

9.3   Where there is an FCI approved breed that is rarely seen in the show ring and has few or nil registrations (eg Caanan dog, Eurasier, Canadian Eskimo Dog, Shikoku), after attending a breed lecture, Trainees will sit an online open book exam for the selected breeds to be completed by the end of the relevant Sub-Group no later than 10am on the day of the scheduled Sub-Group Theory Examination.  These breeds will not form part of the examined breeds in the Sub-Group Theory Examination


THAT DOGS NSW Regulations Part III-2022/2023 Conformation Judges Education Program, be amended by the inclusion of an additional Clause, numbered 10.14(a), to read as follows:-

10.14(a) Trainees will be notified of the breeds they will be examined on 30 minutes before the Practical Examination is scheduled to start.  Trainees may revise their standards and make their own notes during this time.  The Practical Examination commences when Trainees step into the examination ring and time is started.  The Practical Examination for that breed or Group is completed when the last Trainee has been questioned by the Assessor Panel.


THAT DOGS NSW Regulations Part III-2022/2023 Conformation Judges Education Program, be amended by the inclusion of an additional Clause, numbered 10.19, to read as follows:-

10.19    Should a Trainee Judge provide documentation such as a medical certificate, to the satisfaction of the Member Body CJEP Examinations Committee, that they were incapacitated or medically unfit causing inability to attend on the date of a scheduled Practical Examination, the CJEP Examinations Committee may then permit the Trainee Judge to complete a Post Examination at a time to be scheduled by the CJEP Examinations Committee.  The Trainee Judge must notify the CJEP Examinations Committee as soon as practicable but no later than the commencement time of the Trainee’s Practical Examination.

Dear Members /Associate Members/Contract Partners,

As some shoddy clubs, imitating names resembling our club have come up in Pakistan, I want to remove any confusion that might exist vis-a-vis which club in Pakistan is FCI Member. The Kennel Club of Pakistan was established in 1947 and is Full Member of FCI. We follow strict registration regime which includes mandatory microchipping and litter inspection. Every year, at an average eight to twelve foreign judges come to judge our Shows. In the last few years, some owners, who were either dog dealers or commercial breeders, thought that strict registrations procedure and control was not favorable for their business so parted ways and made their own clubs. To fool casual dog owners and foreigner judges, they have given names to their clubs similar to our club like “Pakistan Kennel Club", Pakistan Kennel Union" and " Canine Union of Pakistan ". None of these Clubs have any international recognition or reciprocal arrangements with any foreign Club. On the other hand we I.e., THE KENNEL CLUB OF PAKISTAN, is full FCI Member and also has reciprocal arrangements with British Kennel Club, American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club. Many foreign judges getting confused in the names, have accepted invitations to judge the shows of these clubs and their national clubs have given permission to judge. 

This confusion put the foreign judges and foreign national clubs in embarrassing situation later. Judging the shows of these clubs by FCI foreign judges tantamount to encourage dissident clubs of FCI Member club in a country and also encouraging breeding or dogs with dubious pedigrees.

Some owners, who have mediocre quality dogs or have dubious Pedigrees, enter their dogs in such shows and due to lack of competition, win and later sell these dogs, or their progeny, waving winning certificates and grading given by FCI judges. This is resulting in the production of mediocre dogs.

I would like to caution all fellow FCI clubs that the FCI Member club in Pakistan is only " THE KENNEL CLUB OF PAKISTAN".

Thank you for your cooperation.
Yours
Colonel Kenneth M. Roy
President
Kennel Club of Pakistan

It’s almost that time of year again when the Australians of the Year are recognised. At Puppy Tales, however, there’s a twist in the tail!

For the second year running, Puppy Tales are looking to recognise one amazing doggo to be the Australian Dog of the Year! 

In appointing the Australian Dog of the Year 2023, they want to recognise the dogs that have made a contribution to the communities across Australia. They’ve reached out to DOGS NSW because we have some amazing dogs within our community, and they want to hear of and recognise their contribution.

To share the link to the nomination page to help them find all of those incredible dogs that are deserving of nominations please click here.

Puppy Tales will be featuring nominated dogs and sharing their stories on their website and social media through these awards. This is the chance  to commend these dogs to their online community of 500,000+ dog-lovers, and to recognise their roles in their communities. 

In its third year, the 2023 Australian Dog of the Year will receive a $250 Pet Circle Gift Card, a $1,000 photography experience with Puppy Tales Photography plus $1000 donation to the registered charity of the winner’s choice! In addition, there is the People’s Choice Award and Gift Cards for 10 Nominees – total prize pool valued at more than $5,000! 

Which dogs can be nominated?
Some of the kinds of dogs that are encouraged to enter are (but not limited to):
● Guide dogs or hearing dogs
● Therapy dogs visiting ill people in hospitals
● Dogs who have helped someone with disabilities or health challenges
● Dogs in reading programs or assistance at schools
● Dogs involved in wildlife detection or protection
● Dogs who have located, rescued or saved people, or other pets
● Police and combat dogs
● Other working dogs
● Dogs that are blood donors
● A best friend who has gotten you through a tough time

Please click here to view the website for more information or to nominate a true-blue, four-legged Australian hero.

Nominations close on 13 January and the winner announced on 26 January, Australia Day!

Please note that Dogs Australia Regulations Part 5 – Conformation Show has been updated with the decisions from the October 2022 Board meeting in relation to Items 5.13 and 7.5.3 as follows. 

Item 5.13: New Clause 2.3.7 added to read:

2.3.7 Infectious Diseases or Viruses (Added 10/22, 5.13. Effective 01/01/23)

a) If a dog has been in a kennel or premises affected with distemper, canine hepatitis, parvovirus or any other virulent contagious disease (except Kennel Cough), it shall not be permitted to attend any State Member Body event or grounds for a period of 12 weeks from the date of the first diagnosis or onset of symptoms.
b) If a dog has been in a kennel or premises affected with or diagnosed with Canine Cough (also referred to as Kennel Cough or Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex) it shall not be permitted to attend any State Member Body event or grounds for a period of three weeks after the date of the first diagnosis or onset of symptoms.
c) An event organiser or affiliate official may ask for a dog to be immediately removed from any State Member Body event or grounds if that dog is visibly unwell or showing symptoms of the contagious diseases listed in (a) or (b). This shall be recorded in the Representative’s report.

Please click here to view the entire copy of the amended Regulations Part 5 - Conformation Show.

Item 7.5.3: Delete Clause 1.1.7 and amend Clause 4.1 to read as follows:

SECTION 4 Exhibitors
4.1 Ownership Interest
4.1.1 No person shall enter or exhibit a dog in any sanctioned conformation exhibition at which a judge who is a member of the competitor's immediate family, or who resides at the same address, or who has had a proprietary interest in such dog whether solely or in partnership is scheduled to officiate

4.1.2 A person may not exhibit or handle under a judge officiating at a conformation show where:

a. The person is a member of the judge’s family and/or resides at the same address as the judge.
b. The judge has or has had any ownership interest in a dog or dogs solely or in partnership with the member within a period of 12 months prior to the conformation show.
c. Where the judge has handled any dog owned, leased or part leased by the person within a period of 12 months prior to the conformation show.
d. The person has accommodated the judge or been accommodated by the judge within a period of 12 months prior to the conformation show or intends to accommodate the judge within 24 hours after the conformation show
e. The judge has trained or groomed for reward, for gift or favour a dog owned, or part owned, leased or part leased by the person in a period of 12 months prior to the conformation show
f. The dog was bred by the judge or the judge’s family.
g. For the purposes of these regulations the definition “handled” does not include any circumstance where a person has assisted another exhibitor who, due to a judging decision on the day, was required to compete with two or more exhibits at the same time. (Clause 4.1.2 amended 10/22, 7.5.3. Effective 01/01/23)

Dogs Australia are updating their website with the amended regulations.