News and updates

DOGS NSW Regulations Update
26-03-2026

Regulation Update

The full amended Regulations can be found here.

Part II-Show

The following amendments to DOGS NSW Regulations Part II-Show where approved by the Board:-

Clause 14.10

Currently reads:-

14.10    (Revised 12/12)

(c) If the incident causes serious damage to the victim who, subsequently, requires immediate medical attention, the local council must be informed.  If it occurs out of council hours the police must be informed. (08/25)

Be amended to read:-

(c)       If the incident causes serious damage to the victim a person or another dog who, subsequently, requires immediate medical attention, the local council must be informed.  If it occurs out of council hours the police must be informed. (03/26)

(i)         It is the responsibility of either the President or the Secretary of the club to contact the council or police. (03/26)

(ii)       If the local council and or police are called the offending dog must automatically be declared aggressive. (03/26)

(a)       if the dog has been tested by the Department of Local Government, the owner must provide a copy of the report to DOGS NSW within eight (8) weeks, failure to do so would render the dog to remain on suspension until the report is provided. (03/26)

(iii)      Where the council or police declare the dog a Dangerous Dog in line with NSW legislation DOGS NSW must ban the dog for life. (03/26)

(iv)      An Aggressive Dog Hearing is still required to be held to gather all relevant paperwork, witness statements and videos, if available, and must be submitted to DOGS NSW within 48 hours. (03/26)

(v)        Upon receipt of the Aggressive Dog Report the Office within 48 hours must notify the owner/s by email and registered post that the dog has been declared a Dangerous Dog in line with NSW legislation and the dog has been banned for life. (03/26)

 

(i)         Within 2 calendar months of receipt of the report referred to in (g) the Board of Directors shall consider the report and if satisfied that the dog is likely to constitute a danger to persons, other dogs or property at any Show, taking into consideration the responsibility of the handler or of any individual involved, may for such period as the Board of Directors consider appropriate (08/25):-

New Clause

(viii)    where a dog is reported to the Council or Police in accordance with Clause 14.10(c) as an aggressive dog, however, is not declared to be a Dangerous Dog, the dog will automatically receive a six (6) month suspension, OR, at the discretion of the Board, may be banned for life. (03/26)

  • It is the obligation of each owner, exhibitor and handler at a show to take all such steps as may be necessary to ensure that any dog under that person’s care or control or for which that person is responsible does not behave in an aggressive manner.

1st Offence:     Reprimand Letter

2nd Offence:    $100.00 $200.00 (03/26)

3rd Offence:    Matter referred to Inquiry (10/18) **

**and consideration that dog be banned for life (03/26)

**Renumber original Clause (i)(viii) to (i)(ix)

Clause 10.2(d) be deleted in its entirety

New “paragraph” added to Clause 19.1.2(f), as follows:-

SprintDogTM Trials must be cancelled if the forecast temperature available at 10.00am from the closest Bureau of Meteorology station to the venue (www.bom.gov.au) two days prior exceeds 32 degrees Celsius, or in the alternative, rescheduled to a cooler period for the Trial (eg, early morning) at the discretion of the Affiliate. (03/26)

 

Part III-Conformation Judges Education Program

At its recent meeting, the Board resolved to amend DOGS NSW Regulations Part III-Conformation Judges Education Program Clause 10.15, as follows:-

Currently reads:-

10.15    Should a Trainee not achieve a pass result in a Practical Examination, then to qualify to take a further Group Practical Examination a Trainee Judge must enrol as a Continuing Trainee, judge a further fifty (50) dogs at Field Events, Open Shows and Sweepstakes or personally with a MENTOR and examine and critique a further twenty five (25) dogs concurrent with the training program in progress, in accordance with Clause 6.1.2, above, and submit the approved enrolment form, accompanied by the requirements of this Clause.  They may then attempt the next available Practical Examination in that training Program. (08/25)

Be amended to read:-

 10.15   Should a Trainee not achieve a pass result in a Practical Examination, then to qualify to take a further Group Practical Examination a Trainee Judge must enrol as a Continuing Trainee, judge a further fifty (50) dogs at Field Events, Open Shows and Sweepstakes or personally with a MENTOR.

A Trainee must also examine and critique a further twenty five (25) dogs, and submit the approved enrolment form, accompanied by the requirements of this Clause.  They may then attempt the next available Practical Examination in that training Program. (03/26)

 

Part VI-Judges Performance Disciplines

The Board, at its Electronic Motion of 13 March 2026 resolved to rescind the following Clause in DOGS NSW Regulations Part VI-Judges, Performance Disciplines:-

4.2A(vi)                A Judge shall not:- Act as a handler of an exhibit or exhibit a dog in a Lure Coursing Meet or SprintDog™ Trial at which he officiates as a Judge (08/25)

 

Part XIII-Code of Ethics

At its recent meetings, the Board resolved to amend the DOGS NSW Part XIII-Code of Ethics. 

The amendments are:-

New Clauses

  • 2(e)(ii)
  • 10
  • 12
  • 13

with the subsequent clauses being re-numbered.

 

Part XVI-Scent Work & Judges Training

At its recent meetings, the Board resolved to amend the DOGS NSW Regulations Part XVI-Scent Work & Judges Training.

New Clause

2.2.13  Trial Entries

  1. In accordance with DOGS NSW Regulations Part II-Show, a dog must be entered with the correct details and dog ownership in the catalogue to be eligible for qualification or awards at a DOGS NSW sanctioned Scent Work Trial.
  2. Should a dog not be entered correctly by their owner or co-owner or not entered in the catalogue, then they will not be eligible for qualification cards or awards.
  3. Any qualification cards or awards issued to a dog who is not entered in the catalogue at a Trial will be rescinded, and the competitor may face disciplinary action.
  4. Affiliates retain the right to manage Trial entries to ensure the smooth running of a Trial.  In this regard, an Affiliate may provide guaranteed or priority entries to a limited number of volunteers and/or Judges with the following conditions:-
  5. The majority of Trial entries remain available at the official opening of entries.
  6. Systems must be in place to ensure priority entries are made available to designated positions, the Trial Manager and Trial Secretary and/or Judges.

iii.       Affiliates should ensure procedures are in place to prevent potential unintended misuse of the system, for example, not allocating to a greater number of volunteers than necessary to successfully run each Trial

 

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