OBEDIENCE TRIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS (CKC)

ENTRIES & END OF TRIAL

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Entry Requirements

Every dog entered in an approved obedience trial or sanctioned obedience match must be one of the following:

Registered with the CKC
Have an Event Registration Number
Have a Performance Event Number
Eligible for registration with the CKC

Have a CKC Miscellaneous Class Certification number if designated as a miscellaneous class breed

To be eligible to compete at approved obedience trials or sanctioned obedience matches a dog must meet the requirements of the Entry Forms, and:

Must be at least 6 months of age.

May be spayed, neutered, or debarked.
May not be lame (it is the judge's responsibility to determine whether a dog is lame).
May not compete if it has tape or bandages that may impair its working ability (such a dog must be immediately excused and under no circumstances may it be returned later for judging after the tape or bandages have been removed).

Entries in each class may be arranged according to the size of the dog.

If a dog is not registered individually in the records of the CKC, it may be entered at a trial held under these rules as a "listed" dog, provided that:

If born in Canada, it is eligible for individual CKC registration If not born in Canada it is eligible for individual registration in the records of the CKC If it is a foreign born and owned dog, an Event Registration Number or CKC registration number is obtained from the CKC within 30 days of the first trial entered.

The entry of a listed dog at an obedience trial held under these rules (sanctioned obedience matches excluded), must be accompanied by the appropriate listing fees. All fees, listing and recording, must be remitted to the CKC by the club or association holding the trial, within the 21 days following the trial.

A dog that is eligible for a Performance Event Number (PEN) cannot be entered as a listed dog.

The CKC has the authority, at any time, to require the owner of a "listed" dog to submit proof of the dog's eligibility for registration in the CKC stud book, and if the CKC is satisfied that the dog is not eligible for registration, it shall have the right to order the cancellation of all scores and prizes earned by the dog at trials held under these rules. Failing to comply with the CKC's request to return ribbons and/or prizes to the clubs concerned automatically renders the owner of the dog ineligible to enter any dog in any competition approved by the CKC.

The CKC shall have the authority to advise a person entering a dog at an obedience trial that he may no longer include in the name of a dog any name which, in the opinion of the CKC, infringes on the rights of any person, partnership, or company whose kennel name has been registered by the CKC, or where such name is considered to be similar to a kennel name registered with any other national kennel club with whom the CKC has working arrangements with regard to mutual protection of registered kennel names. Where a person has been advised that he may no longer include a particular name in the name of a dog and the person continues to enter the dog at obedience trials with such name included, the CKC shall have the authority to cancel all awards, scores and prizes earned by the dog at obedience trials held after the original advice was communicated to the owner of the dog.

Subject to the provisions stated in these rules, no dog may be entered in any class for which it is not eligible at the time entries for the trial close. The entry of a dog that is improperly entered in a class for which it is not eligible cannot be altered to another class after entries close.

No entry shall be made at any obedience trial under a judge of any dog which the judge, or any member of his immediate family or household owns, has owned (wholly or in part), sold, held under lease, handled in the ring, boarded, trained, or instructed regularly, within 6 months prior to the date of the trial. This includes judges who train professionally, or as amateurs, and applies equally to judges who train individual dogs, as well as those who train dogs in classes with or through their handlers. However, the above limitations as to trainers shall not apply at sanctioned obedience matches.

Exhibitors/handlers who train professionally or instruct a training class may not exhibit under a judge who has participated regularly in the exhibitor's/handler's training class within 6 months prior to the date of the trial.

Every dog must be the bonafide property of the person listed as owner.

A dog may only be entered once in each class.

If the name of a dog which has earned a qualifying score at any obedience trial is subsequently changed, the old name must be given on the entry form at the next 2 obedience trials at which the dog is entered under its new name.

The officials of any trial may decline to accept entries for just cause and no one shall have any claim or recourse against the organization holding the trial or any official connected therewith. Said officials must file their reasons for doing so with the CKC not less than 21 days after the trial has been held.

Only dogs entered in official classes, including Exhibition Only, are permitted within the precincts of the trial.

There shall be no intensive or abusive training of dogs within the precinct of the obedience trial. Violation of this rule may result in the removal of the dog from further competition at that obedience trial on that day.

No badges or clothing with club identification thereon shall be worn or displayed by exhibitors/handlers when exhibiting in the ring.

When entries are made for an obedience trial not held in conjunction with a conformation show, entries must close not less than 10 days in advance of the trial and all entries must be in the hands of the trial secretary by that date and time. Clubs accepting any entries after the closing date shall be subject to an administrative fee as set by the Board.

When an obedience trial is held in conjunction with a conformation show, a dog can be entered in obedience classes only; however, in such cases, the entry form must state "for obedience trial competition only" followed by the class or classes entered. If, however, a dog is also entered for competition in the conformation show, the Conformation Show Rules must also be observed.

Entry Forms

The following information must appear on each entry form:

Registered name of dog
CKC individual registration number (if registered in the CKC studbook), Event Registration Number (ERN) or miscellaneous class certification number if it is a breed on the miscellaneous class or Performance Event Number (PEN)
Name of breed
Variety (if applicable)
Sex of dog
Date & place of birth
Name of sire and dam
Name of breeders
Classes entered
The height of the dog at the withers for Open and Utility
Name and complete address of owner of the dog
Signature and telephone number of the owner or authorized agent

A trial-giving club must reject an incomplete entry form, and promptly return it to whoever submitted it, be it owner, lessee or authorized agent.

Entry Fees

A club may not accept an entry fee other than that which is published in the premium list or entry form or in any way discriminate between entrants.

The entry of a dog at a trial held under these rules must be accompanied by the entry fee.

Tendering of a dishonoured cheque or credit card in payment of entry fees shall be considered non-payment of entry fees, and is an offence punishable by disciplinary action and cancellation of awards.

The Obedience Trial committee may decline any entry or may remove any dog from its trial for just cause, but in each such instance, shall file good and sufficient reasons for doing so with The Canadian Kennel Club within 2 weeks of the trial.

Non-compliance with this section of these rules shall be considered an offence punishable by disciplinary action and cancellation of awards.

Dogs Must Compete

Any dog entered and received at an obedience trial must compete in all exercises of all classes in which it is entered, unless excused by the judge, official veterinarian, superintendent, or the Obedience Trial Committee Chair. If excused by the official veterinarian, the excuse must be in writing on the form provided and attached to the judge's book. If the dog is excused by either the superintendent, judge, or Obedience Trial Committee Chair, a note to this effect must be attached to the judge's book and the reason stated thereon.

Bitches In Season

Bitches in season are not permitted to compete. The judge of an obedience trial must remove from competition any bitch in season, or any bitch, which appears so attractive to males as to be a disturbing element.

When a bitch comes into season after entry of the bitch has been submitted to the trial secretary, a veterinarian's certificate, certifying that the bitch was in season within the 10 day period preceding the trial, must reach the trial secretary on or before the date of the trial. The trial-giving club must refund the entry fee, service charge and listing fee. The refund and the terms thereof must be clearly stated in the premium list.

Health

No dog may be entered at a trial held under these rules if the dog:

Is known to have distemper, parvovirus, kennel cough or other communicable disease, or Has recovered from infection with canine distemper or canine parvovirus within the last 14 days.

It is recommended that all dogs have a current immunization status.

Where it is found that these rules have been contravened, the dog in question shall be removed from the trial premises and the exhibitor/handler will be subject to disciplinary action.

Class Eligibility

Where any of the obedience trial regulations require that a dog shall have won a particular obedience title before being entered in a specific class or test, eligibility to enter in that class shall be determined as follows: a dog may be entered in such a class in any obedience trial of which the final closing date occurs after the handler has been notified by at least 2 different judges that the dog has won 3 qualifying scores for the required title, even thought the owner has not received official notification from the CKC that the dog has won the title. However, the owner must forfeit any prizes and qualifying scores won in that particular class if the CKC does not subsequently notify the owner officially that the required title has been won.

Where any of the obedience trial regulations exclude from a particular class dogs which have won a particular obedience title, eligibility to enter that class shall be determined as follows: a dog may continue to be exhibited in such a class after the handler has been notified by at least 2 judges that he has received 3 qualifying scores for such title. However, a dog may not be entered or exhibited in such class in any obedience trial of which the official closing date for the entries occurs after the owner has received official notification from the CKC that the dog has won the particular obedience title.

Once a dog has been entered in the Open class, it can no longer compete in the Novice class. Once the dog enters the Utility class, it can no longer compete in Open A. In the event that a dog is required to requalify, the requirements of this subsection shall not apply.

Moving Up

A dog that is individually registered in the records of the CKC or has a PEN, an ERN or a Miscellaneous Class Certification Number and has fulfilled the requirements for a title in accordance with the provisions of these rules may be moved to the next level of competition. The transfer must be submitted to the trial secretary in writing on the appropriate move-up form by the owner or handler one hour before the opening of the first trial on that day, schedule permitting.

If it is established by the CKC that a dog moved up to the next level has not completed the requirements for the lower level before moving up, then all requirements for the lower level before moving up, then all qualifying ribbons and/or awards earned by the dog incorrectly entered shall be forfeited and cancelled by the CKC and the owner may be subject to disciplinary action.

In order for a dog to be eligible to move up, the dog must be individually registered in the CKC or have a Performance Event Number, an Event Registration Number or a Miscellaneous Class Certification Number before entries close. The addition of a CKC number after close of entries does not make the dog eligible and will result in referral to the Discipline Committee.

End of the Trial

The club secretary or the trial secretary of the club holding an obedience trial shall, within 21 days of the completion of an approved obedience trial forward to the Canadian Kennel Club the official catalogue marked to indicate the scores made in all classes and all absentees noted.

A club must forward an official catalogue to The Canadian Kennel Club with the following:

An unmarked catalogue:

All entry forms

All judge's books marked and signed by the officiating judge

Apprentice judge's books and reports

Any other information or reports as may be required by the CKC

The CKC may require a trial-giving club to provide a report of any matter or matters connected with its trial. This must be made within 2 weeks of the date on which the club received the request for such report.

The trial-giving club is responsible for the collection of all listing and recording fees. Within 21 days after the completion of its trials, the trial-giving club shall forward the following to the CKC:

The signed certificate over the signatures of the president and secretary of the club as to the number of listed dogs entered in its trial, and the total number of dogs entered in competition in its trial A remittance that shall include all listing and recording fees as set by the Board for each dog entered in competition in its trial. In the event that the CKC establishes that the remittance fails to completely cover the fees set forth above, an administrative fee will be assessed against the club, as set by the Board.

An administrative fee as set by the Board will be imposed for each day's delay in the returns reaching the CKC.

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