Reference is made to the Utility Class, Signal Exercise rule in the current ANKC Ltd Rules for the Conduct of Obedience Trials and in particular to clarification of the highlighted section noted below:
Deductions – Substantial: For any double signal or failure to sit, stand or down during the heel routine, prolonged signals, slow response to signals.
The National Obedience & Tracking Committee has confirmed the following interpretation which shall be binding in accordance with the rules:
A substantial deduction applies where a dog fails to stand on the lead-up to the final portion of the Signal Exercise in the UD Class.
Tracey Barry
Administrator
October 2017
The judging approval of Mrs Lidija Okleščen (Slovenia) to judge in Australia has been withdrawn by ANKC Ltd upon advice received from the Cynological Association of Slovenia.
The Kennel Club (UK) hosted the International Congress of World Kennel Clubs between the 27th and 29th of June 2017. Initially the ANKC Ltd President Mr Hugh Gent OAM was to attend however due to family illness had to withdraw and the ANKC Ltd Vice President Mr Brian Parker attended in his absence.
The purpose of the Congress was to bring together the world’s leading kennel clubs to discuss current common issues and to plot a path to the future. There were 70 delegates present from 20 countries. From the agenda provided the topics were well thought out and very much of interest to the worlds kennel clubs.
Some of the principle topics discussed included:
Although there were a range of other topics discussed these were the most relevant to the delegates and produced the most interest. The ANKC Ltd Directors were provided with a full briefing plus copies of the presentations so they may speak further with their Member Bodies.
The ANKC Ltd Retrieving & Field Trial Hall of Fame pays homage to those PERSONS and DOGS that have made outstanding and significant contributions to the sports of Retrieving or Field Trials.
As Convenor of the ANKC Ltd Retrieving & Field Trial Hall of Fame Election Panel, it is with pleasure that I announce the inductees for 2017.
PROMINENT PERSONS
Mr Paul Littlejohn
Mr Noel Eltringham
DISTINGUISHED DOGS
NTL. R.T. CH. Kaemajae Michelle C.M.
Owned by Mr John Cauchi
Inductees in the category of Prominent Persons are acknowledged as being exceptional people who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport over an extended period of time.
Inductees in the category of Outstanding Gundogs are recognized for their outstanding achievements in the disciplines of Retrieving or Field Trials.
The Election Panel congratulates the new inductees for 2017.
T STEVENS
Convenor
In response to the increasing level of possible fraud in the breeding and registration of French Bulldogs and other breeds, the ANKC Ltd Board of Directors has appointed a Taskforce with the following Remit.
Identify alleged fraudulent dealings in the ANKC Ltd Registration System, record them and refer them to the appropriate Member Body for investigation.
Investigate measures to reduce the opportunity for fraudulent dealings in the ANKC Ltd Registration System, including but not limited to DNA Testing, introduction of Litter Registration Limitations and examination of the implementation of Regulations Part 6.
The Taskforce has received a substantial amount of valuable information from concerned members and in following up this material will be taking the following action.
Flag all suspect imported dogs and semen.
Flag all suspected prefixes that have been identified as breeding non allowable coloured dogs.
Through the appropriate Member Body appoint “Compliance Investigative Panels” to identify breeders and suspected mismarked dogs who are on the Main Register by microchip scanning and visual identification of the colour of the dog, any dogs identified as being registered on the Main Register who are not a recognised colour to be downgraded to the Limited Register.
Suspected breaches of the Regulations arising from these investigations will be referred to the breeders Member Body for action.
Although the Taskforce had initially been appointed to address the French Bulldog problem it will also investigate alleged fraudulent breeding and Registration practices in other breeds, including but not limited to, British Bulldogs, Pugs and Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
The huge increase in the popularity of the French Bulldog has created opportunities for unethical breeders to exploit the breed, the blatant disregard for the breed standard, and falsifying of colour, via pattern, enabling breeders to charge from $10,000 upwards for puppies, based on the premise of Exotic and Rare Colours, has prompted the Board of Directors of the Australian National Kennel Council Ltd to establish a “Task Force” to investigate the corrupt practices affecting the breed and to make recommendations to strengthen the Regulations to protect the integrity of the registration process.
Any information that could be of assistance in the investigations should be directed to a Member Body Office for forwarding to the “Task Force”.
Members of Task Force
Hugh Gent OAM
Brian Parker
David Sales
Darren Bowey
Lynette Brown
Shane Thomas
Karen Hedberg
Virginia Gagan-Wilson
Notice is hereby given that the next meeting of National Breed Councils will be held on Saturday, 1 July, 2017, commencing at 10AM at:
Dogs Victoria Bulla Exhibition Centre
Calabria Club
5 Uniting Lane
BULLA VICTORIA 3428
National Breed Councils are invited to submit agenda items for this meeting to the ANKC Administrator, by no later than COB 28 April 2017 to allow sufficient time for the agenda to be promulgated prior to the meeting.
National Breed Councils are invited to send two representatives to attend the meeting. The names of your representatives are to be submitted to the ANKC Administrator, by no later than COB 16 June 2017. Only those delegates confirmed by their respective National Breed Council will be permitted entry to the meeting.
T Barry
ANKC Ltd Administrator
Members, Clubs and other organisations please note that the Canine Research Foundation is seeking applications for research commencing in 2018 to be funded under the Foundation's Grants program for the year 2018.
The purpose of the Foundation is to provide funding for research directed at improving canine health. Canine health refers to research into disease and disease related processes, and/or the prevention of injury and/or disease.
Proposed research projects should be directed towards producing benefit in some aspect of canine health and must be conducted by an Australian University.
Applications will close on 31 MAY, 2017.
Application forms may be obtained by e-mail from the ANKC Ltd Administrator at the following address: tbarry@ankc.org.au
Tracey Barry
ANKC Ltd Administrator
Recently ANKC Ltd conducted a survey to ascertain the opinion of ANKC Ltd registered White Swiss Shepherd Dog owners in relation to ANKC Ltd accepting for registration Australian born White Swiss Shepherd Dogs registered with the White Swiss Shepherd Dog Club of Australia Inc A0043538A which complied with all the following conditions and would apply to litters born from 1st July 2017, with these dogs being eligible to participate in all relevant ANKC Ltd disciplines: -
1.1 There are a minimum of 3 generations of White Swiss Shepherd Dogs only;
1.2 White Swiss Shepherd Dogs cannot be mated to White German Shepherd Dogs;
1.3 A White Swiss Shepherd Dog cannot be accepted if within 3 generations there was a White German Shepherd Dog used after 1 January 2005;
1.4 White German Shepherd Dogs or White Coloured German Shepherd Dogs cannot be used or re-registered as a White Swiss Shepherd Dog.
In order to accept the Australian bred White Swiss Shepherd Dogs into the ANKC Ltd Database Registry, the conditions (as stated above) had to be met. A majority of registered owners within the breed and responding to the survey had to be in favour before approval would be given by ANKC Ltd for this to proceed.
The response received from owners has indicated an overwhelming rejection of this recommendation.
In view of this no action will be taken to implement the recommendation at this stage and the ANKC Ltd Board will discuss the results of this survey at a future meeting.
Ms Tracey Barry
ANKC Ltd Administrator
Join the movement to keep healthy puppies in homes, where they belong
Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) pedigree dog breeders are devoted to their dogs and want to see their puppies live long, happy and healthy lives in forever loving homes. Sadly, some dogs suffer from hereditary problems and require ongoing veterinary care, which can be expensive and heartbreaking for everyone.
The ANKC, the peak body for responsible and ethical breeders in Australia, has launched a public and breeder education movement to complement the RSPCA and Australian Veterinary Association’s joint initiative, Love is Blind, to raise awareness of the animal welfare problems caused by exaggerated physical features and how these problems can be prevented.
“Love is blind, except, it doesn’t have to be,” said Hugh Gent OAM, President of the ANKC. “The ANKC considers the health and physical welfare of dogs of prime importance and does not support the breeding of dogs with exaggerated features to meet a puppy buyer demand for a certain look.”
ANKC registered breeders who abide by the Council’s breeding codes and guidelines give careful consideration to health issues, temperament and genetic screening, as well as individual care and placement of puppies in proper homes, explained Mr Gent. “The ANKC continuously reviews Breed Standards to reflect their responsible breeding policy, as well as educating breeders and judges through ANKC membership to breed and exhibit healthy, sound dogs,” he said.
Not all short-nosed breeds have health problems
Addressing concerns about the health and wellbeing of brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds, veterinarian Dr Karen Hedberg, ANKC Canine Health and Wellbeing Committee Chair, said many brachycephalic breeds, such as Pugs, French Bulldogs and British Bulldogs, may be short-faced but not necessarily have breathing difficulties.
“The breeds that tend to have breathing difficulties have both short noses and loose skin folds. Current ANKC recommendations are not to breed with severely affected individuals,” she said.
A recent ground-breaking study¹ at Cambridge Veterinary School, UK, showed dogs can be properly sorted into precise groups of degree of breathing difficulties which will make selection of breeding animals more reliable. The ANKC is considering importing similar testing chambers to Australia, said Dr Hedberg.
To promote the health, functionality and longevity of dogs, many ANKC Breed Clubs also run genetic health schemes, such as CHEDS (Canine Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Scheme) and ACES (Australian Canine Eye Scheme). Through the Canine Research Foundation, the ANKC also actively supports and funds scientific research with various Australian universities for the benefit of all dogs. Funding for the CRF comes from a levy on each puppy registered with the ANKC.
Educate yourself - give responsibility to buyers
“We want dogs to live long, healthy, trouble-free lives but part of that responsibility falls on their owners,” said Dr Hedberg.
“It is the duty of a prospective owner to educate themselves about the breed, inherited diseases - if any - and any recommended health testing for that breed. It is also their responsibility to find and work with a responsible breeder to ensure they are getting the healthiest and most suitable dog for their lifestyle.”
Dr Hedberg said the ANKC actively promotes efforts to ensure that the public is educated, understands the demands of responsible ownership and have access to healthy, well-bred dogs that are right for them.
“After they purchase their puppy, owners need to be diligent in the care and overall well-being of their dog by ensuring their exercise, nutrition, veterinary care, vaccinations and other preventative measures that aid in their dog maintaining its best health,” she said. “Given the ongoing demand for puppies, public education about choosing a pure breed suitable for their lifestyle and finding a responsible ANKC-registered breeder are paramount in stamping out irresponsible dog breeders and keeping dogs out of shelters and in homes where they belong.”
The ANKC affiliated Member Bodies and Breed Clubs help the public locate ethical and credible breeders of healthy dogs in about 200 breeds in Australia.
“The ANKC urges pet industry bodies and groups to join forces in assisting breeders to breed healthy dogs and assist buyers who wish to buy a purebred dog, to choose healthy puppies by using ANKC-registered breeders,” said Mr Gent.
For updates on ANKC canine health screening initiatives, follow ANKC Canine Health and Wellbeing. Also check out Forensic View of Puppy Breeding in Australia.
VIDEO: ‘Puppies! Love will find a way – ANKC’
¹ http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/boas/research
Media contacts
Hugh Gent OAM, ANKC President
hughgent@bigpond.net.au
0458 465 124
Caroline Zambrano
petjourno@gmail.com
0403 550 730
Spokespersons for ANKC affiliated Member Bodies and a number of Breed Clubs are available for interview. Please contact Caroline for details.
About the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC)
The Australian National Kennel Council is the administrative body of purebred canine affairs in Australia with affiliated Member Bodies in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia. To discover more about ANKC and canine activities of all the Member Bodies, visit www.ankc.org.au
