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KENNEL CLUB OFFICE CLOSURES

Kennel Club customers are advised that members of staff will transition to working from home during the course of this week as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. By the close of business on Friday, the Clarges Street offices will be closed. Soon after this, the Aylesbury site will also close, once the Kennel Club is confident that calls and business processing will not be compromised.

The Kennel Club will endeavour to keep its services running as smoothly as possible in these times, with Aylesbury staff working between 10am and 4pm. Please note that during this closure period, there may be delays to respond to postal correspondence, therefore we would ask our customers to use email to contact staff where possible.

The Kennel Club will be making further announcements as the situation develops and will continue to update its website with current information as appropriate. Please note that Kennel Club goods and services are also still available direct from this website. Please visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk.

GCDS AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT CRUFTS

Success for dogs, handlers and trainers from Staffordshire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire and West Yorkshire

The winners of the annual Good Citizen Dog Scheme (GCDS) awards were announced at the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, on Sunday 8^th March.

The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme is the largest dog training programme in the United Kingdom, with over 680,000 dogs and their owners graduating through the scheme’s Bronze award. The GCDS awards were created in recognition of the hard work, efforts and contribution made by dedicated canine clubs and enthusiasts.

Twelve individuals, dogs, clubs and organisations were vying for the top prize across four categories: Best Kennel Club GCDS Listed Status Dog Training Club Award, Best Kennel Club Registered Club Award, Royal Canin Dedicated Person Award and Royal Canin Most Inspiring Dog Award. The nominees were all put forward to a public vote, with the winners announced at the GCDS awards ceremony, which took place at Crufts.

Crufts Dog Activities Displays

Crufts Dog Activities Displays are as follows:

Rally

Thursday: 9.45 and 2.15

Friday: 9.30 and 2.30

Saturday: 12.00 and 4.00 (YKC Rally team, competition at 4pm)

Sunday: 11.15 and 2.30

A couple of the team will also be representing Rally in the Main Arena on Sunday at 9.55.

Obedience

Thursday: 12.30 and 3.45

Friday: 12.45 and 4.00

Saturday: 10.30 and 3.00

Sunday: 12.30 and 4.00

A couple of the team will also be representing Obedience in the Main Arena on Sunday at 9.55.

Also attached is a document detailing photos and writeups for the YKC Rally competitors (competing on Saturday in the Dog Activities ring, Hall 3, at 4pm) and the judge.

YKC-Rally-Crufts-competitors-2020 Download

New ‘GET STARTED’ videos become available

THE ROAD TO CRUFTS: KENNEL CLUB LAUNCHES VIDEOS TO HELP OWNERS AND THEIR FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND ‘GET STARTED’

The Kennel Club collaborates with Britain’s Got Talent winner Ashleigh Butler and other experienced Crufts competitors to create videos for owners who want to get active with their dog

With Crufts returning to Birmingham this week, the Kennel Club has unveiled a series of ‘Getting started in…’ videos, which show dog-lovers how they can get involved in a range of activities with their canine companion.

The interactive videos span agility – made up of various obstacles for your dog to run through, jump over, and weave in and out of alongside you; obedience – strengthening your teamwork and training; and heelwork to music – combining obedience, choreography and music.

Each video is narrated by a two-legged expert, with demonstrations from their four-legged teammate, including tips on how to get into the activity, what it takes to be successful and practical training advice.

The Kennel Club statement on Coronavirus

Following the outbreak of novel Coronavirus in China, the Kennel Club and the NEC will be taking enhanced measures to help protect our visitors, exhibitors, clients and staff at Crufts 2020 taking place on the 5^th – 8^thMarch.

We are monitoring the situation closely and we continue to follow advice from the World Health Organisation and Public Health England, as well as that of local government.

Everyone should note that the main message from Public Health England is on personal hygiene, therefore staff, exhibitors and visitors are also being encouraged to maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene by employing the ‘Catch It. Bin It. Kill It’ ethos. Additional signage and bottles of hand sanitiser will be introduced in toilets and the in-hall catering areas, to make it even easier for everyone to clean their hands. In addition Crufts will be supplying a hand sanitiser station at each public and dog exhibitor entrance.

The Kennel Club recommends that those with concerns about the Coronavirus follow guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public and follow government advice on travel.

Extracts from the Kennel Club Obedience Council’s Agenda for the next meeting due to take place on Thursday 6th February 2020 for your comments

Please find attached an updated paper questionnaire that can be printed off and completed, or completed electronically as a word document and return it to your regional rep or to me at cpatrick1984@outlook.com

There is a link on the questionnaire (and below) for anyone who would like to complete a Google questionnaire on line (June Le Fevre will collate the Google responses and feed them back to the area reps)
You can download the complete agenda by using this link: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/1160700/olc-060220-agenda.pdf.

PLEASE NOTE: If you live in the South East and East Anglia area you should not use this paper questionnaire, but just use the Google questionnaire by following this link: https://forms.gle/rn9sXEyrnw5GrGtP8

Also, Bev Smith has designed a questionnaire that will be available on the Midlands Facebook page

Please take some time to feedback your comments on the recommendations, proposals and discussion items so that your reps can represent your views at the Obedience Council meeting on 06.02.20

Many Thanks Carole

PDF Doc: 06.02.20-Extracts-from-the-KCOL-Agenda Download

WORD Doc: 06.02.20-Extracts-from-the-KCOL-Agenda Download

Changes to Rally Regulations from 1st January 2020

The Kennel Club has recently approved the following changes to the regulations for rally which will come into effect on 1 January 2020.The following regulations have been amended in order to address minor issues and anomalies arising from the review of the S Regulations, and to provide consistency and clarity.New Regulation S19.h. JudgingTO:Judges must submit course plans to the Secretary and/or the Chief Steward no later than 10 days prior to the competition date.(Insertion in bold)(Subsequent paragraphs to be renumbered)(Effective 1 January 2020)Amendment to Regulation S2.b.TO:b. Only dogs of six calendar months of age and over on the first day of the competition are eligible to take part in Level 1, 2, or 3 and Level 2 classes. Only dogs of 12 calendar months of age and over on the first day of the competition are eligible to take part in Level 3 4 or higher classes or special classes which incorporate jumps or similar exercises.(Insertions in bold. Deletions struck through)(Effective 1 January 2020)Amendment to Regulation S15.a.TO:Facilities and Equipment .It is the competition organiser’s responsibility to provide the following:

KC Announces Obedience Changes from 1st January 2020

The Kennel Club has recently approved the following changes to the regulations for obedience which will come into effect on 1 January 2020.

The below regulation has been amended in order to assist clubs in areas of the country where entries are low, by allowing stewards to compete. It is hoped this would ease the burden on some clubs in trying to find both judges and stewards from a small pool of people.

OBEDIENCE LIAISON COUNCIL MEETING 6 FEBRUARY 2020

The next meeting of the Kennel Club Obedience Liaison Council will be held at the Kennel Club in London on Thursday 6 February 2020. Proposals for inclusion on the agenda should reach the Obedience Liaison Council Secretary by November 8.

Each eligible society or an individual may submit items for the agenda, through a council representative. Proposals must be concise and, if an amendment or an additional regulation is proposed, the regulation number must be given. All submissions must be signed by the society/individual and the representative.

All items for inclusion on the agenda should be sent to Working Dog Activities Team, The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB or by email to obedience@thekennelclub.org.uk.

A full list of Obedience Liaison Council representatives can be found at bit.ly/2Tx8YVk.

KENNEL CLUB URGES EXHIBITORS TO HAVE THEIR SAY ON ANIMAL EXHIBIT REGULATIONS IN WALES

The newly proposed Regulations could impact on thousands of responsible dog owners pursuing their hobby in Wales

The Kennel Club is urging dog show exhibitors from across the UK to write to the Welsh Government to prevent thousands of people who show dogs in Wales being caught in a newly proposed licensing system.

The Welsh Government is currently consulting on new Regulations regarding Animal Exhibits, including the proposal that anyone exhibiting an animal in Wales will need to be licensed and inspected. This will apply not only to those who live in Wales, but any exhibitor who shows dogs at any Welsh show. The Regulations will also require anyone who lives in Wales and exclusively exhibits their dogs outside of Wales to also obtain a licence and be inspected.

Although those competing in canine activity disciplines are exempt, the proposed amendment to the Animal Welfare Act in Wales would affect a huge number of dog show exhibitors; there are around 200 local dog shows that take place in Wales annually, as well as two major shows run by the Welsh Kennel Club and the South Wales Kennel Association. The Welsh Kennel Club show attracts around 9,000 dogs.

Seeking support from dog show exhibitors to exempt themselves from the licensing system, the Kennel Club has drafted guidelines to assist those who would be affected and wish to respond to the consultation, which closes on November 21.

Holly Conway, Head of Public Affairs at the Kennel Club, said: “This proposal is a real concern for exhibitors who benefit so much from their hobby and canine companionship. It’s nonsensical for these responsible dog owners to be licensed, and inspected, simply for continuing to pursue a hobby, and is a waste of valuable local authority time and resource. We sincerely hope the Welsh Government will listen to these concerns and consider exempting those who take part in dog shows from the Regulations.

“We urge anyone who shows dogs, regardless of whether or not they live in Wales, to support us in preventing this proposal applying to dog show exhibitors by responding to the consultation and writing to their Assembly Member or indeed their MP or MSP.”

Further information and a template response for exhibitors to send to the Welsh Government to outline their concerns can be found on the Kennel Club website at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/welshcon.