CLUB POLICY
General
Any dog club may apply for recognition to The World Kennel Group (also referred to herein as ‘WKG’) in accordance with this policy. The World Kennel Groupis not a direct party of any club, nor does it govern any club; rather remains an independent entity that provides recognition to clubs that meet specified criteria and remain in compliance with the ideals and procedures outlined in this Policy.
The World Kennel Group may recognize any club applying for recognition provided it is formed and operating for the purpose of promoting breeds of purebred dogs recognized by The World Kennel Group.
The World Kennel Group may also recognize any club applying for recognition where the sole focus is performance events inclusive of all dogs eligible for registration, provided the club is formed and operating in accordance with the Policy set out herein.
Any club must be an officially registered organization in its country.
The World Kennel Grouphas the right to refuse any application for club recognition.
Club recognition is a privilege granted by The World Kennel Group. The World Kennel Group may therefore suspend or terminate any club for refusal to comply with or violation of WKG rules.
When a club has been recognized by The World Kennel Group, said recognition will remain in effect until the club has advised WKG that it is disbanded or the recognition has been suspended or terminated by The World Kennel Group.
Any club that is recognized by The World Kennel Groupand without good reason has not held an approved official event for the period of time outlined in the official Rule Book for that event will automatically have its status changed to a non-event holding club. For the purposes of this Section, Sanction Matches do not constitute an official WKG event.
An applicant for new club recognition is unable to challenge an existing club for status. Challenges to status may only be made by clubs that have been recognized for a minimum period of three (3) years, are in good standing, and have held approved events.
The World Kennel Groupencourages all clubs to be actively engaged in promoting the
breeds recognized within its club in the community at large. The World Kennel Group
requires that a club applying for recognition undertake educational and/or community
involvement. At any time, The World Kennel Groupmay request an officially recognized
club to provide educational projects and/or community involvement that has been
undertaken in the previous year by the club or its members.
The Board of Directors of a club shall be comprised of the Officers of the club as required in these policies.
Clubs shall conduct nominations, elections and voting as prescribed in their constitution and/or by-laws.
Where electronic signatures are utilized, onus relies with the club to ensure electronic tracking is employed.
Applications for club recognition where the club membership is comprised of clubs will be accepted.
For application processes related to structure or status of existing clubs, refer.
Types of Clubs
The following types of clubs are eligible to apply for recognition to hold approved WKG: All-Breed, Specialty (includes Miscellaneous Breeds and Breed), Sport, Field Trial clubs.
All Breed Club – A club which serves the interests of all WKG recognized breeds.
Specialty Club – A club devoted to serving the interests of a particular breed or breeds. This may be a National, Regional, Provincial or Local club, or Branch club of a National club.
The activity for which the club would receive The World Kennel Groupapproval would be limited to the breeds and/or activities which are defined in the constitution and/or by-laws and name of the club.
Clubs must submit the required
documentation with the application for The World Kennel Group
recognition, and may be required at any time to submit documents
substantiating this requirement.
National Conformation Clubs
A club whose name includes the word “National Conformation Clubs”, may apply for recognition, and if such recognition is granted, the club will enjoy no more privileges than those of any other clubs.
A National conformation breed club must wait 3 years from
the date of recognition before proposing any breed standard
amendment to The World Kennel Group.
Membership of the club must be comprised of people involved
with the breed from coast to coast. A National conformation club
must always promote inclusivity and welcome new members. A
National Conformation club may only refuse membership to
applicants unrelated to the specified breed, or that have been
found guilty in a court of law of offences related to actions in
direct contravention of the Policy, Mission Statement and Code
of Ethics of the WKG and/or the club.
A branch of a club wishing to hold events under its own name must be recognized before holding such events. A branch club of a National conformation club may exist only with the consent of the National conformation club. If the branch is simply assisting the “parent” club, or acting as a sponsor for the parent club, official recognition is not needed. However, all credits will be given to the National conformation club.
Sport Club – A club whose fanciers are interested in demonstrating the dog’s ability in events including but not limited to obedience, rally obedience, agility, tracking, drafting, scent detection, and coursing.
Field Trial Club – A club whose fanciers are interested in demonstrating their dogs’ ability as hunting and working companions.
The World Kennel Group also recognizes clubs whose fanciers’ principal interest is the advancement of purebred dogs and educating the community at large. Such clubs shall not be entitled to hold approved or sanctioned events and will be referred to as NonEvent or Rescue clubs. A club seeking recognition as a Non-Event or Rescue club must meet the policies in effect at the time of application.
Non-Event Club – A club formed for purposes of promoting purebred dogs through educational activities for the purpose of educating its members and protecting the sport.
A club applying for recognition under this section is not eligible to hold approved or sanctioned events.
A non-event club that wishes to hold approved or sanctioned events must be re-classified. In order for a club to be reclassified, it must apply to WKG and shall comply with all the policies.
The club must provide The World Kennel Group
Kennel Club with supporting documentation that re-classification is warranted and must state the types of events that the club proposes to hold.
Approval may be granted to change the status provided that such change does not conflict with current event holding clubs.
A club may only change status twice and may only be changed at the time of club renewal.
Rescue Club – A club whose fanciers’ efforts are to seek out and relocate lost, stray or abandoned dogs into new homes, or useful places in society.
A Rescue club must be endorsed by a National or a Regional/Provincial club for the breeds the club represents.
A Rescue club may not change status and must comply with all the
policies described herein.
A Rescue club may participate in educational or fund-raising activities but shall not be approved to hold sanctioned or approved events.
Recognition of New Clubs
Prior to seeking World Kennel Group recognition, a new club must demonstrate activity for a minimum period of 6 months prior to submission of an application. This includes establishing a record of meetings, elections, activities and community
involvement/education, breding. Documentation to this effect must be provided at the time of application.
A club seeking World Kennel Group recognition must submit a completed application with all the pertinent documentation.
The following documentation must be provided at the time of application:
A copy of the constitution and/or by-laws as set out in Section Clauses and subject matter considered mandatory for approval.
A list of the Board of Directors consisting of the officers of the club
List of breeds the club works with.
Minutes of meetings, elections and activities held to date.
Where applications are received from more than one club representing the same country,the WKG shall make a determination as to how the applications are to be dealt with. The
WKG decide that only one application will be processed.
Once the completed application and all supporting documentation have been received by WKG and provided that it meets with all requirements of policy Comments must be received within that 10 day period to be considered.
A copy of the club’s application will be provided to The World Kennel Group working group member representing.
If objections are received by WKG the club will be provided with the opportunity to respond to the objections. The club must submit a response within 10 days.
Upon meeting all of the requirements to the satisfaction of the WKG, WKG will notify the club in writing and a certificate attesting to its recognition will be issued.
Disciplinary Sanctions
The Discipline Committee may warn, reprimand, suspend or terminate recognition against any recognized WKG dog club contravening The World Kennel Group’s, rules, regulations, procedures and policies.
Internal Affairs of Clubs
As previously set out in this Policy, The World Kennel Groupis not a direct party of any club, nor does it govern any club; rather remains an independent entity that provides recognition to clubs that meet specified criteria and comply with the ideals and procedures outlined in this Policy on an ongoing basis.
The WKG will not adjudicate or engage in the internal affairs of clubs. It is expected that complaints involving internal affairs of clubs are handled by the club itself.
Constitution and/or By-laws
All clubs recognized or seeking recognition from The World Kennel Groupmust be governed by a constitution and/or by-laws providing for the orderly and democratic conduct of the club’s business.
Clubs are required to adhere to the guide in reference to their constitution and/or by-laws. Failure to adopt these requirements may jeopardize WKG club recognition and/or approval of events. Clubs may include additional statements or clauses.
REGULATIONS ON BREEDING WORK
These Rules establish and regulate the procedure for the execution and receipt of pedigree documents for litters of puppies whose births are registered in World Kennel Group (WKG) organizations. The list of documentation is contained in the Appendix to these Regulations and may be changed and supplemented by decision of the working group with prior notification of all participants. The breeding regulations of the participating organizations may be expanded, but not contradict this Breeding Regulation.
GENERAL PART
This document has been compiled in accordance with the objectives of the World Kennel Group (abbreviated WKG), taking into account the principle of animal welfare.
The WKG Breeding Regulations are binding on all WKG members, breeders and owners of breeding dogs.
Males and females whose pedigrees are registered in the WKG studbook or in the studbooks or registers of other internationally recognized cynological organization systems may be used for breeding purposes, if the breed standards of these systems do not conflict with the WKG standards.
The WKG breeding regulations serve to promote and develop purposeful breeding. The aim of breeding is to obtain functionally healthy dogs with conformation and psyche typical for the breed.
The WKG standards are based on the standards of the country of origin of each dog breed.
ORGANIZATION OF BREEDING WORK.
Breeding activities within the WKG are carried out by cynological organizations.
WKG participants carry out:
issuance of pedigrees according to the established form (Request sample)
issuing directions/acts for mating
litter registration;
examination of dogs at exhibitions, expert assessment, breeding shows, trials, competitions;
issuance of documents confirming the results of the assessment;
litter control, issuance of breeding documents for puppies (puppy registration certificate — puppy card);
litter registration, general act of litter inspection (Request sample);
execution of breeding documentation;
CONDITIONS OF USE OF BREEDING ANIMALS.
Only healthy, standard-compliant males and females with a strong nervous system, whose pedigree is registered in the WKG member register, may be used for breeding. If a dog has a pedigree from another organization recognized by the WKG, it must be registered in the WKG and assigned a number. The breeding female and male must be marked and registered in accordance with the current legislation of the WKG member country on the procedure for registering pets.
Animals with congenital defects must not be used for breeding: behavioral anomalies, congenital blindness or deafness, harelip, cleft palate, dental defects, jaw anomalies, cryptorchidism and monorchism, color not provided for by the breed standard, skeletal deformations — broken tail, etc., etc. (for breeds where this is not provided for by the standard), as well as with joint dysplasia, congenital eye diseases, epilepsy, etc., functional defects that affect the quality of life.
A breeding animal is a male or female that, at the time of breeding, meets the requirements of these Rules for exterior, behavior, working qualities and health. Have a pedigree, an assessment that gives permission for breeding.
The use of a breeding animal in breeding work must be without harm to the health of the animal and in accordance with its ethology.
The breeder must provide suitable conditions for keeping and feeding the bitch and her offspring.
A mating certificate is issued only if the assessment of the exterior of the bitch, received from the WKG expert, is not lower than «very good», and the male is not lower than «excellent». The assessment is updated for the dog and bitch in accordance with the legislation of the country and the rules of the participant’s organization. In exceptional cases, an individual examination of the dog, organized by a WKG expert, is allowed.
Only physiologically mature dogs and bitches may be used for breeding:
bitches: large breeds — from 18 (eighteen) months;
small and medium breeds — from 15 (fifteen) months;
dogs: large breeds — from 18 (eighteen) months;
medium varieties from 15 (fifteen) months;
small varieties from 15 (fifteen) months;
Breeding bitches are allowed no more than 1 (one) litter per year in accordance with the legislation of the country and the rules of the participant’s organization.
Bitches must not be older than 8 years at the time of mating, however, in exceptional cases, a breeding bitch may be used for breeding purposes after the specified age, with the written permission of a veterinarian and under his constant supervision during pregnancy and parturition. There is no upper age limit for males.
Breeding animals must be subjected to a health check in accordance with the requirements established by law in the WKG member country.
If a male/female receives a disqualification rating at any of the shows held under the WKG system, the owner may submit an application and the decision on the further use of the dog for breeding is made by the WKG Breeding Commission.
BREEDER
The breeder is the owner or lessee of the bitch at the time of mating until the litter is registered.
In the case of purchasing a pregnant bitch, the registration of ownership at the time of purchase, the provision of all necessary documents and the transfer of the breeder’s rights are possible only if all settlements have been made between the previous owner and the owner of the stud dog.
When transferring a bitch for rent, the lease agreement comes into force from the moment the agreement is registered with the WKG member organization by the owner of the dog indicated in the pedigree.
The lease agreement for the bitch is an integral part of the documents required for registering the litter. WKG member organizations are obliged to exercise special control over the breeding of leased and jointly owned bitches.
The breeder is obliged to ensure the necessary welfare requirements for the maintenance, sale and showing of dogs at shows, as well as the training of the dog in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country, the WKG member organization.
NURSERY — NURSERY REGISTRATION.
Registration of a nursery is carried out in accordance with the legislation of the country and the rules of the WKG participant organization.
SETTLEMENTS BETWEEN DOG OWNERS
The mating conditions and settlements between the owners of breeding dogs must be agreed upon before mating and executed in writing. The breeder makes settlements with the owner of the breeding dog in accordance with the agreement.
If the dog owners have financial claims against each other, they must be settled in court in accordance with the legislation of the participating country. The participating organizations are not liable for obligations between the owners of breeding dogs.
BREEDING
Mating order.
Mating permission must be obtained by the breeder from his club before the mating. The mating permission must be signed by the person responsible for breeding work and entered in the registration book. The issued mating permission is valid only for the declared mating. When issuing the mating permission to the breeder, the Club representative must enter the data on the selected stud dog.
The mating permission, signed by the owners of the stud dog and bitch, must be handed in by the owner of the bitch to his club within the period established by the rules of the participant’s organization.
Mating.
The owner of a bitch is obliged to use a stud dog for mating with her, who meets all the requirements of the WKG Breeding Rules. The owner of a stud dog has the right to mate the bitch with a stud dog of his choice, who has the right to breed with the WKG. The list of stud dogs available for use can be obtained from the person responsible for breeding work in the member organization.
Only a stud dog with a pedigree recognized by the WKG may be used for mating a bitch abroad.
During one mating period, a bitch may be mated with only one stud dog. If a bitch is mated with several stud dogs, the registration of the puppies and the issuance of pedigrees will only be carried out after a DNA test has been carried out on each puppy. In the case of an unplanned mating of a bitch to a breeder or kennel owner with more than one stud dog, the puppies must be DNA tested to determine the sire of the puppies. Pedigrees are issued based on the test results.
Before mating, a written agreement must be made between the owners of the bitch and the stud dog regarding the terms of the mating.
If artificial insemination of a bitch is carried out with chilled or frozen semen, the insemination process must be performed by a licensed veterinarian, who certifies it with his signature. The veterinarian is responsible for the compliance of the semen with the accompanying documents.
REGISTRATION OF MATINGS
The mating must be registered by filling in a protocol/mating report signed by the owners of the stud dog and bitch.
The protocol/mating report must contain the following information:
- name of the stud dog and bitch
- pedigree number of the stud dog and bitch
- surname of the owner of the stud dog and bitch
- signatures of the owner of the stud dog and bitch
- additional information required by the legislation of the country or the rules of the participant organization
Owners of stud dogs are recommended to keep records of matings.
WKG participant organizations must keep a book of records of matings and litters.
LITTER REGISTRATION
To register a litter, the following documents must be entered into the stud book within the period specified by the legislation of the country and the rules of the participant’s organization:
general protocol/report of inspection of the litter (Request sample)
copies of the original pedigrees of the male and female;
copies of documents confirming the assessment of the exterior;
mating order (Request sample)
copy of the contract in case of renting a female;
copy of the joint ownership agreement, if any:
and other information specified by the legislation of the country and the rules of the participant’s organization
LITTER CONTROL.
The breeder is obliged to notify his club about the birth of a litter within three days.
Inspection of the litter is an integral part of controlled breeding in the WKG.
Inspection of the puppies must be carried out by a specialist with cynological education.
Inspection of the litter for all breeds must be carried out no earlier than 30 (thirty) days of age (provided that the puppies have all milk teeth) in the presence of the breeder.
The breeder is obliged to ensure the maintenance and feeding of the bitch and her offspring in suitable conditions.
The breeder is obliged to ensure the identification of the puppies by means of a microchip/tattoo and vaccination against infectious diseases in accordance with the legislation of the country of residence. Puppies must be regularly and promptly dewormed.
If, during the inspection of the litter, puppies with congenital physical defects are discovered, a repeat examination of these puppies is scheduled, after which a decision is made on the prospects for further use in breeding.
PUPPY REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE — PUPPY CARD.
The puppy card is the primary document confirming the origin of the dog and is issued on the basis of — a general inspection report of the litter.
The puppy card must contain the following information: document number (puppy card), breed, nickname, sex, color, date of birth, identifier (chip/tattoo), names of both parents, pedigree numbers, color, surnames of the owners of the male and female, other information in accordance with the legislation of the country and the rules of the participant’s organization.
The nicknames of all puppies in one litter must begin with the same letter.
The puppy card does not give the right to use the dog in breeding. It is subject to exchange for pedigree certificates within the time period established by the rules of the participant’s organization.
The WKG puppy card must contain the logos of the WKG and the participant’s organization of a single sample. Pedigrees are proof of the dog’s origin.
Puppies — purebred, during the examination of which deviations from the norm were revealed, which can be corrected over time, must have a note in the metric «Special control»
Puppies — purebred, having defects incompatible with the quality of life (incorrect bite, broken tail, poor color, etc.), must receive a note «Not for breeding»
STUD BOOK.
The stud book is an integral part of breeding activities, and its purpose is to collect accurate and as complete information as possible about the dogs registered in it.
The stud book is kept in each participating organization and is the property of the organization.
The basis for making an entry in the stud book is the general protocol/act of inspection of the litter.
Minimum required breeding information:
- Name of the breed,
- name of the kennel, or letter of the litter,
- date of birth of the puppies,
- names of parents and pedigree numbers,
- sex, identification number, color of the puppies,
The entire litter must be entered into the stud book at once.
The nicknames of all puppies in the litter must begin with the same letter.
PEDIGREE.
Pedigrees are the only proof of the dog’s origin and are issued on the basis of the entries in the stud book. The pedigree is issued on a uniform form with the logos of the WKG and the participant organization and partners, if any. They must have a clearly visible seal of the organization and the signature of the director.
The pedigree must contain at least three generations of ancestors.
In case of loss or damage, pedigree records are declared invalid. The participant organization, after reviewing the application, must initiate the issuance of a duplicate pedigree. A stamp «DUPLICATE» is placed on such a pedigree form.
False or counterfeit pedigrees must be confiscated and declared invalid.
In the event of a change of owner, a corresponding entry is made and the pedigree is replaced. A change of owner must be carried out only on the basis of an alienation agreement.
Each pedigree must have its own number, which is registered in the stud book.
All titles and achievements of the dog’s ancestors must be entered in the pedigree.
The pedigree must include the results of the dog’s medical examinations, if any.
Required information about the dog entered in the pedigree: breed name, pedigree number, date of birth, nickname, sex, chip/tattoo identification number, color, breeder, owner, place of residence
Mandatory information about the dog’s ancestors entered in the pedigree:
- Nickname,
- Pedigree number,
- Champion titles, if any
- Health checks and genetic tests, if any
Desired information: date of birth, color, owner
The charter subject to approval by the WKG must not contain wording that contradicts the rules of the WKG.
It is expected that each club will want to personalize their onstitution and/or By-Laws to fit their own objectives and values. Recognition of a club by The World Kennel Grouprequires that certain objectives and values align with our own.
Guidelines for Resolving Internal Affairs of Clubs
The World Kennel Groupis not a direct party of any club, nor does it govern any club; rather remains an independent entity that provides recognition to clubs that meet specified criteria and remain in
compliance with the ideals and procedures outlined in this Policy. Clubs are governed by their own Constitution and/or By-laws. Their members work together to serve the best interests of purebred dogs
and their members.
Generally, the officers and directors of these clubs administer the club’s Constitution and/or By-laws and
the operational functions of the club in a fair and open manner. Given the passion and competitive spirit
of the sport, it is inevitable that issues and disputes arise.
Club members must keep in mind that clubs are made up of volunteers who may not have the
administrative expertise to properly run the club or may have encountered personal issues that prevent
them from doing so. Understanding these limitations is very important in resolving any conflict.
Every club has a right to enforce its Constitution and/or By-laws and every member of that club has a
right to be treated in a fair and just manner.
These guidelines are to assist clubs and their members in resolving these disputes, and protect clubs and
their members from angry and personal emotional arguments that don’t focus on the facts.
Common Issues
These are some of the more common issues:
Election of Officers and Directors
• Failing to meet dates for nominations or ballots being sent out;
• Members not given adequate notice of election;
Application for Membership
• Application for membership rejected with no reason provided.
Disciplinary Procedures
• By-laws are silent on handling disciplinary procedures and complaints;
• Conflict of interest by those hearing a complaint;
• Rules of natural justice not followed;
• It becomes a public trial.
Breed Standards
• Voting done contrary to the club’s By-laws.
Meetings
• Failing to meet in accordance with the club’s By-laws.
Suggestions for Resolving Issues
(1) Carefully read the club’s Constitution and/or By-laws
(a) A careful reading of the club’s Constitution and/or By-laws will give you your answer.
(b) If you do not have a copy, write to club and request one from the club secretary.
Stay with the facts, don’t let it get personal
Getting personal doesn’t accomplish anything, stay with the facts and avoid personal opinions or attacks.
Having mutual respect for each other’s viewpoint has a higher degree of arriving at an agreeable mutual solution.
Write to the club officers
Put your concerns in writing; this avoids the “she said, he said” that can occur in face-toface conversations or telephone calls.
By putting it in writing, your communications remain clear and establish a record of what has been said.
Substantiate your facts; avoid third party hearsay.
If there is an impasse, consider mediation or arbitration from professional third parties
When issues remain unresolved or the Constitution and/or By-laws are unclear, consider introducing a by-law amendment. This can avoid future repetitions of the same problem.
WKG Discipline
The WKG will not get engage in internal club disputes. If there is a violation of WKG rules or policies, you may file a complaint with WKG. Remember, you must have the facts and state which rule or policy was violated.
Conclusion
Most clubs do a very good job of governing themselves and resolving their own problems. We hope that these guidelines can help you avoid unnecessary conflict. If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.