Information regarding relevant legislation and rules at VDH Sports Events Animal Welfare-Dog Ordinance
The new Animal Protection Dog Ordinance (Tierschutzhundeverordnung) has been in force since 1 January 2022. Among other regulations, it provides for a ban on showing certain dogs:
§10 Prohibition of exhibition
It is prohibited to show dogs or to organize exhibitions with dogs,
- in which parts of the body, in particular ears or tail, have been completely or partially amputated in a manner contrary to the protection of the animal, or
- in which for hereditary reasons
- body parts or organs are missing or unsuitable for the proper use of the species or have been altered, resulting in pain, suffering or damage,
- behavioural disorders associated with suffering occur,
- any species-appropriate contact with conspecifics causes them or a conspecific pain or avoidable suffering or harm; or
- the keeping is only possible with pain or avoidable suffering or leads to
Accordingly, dogs that are missing congenital body parts or organs or that are malformed for their intended use, resulting in pain, suffering or damage, may not be exhibited or participate in sporting competitions. This is to be judged in relation to the individual animal, not the breed.
The VDH supports the aim to prevent dogs with hereditary health problems from participating in dog shows and other events. Still, there are currently no specifications for the implementation of these
rules, which has in some cases led to unjustified and exaggerated application in the past, including general, undifferentiated requirements for veterinary examinations and examinations which are potentially harmful for the animals. Contrary to these cases, the VDH advocates a sensible, targeted implementation of these rules, which is in fact the case at the vast majority of dog events in
Germany.
Relevant exclusion characteristics can be found on https://tierschutz.vdh.de/en/animal-welfare-dog- ordinance. The specific rules for the implementation of § 10 Animal Welfare-Dog Ordinance can be found on the homepages of the respective shows and sports events. For additional information
please contact
Accommodation of Dogs at VDH Sports Events
According to German Animal Welfare law, persons keeping dogs or caring for dogs must make sure, that the animal’s ability for movement is not restricted in a way that causes harm to the animal.
Regarding animal sports events, this means that kennels for the temporary accommodation of dogs must be of suitable size for the dog and that time spent in a kennel must be appropriate for the individual dog. A kennel is generally expected to be of suitable size for the temporary accommodation of the dog, if the dog has the possibility to stand fully stand up in the box and to lay down in it in a stretched-out manner. Regarding the time spent in the box, the dog’s temperament and kennel training and the general situation in which the dog is accommodated in the kennel have
to be regarded. The dog should not be left alone in a kennel for longer periods of time and must be offered the possibility to move around freely in suitable intervals. Harm to the animal due to the temporary accommodation in the kennel must be avoided at all times.
VDH Doping Rules (abstract)
Doping controls in the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH, German Kennel Club) – Sports events in all relevant categories provided by VDH
- Doping controls can be performed at all international and national VDH events in Germany, without further notification in the event This is Animal Welfare laws of Germany and the European Union and the FCI-rules regarding doping.
A Dog, which is participating in a VDH sports event or race/coursing must be free of all substances listed on the substance list below in all its body tissues and excretions.
For dogs under veterinary treatment before or during the event, the owner/handler of the dog can list the administered substances, the amount, the time and timespan of
administration and documentation of the veterinary diagnosis and submits them to the VDH office until 3 weeks before the competition. This has to done using the relevant VDH forms. A veterinary attest is mandatory. Documents submitted later or other documents cannot be considered.
Based on these forms, the VDH will decide (potentially under consultation of experts on the subject), before the event, if the dog is allowed to participate. All costs for this procedure have to be paid by the dog owner/handler. If the substances reported on the necessary forms are later found during a doping control, this procedure prevents the dog owner/handler from possible sanctions. For long-term medications, dogs are allowed to participate in sports
events for one year, beginning at the point the clearance for participation is granted. After
this timespan, a the dog owner/handler needs to apply for prolongation. A file for granting or prolonging the starting clearance cannot be filed.
Relevant substance groups, requiring a permit, are:
- Substances with effect on the central or peripheral Nervous system
- Substances with effect on the vegetative Nervous system
- Substances with effect on the Gastrointestinal tract
- Substances with effect on the Cardiovascular system
- Substances with effect on the Musculo-skeletal system
- Substances with antipyretic, pain-inhibiting or anti-inflammatory effect
- Substances with antibiotic, antimycotic or anti-viral effect
- Substances with effect on blood-coagulation
- Antihistamines
- Diuretics
- Local Anesthesia
- Muscle-relaxants
- Respiratory stimulants
- Anabolic Steroids
- Corticosteroids
- Endocrine Secretions and their synthetic homologs
If one of these substances is found – in whatever concentration – this is considered to be doping. For the substance Theobromine a threshold value of 2000 Nanograms/ml is effective.
- The method of acquiring the sample for doping control is determined by the head of the control Generally the dog owner/handler can initially decide between examination of a urine- or blood-sample. If an adequate urine-sample is not acquired within 60 minutes, the head of the control team can decide to take a blood sample.
- The urine-sample should be acquired as voided Ideally, a volume of 15 ml should be taken, including an A- and a B-Sample. The sample can be collected by the dog
owner/handler under surveillance of a member of the control team. The owner will be provided with a ladle for collection of the sample.
- Blood-samples are collected by a veterinarian through Ideally the sample should have a volume of 18 ml.
- By registering for a sports event, race/coursing, organized by VDH or one of its members, the dog owner/handler accepts the VDH doping legislation and declares to submit the registered dog to possible controls and to aid the veterinarian in all necessary
- If one of the above mentioned substances is found, the dog has to be disqualified regardless of guilt of the dog owner/handler.
- Irrespective of this, the VDH can decide on further sanctions from the following
- Catalogue of sanctions:
- The dog will be banned from all events organized within VDH competence for a timespan of 6 months to 3
- The dog owner/handler will be banned with all dogs in their property for a timespan of 6 months to 3
- The dog owner/handler will have to pay all costs associated with the control and analysis of the dog’s doping samples jointly and severally regardless of guilt of the dog owner/handler.
- The VDH Board and the relevant authorities will be informed about the initiated The FCI will be asked to adopt all sanctions and inform the relevant national organizations. Concerned persons will be informed about the measures by the VDH office.
- Concerned persons can lodge an appeal against the decision of the VDH Board within 2 weeks after receiving the written The appeal has a postponing effect, if
the VDH Board does not order immediate enforcement of the decision.
- Apart from this, the VDH rules for the different sport disciplines are