AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL KENNEL COUNCIL LTD
Rules for the Conduct of
Endurance Test
(Effective from 1 January 2019)
Adopted by the Member Bodies of the
Australian National Kennel Council 1996
[formerly ANKC Regulations Part 12]
Revised
1999
2008
2009
(QLD) Proposal:
Insert the following new provisions:
GENERAL SAFETY
Safety of the competitors, their dogs and officials is paramount, therefore the following points must be observed at all times. When working conducting an endurance test, high visibility clothing and head light (if dark) must be worn by competitors, stewards, Judges and any officials. A FIRST AID KIT should be carried by a Steward or appointed official.
Communication between home base, lead bike rider (or Steward) and Judge should be organised by the Affiliate conducting the test. They must be able to make contact with the judge via a communication device e.g. phone or walkie talkie.
A “Safety Marshall” at the Judge’s direction may position themselves with the lead competitor and at the end of the competitors within the vicinity of the group.
The responsibility of the Safety Steward is to alert the Judge or officials of any impending hazards, e.g. vehicles, cyclists, stray dogs, pedestrians, accidents or incidents so that, if required, evasive action can be taken.
Additional Safety Stewards may be employed at the Judge’s discretion.
The end of the group may be followed by a vehicle, which may be made available in case of accidents or incidents.
Where a test is conducted on a public road then this must be in accordance with relevant Federal, State and/or Territory laws. Local police should be informed.
Where a test is conducted in an urban area, the adjacent residents and local police should be advised prior to the event that a sanctioned event will be conducted.
Any incidents that may arise during a test, including accidents, near accidents, interaction between competitor/and/or dog/s and the public, should be reported as per incident reporting procedure for the relevant Member Body.
(QLD) Rationale:
As there have been recorded incidents and accidents during the conduct endurance tests, it would be advisable to put a safety protocol in place. Duty of care must always be followed.
If an accident should happen, then under the Dogs Queensland proposal, there would be a Safety Steward to attend to the injured person or call for help.
An injured person or dog should always be monitored and not be left alone while the test continues.
(VIC) Proposal:
TITLES
(2) After qualifying for the “ET” title, it is deemed to be a domestic matter whether or not dogs with a title are allowed to continue to compete.
Any dog that has gained an Endurance Title (ET) and subsequently successfully completes three (3) additional endurance tests will be eligible to apply for the title of Endurance Test Excellent (ETX).
(VIC) Rationale:
While the gaining of an ET title is ultimately a test of the dog’s physical fitness, in our day and age where obesity is an issue for humans, the encouragement of ongoing health and fitness for ANKC handlers and dogs is a positive initiative.
EQUIPMENT
(3 )The handler may jog the distance, ride a bicycle or use any other form of non motorised mechanical vehicle with the dog, provided the required speed is maintained. Motor cycles or cars will not be permitted. Should the handler ride a bicycle, a helmet must be worn. The Springer device for attachment to a bicycle is not permitted.
(QLD)Proposal:
(3) The handler may jog the distance, ride a bicycle or use any other form of non-motorised mechanical vehicle with the dog, provided the required speed is maintained. Motor cycles or cars will not be permitted. Should the handler ride a bicycle, closed-in shoes and a helmet must be worn. The Springer device for attachment to a bicycle is not permitted.
(QLD) Rationale:
Consistency of rules.
(SA) Proposal:
(3) The handler may jog the distance, ride a bicycle or use any other form of electric powered appliances such as a bicycle, wheelchair or “gopher” vehicle of a type commonly used by disabled persons with the dog, provided the required speed is maintained. The engine of a powered appliance must be silent and emit no fumes. Motor cycles or cars will not be permitted. Should the handler ride a bicycle or other vehicle, a helmet must be worn. The Springer device for attachment to a bicycle is not permitted.
Any electrically powered appliance must be approved by the local affiliate for use prior to the trial being held.
(SA) Rationale:
The Endurance Test shall demonstrate the dog's ability to work after being subject to a certain degree of physical strain without showing signs of undue stress or lack of constitution.
We are testing the endurance of the dog, not the handler. Over the years we have had a number of disabled handlers competing in various disciplines including Conformation, Obedience and Agility, some using various electrically powered appliances.
We should not be discouraging such people from undertaking Endurance Tests.
(VIC) Proposal:
(3) The handler may jog the distance, ride a push bicycle or one powered by battery/electricity, provided the required speed is maintained. Use of any other motorised mechanical vehicle with the dog iemotor cycles or cars will not be permitted. Should the handler ride a bicycle, a helmet must be worn. The Springer device for attachment to a bicycle is not permitted.
(VIC) Rationale:
Electric bikes are silent and do not emit exhaust fumes and are capable of up to 50 kilometres in distance before needing to be recharged.
The Endurance Test is to test the capability of the dog not the handler. The population is aging and so a handler might find a 20 kilometre bike ride within the time limits challenging. It is not easy to find a handler to handle your own dog at these events.
There are many different options on getting a dog fit enough to run this test, very few options, as things stand, enabling a handicapped or aging owner the change to handle their dog.
THE TEST
(SA) Proposal:
New Rule (20)
A Test may be cancelled, at the discretion of the host club, if, at the close of entries there are fewer than five (5) dogs entered. Advice of any cancellation must be conveyed to entrants at least fourteen (14) days before the scheduled date of the test.
(SA) Rationale:
The cost of contracting a Judge and engaging a Vet would leave a club out of pocket without a certain number of entries. This may lead to clubs no longer wishing to hold Endurance Tests. Clubs would still have the discretion to proceed with the Test if they wish.
Advising Competitors at least 14 days before the scheduled date would prevent them from incurring the expense of a vet check in the event of a cancelled Test.
JUDGING
(2) The judge shall judge no more than twenty (20) dogs and shall travel with the dogs, either walking, bike riding, jogging, or using any other form of non motorised mechanical vehicle.
(SA) Proposal:
(2) The judge shall judge no more than twenty (20) dogs and shall travel with the dogs, ensuring that they can observe all dogs and competitors closely at all times. The Judge may travel either walking, bike riding, jogging, or using any other form of approved electrically powered vehicle.
(SA) Rationale:
To ensure that Judges do in fact travel with the dogs and not simply take up a position where they can see the dogs from a distance.
To allow Judges to use electrically powered appliances if they have a disability that prevents them from riding a conventional bicycle.
GENERAL RULES
(NSW) Proposed new rule - SAFETY STEWARDS
Safety Stewards must be appointed so that either:
(a)competitors are visible to a Safety Steward at all times during the test.
(b)a Safety Steward must accompany the dogs during the test
Safety Steward/s should carry a 2-way radio or mobile phone that enables them to remain in contact with the Trial Secretary or other nominated club official at all times. The Safety Steward's role is to prevent incidents or accidents where possible, to render assistance to handlers and dogs where required during the test and to seek first aid, medical, veterinary or other assistance if required.
(NSW) Rationale:
Clubs set out their Endurance Test course in a variety of ways. Some have a fixed course that involves riding a number of laps of the same course with stewards placed around the track so that the competitors are visible to a steward at all times during the test. Other clubs run their tests utilising public roads and cycleways and incorporate long loops (eg a 8 km loop for the first leg and a 6 km loop for the remaining two legs) which makes it virtually impossible to have sufficient stewards to supervise the whole of the track.
The option of either a number of Safety Stewards strategically placed around a fixed course or a Safety Steward who accompanies the riders ensures there is a Safety Steward available to render assistance and/or contact other club officials for assistance at all times if needed.
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