The Royal Kennel Club has approved the following changes to the regulations for Rally.
The following amendment to the regulation allows for dogs of 12 weeks and over to enter Rally shows as Not for Competition.
Amendment to dog age regulation
Regulation S2.c
TO:
- Competition hosts may accept entries not for competition at their discretion, and dogs of four calendar months and over on the first day of the competition are eligible to enter not for competition. dogs 12 weeks and over on the first of the competition are eligible to enter Not for Competition.
(Effective 1 January 2025)
The below regulation amendments, including new regulations, allow for a hoop to be used instead of a jump.
Proposal to include the option of using a hoop instead of a jump for jump exercises 55, 56, 59 and 66.
Regulation S16.h
TO:
All jumps must be constructed in a manner that provides stability and safety for all dogs. Pole width is to be between 1 metre and 1.5 metres. It must be a single bar jump which is able to fall in either direction. The jump must not have wings. Jumps must not be used on hard surfaces, the use of take-off and or/landing mats is not permitted.
(Insertion in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
New Regulation S16.i
TO:
For all jump exercises the jump may be replaced with a hoop. Hoops may be based or baseless and must be constructed in a safe manner. Hoops should measure 89-92cm tall, 85-90cm wide with feet protruding no more than 31cm either side of the hoop. Where conditions dictate, hoops may be pegged or held down by sandbags that do not impede the dog’s entry or exit from the hoop.
(Insertion in bold.)
(Subsequent paragraphs to be renumbered.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
New Regulation S(B)3.a.(6)
TO:
Where jumps are replaced by hoops, the hoop should be positioned approximately 2 metres ahead of the exercise sign. The distance from the hoop to the next exercise sign should be approximately 2 metres from the hoop (a total of 4 metres). When the exercise requires a handler to take a path off-set to the hoop, the lateral measurement should be 1.5m taken from the base of the inner edge of the nearest hoop upright.
(Insertion in bold.)
(Subsequent paragraphs to be renumbered.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Proposed addition to Exercises 55, 56, 59 and 66.
TO:
The judge may choose to replace the jump with a hoop, in which case the distance before and after the hoop is reduced to 2 metres.
(Insertion in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Exercise 59
TO:
SEND OVER JUMP - HANDLER RUNS BY.
As the handler and dog team approach the sign the handler sends the dog towards the jump which is approximately 4 metres in front of and 1.5 metres to the left of their path. The handler continues at a brisk pace along a line 1.5 metres to the right of the jump. When the dog has completed the jump, the handler calls the dog to the heel position and the dog/handler team return to their normal pace as they heel towards the next exercise approximately 4 metres ahead. If the dog is much faster than the handler, the dog may be called back to the handler without penalty. A line may be drawn on the ground to indicate the 1.5 metres mark.
- This sign is now placed on the handler’s right, not on their left where it was previously placed.
(Insertion in bold.)
(Deletion struck through.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
The following amendment to the regulation extends the awarding of places in standard classes to handlers who did not achieve a qualifying score.
Proposed amendment to Regulation S19.d
Regulation S19.d
TO:
In standard classes, rosettes and/or place cards shall only be awarded to dogs that have achieved a qualifying score. may not be awarded to dogs that have received a non-qualifying score for any of the reasons listed in the non-qualifying scoring regulations.
(Deletion struck through. Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
The following regulations relates to when an appeal may be permitted, and to provide further clarity when handler information may be required.
Regulation S30
TO:
Penalties
The Board shall have power to impose any of the following penalties upon any person for any breach of Kennel Club Regulations subject to a right of appeal, notice of intention of which must be lodged within 14 days from the date on which the decision is given and subject to the prescribed appeals process as shall be determined by the Board from time to time.
a. Warn
b. Censure/Reprimand
c. Apology directive (Conduct Regulation or the Control of Dog Regulation)
d. Fine
e. Award disqualified
In addition, the Board may make the following directives;
f. A dog’s registration record may be marked ‘incident recorded’
g. A dog’s registration record may be endorsed ‘not eligible for entry in any event held under Kennel Club Rules and Regulations, nor any unlicensed event recognised by the Kennel Club.’
The right of appeal against directives f) and g) listed above extends to an appeal on the finding of fact of a deliberate dog bite only, but does not extend to an appeal against those directives f) and g) in terms of cancellation or modification of such directives if there is a finding of fact of an intentional dog bite.
In the event of any fine not being paid, or non compliance with any apology directive issued within the time stipulated by the Board, then that person may, at the discretion of the Board, be dealt with as if a complaint under Kennel Club Rule A11 had been lodged and proved to the satisfaction of the Board.
For complaints of conduct whether at a licensed event or on social media, in addition to a warning issued - a short term fixed period of refusal of entry/attendance at Kennel Club licensed events may also be imposed in accordance with procedures to be published from time to time to implement this regulation.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Regulation S23
TO:
The owner, exhibitor, handler or other person in charge of a dog at Kennel Club licensed events must at all times ensure that the dog is kept under proper control whilst at the licensed venue, including its environs, car and caravan parks and approaches. This Regulation applies before (at any time during the set up period at the venue), during the event and afterwards (at any time during the breakdown of the event). The mating of bitches within the precincts of the competition, as stipulated above, is forbidden
An exhibitor or competitor should ensure that contact details for any handler are available and must be provided upon request in any investigation of a breach of this regulation by such handler.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Regulation S23.a
TO:
No person shall carry out punitive correction or harsh handling of a dog at any time within the precincts of the show whilst at the licensed venue, including its environs, car and caravan parks and approaches.
(Deletions struck through. Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
The following regulation amendment has been made to define how to win a class.
Definition of How to Win a Class
Amendment to Regulation S(A)1
TO:
Rally handler/dog teams compete in their lowest eligible class from Level 1 to Level 6. They may also compete at the subsequent level. Progression to the next level does not require either wins or places, however, a class will be won by the dog that has lost the least number of points, unless otherwise stated for special classes. Progression is dependent upon gaining three Excellent scores, under three different judges, or six qualifying scores under four different judges.
(Insertion in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
The following regulation amendments bring Veteran classes in line with other standard classes with a title. The Veteran title would be used in addition to any Level title and may be upgraded to Excellent in the same way.
Introduction of a Veteran Title
Regulation S(A)4
TO:
Level Titles
(Insertion in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
New Regulation S(A)5
TO:
(Once achieved the Veteran title should be used after the dog’s name and follow any Rally Level title the dog has achieved. The title is designated as ‘RV’.)
Veteran title
Requires six qualifying scores of 175 or better, earned under four different judges in a standard Veteran class.
(Insertion in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Regulation S(A)6
TO:
(Where an Excellent title is used after the dog’s name this replaces the relevant Level or Veteran title, a Level title for the same Level should not also be used.)
A dog which has qualified at any level or the standard Veteran class with three qualifying scores each of 190 or better, gained under three different judges, is entitled to the description ‘Rally Excellent’ with the designations shown below which appear after the dog’s name (for Rally Level titles, only the highest designation achieved should be used):
Level 1 RL1.Ex
Level 2 RL2.Ex
Level 3 RL3.Ex
Level 4 RL4.Ex
Level 5 RL5.Ex
Level 6 RL6.Ex
Veteran RV-Ex
(Deletion struck through. Insertion in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
The below regulation amendment removes the reference to specific levels so that the regulation in relation to jump exercises would be future-proofed when further levels were introduced.
Amendment to Regulation S(B)2 Course Design
S(B)2 – COURSE DESIGN
TO:
The following guidelines must be observed by judges when designing courses. The layout of the course depends partly on the positioning of doors and fittings which should be considered when planning. A judge must be familiar with the venue surface before planning any jumping exercises. for Levels 4-6
(Deletion struck through)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
The following regulation amendment clarified how to count static positions for course design totals and brings the regulations in line with the accepted practice.
Proposed amendment to Regulation S(B)3.b
Regulation S(B)3.b
TO:
Linked Exercises are designed to share a static element position (e.g. Sit Send Around Sit and Sit Down Stand). The dog/handler team handler may choose to perform the second sign exercise separately; if they choose to do so they should take one step forward before starting the second exercise. Linked exercises may not be used in Levels 1 and 2. At Level 3 and above and in the Veteran class, Linked Exercises may be used one or more times within a course. At Level 3 and Veteran class, no more than 2 two exercises may be linked at a time together. At Level 4 and above, more than two or more exercises may be linked in an exercise bank. When calculating the number of static positions in a course the linked positions should only be counted once.
(Deletion struck through. Insertion in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
The following regulation amendments to remove the designation of a static exercise, intend to make it clear that touch rewards may be given at the end of any exercise ending in a static position.
Remove designation of a static exercise
Regulation S(B)1.b
TO:
Touch rewards are allowed when the dog/handler team has completed an static exercise which ends in a static position and before the dog/handler team has begun to heel forward towards the next exercise. An exercise is considered complete when the last element of an exercise has been performed and the dog/handler team has not begun to move forward. Touch rRewards may be given at the completion of any static exercises that share a sign onward linked exercise without the handler having to perform the following exercise in the linked bank separately. The exercise descriptions in Annex C note if an exercise is considered static ends in a static position.
(Deletions struck through. Insertions in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Regulation S(B)2(3)
TO:
There should be a balance between static exercises and moving exercises. Judges should design their courses to showcase a wide variety of skills and behaviours.
(Deletions struck through. Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Regulation S(B)2(4)
TO:
A static exercise is one that ends in a sit, stand or down position. Others are moving exercises. All standard courses from Level 1 and above, including Veteran should contain a minimum of two static positions.
(Deletion struck through. Insertions in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Regulation S(B)3.b
TO:
Linked exercises are designed to share a static element static positions (e.g. Sit and Sit Down). The dog/handler team may choose to perform the second sign separately. Linked exercises may not be used in Levels 1 and 2. At Level 3 and Veteran class, no more than 2 exercises may be linked at a time. At Level 4 and above, more than two exercises may be linked.
(Deletion struck through. Insertion in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Due to this approval, consequential amendments were considered. This included where an exercise stated ‘this is a static exercise’, it instead indicated that ‘this exercise ends in a static position’. This applied to the following regulations:
S(C)1, 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 36, 37, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 56, 60, 61, 63 and 66.
The below bonus exercises were removed on health and welfare grounds.
Removal of Bonus Exercises 9 and 14
Bonus Exercise 9
TO:
SEND TO MAT: The handlers mat is placed into position by the judge or steward after the dog has passed the Finish sign, the handler should distract the dog whilst this is happening. Once the mar is in position the hander and dog team move towards the Bonus Sign and heel past it towards the Send To Mat sign where they stop with the dog sitting at the handler’s side. The handler sends the dog forward to the mat which is 1.5-2 metres directly in front of them. When the dog reaches the mat, the handler can command the dog to sit or down. Once the dog is settled on the mat the handler walks toward the dog which remains in position until the handler reaches the dog’s side, they do not need to walk past the dog first.
The exercise is hen complete.
The handler’s mat should be between 30-75cm wide and 35-100cm long.
NB: A portion of the dog’s body needs to be on the mat, it is not necessary for the dog to be centred on the mat.
(Deletion struck through)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Bonus Exercise 14
TO:
DIRECTED SEND TO MAT: The handler’s mat is placed into position by the judge or steward after the dog has passed the finish sign, the handler should distract their dog whilst this is happening. Once the mat is in position the handler and dog team move towards the Bonus Sign and heel past it towards the Directed Send to Mat sign, which will be 2 metres in front and to their left. When they are approximately level with the sign they perform an about turn before stopping with the dog sitting at the handler’s side. The handler leaves the dog and walks back to the Bonus Start sign where they turn and direct the dog to go right to the mat which is approximately 1.5-2 metres to the dog’s left-hand side. When the dog reaches the mat the handler can command the dog to sit or down. Once the dog is settled on the mat the handler walks toward the dog which remains in position until the handler reaches the dog’s side, they do not need to walk past the dog first. The exercise is then complete.
The handler’s mat should be between 30-75cm wide and 35-100cm long.
NB: A portion of the dog’s body needs to be on the mat, it is not necessary for the dog to be centred on the mat.
(Deletion struck through)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
The following regulation amendment for exercise 66, would fixes an omission when previous changes had been made to clarify the distances before, after and to the side of the jump.
Amendment to Regulation S(C)66
Regulation S(C)66
TO:
SIT – LEAVE DOG – ANGLED RECALL OVER JUMP.
This exercise requires two signs. At the first sign (A) the handler and dog stop with the dog sitting at heel. The jump must be approximately 4 metres from sign (A). The handler cues the dog to wait then walks to the second sign (B) which is placed approximately 4 metres away from the jump and 1.5 metres to either the right or left of the jump. The handler turns and faces the dog and cues the dog to jump. The dog must come over the jump and straight in front of the handler. The handler then cues the dog to Finish either Right or Left.
This is a static exercise.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
