MENU

Doping

When participating in a show, working test, or a Dog Mentality Assessment in DKK, a dog cannot be – or have been - treated with drugs that moderate or rouse its temperament, or affect its ability to perform.

There are several reasons that performance-enhancing drugs or treatments are not allowed prior to participating in trials or competitions.

  1. Consideration for the dog, i.e. animal welfare:
    If a dog is limping, e.g. due to an injury, then it can worsen the injury if the dog is medicated with pain-easing medication in order to participate in e.g. a field trial or an agility competition.
  2. Consideration for the competitors, i.e. fairness:
    Competitions are about electing the dog that performs best on the given day. In order for the competition to be fair, all competitors must compete on the same terms. It must be the dog’s own hereditary abilities, combined with the owner’s excellent training, that makes a winner; thus, not any performance-enhancing medicaments.
  3. Consideration for future puppy buyers, i.e. choice of mate:
    The participation in dog sports competitions is a hobby, but for many breeds it is also the foundation of choosing a suitable mate. Through the prizing of dogs at shows, working trials and the like, it is possible to document that a dog is breed typical in relation to exterior, temperament and/or working abilities. It is, therefore, important – and necessary – that a dog is judged as it is. Their performances cannot be affected by medication or surgical intervention that are suppressing or have moderated possible hereditary diseases or corrected any faults in beauty.

What is considered as doping?

It is not straight forward to list all allowed or illegal drugs. It is known from the human sports. Once rules are made, so are the ideas for loopholes. And there is always the potential danger that a list of legal and illegal drugs is three steps behind. Additionally, the possibility of testing or tracking the different drugs might not always available.

Examples

Therefore, DKK do not publish a list of illegal drugs, but will instead mention a series of examples of treatments that are unwanted in relation to all kinds of dog sports within DKK:

  • Pain-easing
  • Subduing of anxiety, aggression, or other mental issues
  • Abatement of infections
  • Treatment of so-called endocrine sufferings (imbalance in organs as thyroid gland, pancreas or adrenal gland)
  • Remedial action of symptoms of skin diseases
  • Treatment/prevention of cramps/epilepsy
  • Remedial action of symptoms of heart diseases
  • Chemical castration
  • All surgical intervention that can suppress hereditary diseases or correct beauty faults (e.g. operation for entropion/ectropion, brachycephal syndrome, correction of bite or the like).

It is very different how long it takes for the different medical types to leave the body. You can, therefore, unintentionally participate with a doped dog, if it has been through some kind of treatment. To be on the safe side, you should ask the vet in charge how long the dog will be affected by the given medication.

Exemption

It is possible to apply for exemption from DKK’s doping rules, if you wish to participate in a show, a trial or a Mentality Assessment with a dog that has been in operation or that is in medical treatment. To apply for this, you must fill out a form on which the vet in charge must sign that the treatment is safe. It costs 300 DKK to have an application for exemption handled. You can find the form along with other of DKK’s blank forms under ”Sundhed" (= "Health"): "Exemption from doping" (Note! The form is in Danish).

The exemption is given to specific discipline, because there is a difference of the degree in liability. You can apply for exemption in several disciplines in the same application.

In certain cases, the exemption will be conditioned by a mating ban on the dog. This would be in cases where some sorts of treatment can moderate and suppress sufferings that are considered hereditary. Beware that the ban is lifelong.

The participation of chemically castrated dogs also requires an exemption after the completion of this form.

Every application will be evaluated individually by DKK’s vet, potentially with the involvement of DKK’s Health Board and/or external consultants.

DKK approves exemptions given by other Nordic countries’ kennel clubs. If legal documentation can be presented that a dog has been given exemption for competing in Norway, Sweden, Finland, or Iceland, then it is not necessary to apply for exemption in DKK.

Kontakt DKK

Dansk Kennel Klub
Parkvej 1
2680 Solrød Strand
56 18 81 00
post@dkk.dk
CVR 11 88 18 15

Bank

Betalinger til Dansk Kennel Klub
Reg. nr.: 9070 Konto: 1639581302
IBAN-nr: DK3090701639581302
SWIFT-kode: VRAADK21

Min side Presse Eksteriørdommer Dyrlæge Regler og instrukser Blanketter Specialklubber Privatlivspolitik Klubsystemer Få rabat som DKK medlem