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Before you enter

It is always a good idea to acquaint yourself with the specific rules and guidelines that apply to Danish dog shows before entering. Here you can find some information on what is and is not allowed at shows in Denmark.

Important information about ear cropping, tail docking and dew claws

Ear cropping

All ear cropped dogs born after 30 June 2009 cannot be shown regardless of the dog's country of birth. Cropped dogs born before 1 July 2009 can only be shown if the dog has been born in a country where ear cropping is permitted.

Tail docking

Tail docked dogs cannot be shown, regardless of the dog’s country of birth. The prohibition also includes dogs that have been docked for veterinary reasons, irrespective of whether a veterinary certificate is presented. The only exception are dogs that have a written exemption from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

The following breeds are excepted from the tail docking prohibition: Brittany spaniel, German shorthaired pointer, German wirehaired pointer, Vizsla and Weimaraner.

Only the following breeds can take part stump-tailed (with a natural bobtail): Australian shepherd, Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, Brittany spaniel, Boston terrier, Bourbonnais pointing dog, Bouvier des Ardennes, Bouvier des Flandres, Croatian sheepdog, Danish/Swedish farm dog, English bulldog, Entlebucher sennenhund, French bulldog, Gos d’Atura catala, Jack Russell terrier, Karelian bear dog, King Charles spaniel, Miniature American Shepherd, Mudi, Old English sheepdog, Perro de agua espanol, Polski Owczarek nizinny, Pyrenean shepherd dog, Pyrenean sheepdog (smooth faced), Rat Terrier, Swedish vallhund (Västgötaspets), Schipperke, Terrier Brasileiro, Welsh corgi Pembroke.

Dogs without tail or with only a part of the tail of all other breeds than the above (and of course Brittany spaniel, German shorthaired pointer, German wirehaired pointer, Vizsla and Weimaraner which are excepted from the docking prohibition) are considered missing a part of the body and consequently they cannot be shown (must be disqualified). The only exception are dogs that have a written exemption from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

Participation of dogs with dewclaws

According to Danish legislation, removal of dewclaws with the purpose of changing the dog’s appearance is forbidden. Therefore, dogs registered in Denmark will typically be shown with dewclaws, even if it may appear from the breed standard that dewclaws should be removed. As legislation regarding removal of dewclaws or other surgical interventions varies from country to country, the judge must not when judging consider whether the dog has in accordance with the breed standard been docked or had its dewclaws removed.

Vaccinations

When you participate in a Danish show or trial you must be able to document that your dog is protected against canine distemper, parvo virus and infectious hepatitis. This is possible by presenting a valid vaccination certificate or a positive titer test confirming the presence of protective antibodies.

For dogs over the age of 21 weeks, one of the following kinds of documentation must be presented:

• A vaccination certificate which is at least 7 days and no more than 4 years old – and where the dog had attained the age of at least 16 weeks when the vaccination was performed.
• A positive titer test which is no more than 4 years old – and where the dog had attained the age of at least 16 weeks when the blood sample for the titer test was taken.

For puppies between 12 and 21 weeks, one of the following kinds of documentation must be presented:

• A vaccination certificate which is at least 7 days and no more than 5 weeks old.

• A positive titer test which is no more than 5 weeks old.

Foreign dogs must moreover be vaccinated against rabies according to the Danish legislation in force at the time in question.