Please read the rules and regulations carefully.
Regulations for competition
When entering to a competition, the handler undertakes to follow the valid regulations for the international Tracking dog trial and Vaccination Instructions of the Finnish Kennel Club.
Identification
Since 1.1.2001, all the dogs participating at the show must be identified by a microchip or clearly readable tattoo. The microchip must be in accordance with the ISO 11784/11789 standard.
Anti-doping
Anti-Doping regulations, approved by the Council of the Finnish Kennel Club, have entered into force on 1.12.2007. The rules are applied to all shows, trials and tests approved by the Finnish Kennel Club. For more information on doping control, please visit the Finnish Kennel Club’s website.
Cropped and docked dogs
Cropped and/or docked dogs born after 1.1.2001 are not allowed to compete in shows and competitions.
Tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment
The anti-echinococcus treatment is required for dogs travelling to Finland. A veterinarian in a country outside of Finland has to mark the medication administered in the pet passport.
The treatment is an appropriate dosage of medicine containing praziquantel or epsiprantel against tapeworm causing echinococcosis approved for the species concerned. As a rule, treatment is to be administered abroad 1 – 5 days prior to entering Finland. This means the medication cannot be administered at the border just before crossing.
Alternatively, the 28-day rule can be applied, if the dog comes from an EU-country, Norway or Switzerland. The pet has to be treated at least twice before travelling at a maximum interval of 28 days in an EU-country, Norway or Switzerland and after that regularly at maximum intervals of 28 days for as long as the pet keeps travelling to and from Finland. The last treatment has to be administered in Finland after the travelling has ended. If the 28-day interval is exceeded, the treatment series has to be started over.
The passport of a pet that follows the 28-day programme shall indicate this on the echinococcus treatment page in Finnish or Swedish as well as in English. The markings of the 28-day programme have been made in the pet passport starting from the beginning of 2012. If the passport pages are filled up, the dog is issued a new passport. Both the old and the new passport should be carried when travelling with the dog.
No anti-echinococcus treatment is required of dogs travelling to Finland directly from Norway, Ireland or Malta.
For further information, please visit the Finnish Food Authority’s website.
Vaccination regulations
Dog shows, trials, and competitions as well as other organized canine events (later referred to as event) in Finland are subject to Vaccination Regulations approved by the Finnish Kennel Club’s Board. The organizer of the event has a duty to make sure that Vaccination Regulations have been followed.
A dog’s vaccination certificate must clearly state the dog’s identification details as well as the expiration date of the vaccination administered to the dog in accordance with the summary of product characteristics for the vaccine in question. In order to attend an event, a dog must have the following valid vaccinations:
Vaccinations against canine distemper, canine parvovirus, and infectious canine hepatitis
A dog must be vaccinated against canine distemper, canine parvovirus, and infectious canine hepatitis at least twice. On the day of the event, at least 21 days must have passed since the administration of the booster vaccination (three-week withdrawal period). A booster vaccination administered to a dog less than one year old is valid for one year. Booster vaccinations administered to a dog that is at least one year old are valid in accordance with the summary of product characteristics for the vaccine in question.
Vaccination against rabies
On the day of the event, at least 21 days must have passed since the administration of the dog’s first vaccination against rabies (three-week withdrawal period).
A vaccination administered to a dog less than one year old is valid for one year. Vaccinations administered to a dog that is at least one year old are valid in accordance with the summary of product characteristics for the vaccine in question.
Withdrawal periods for expired vaccinations against canine distemper, canine parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis, and rabies
If a dog’s vaccination has expired, the vaccination must in all cases be renewed at least 21 days before the event (three-week withdrawal period). A dog may attend an event the day after the withdrawal period has ended, i.e. on the 22nd day after the administration of the vaccination.
Further instructions for dog owners and veterinarians
(depending on the case, a veterinarian may also recommend another vaccination programme)
The dog must have a vaccination certificate (vaccination data in the Finnish Kennel Club’s mobile application Omakoira App, a vaccination record, or a pet passport). The vaccination certificate must include the expiration date of the vaccination, identification data of the dog, and previous vaccinations.
The veterinarian must record the expiration date of the vaccination into the dog’s vaccination certificate.
The first vaccination against canine distemper, canine parvovirus, and infectious canine hepatitis is often administered in form of a so-called quadrivalent vaccine (also including vaccination against kennel cough) to a 12-week-old puppy. The booster vaccine is administered 4 weeks after the first vaccination. The first vaccination against rabies is administered to a puppy at the age of 4 months at the earliest. Previous vaccinations must be recorded by a veterinarian in the pet passport or other vaccination certificate. For a dog attending events, a yearly renewal of the vaccination against kennel cough is recommended.
Dogs arriving from abroad are, in addition to the Finnish Kennel Club’s Vaccination Regulations, also subject to the Finnish Food Authority’s valid regulations.
Please note! The Finnish Kennel Club’s Vaccination Regulations may differ from the vaccination requirements for import. Valid requirements can be found, for instance, on the website of the Finnish Food Authority.
Other regulations regarding infectious diseases
If a dog contracts canine distemper, canine parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis, kennel cough, or some other similar infectious respiratory or gastrointestinal tract inflammation, the dog in question may not attend an event before it has been free of signs of the relevant disease for at least two weeks. The same restriction also applies to dogs of the same household showing no signs of the disease. Parasitic infections must be duly treated before a dog may attend an event.
Approved by the Board of the Finnish Kennel Club on 12.12.2019, valid as of 1.2.2020
Health and welfare of dogs
Please note that the welfare and health of dogs is always a priority at competition, and the handler is responsible for the welfare of his or her dog.
A dog’s health and welfare must not be compromised.
For instance, a dog may never be left in a car in hot or cold weather or left in a small crate or transportation box for a long period of time. A dog may not be treated roughly in any situation.
Attempting to influence a dog’s performance by using any chemical substances, drugs or treatments is forbidden. A handler committing a violation of these rules will be excluded from the competition.
A dog owner must also ensure that the dog’s behavior at the competition does not constitute a danger to other dogs or people. If a dog’s aggressive behavior is reported to the judge, the dog in question may be excluded from the competition.
A dog must be handled in a way that does not make it feel uncomfortable.
The possession and/or use of E-devices within the sphere of the FCI World Championship (FCI- WC)/FCI European Championship (FCI-EC) as well as manipulation on the dog (doping) shall lead to disqualification, regardless of the legal situation in the organising country.
Collars with steel spikes (prong collars) are forbidden.
The participation of sick or injured dogs is not permitted. In addition, the dog must not be affected in a prohibited manner, i.e. have been subject to measures aimed at inappropriately altering their appearance, performance or behaviour/character or concealing signs of injury or illness.