THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG LEAGUE OF GREAT BRITAIN
WORKING DOG BRANCH


Members of the World Union of German Shepherd Dogs

Rules of the GSDL Working Dog Branch

A       Trials / Training

A.1    The rules of Schutzhund/VPG Sport must comply with those laid down by the SV, WUSV, VDH and FCI.

A.2    The rules of any other events, competitions and / or training organised by the GSDL Working Dog Branch shall be as follows:

A2.1   Before dogs are allowed to participate or train in any aspect of the Sport, they must be of good physical fitness and free from infectious ailments, be approved by the relevant Trainer as being suitable for the sport and the handler must be a member of the GSDL Working Dog Groups or equivalent organisation.

A2.2   Dogs entered for competition MUST be tattooed or Microchip (it will be the owner/handlers responsibility to provide a suitable scanner to read the chip in this instance) it is the responsibility of the Trial Manager to ensure all entrants comply.

A2.3   It is recommended that all dogs are Hip X-rayed and scored by the British Veterinary Association or WUSV Member equivalent.

A2.4   All members must agree as a condition of membership to comply with the directives of the relevant Trainer during the training of protection work. A relevant trainer will be anyone approved by the club committee. The method of approval will be a matter for the Executive Committee to decide upon, and they can require any person to satisfy them that they are sufficiently responsible to participate in protection training. It is the responsibility of the club trainers to ensure that all members’ working dogs show a suitable commitment to all three disciplines of the sport. It is also recommended that all Clubs hold at least one survey/trial per year.

A2.5   Protection training will only be allowed on private property, where the public can reasonably be denied access.

A2.6   It will be the responsibility of the Club Officers to ensure that correct equipment is used and protective clothing is worn throughout protection training. This will specifically include Helpers who must wear suitable protection and use the German type sleeve fitted with a bite bar. (NB. It is a requirement of the WUSV that Helpers wear a protection jacket in a trials situation).

A2.7   The Helper should ensure that the sleeve MUST always be presented as the prime target for the dog. In the interest of safety, a line must always be attached to the dog whilst training protection work.

A2.8   Training on the field, on the day of the Trial is at the discretion of the Trials Manager or Judge.

A2.9   Training on the Trials Helpers on the Trial field on the day of the Trial is at the discretion of the Trials Manager or Judge.

A2.10  Only fully paid up members of the GSDL Working Dog Branch or member of any other WUSV/FCI member club, will be eligible to enter surveys and participate in training. It is not necessary for people spectating at Seminars to be members of the GSD League of Great Britain

A2.11  Helpers MUST NOT wear hats during surveys.

A2.12  Helpers MUST NOT wear metal studded footwear at surveys.

A2.13  Only Helpers from the approved list shall be used at any survey with their respective status honoured, unless a foreign Helper, then the Helper must have a suitably recognised qualification from a similar organisation

A2.14  Only Tracklayers from the approved list shall be used at any survey with their respective status honoured. unless a foreign Tracklayer, then the Tracklayer must have a suitably recognised qualification from a similar organisation

A2.15  GSDL of Great Britain shall be responsible for confirming the current status of all visiting foreign judges and helpers before they are allowed to participate in GSD League of Great Britain surveys.

A2.16  Prior to the survey start time, handlers must present all relevant documents to comply with the WUSV regulations (i.e. GSD League of Great Britain Performance Record Book, or performance record book from any other WUSV/FCI member club & the competing dog’s Pedigree.) To the Trials Secretary.

A2.17  Owners of dogs imported from abroad (owned by GSD League Working Dog Branch members) must acquire and present a GSD League Performance Record Book in order for those dogs to be eligible to compete in GSD League of Great Britain Schutzhund/VPG survey.

A2.18  The current WUSV/FCI policy of interchanging their respective working qualifications; ie. that a dog that has qualified IPO 1 can compete directly in Schutzhund 2 and vice versa, etc shall be honoured.