Dog show rules

When entering to a show, the exhibitor undertakes to follow valid Dog Show Regulations, complementary guidelines and Vaccination Instructions of the Finnish Kennel Club.

Identification

Identification (microchip or tattoo) is obligatory for all dogs participating in official dog shows, competitions, and tests. When entering his or her dog to an event, the owner undertakes to follow rules and regulations that apply for that event.

The organizer of the event checks the dog’s identification. The identification is checked before judging, primarily based on the identification recorded on the dog’s registration certificate. If a dog has a chip that is unreadable with most chip readers, the owner must carry a reader that can be used to read that chip.

If a non-identified dog is found at the inspection, the organizer must exclude that dog from the event. An unreadable tattoo or a microchip that does not work prevents the dog from participating at the event.

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 are not allowed to compete in shows and competitions in Finland.

Other instructions

Tapeworm treatment

When travelling with your dog to certain countries (e.g. Finland and Norway), tapeworm treatment may be required. Check which regulations apply before your journey to Finland and in your country before returning home! For travel to Finland for example from/via Sweden, tapeworm treatment is required. 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 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. Vaccinations administered in puppyhood or when the dog is older are valid in accordance with the summary of product characteristics for the vaccine in question. Observe the time of onset of immunity before the vaccination becomes valid.

Vaccination against rabies
A dog must be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccinations are valid in accordance with the summary of product characteristics. Observe the time of onset of immunity before the vaccination becomes valid.

If a dog’s vaccination has expired, the vaccination must in all cases be renewed at least in accordance with the time of onset of immunity mentioned in the summary of product characteristics (usually, 21–30 days).  

A dog may attend events the day after the time of onset of immunity has been met. In other words, if the time of onset of immunity is 21 days, the dog may attend an event on the 22nd day after the vaccination.

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, marked by a veterinarian, 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, infectious canine hepatitis, and kennel cough (quadrivalent vaccine, or trivalent vaccine and kennel cough vaccine) is recommended to be administered to a 12-week-old puppy. Booster vaccinations are administered in accordance with the summary of product characteristics. The first vaccination against rabies is administered to a puppy in accordance with the summary of product characteristics, usually at the age of 4 months.

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 Finnish Kennel Club’s Scientific Committee 28th March 2023, valid as of 1st June 2023.