Dog Show Regulations

When entering to a show, the exhibitor undertakes to follow the valid Dog Show Regulations, complementary guidelines 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.

Other instructions

Dogs must arrive to the dog show one hour before the estimated time of judging for the breed. Dogs not taking part in the group finals may leave after judging.

Remember to bring with you your dog’s ring card, registration papers and vaccination certificates, a water bowl, a mattress or the like for your dog to lie on, a strong collar and lead, and a show lead.

Double-handling is not permitted in any form at all. In case of infringement, the dog concerned may be disqualified.

A copy of the registration certificate must be attached to the entry when entering a dog registered by a kennel club not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale FCI.

Bringing non-entered dogs to the show venue is not allowed.

Mating of dogs at the show venue is prohibited.

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 (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.