Mr. Doug Ljungren, Executive Vice President, AKC Sports & Events announced new rule changes at the 2019 Master National Handler’s Meeting on Friday, October 18th.
Ljungren said the AKC Board Of Directors voted to make three changes to Regulations & Guidelines for AKC Hunting Tests for Retrievers, to increase the
capacity of the Master Hunter level test and have a more efficiently run event. Also present at the meeting were Caroline Murphy, Director of Performance Events & Russ Reavis, Field Director for Retrievers.
Here are the changes as written in the AKC Board of Directors Meeting from October 14-15, 2019:
1) Increase the entry limit in the Master level test by approximately 10%,
(2) limit the scratch fee for dogs that scratch prior to closing to approximately the credit card processing fee incurred by the club or entry service, and
(3) request that individuals that handle more than 12 dogs in a hunting test bring along assistance to get the dogs to the proper test and get them to the line in
a timely manner.
These changes are effective for events held after January 1, 2020.
Changes underlined below:
Regulations & Guidelines for AKC Hunting Tests for Retrievers,
Chapter 1. Section 3. Limiting Entries to Master Hunter Tests Clubs may at their option limit the number of entries in their Master Hunter test to either 66, 100, 132, or 200 entries. Clubs may run unlimited Master level tests if they choose.
If entries are limited, the number must be stated in the premium and announcements for the event. Entries
shall be accepted on a first come, first served basis. The regulations regarding the days required for testing and the splitting of test levels remains the same as explained in Chapter 1, Section 18.
Remaining paragraphs in this section are unchanged.
Regulations & Guidelines for AKC Hunting Tests for Retrievers, Chapter 1. Section 5. Bitches in Season / Scratches / Refunds.
Bitches in season shall not be eligible for entry in any Hunting Test and shall not be allowed on the grounds. Entry fees paid for a bitch withdrawn because of coming in season or for a dog withdrawn because of injury or illness, or for a dog that dies, shall be refunded in full by the testgiving club.
Prior to paying such refund, the club may require an appropriate veterinary certificate. In the event a dog is withdrawn for other reasons after entries have closed, the testgiving club is free to formulate its own policy regarding refunds provided the said policy is fixed in advance of the mailing of the premium list for any particular test.
If a handler knows that a dog will be withdrawn for reasons other than a bitch in season, injury, sickness or death, it is in the best interest of the event that the dog be withdrawn prior to closing so another dog may utilize the slot. Therefore, the club or an entry service employed by the club, may only charge a scratch fee approximately equal to the credit card processing fee that they incurred.
Regulations & Guidelines for AKC Hunting Tests for Retrievers, Chapter 1. Section 4. Entry requirements.
New paragraph 14.
Efficient Running of an Events. For the efficient running of an event and with consideration for fellow participants, an individual that handles more than 12 dogs in a hunting test (all testing levels) is asked to take responsibility for having assistance at the event in order to take care of the dogs, get dogs to the proper test and get them to the line in a timely manner.
It's all about the dogs
