V. Dog Temperament and Behavior.

Owners of UKC Registered dogs are responsible for the behavior of their dogs at UKC events. Dogs participating in UKC events are expected to have stable temperaments appropriate to their breeds and to be sufficiently well trained so that no dog’s behavior interferes with the Judge’s ability to evaluate the dog or its performance. Owners or designated handlers are expected to ensure at all times that their dogs present no threat to persons or other dogs attending the event.

A. Excusing a dog for temperament or behavior in the ring. A Judge may excuse a dog when the dog’s behavior significantly interferes with the Judge’s ability to evaluate the dog or with the ability of other exhibitors to show their dogs. This includes, but is not limited to, such behavior as not standing for examination or refusing to walk. A Judge must excuse a dog when the dog’s demeanor gives the Judge reason to believe that the dog may not safely be examined by the Judge. In such cases, the Judge must mark the dog “Excused” in the Judge’s book and state the reason for the excusal. The Judge’s decision in such matters is final.

B. Disqualifying a dog for temperament or behavior.

1. When the bite or attack occurs in the ring. A Judge must disqualify a dog that bites or attempts to bite a person, or that bites or attacks another dog. The term “attack” shall be construed to include unprovoked physical contact between the two dogs. If the bite, attempted bite or attack occurs in the ring, the Judge must mark the dog “disqualified” in the Judge’s book and state the reason for the disqualification. The Judge’s decision in such matters is final. The Judge must complete the UKC “Disqualified for Attacking” report form and report any such incident to the Event Committee immediately.

2. When the bite or attack occurs elsewhere. Any person who witnesses a dog biting or attempting to bite a person, or biting or attacking another dog anywhere on the event grounds other than in the ring must report it immediately to a member of the Event Committee or the host club. The host club must investigate the alleged bite, attempted bite or attack and the club must file a complaint using the procedure outlined in Section VII of this rulebook. Once the complaint is complete, the Event Committee must send the complaint to UKC with their Event Report. The dog is considered disqualified in this situation and must not enter or exhibit at any UKC Licensed event until reinstated by UKC, and the Event Committee must immediately notify all concerned parties of same.

3. UKC procedures for dogs disqualified under this section. When UKC is notified that a dog has been disqualified under this section, the owner of the dog will be notified by certified mail of the Judge’s report (disqualified in the ring) or the findings and recommendations of the host club (Complaint and hearing for biting or attacking outside the ring). The owner of the dog shall have 14 days from receipt of this notification to show cause why the dog should not be barred from participating in future UKC events and from all registration privileges. After reviewing any mitigating or extenuating evidence submitted by the owner, a Disciplinary Committee composed of UKC staff members shall make a finding of facts and determine the penalty, and this ruling shall be final. The owner of the dog shall be notified of the outcome within 30 days of receipt of the owner’s response. Owners of dogs that are barred from registration privileges are required to return the dog’s UKC registration certificate within 14 days of notice that the dog is barred. Failure to promptly return the registration certificate can result in loss of UKC privileges. Dogs barred from registration privileges ay not be transferred. The name, breed and owner of a dog barred from registration privileges shall be published once in the first issue of BLOODLINES magazine after the owner is notified.