Disclaimer
The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) does not accept any liability for death or injury to any dog or handler for whatever circumstances may arise from this event and entering the test is the total responsibility of the handler or owner.
Object
The Endurance Test shall determine the dog's ability to withstand a certain degree of physical strain without showing signs of undue stress or lack of constitution.
Due to the dog's physical structure such a test can only consist of a gaiting performance of some lengthy duration which it is known places an increasing load not only on its internal organs such as the heart and lungs but on many other aspects of the dog's physical structure and temperamental characteristics.
The effortless accomplishment of such a test shall be the evidence as to the physical fitness of the dog.
Title
| (1) | To qualify for the title of Endurance Test (ET) the dog must have passed the endurance test held by an affiliate of the Member Bodies of the ANKC, subject to the approval of the State of Territory canine controlling body (hereafter called the "Control"). Upon application to the Control and production of the qualifying certificate and prescribed fee, the letters "ET" will become part of the registered name of the dog. |
| (2) | After qualifying for the "ET" title, it is deemed to be a domestic matter whether or not the dogs with a title are allowed to continue to compete. |
| (3) | The judge's book must be completed, signed and sent to the Control within seven (7) days of the test. |
| (4) | A qualifying certificate from the Affiliate holding the test shall be presented for each dog passing the test, signed and dated by the officiating judge on the day. |
Equipment
| (1) | The dog must wear a fixed collar or suitable harness. No neck chains, slip collars or spiked collars shall be permitted. |
| (2) | The leash must be long enough (approximately 2 metres) and held in either hand so that the dog may adjust itself to the cyclist or runner. The dog shall gait on the leash on either side of the handler or bicycle. |
| (3) | The handler may jog the distance or ride a bicycle with the dog, provided the required speed is maintained. Motor cycles or cars will not be permitted. |
| (4) | No protective clothing shall be worn by the dog. |
The Test
| (1) | There shall be four (4) veterinary checks - after the completion of each leg and before starting the obedience test. All exhibits shall be examined by the veterinary surgeon and/or veterinary team, covering such things as the general fitness, temperature, standing heart rate, condition of the pads. (Each must be examined at the first check to ensure that she is not in season). |
| (2) | At the completion of the 20 kms. run and after the final 15 mins. rest period, a short obedience test will be conducted (to include a recall) on or off the lead. |
| (3) | The test shall be a 20 kms. run to be covered in three legs 8 kms., 6 kms., 6 kms. |
| (4) | At completion of each leg there shall be a rest period of 15 mins., 20 mins., 15 mins. |
| (5) | Handlers shall wear a catalogue number and proceed in single file, in numerical order, following the pacemaker. The dog is permitted to pull slightly but continued lagging may incur disqualification. |
| (6) | The distance is to be completed in 2 hours and 35 minutes, including the two intermediate breaks, but excluding the final rest period i.e. the test is to be conducted at an average of 10 kms. per hour. |
| (7) | Dogs may stop to relieve themselves but must, however, make up for the test time and regain their position in the line. |
| (8) | After the first 8 kms. there shall be a rest period of 15 mins. during which time the judge, veterinary surgeon and veterinary team and shall examine all exhibits. Two or more officials are normally required to assist with the taking of temperatures, looking at pads and recording thereof. |
| (9) | Dogs showing any undue stress, badly worn pads and temperatures above 40C prior to the continuation of the gaiting shall be eliminated by the judge or veterinary surgeon. |
| (10) | After a further distance of 6 kms. a rest period of 20 mins. shall be taken during which time the same procedure as in (8) above shall be carried out. |
| (11) | After the final 6 kms. there shall be a further rest period of 15 mins. During this period dogs shall be allowed to move about freely or relax. |
| (12) | At the end of the final rest period the fourth veterinary check shall be undertaken. |
| (13) | After this final veterinary check the obedience test will be conducted. |
| (14) | A certificate will be issued for each qualifying dog. |
| (15) | A dog will have failed the test if it lacks physical condition or shows signs of undue stress or tiredness, fails to complete the distance within the allotted time or fails to complete the obedience exercises. |
| (16) | A dog which fails an endurance test may compete within the Rules at a later date. |
| (17) | Reprimands shall not under any circumstances be used during the period. A reprimand means either verbal or physical. |
Inspection
| (1) | A veterinary certificate, issued within fourteen (14) days immediately prior to the date of the test, must be submitted, for each dog on the day. It shall cover such things as the general fitness, temperature, standing heart rate, condition of the pads and muscle tone of the dog. (For bitches the certificate is to state also that the bitch is not in whelp). |
| (2) | One veterinary surgeon and veterinary team shall be appointed to each judge to undertake the veterinary examination of the exhibits. |
| (3) | All dogs and bitches are to be examined by the judge and veterinary surgeon prior to the commencement of the test and after completion of each leg and may be excluded from taking part at any stage, if in their opinion, they are considered to be unfit - the decision of the judge and veterinary surgeon is final. |
| (4) | Bitches in season or in whelp are not permitted to participate. |
Exhibits
| (1) | The Endurance Test shall be open to all dogs eligible for inclusion of the Register of the Control in which the event is conducted. |
| (2) | The test is open to dogs aged between two (2) and seven (7) years. |
| (3) | No liability or responsibility will be accepted by the Affiliate, the Control or the Australian National Kennel Council for any dog or bitch entered in the test. |
Judging
| (1) | Judges must be licensed with the Control in their respective State or Territory to judge Endurance Tests. |
| (2) | The eligibility of judges to judge is deemed to be a domestic matter for a period up until 31.12.99. |
| (3) | The judge shall judge no more than twenty (20) dogs and shall travel with the dogs, either walking, bike riding or jogging. |
Terrain
The test shall be carried out over varying terrain, such as bitumen, unsealed roads, dirt tracks, etc., such that the total distance of the course shall be twenty (20) kms. The continuous stretches of bitumen should not be longer than three (3) kms. and should not be resumed before a break of two (2) kms. of a different surface. The appointed judge must be consulted on the selection of the site.
Guide to Judges
| (1) | The obedience test is to be conducted in groups of approximately four (4). The test is to consist of heeling forward a short distance, followed by a right about turn and continued heeling for a short distance before coming to a halt. It is not necessary for the dog to sit. The dog must show a willingness to remain with an obey the handler. The heeling is to be followed by a short recall, on and off the lead. The judge shall keep in mind that this is a test of the dog's willingness to work and to obey the handler, not an obedience test. |
| (2) | The judge shall be guided by the veterinary surgeon's opinion of the fitness of any dog to commence or continue gaiting. The judge's decision shall be final. |
| (3) | During the gaiting the judge shall follow the group over a clearly defined course. |
| (4) | The dog is permitted to pull slightly but continued lagging will incur disqualification. |
| (5) | The judge shall mark 'pass' or 'fail' only for each entrant and his/her decision is final. |
General Rules
| (1) | The test is to be conducted by an Affiliate of a Control only, subject to the approval of the Control. |
| (2) | The time of the year for conducting of the test is to be deemed a domestic matter for determination by the Control on which the test is to be conducted. |
| (3) | The date of the proposed test is to be submitted to the Control at least sixty (60) days prior to the conduct of the test. |
| (4) | Entries are to be completed on official entry forms. |
| (5) | The date set for the closure of entry shall be a domestic matter determined by the Control in which the test is to be conducted. |
| (6) | All officials, except veterinary surgeons and veterinary teams, must be financial members of a controlling body. |
| (7) | If the climatic temperature reaches 24C, the test is to be cancelled, regardless of what stage the test has reached. |
From The Canine Journal, Official Publication of the Royal NSW Canine Council Ltd, February 1996, Page 19.
Dowload a copy of the rules in text format.
This page visited 
times since 18 November 1997
Copyright 1996-98 All Rights Reserved