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Doping

Doping

When a dog participates in activities (all kinds of trials, shows, exhibitions, mentality tests or the like) organized by DKK or collaborating organizations in Denmark, it must not be treated with performance-changing drugs or treatments that influence its performance or behaviour by e.g. alleviating pain.

The reason for this is that medication, doping and other methods that influence behaviour, exterior or performance have consequences both with regard to animal welfare and potentially with regard to breeding. The DKK would like to increase the focus and consciousness on these problems in dog sports in order to secure good animal welfare and a positive competitive environment.

Consequently, it is prohibited to start/compete in a trial or judgment, if the dog is ill or injured. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the dog is in treatment relieving the condition and/or shortening the illness period or is not in treatment.
It is the responsibility of the owner and handler that the dog is physically and mentally fit to take part in the arrangement in question.

Illegal medication and doping

The Danish Kennel Club’s doping list contains the drugs that entail prohibition or quarantine. The doping list can be found at the DKK website dkk.dk at this link: https://www.dkk.dk/uploads/documents/R%C3%A5dgivning/Sundhed/DKKs-dopingliste-februar-2025_2025-03-19-135319_gcav.pdf

It is not permitted to take part with dogs that are or have been in treatment with these drugs or other substances within the defined waiting periods. This applies regardless of whether the substance is given to enhance the performance or as part of a medical treatment.

By treatment is also meant non-prescription drugs or substances that are given in order to improve performance or hide or relieve illness or injure.

It is not permitted to take part within the drug’s waiting period. The waiting period applies from the last treatment/dose.

However, one should be aware that waiting periods are minimum respites and the time of decomposition in the body can be individual and vary. Detection of the substance in question is regarded a positive doping test even if the waiting period has expired.

Vaccines and treatment against worms, tick and fleas

As regards vaccines, we refer to DKK’s general vaccination rules.
There is no waiting period for antiparasitic drugs like anthelmintic worm treatment and protective treatment against fleas and ticks.

Exemption

An exemption can be granted to a specific competition, as there is a large difference in the degree of strain. In some cases, the exemption can be conditioned by a lifelong breeding ban on the dog. This is due to the fact that some kinds of treatment can hide diseases that are considered hereditary. It is possible to apply for an exemption by contacting the DKK health department by e-mail to sundhed@dkk.dk in order to get an application form. The fee for having an application for exemption considered is DKK 450.00.

Sampling, doping control

A request for doping control of a dog from others than the executive of the event or the judges must be submitted in writing on the day to the executive of the event with an explanation for the control. The request costs a fee of DKK 1,000.00, which will be lost if the test is negative.

All costs in relation to control and following tests must be paid by the owner of the dog, if the test is positive. Should the test be negative, the costs in relation to control and subsequent tests must be paid by the organizer of the arrangement (request from executive or judge of the event) or the person who have requested the control.

If a request for doping control of a dog is submitted, the organisers must inform the dog’s owner/handler in question that the dog must be available for doping control on the current day. The owner or the handler of the dog must appear for doping control at the agreed time.

It rests upon the organizers to summon a veterinarian who must control the dog’s ID by scanning its microchip before the sampling (blood sample, urine sample, hair sample, nose swab sample).

Urine sample can be collected by the owner/handler under supervision of a veterinarian. Other samples are collected by the veterinarian.

The collected samples are stored by the veterinarian. The executive of the event informs DKK about the conducted doping control, after which it is decided which analyses will be carried out on the basis of the nature of the request.

When the results of the analyses are available, the DKK health committee will decide whether or not it is a case of doping.

The health committee’s decision is forwarded to DKK general committee, who will determine whether the case is considered closed or whether it is passed on to the disciplinary board of DKK for trial according to the laws of the DKK.

Persons who refuse to put themselves up for doping control or fail to turn up for control are reported to the DKK, who will decide whether the case is passed on to the disciplinary board of DKK for trial according to the laws of the DKK.