Netherlands

reported by Alfons Simons.

The Dutch Kennel Club ( Raad van Beheer ), located in Amsterdam, the Capital of the Netherlands, is the organization which is in charge of handing out the pedigree’s for all purebred dogs in the Netherlands. It is the main organization that determines where and when dog shows, obedience, agility, field trials and other dog-events will be held. During the year there are 15 to 20 CAC-CACIB Dog shows all over the country organized by regional clubs, who have to confirm their shows to the Dutch Kennel Club. The entries are between 1700 and 2500 dogs of all breeds. Usually in the last weekend of November or the first of December in the Exhibition-Center in Amsterdam there is a big dog show with approximately 5000 entries (all breeds) where you can get the title "Winner" for best dog and best bitch, along with 2 CAC-championship points for the Dutch Champion title.

For obtaining the Dutch title you have to gain 4 CAC-points or 3 CAC-points and 4 reserve CAC-points or more under 2 different judges and at 3 different shows, whereby the last CAC-point or reserve CAC-point (when you have already 3 CAC-points and 3 reserve CAC-points) has to be won after your dog reaches the age of 27 months. The CAC can be won by dogs from the age of 9 months. If the CAC is won by a dog that is already a Dutch champion, the complete CAC-point goes to the dog that wins the Reserve CAC.

Usually once a year the American Cocker Spaniel Club of the Netherlands organizes it’s Specialty-Show. Here you can win a double-CAC point for the title of Dutch Champion for the best dog and best bitch, the reserve dog and reserve bitch gets 1 CAC-point each. For the Best in Show-dog there is also the title of Club winner of the year. At Dutch shows the American Cocker Spaniel is shown in all varieties at the same time in the ring.

Because the Dutch Kennel Club is associated with the F.C.I.(Federation Kynologique International) you can also win points CACIB at Dutch dog shows, to become an International Champion.

To become International Champion you have to win 4 CACIB-points in 3 different countries under at least 3 different judges. Between the first and the last CACIB there has to be at least a time-period of 1 year and 1 day.

The classes opened at Dutch shows are as following:

Puppy Class	6 to 9 months.
Youth Class	9 to 18 months.
Intermediate Class	18 to 24 months.
Open Class	15 month and older.
Working Dog Class	must have working certificate.
Champion Class	must have Champion Certificate (from a country associated to the F.C.I.).
Veteran Class	7 years and older.

At the Specialty there is no Champion Class opened, but there is a Breeders Class open from the age of 9 months.

At the shows every dog gets a written judges’ critic so the owner knows what the judge thinks of the dog’s advantages and disadvantages. This is information for people, that they can use in in their breeding programs.

The achievable qualifications are:

Puppy class: very promising / promising.
All other classes: Uitmuntend ( U ) = Excellent
All other classes: Zeer goed ( Z.G.) = Very Good
All other classes: Goed ( G.) = Good
All other classes: Matig ( M.) = Moderate

There are no agents or professional handlers in the Netherlands. Most of the regional clubs have very good exercise schools where the owner learns how to handle the dog at the show.

When you want to start breeding purebred dogs you can apply for a permanently registered kennel name by the Dutch Kennel Club.

From the 1st September 2001 there is a new law in order in the Netherlands that forbids tail-docking for all dogs born after this date, also it’s not allowed to remove the dew claws. This means that we can import a dog with a docked tail, that is born after 1 September 2001, but we cannot go to the dog shows with this dog. There has been already a legislation for no-ear clipping for those breeds where clipping is common since 30-4-1989.

At the time the Kennel club is starting a new breeding program, with new rules to breed purebred dogs, with the purpose to improve the health and living conditions of dogs. These rules are different for each breed. Some of the subjects par example are the number of litters for bitches, how many times a dog can be used as a sire during his life, including several other measures. The exact impact of this program isn’t determined yet.