New regulations for the IFR - show ... the World Winner is to be a complete working dog.

The Meeting of Delegates dd. 18.09.2019 has accepted an important adaption of the regulations of the IFR World Show.

The national and/or FCI show regulations that govern the show remain of course in order ... but from now on, a dog can be best male or female ... even best in show ... but if the dog did not pass the working test that will be organized prior to the show ... it will not obtain the title.of IFR World Winner !   Especially given the genetic stamp on the breed that the title may imply, the IFR wants to recognize and reward the complete Rottweiler, a utility breed.

The following text will be added / changed in art. 8 of the regulations :

Qualifications and official show titles or certificates.

The show will be organized according to FCI show regulations if the CACIB can be issued at the show and / or the organizing country's national show regulations if not.    

Should the judging take place at the same time in more than one ring, the four best dogs of each class will be picked but will not be placed. Placing these dogs will happen when the judging of all classes is over and this in a central ring so all spectators can enjoy and witness the final placements of the dogs. They will be placed by the same judge that judged their class.

The adult (= starting as of intermediate class) dog and bitch which were chosen as best of their sex, the best youth male and the best youth bitch should they have received the qualification ”1st Excellent” in their class, the best veteran dog and the best veteran bitch which have received the qualification “1st Excellent” in the Veteran class, can compete for the title of Best in Show.

The following IFR-titles will be awarded :

World Youth Winner: to the best youth male and the best youth bitch, chosen from youth class (9 – 18 months) or if this class is subdivided, chosen from the males and females that were awarded the first place in their classes within this range of age (9 – 18 months).

World Winner: to the best male and the best female, chosen from intermediate, open, working and champion classes that were awarded the qualification 1° Excellent in their class and that have passed a character test on the day before the show.

The day before the IFR World Show starts, at the last the day before any adult classes (= as of intermediate class) will be judged, a character test will be organized.     The judge(s) for the test, the helpers and the dogs used for the demonstration of the test-routines are invited by the organizing IFR-Member club.   At least 2 helpers will be available, licenced for official IGP trials and wearing the full IGP-costume, soft stick and bite-sleeve as determined by the FCI.     The test will be judged by one judge who is (FCI) licenced to judge both the Rottweiler breed and international official IGP-trials or by two judges of whom at least one is (FCI) licenced to judge the Rottweiler breed and at least one to judge international official IGP-trials.  Show judges that will officiate at the World Show cannot be a member of this jury.    They will be allowed to be present and to witness the test but their presence is not mandatory nor may they influence the judge’s work and decisions.

The test will consist out of protection work, namely two exercises : an attack on the dog from the blind and a courage test.    Precise instructions on the routines of the exercises will be given by the judge (s) and will be shown to all participants before the actual test starts.   

The judge(s) will not conclude the dog’s participation by giving scores or qualifications but by simply qualifying the dog’s work with : “pass” / “not pass”.    The decision of the judge(s) is final and is not open for discussion.   In case judges do not agree, the conclusion is “not pass”.

The aim of the test is not to establish the degree of training or the ability to successfully participate trials but to establish the presence and minimal intensity of the drives that are needed and typical for the utility dog.    Not just the nature and intensity of reactions, grips and of the guard is to be established but also the ability to change drives and to remain (self)controlled at all times.    Not letting go of the sleeve after 4 commands, the last one in the proximity of the dog, and/or the dog not being under control or biting the helper elsewhere than in the sleeve must lead to disqualification.

All dogs entered in an adult class of the World Show (starting as of intermediate class but excluding veteran class) can be entered to participate the test.   Participation to the test is however not mandatory and yes or not participating and/or passing the test cannot and may not influence the grading and placing of the dog during the IFR World Show nor the possibility to be declared best male or female and/or Best In Show and/or to be awarded a CAC or CACIB if those certificates are issued at the show.

However, regardless and independent of the official show results and titles, the title of IFR World Winner can only be awarded to a male and a female that has participated and passed the character test.

Should the best male and/or female chosen at the IFR World Show between the winners from intermediate, open, working, and champion class have participated and passed the test, then the title of IFR World Winner will automatically be awarded to this male and/or female (if awarded an excellent grading).    

Should the best male and/or female chosen between the winners from intermediate, open, working and champion class not have participated the test or not have passed the test, then an additional competition will be organized between the dogs of that gender that did participate and pass the test and obtained the highest placements in their respective classes with at least an excellent grading.   This competition will be judged by the same show judge(s) who were appointed to decide on the best male and/or female between the before mentioned class winners.    The winning dog (if awarded an excellent grading) will be awarded the title of IFR World Winner of the gender concerned.