Official WDF appeals procedure

(Article 36 + related articles concerning the powers of the delegate and the judges)

1. WHO MAY FILE AN APPEAL

An appeal may be filed by:

✔ the exhibitor / owner of the dog
✔ the handler (on behalf of the owner)

Appeals from the public, friends, or other uninvolved participants are not accepted.

2. WHEN AN APPEAL MAY BE FILED

In accordance with the regulation:

An appeal regarding a situation in the ring may be filed only BEFORE the judging of the breed is concluded.

IMPORTANT:
Once the forms have been closed, the reports submitted, and the grades ratified, an appeal is NO LONGER possible.

This applies to:

• grades (EXC, VG, G, etc.)
• placements (1, 2, 3)
• titles (CAJC, CAC, CACIB, BOB, etc.)

The judge may NOT change anything after the official conclusion.

3. HOW AN APPEAL IS FILED

In accordance with Art. 36:

1. The exhibitor files the appeal in writing

– the official appeal form available at the secretariat is used
– the name, catalogue number, reason for the appeal, time, and ring are filled in

2. The appeal is submitted to the Show Secretariat

3. The Secretariat immediately notifies the WDF Delegate

The delegate is obliged to intervene on the spot.

4. WHAT MAY BE APPEALED

In accordance with the regulation, only the following may be appealed:

✔ procedural errors

(e.g., a dog evaluated in the wrong class, a judge who omitted the dentition check, double presentations, ring irregularities)

✔ administrative irregularities

(e.g., wrong catalogue number, unclear identity, incorrect order of entry into the ring)

✔ improper behaviour of other participants

(e.g., double presentation, interventions by the public, aggression, shouting, etc.)

✔ situations requiring the intervention of the WDF delegate

(e.g., suspicion of an incorrect DSQ, unsportsmanlike behaviour, conflict in the ring)

5. WHAT MAY NOT BE APPEALED (absolutely prohibited)

In accordance with the Regulation:

❌ The judge’s expert decision may NOT be appealed:

• the grade awarded (EXC, VG, G, etc.)
• the order of the placement
• the granting or refusal of titles (CAJC, CAC, CACIB, BOB, etc.)
• the assessment of conformation
• the assessment of movement
• the appreciation of breed typicity

The judge is sovereign in his technical assessments.

Appeals concern ONLY the procedure, not the judge’s opinion.

6. THE ROLE OF THE WDF DELEGATE IN APPEALS

The WDF delegate is obliged to:

✔ analyse the case immediately (“rapid intervention”)

✔ discuss with the judge

✔ examine the situation in the ring

✔ analyse the documents, the placements, and the procedure followed

✔ decide whether the appeal is valid or not

The decision of the WDF delegate is FINAL for the duration of the show.

7. THE DELEGATE’S POSSIBLE DECISIONS

The delegate may:

1. Reject the appeal

(the most frequent situation)

2. Accept the appeal and correct the procedure

e.g.:

• moves the dog to the correct class
• reconfirms the order of entry
• cancels an incorrect play-off
• corrects the administrative error of the ring steward

3. Suspend the judging and investigate the situation in detail

(e.g., fraud, aggression, indecent behaviour)

__ 4. Refer the case to the WDF Disciplinary Commission__

If the situation involves:

• attempted fraud
• human aggression
• insults to the judge
• attempts to influence the judging

8. AFTER THE SHOW – FINAL REVIEW

All appeals are:

• included in the Official Report of the Delegate
• subsequently reviewed by the WDF Disciplinary Commission

The following may result:

• warnings
• suspensions
• penalties
• a ban on participation
• sanctioning of judges (rarely, only in serious cases)

SUMMARY – The exact appeals procedure (in 5 steps)

1️⃣ The exhibitor files an appeal in writing at the secretariat
2️⃣ The secretariat immediately notifies the WDF Delegate
3️⃣ The delegate verifies the situation on the spot, before the judging of the breed is concluded
4️⃣ The delegate decides (accepted / rejected / disciplinary measures)
5️⃣ The case is included in the official report to the WDF

SHORT VERSION – VERY IMPORTANT

The judge’s decision regarding the quality of the dog CANNOT be appealed.
A procedural error CAN be appealed.
The WDF delegate decides everything.