table of contents - res.ukcdogs.comres.ukcdogs.com/pdf/weightpullrules.pdf4 ukc weight pull rules...

Table of ContentsRegulations Governing

UKC Licensed Weight Pulls ........................3Jurisdiction.....................................................3Definitions......................................................3General Rules ................................................7Judge Changes ..............................................7Entering a UKC event .....................................9Weigh-In Time and Judging Schedule............12Pull Area ......................................................12Equipment....................................................16Eligibility to compete in weight pull events .....19Dogs that may not pull under a Judge...........21Weight Classes .............................................22Rules applying to Exhibitors and Spectators....22Exhibitor Guidelines......................................24Judging Procedures ......................................25Weigh-In ......................................................25Handlers Meeting .........................................26Pulling Order ...............................................27Pulling Rules.................................................28Maximum Starting Weights............................30Requirements for a qualifying pull .................31The Start and Finish......................................31Passes ..........................................................33Fouls............................................................33Equipment Failure ........................................34Weight Pull Titles ..........................................35Championship Points Schedule

for Weight Pull Titles................................37Awards, trophies and ribbons .......................37Total Dog Award ..........................................38Weight Pull Judge Rules and Guidelines ........39Dog Temperament and Behavior...................40Use of Alcohol and Illegal Drugs at Events.....41Misconduct and Discipline.............................42Inherent Rights and Powers of UKC ...............49UKC Policy Regarding Persons

Associated with Fighting Dogs .................50

UKC Weight Pull Rules 3

Official UKC Rules andRegulations

Regulations Governing UKC®

Licensed Weight Pulls*Effective August 1, 2011

UKC is the trademark of the United Kennel Club,Inc. located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The use ofthe initials UKC in association with any other reg-istry would be in violation of the registered trade-mark. Notify the United Kennel Club, 100 EKilgore Rd, Kalamazoo MI 49002-5584, shouldyou become aware of such a violation.

Section I. Jurisdiction. All UKC Licensed WeightPulls shall be governed by the rules herein. The fol-lowing rules and regulations governing UKCLicensed Weight Pulls and the awarding of UKCWeight Pull points and titles issued by UnitedKennel Club are uniform and are not given on alocal or geographical basis.

Section II. Purpose. Weight pull competition testsa dog’s strength and stamina based on thedog’s ability to pull a maximum amount of weighton a sled or cart over a prescribed distance withina prescribed amount of time. Scores are based onthe amount of weight pulled and the amount oftime required to complete the pull. The type ofweight vehicle may vary according to the surfaceof the pull area.

Section III. Who may offer weight pull events.Any UKC club that is eligible to offer weight pullsmay be licensed to offer All-Breed Weight Pullevents. UKC reserves the right to grant, withhold orrevoke event licenses at its own discretion.

Section IV. Definitions.A. Blind. A dog is blind if it has no useful sight.B. Breeder of record. The owner of the dam onthe date of breeding is the breeder of record ofall dogs whelped in the resulting litter.C. Chute. Also known as the “course” or “track”,the chute is a rectangular area at least 10 feetwide and 35 feet long, consisting of the 16 feetbetween the start line and the finish line, theadditional area required behind the start linewhere the competing dog and the weight vehicle

UKC Weight Pull Rules 54 UKC Weight Pull Rules

O. Failure to earn a qualifying leg/score (NQ).A dog that fails to meet the requirements asdescribed in subparagraph BB.P. Failure to make a qualifying pull. A dogthat fails to make a qualifying pull as describedin subparagraph CC.Q. Foul. A foul is anything that interrupts a quali-fying pull. For more information, see Section XXIII.R. Foul Out. A team is allowed to foul twice dur-ing a class, at which time the dog is ineligible tocontinue competing in the pull. The dog’s lastqualifying pull will count as its top pull.S. Holding area. A designated area provided bythe host club with sufficient space to safely hold alldogs entered in the weight pull.T. Immediate family. The spouse, parent, step-par-ent, child, step-child, brother or sister of a person areconsidered immediate family members.U. Leading a dog into the pull. A handler whowalks their dog forward into engaging the cart orsled. A handler having contact with their dogwhen the trace is lifted from the pulling surface,beginning the pull, will be assessed a foul.V. Limited Privilege Program. This program isopen to the following, provided they arespayed/neutered: mixed breed dogs, purebreddogs of unknown pedigree, and purebred dogswith disqualifying faults as described in the UKCbreed standard. All Limited Privilege-listed dogsare eligible for weight pull events. Eligibility forfuture events will be determined and published inUKC publications and on the UKC website.W. On-deck area. A designated area, immedi-ately behind the chute, where the next dog in lineand its handler waits while the dog being judgedis pulling in the chute.X. Pass. Skipping a round. See rules regardingpassing in Section XXII.Y. Performance event. Events where the dog isjudged on the basis of performance rather thanconformation. Weights Pulls, Agility andObedience are typical performance events.Z. Pre-entry. Some UKC clubs offer pre-entry inaddition to day-of-pull entry. Pre-entries must besubmitted by a specific date (published inBLOODLINES Dog Event News and on the UKCwebsite), and are normally lower in price thanday-of-pull entries.AA. Pre-entry only. Some UKC clubs do not allowday-of-pull entries and require that all entries besubmitted by a specific date (published in BLOOD

stand prior to the start of the pull, and the addi-tional area required beyond the finish line wherethe competing dog and handler stand when thepull is complete.D. Chute barriers. The chute barriers define thelong sides of the chute for pulls on snow and nat-ural and artificial surfaces.E. Come-in weight. The beginning weight adog is required to pull.F. Contact point. The contact point on a sledrunner is the most forward point of the runnerthat is in contact with the ground when the sled ison flat ground.G. Corresponding date. UKC schedules eventsbased on a 52-week calendar. If a club offers anevent on the 4th Saturday of this year, then thatclub’s corresponding date in all subsequent years isalso the 4th Saturday, regardless of the actual date.H. Course. See Chute.I. Day-of-pull entry. Most UKC clubs allowentries to be taken on the day of an event. Thestart and finish time for taking these entries ispublished in BLOODLINES Dog Event News mag-azine and on the UKC website.J. Determining a dog’s age. In determining adog’s age for entry purposes, a month-to-monthcalendar day system shall be used. For example,a dog born on January 1 shall turn six monthsold on July 1 of the same year.K. Disqualified. Dog is deemed ineligible forcompetition. This can be the result of a conditionprohibited in the rules, such as an alteration to thedog’s natural state, an undesirable trait as listedin a breed standard, or a condition of or action bya dog that is prohibited under the rules of theUnited Kennel Club. A dog that has been dis-qualified from a conformation show or perfor-mance event may not participate in any furtherevents unless reinstated by UKC.L. Dog. The word “dog” used in these regula-tions includes both sexes.M. Dropping. A dog must have all four feet onthe pulling surface before being released. Anydropping of the dog will result in a foul.N. Excused. A Judge has the right to excuse anydog, handler or both for any violation of the rulesor unsportsmanlike conduct on the day of theevent. The Judge may also excuse any dog when-ever he/she reasonably believes the dog’s physi-cal condition creates a risk of injury to the dog.An excused dog or handler may not continue tocompete in the weight pull.


NN. Uninterrupted pull. A dog that pulls aweighted vehicle without a foul, excusal or disqualification.

Section V. General Rules.A. Licenses. All licenses for UKC Licensed eventsshall be granted, withheld or revoked at the solediscretion of the United Kennel Club.B. Governing rules. UKC Licensed events aregoverned by UKC rules, classifications, and pointsystems.C. Suspended/Barred Individuals. A list ofindividuals who have been suspended or barredby UKC is prohibited from participating in anyUKC Licensed event, including but not limited toowner, co-owner, handler, backup handler,judge, guide, vendor, spectator, Master ofHounds, Bench Show Judge, Judge or Directorfor any Conformation or Performance event, andare prohibited from holding office in any UKCapproved club or association.D. Judge Changes

1. Change of Judge after event has been pub-lished in BLOODLINES Dog Event News. Thehost club must make every reasonable effort tonotify exhibitors of the change and offer refunds toall pre-entered exhibitors who submit a writtenrequest for refund of their entry fee(s). Judgechanges must be posted in plain view at the eventsite during event hours.2. Appointing an emergency replacementJudge. If, on the day of the event, a Judge isunable to start or complete his/her assignment, theEvent Chairperson must appoint an emergencyreplacement Judge. Points or legs earned byexhibitors under emergency replacement Judgesshall be considered as if they were earned underthe original Judge for the purpose of calculatingrequired wins under different Judges.

E. Finality of Judges’ decisions. By entering anyweight pull, the owner and handler of any dogagree to accept the decision of the Judge as final.The decision of a Judge is the responsibility of theJudge and not that of United Kennel Club.F. Event Grounds Restrictions. No dog less than8 weeks of age may be present on the grounds ofa UKC Licensed event. Any other dog not enteredinto the event is at the discretion of the club.G. Required inoculations. All dogs six months ofage or older must have inoculations for Rabies,Canine Distemper and Canine Parvovirus to be eli-gible to compete at UKC events. Dogs under sixmonths of age present on the grounds of any UKC

LINES Dog Event News and on the UKC website).These shows are described as “Pre-entry Only” (PE).BB. Non-qualifying leg/score (NQ.) A dog thatfails to make a qualifying leg/score. See subpara-graph CC below “Qualifying Leg/Score.”CC. Qualifying Leg/Score. A dog earns a qualify-ing leg/score by completing an uninterrupted pull ofa weighted vehicle loaded with the followingweights for 16 feet within 60 seconds and:

1. On natural or artificial surfaces. Eight timesthe dog’s body weight on the day of the event forevents held on natural or artificial surfaces; or2. On snow. Three times the dog’s body weight onthe day of the event for events held on snow; or3. On rails. Ten times the dog’s body weight on theday of the event for events held on a rail system.

DD. Qualifying pull. A dog shall be required topull a weighted vehicle 16 feet in 60 seconds or lesswithout a foul, excusal or disqualification. A qualify-ing pull is required to move to the next round.EE. Round. A cycle of competition in a weightpull contest, in which each eligible dog gets topull at the current weight level. FF. Sling-shot start. Dogs that are released withmore than 1 foot of slack in the trace running into start.GG. Sportsmanship. Conduct and attitude con-sidered as befitting participants in sports, espe-cially fair play, courtesy and grace in losing.HH. Temporary Listing (TL) number. ATemporary Listing number may be used to entera dog in UKC events before the dog is registeredor listed with UKC. Refer to the UKC website forrules and instructions on how to obtain a TL num-ber by going to:https://www.ukcdogs.com/DEWebCom.nsf/TL%20Web?OpenForm.II. Timed Out. A dog is “timed out” when it failsto complete a 16-foot pull in 60 seconds. Timingout is a foul.JJ. Traces. Sometimes called a “bridle”, “traces”is the term applied to the rope that connects thedog to the weighted vehicle.KK. Trace line. A line marked on the pulling sur-face that references a proper starting position.The line shall be marked by setting the cart orsled on the start line, extending the trace out tightand measuring back one foot.LL. Track. See Chute.MM. Tug line. On Y-shaped traces, the tug lineis that part of the traces that forms the base of theY and connects to the dog.


N. Presence of Event Chairperson and EventSecretary at events. The Event Chairperson andthe Event Secretary must be present during eventsat which they are serving in these capacities.O. Regulation and recording of event results.The UKC Dog Events Department regulates andrecords the results of conformation shows, obedi-ence trials, agility trials and weight pulls and issuesawards for levels of achievement at these events.Additional events may be added at the sole dis-cretion of United Kennel Club.P. When points or legs are awarded.1. Points or legs earned toward UKC titles areawarded after United Kennel Club receives andprocesses the official event report from the hostclub.2. No Weight Pull titles will be awarded until adog with a Temporary Listing (TL) number hasbeen permanently registered.

Q. Responsibility of Owner to advise UKC ofaddress change. It is the responsibility of anowner on record to notify UKC of address changesfor any UKC registered dogs who may have pend-ing titles. A change of address form may be foundon the UKC website, www.ukcdogs.com/res/pdf/addchreq.pdf.R. Title Certificate. UKC will mail the appropri-ate Title Certificate to the owner on record, oncea title has been verified.S. UKC right to review and correct eventrelated documents. UKC has the right toinspect all reports, score sheets, and other docu-ments related to UKC Licensed events and toreview those documents for any reason. Pursuantto the Inherent Rights and Powers, UKC employ-ees may make corrections, additions or deletionsto any documents related to UKC Licensedevents, regardless of whether or not those docu-ments are signed by a Judge or club officer.T. UKC right to change rules, policies andfees. UKC reserves the right to change rules,policies and fees at any time without notice.

Section VI. Entering a UKC event. Dogs must bepermanently registered, have a Limited Privilegenumber (performance events, companion events &Junior Showmanship), or have a valid TemporaryListing number.

*A. Official UKC Entry Form. Entries for allevents for licensed weight classes must be sub-mitted using the most current official UKC EntryForm. Entry forms must be complete when sub-

event must have current inoculations for CanineDistemper and Canine Parvovirus. Failure to complywith this paragraph will result in disciplinary action.H. Prohibited performance-altering drugs orsupplements. The use of any performance alter-ing drugs or supplements is strictly prohibited.Prohibited drugs include, but are not limited to:Stimulants, depressants, tranquilizers, narcotics,analgesics, mood enhancers, anabolic steroids,corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory or anti-arthritismedications, or any drugs, controlled or not, thatmay alter the dog’s natural performance.I. Host club plan to test dogs for the presenceof prohibited drugs or supplements. If thehost club plans to test dogs for the presence ofprohibited drugs or supplements, that informa-tion must be included when submitting the EventApplication for a scheduled weekend.J. Special requirements for bringing dogsinto state where event is being held. Clubsholding events in states with special requirementsfor bringing dogs into the state must list thoserequirements in writing when submitting theEvent Application for a scheduled weekend.K. Choice of weighted vehicle. Section IX,paragraph B.2 describes three types of weightedvehicles. The host club must choose one type foreach pull and include that information on theEvent Application for a scheduled weekend.L. When a non-UKC Licensed Weight Pull isheld in conjunction with a UKC LicensedWeight Pull. UKC clubs may host a non-UKCLicensed Weight Pull to be held in conjunctionwith a UKC Licensed Weight Pull providing:1. Non-UKC licensed events hosted by the clubmust neither interfere with nor delay any of thelicensed or non-licensed classes of the UKCLicensed event.2. When both weight pulls are run simultane-ously, each event must use a separate set ofequipment and personnel.3. The host club is responsible for ensuring that thelicensing body of each event is distinctly identified.4. No club may advertise any UKC LicensedWeight Pull as a “Dual sanctioned event.”

M. Prohibition against Event Chairperson andEvent Secretary serving as Judge. No personmay serve as a Judge for the host club at anyUKC Licensed event held on the same weekendwhen that person is serving as Event Chairpersonor Event Secretary.


Event News magazine and on www.ukcdogs.com.No entries will be taken at the event except duringthe specified time period. In the case of extremeweather or other emergency conditions, the EventChairperson may decide to extend the taking ofentries or delay the start of all judging by a rea-sonable period of time, or both. In such cases, theextension of entry-taking or delay of judging mustbe explained in writing by the Event Chairpersonwhen submitting the Event report.2. Pre-entry. Clubs accepting pre-entries mustestablish a pre-entry deadline after which no furtherpre-entries will be accepted. The pre-entry deadlinemust be published with the other event informationin BLOODLINES Dog Event News magazine andwww.ukcdogs.com. Clubs may offer a discountedentry fee for pre-entries. In such cases, exhibitorswhose entries fail to arrive by the deadline date maybe required to pay the full entry fee.3. Pre-entry only. Clubs may elect not to takeday-of-pull entries. In such a case, the club mustinclude this information on its “Event Applicationfor a scheduled weekend.” Such events will bedesignated “PE ONLY” at the top of their listingin BLOODLINES Dog Event News magazine andwww.ukcdogs.com.4. Conditional entry. An entry which specifiesany condition as to its acceptance must not bemade and must not be accepted by a club.

E. Refusing an entry. Host clubs may refuse theentry of an otherwise eligible dog. While a club’sdecision is subject to review by UKC, it will not beoverturned except where there is strong evidencethat the club’s decision is based on prohibitedcategories of discrimination (race, religion,national origin, etc.) or personal disputes.F. Corrections or changes to entry form. A han-dler or owner may make corrections to the dog’sname or corrections to the dog’s registration num-ber (but not both on an individual entry) on anentry form anytime prior to the judging of the classin which the dog is entered. An exhibitor or ownermay change the dog’s name or the dog’s registra-tion number on an individual entry, but he/she maynot change both on the same entry. The exhibitormust complete a Correction/Class Change Formas provided by the club. The Event Secretary mustattach the form to the original entry.G. Refund or Cancellation of Entry. The hostclub shall be responsible for their own refundand/or cancellation of entry policy. It is suggestedthat the policy be posted.

mitted to the Event Secretary, including a validUKC Permanent Registration number, UKCLimited Privilege number or UKC TemporaryListing number. Incomplete or unsigned entryforms or entries unaccompanied by entry feesare invalid and are to be refused by the EventSecretary/Event Manager.B. Eligibility for entry in licensed WeightPulls. Entry in licensed Weight Pulls is limited tothe following dogs provided they are at least oneyear of age on the day of the event:

1. Dogs that are permanently registered withUKC as of the day of the event or, 2. Dogs that have a valid Temporary Listing (TL)number as of the day of the event.3. Dogs that have a Limited Privilege (LP) listingnumber as of the day of the event.4. Upon reaching 12 years of age all dogs musthave a Veterinary Certificate stating the dog isin good health and able to continue pulling.The Veterinary Certificate must be dated notearlier than 1 year from the date of the event.

C. Ineligibility for entry in Licensed WeightPulls. The following dogs must not enter inweight pulls even if otherwise eligible and maybe refused by the Event Secretary.

1. Disqualified dog. Dogs that have been dis-qualified by a Judge at a UKC Licensed event inaccordance with Section XXX. B.1.2. Blind or lame dogs. Blind or lame dogsmust not be entered in UKC Weight Pull events.3. Females in Season. Female in season mustnot enter in UKC Weight Pull events.4. Pregnant or lactating females. Pregnantor lactating females must not be entered inUKC Weight Pull events.5. Drugged dogs. Dogs under the influence ofa performance-altering drug or supplementmust not be entered in UKC Weight Pull events.6. Dogs that appear to be ill. Dogs thatappear to be ill or dogs with sutures, bandages,adhesive or any other material that is indicativeor related to any surgical or medical proceduremust not be entered in UKC Weight Pull events.

D. Entry procedures and deadlines. UKCclubs must use the following procedures for tak-ing entries for licensed classes:

1. Day-of-pull entries. Clubs accepting day-of-pull entries must set a specific time period duringwhich the Event Secretary will take entries for theevent. This information will be published with theother event information in BLOODLINES Dog

H. Entry numbers and armbands. Each dogshall be assigned an entry number and the hostclub must provide armbands displaying the entrynumber to the person exhibiting the dog.I. Substitution of an Entered Dog. Substitutionof an entered dog may be allowed at the club’sdiscretion, so long as the requirements outlinedin “Entering a UKC Event” are followed and thenew dog meets the eligibility requirements to beentered. Substitution of a dog is prohibited whenthe dog is ineligible to compete. Owners who aresubstituting a dog for an entered dog must sub-mit a completed Official UKC Entry form alongwith a Correction/Class change form outliningthe details of the submission.J. Dogs not UKC permanently registered. Dogsthat are not permanently registered or have a UKCLimited Privilege number must have a TemporaryListing (TL) number to enter into licensed events. TLnumbers are available through UKC. Entry of dogsin a UKC Licensed Weight Pull that are not UKCpermanently registered, have a UKC LimitedPrivilege or a valid Temporary Listing number areto be refused entry by the Event Secretary.

Section VII. Weigh-In and Judging Schedule.A. Weigh-In. See Section XV.*B. Start time for licensed classes. At pre-entryonly pulls, the pull must start at the advertisedstart time. All other pulls must start at the adver-tised start time or as soon as possible thereafterif there is a large number of day-of-pull entries.On the day of the pull, no dog may pull in thechute prior to the start time advertised in BLOOD-LINES Dog Event News magazine or on the UKCwebsite. No dog may be judged prior to the starttime advertised in BLOODLINES Dog Event Newsmagazine or on the UKC website. No dog maypull after completing the maximum amount ofweight allowed per Section XX. C. Scheduling performance and conforma-tion events where space is limited. When aclub is offering both conformation and weightpull, and space at the show site is limited to theextent that the conformation ring and the chutemay be in the same space, conformation shall bejudged last so that the performance dogs are notdistracted by the scent of female dogs in season.

Section VIII. Pull Area. The pull area shall con-sist of a pulling track within a chute on anapproved pulling surface, an on-deck area and aholding area.

12 UKC Weight Pull Rules

A. Approved pulling surfaces. The followingare approved weight pull surfaces:

1. Natural surface. May be hard packed dirt, finepacked stones or grass. Sand is not acceptable.

2. Artificial surface. May be either asphalt orconcrete but must be covered with carpet. Bareasphalt or concrete is not acceptable.3. Snow.

a. Natural snow. Hard packed snow.b. Artificial snow. Packed ice shavings suchas those from an ice skating rink. There mustbe sufficient ice shavings covering the chute sothat the dog’s traction and the sled are able toremain on the ice shavings during the pull.

4. Rail system. The pulling surface liesbetween metal rails similar to railroad rails andwhich will safely hold the wheels of the carts.The pulling surface must be made of a materi-al that is of sufficient strength and sturdy con-struction to support the combined maximumweight of the dog and weighted cart. The sur-face must be covered with carpet to allow thedog to gain traction.



d. Starting position. Regardless of the slope ofthe chute, the starting position must be in a posi-tion that does not allow the cart to roll freely.e. Surface on which the dog gains traction.The surface on which the dog gains traction mustbe the same as the surface under the wheels ofthe cart or runners of the sled being pulled.f. Chute barrier. A chute barrier at least three feethigh and running the entire length of the chute isrequired for all pulls on natural and artificial sur-faces and snow. The barrier shall be placed at theouter edges of the chute. Chute barriers can bemade of any material that will discourage thedogs from leaving the chute during the pull.Examples of suitable material include plywood,snow fence, wood planks and hog panels.

2. Rail pulls. There must be welded stops onboth ends of the track so that the cart is notaccidentally pulled off of the rails.

a. Dimensions. The recommended width of thepulling surface of the rail system is four feet, toallow use of sheet plywood measuring 4 x 8 feet.The recommended length is 30 feet or greater.b. Ensuring that track is level. There shouldbe legs attached to the track to allow adjust-ments for leveling the track on any surface.Where a floor track is used the track is as levelas the floor under it.c. Starting position. Regardless of the slope ofthe chute, the starting position must be in a posi-tion that does not allow the cart to roll freely.d. Crowd barrier. A crowd barrier at leastthree feet high and running the entire lengthof the chute is recommended for all weightpulls. The barrier shall be placed at least threefeet away from the outer edges of the chute.Crowd barriers can be made of any materialthat will prevent spectators from interferingwith the dogs during the pull.e. Surface on which the dog gains traction.The surface between the rails must be coveredwith carpet to allow the dog to gain traction.

3. Placement of open end of chute. The endof the chute toward which the dog is pulling mustbe open, clear of crates, dogs, and spectators.

D. On-deck area. The host club must provide amarked on-deck area directly behind and near thestarting end of the pull chute. As each dog movesinto the chute to pull, the next dog in line and its han-dler shall wait in the on-deck area. The dog in theon-deck area must be under its handler’s control.


B. Pulling track.1. On natural and artificial surfaces. Thepulling track is designated inside the chute byplainly marked start and finish lines that areexactly 16 feet apart.2. On snow. The pulling track is designated insidethe chute by plainly marked start and finish lines thatare exactly 16 feet apart. Pulls on snow shall have anadditional break line marked exactly two feet behindthe start line. Before a pull on snow, the sled may bemoved in the area between the start line and thebreak line to ensure that the runners are not frozento the snow. Regardless of how the sled is moved itmust be at a dead stop before hooking the dog.3. On rails. The pulling track is designatedbetween the rails by plainly marked start and finishlines that are exactly 16 feet apart. Rail systems maybe of a type mounted on a platform or of a typeplaced on the ground. While type and constructionof rail systems may vary, the safety of all dogs andpeople attending the event is of paramount impor-tance. Full consideration must be given to the con-struction and assembly of the components of thistype system to ensure their stability and safety.

C. Chute requirements.1. Pulls on natural and artificial surfacesand snow.

a. Dimensions. The chute shall be at least 10feet wide, but not more than 20 feet wide andat least 35 feet long.b. Placement of the chute. The chute mustbe placed in a location that is as level as pos-sible, and where the surface is most likely toremain consistent throughout the pull. Thechute may only be groomed between classes.c. When chute is not level. Where it is notpossible to have a level chute, the dogs shallbe required to pull from the low end towardthe high end of the chute.


more than six (6) feet in length. The ring orsnap that attaches the traces to the dog’s har-ness shall be free to move from side to side.Traces shall be free of knots or anything thatmay hinder the free travel of the tracesthrough the ring or snap.b. Sled traces. Traces from the sled shall betied together at a point not less than two (2)feet nor more than three (3) feet in front of thesled to form a Y-shape. The traces shall be suf-ficiently long so that the distance from the pointof attachment on the sled to the attachment onthe dog’s harness shall not exceed six (6) feet.c. Rail traces. Traces must be I-shaped andmust be at least two and a half (2½) feet butnot more than four (4) feet in length.

2. Weighted vehicles.a. Rail Cart. A rail cart shall be the weightedvehicle for all weight pulls on rails.

1) Rail cart requirements. The rail cart must becapable of safely carrying a load in excess of6,000 pounds. Rail carts are normally made ofsteel angle and the rails made from angle iron.A typical rail cart is made of steel, measuring 4feet 8 inches x 4 feet 8 inches, measured fromthe outer sides of the cart. There must be at leastfour heavy-duty wheels mounted to the cornersof the weight cart or 6 heavy-duty wheels mount-ed to the corners and middle of the weight cart.All wheels may be V-groove, or there may be twoor three V-groove and two or three flat wheels onopposite sides of the cart. The wheel size for thesmall cart should be 3 inches and for the largercart 4-6 inches with 4 inches being preferred.The V-groove in the wheel holds the cart oncourse as it rides on the top of the angle ironrails. Any size rail cart is acceptable provided thematerials used are of sufficient strength to bearthe weights used in the pull, and the constructionand design ensure the safety of all concerned.The rail system should be designed so that it canbe assembled and disassembled easily.2) Option to use two rail carts. A club shall notrequire a dog to start pulling higher than the setweight listed per weight class and must provide anappropriate rail cart. The club may use two railcarts meeting the above requirements but of dif-ferent size and weight or one cart that will fulfill allrequirements. The smaller and lighter cart may beused for the 20-, 30-, and 40-pound classes. Thesmaller cart is not required to hold more weightthan the actual weight of the larger cart. When the


E. Holding area. The host club must provide a des-ignated holding area with sufficient space to safelyhold all dogs entered in the weight pull. Dogs in theholding area must be crated or on a short leash,and all must be closely supervised by their handlers.

Section IX. Equipment.A. Dog’s Equipment.

1. Collar. The dog may wear a flat buckle col-lar or be collarless in the chute and on deckareas. Any other type of collar and hanging tagsare prohibited in the chute and on-deck areas.2. Harness. The owner must provide each dogwith a well-fitted weight pull harness prior tocompetition. Standard weight pull harnessesmay be purchased from various sled dog andweight pull harness manufacturers.a. The rear of the harness shall not extendmore than two feet behind the dog as mea-sured from the base of the tail.b. The rear of the harness must have a dowelto prevent the sides of the harness from pinch-ing or rubbing the hips and legs of the dogwhen pulling. Wooden dowels are preferredbut a metal dowel is acceptable.c. The handler must ensure that the harness isin good repair and without any evidence offraying or other condition that might cause theharness to break during the pull.d. The harness shall not be held together byplastic clasps, Velcro, or include any springsor shocks in it.

3. Leashes. Leashes are prohibited from beingattached to the dog’s collar or harnesswhile the dog is pulling.4. Artificial aids to assist dog’s traction.Dog’s pads are to be clean and free of any arti-ficial aid designed to improve traction. Thisincludes, but is not limited to boots, carpet, orany substance applied to the pads, except thatwhen pulling on carpeting, pure water may beapplied to the pads in the on-deck area.

B. Pull Equipment.1. Traces. Traces shall be used to attach theweighted vehicle to the dog’s pulling harness.The traces must be made of rope or nylon.Chains or cable are not allowed. The tracesmust be attached to the weighted vehicle and tothe dog’s harness by sturdy enclosed metalrings or snaps.

a. Wheeled cart traces. Traces shall form along V-shape and be at least five (5) and not


2) Option to use two wheel carts. A clubshall not require a dog to start pulling higherthan the set weight listed per weight class andmust provide an appropriate wheel cart. Theclub may use two-wheel carts meeting theabove requirements but of different size andweight or one cart that will fulfill all require-ments. The smaller and lighter cart may beused for the 20-, 30-, and 40-pound classes.The smaller cart is not required to hold moreweight than the actual weight of the larger cart.When the weight pulled in these classes is equalor greater to the weight of the larger cart, thecompetition must continue with the larger cart.

3. Weight. The host club shall supply an ade-quate amount of pre-weighed material suitablefor safe, stable stacking.4. Stop watch. The host club shall supply a stopwatch capable of measuring time to 1/100th ofa second.5. Scale. The host club must supply a scale withthe capacity to weigh all dogs entered. It is pre-ferred that a digital scale be used.

Section X. Eligibility to compete in weight pullevents.

A. Eligibility to compete in licensed weightpull classes. No qualifying pull is required tocompete in licensed weight pull classes. The fol-lowing dogs are eligible to compete in UKCLicensed Weight Pull classes, provided they are atleast one year of age on the day of the event:1. Dogs that are permanently registered withUKC as of the day of the event or,2. Dogs that have a valid Temporary Listing (TL)number as of the day of the event.3. Dogs that have a Limited Privilege (LP) listingnumber as of the day of the event.4. Upon reaching 12 years of age all dogs musthave a Veterinary Certificate stating the dog isin good health and able to continue pulling.The Veterinary Certificate must be dated notearlier than 1 year from the date of the event.

B. Mandatory excusals. The following dogsmay not compete in weight pulls even if other-wise eligible and must be excused by the Judge.The Judge’s decision is final in all mandatoryexcusals. The Judge must mark the reason forany mandatory excusal in the Judge’s book.

1. Females in season.a. No female in season may participate in aweight pull. The host club has the option of


weight pulled in these classes is equal or greaterto the weight of the larger cart, the competitionmust continue with the larger cart.

b. Sled. A sled shall be the weighted vehicle forall weight pulls on snow.

1) Sled requirements. The sled must:a) Be capable of safely carrying a load inexcess of 3,000 pounds.b) Be at least 30 inches but not more than 48inches in width.c) Have two runners, made of steel or a ptexmaterial, that are not less than two nor morethan four inches wide, and are sufficiently longenough to provide at least 7 feet of contactsurface. The front ends of the runners mustcurve upward.

2) Option to use two sleds. A club shall notrequire a dog to start pulling higher than theset weight listed per weight class and must pro-vide an appropriate sled. The club may usetwo sleds meeting the above requirements butof different size and weight or one sled that willfulfill all requirements. The smaller and lightersled may be used for the 20-, 30-, and 40-pound classes. The smaller sled is not requiredto hold more weight than the actual weight ofthe larger sled. When the weight pulled inthese classes is equal or greater to the weightof the larger sled, the competition must contin-ue with the larger sled.

c. Wheeled cart. A wheeled cart shall be theweighted vehicle for all weight pulls on naturalor artificial surfaces.

1) Cart requirements. The cart must:a) Be capable of safely carrying a load inexcess of 5,000 pounds.b) Have a solid weight-bearing surface con-sisting of wood or metal. The weight bearingsurface may not be hollow.c) Have two axles and stand freely withouttipping over.d) Have four pneumatic tires, each of whichmust have the same air pressure prior to theevent. The tires shall not be less than eightinches and not more than eighteen inches indiameter, measured from one outer edge ofthe tire to the other. Wheels must be fixed sothat they can only move forward and back-ward. A spare tire or adequate repair kit forthe cart tires must be available at the pull site.e) Be equipped with 2 solid rings on the frontfor attaching the trace rope.


fy a dog that bites or attempts to bite a person(including the handler) or that bites or attacksanother dog during the supervised weigh-in orwhile in the on-deck or chute areas. The Judgemust complete the Disqualified for Attacking formas provided by the Event Secretary. A dog that hasbeen disqualified by the Judge may not continueto compete in weight pulls even if otherwise eligi-ble. The Judge’s decision is final in all disqualifi-cations. The Judge must mark the reason in theJudge’s book for any disqualifications. A dog thathas been disqualified from a conformation showor performance event may not participate in anyfurther events unless reinstated by UKC.D. Rules Regarding Dogs Owned or TrainedBy Judges, Immediate Family Members andMembers of the Same Household.

1. Dogs that may not pull under a Judge.Except as outlined in subparagraph D.2 below,exhibitors may not pull dogs from the followingcategories under any weight pull Judge. Thesedogs may, however, show in other types ofevents on the same day, provided the dog is nothandled by the weight pull Judge. For example,a dog owned by a person judging a weight pullevent, may participate in a performance or con-formation event hosted by same club on thesame day, provided the dog is not handled bythe weight pull Judge. This following rules applyto both the Head Judge and the Backup Judge.a. A dog that is owned or co-owned by theJudge;b. A dog that is owned or co-owned by amember of the Judge’s immediate family;c. A dog that is owned or co-owned by a per-son living in the same household as theJudge.d. A dog that has been owned or trained bythe Judge or that has lived in the Judge’shousehold, regardless of ownership, withinthree months of the date of the event.e. A dog that has been owned or trained by amember of the Judge’s immediate family orthat has lived in the household of a memberof the Judge’s immediate family within threemonths of the date of the event.

2. Procedures whereby prohibited dogsmay pull. Any prohibited dog listed above maypull provided that:a. The host club must designate a Head Judgeand a Backup Judge on the Application ForOne Licensed Event. The Head Judge shall be


refunding the entire entry fee or retaining up to50% of the fee as a processing fee of anyweight pull competitor who provides a veteri-narian’s certificate verifying that the femalecame into season after the closing date forentries. The certificate may be mailed, provid-ed the postmark is no later than the date priorto the day of the trial, or delivered by hand tothe Event Secretary before the start of the trials.b. A female found to be in season during apull shall be immediately excused and shall beineligible to receive a qualifying leg or cham-pionship points. The Judge’s decision is final.The host club is not required to refund theentry fee.c. Any female that appears so attractive tomales as to be a disturbing element shall beexcused by the Judge. The Judge’s decision isfinal. The dog’s last qualifying pull will countas its top pull in the class. The host club is notrequired to refund the entry fee.

2. Pregnant or lactating females. Pregnant orlactating females must not participate in UKCweight pull events. A Judge who reasonablybelieves that a dog is pregnant or lactating mustexcuse the dog and mark the reason in theJudge’s book. The Judge’s decision is final. A bitchthat has been bred is considered pregnant until:a. She whelps a litter;b. A veterinarian has determined that a bredbitch is not pregnant; or,c. The 64th day after the last day the bitch wasbred, counting the day of the breeding.

3. Drugged dogs. No dog under the influenceof a performance-altering drug may participatein a weight pull.4. Lameness or illness. Judges must excuseany dog that is lame, appears to be ill, orexhibits any evidence of recent injury, including,but not limited to, bandages, splints, or stitches.5. Excusing a dog for behavior on deck orin the chute. See section XXX, paragraph A.6. Excusing a handler. The Judge must excusea handler who exhibits poor sportsmanship.The Judge has sole discretion whether or not toallow the dog of an excused handler to contin-ue to participate in the pull with a substitutehandler. The Judge’s decision in these mattersis final. Poor sportsmanship that rises to thelevel of misconduct must be dealt with in accor-dance with Section XXXII, paragraph B.

C. Disqualifying a dog. A Judge must disquali-


believes the Judge has violated a specific UKC rule.Complaints about a Judge’s knowledge of and abil-ity to apply UKC Weight Pull rules may be filed withUKC but must address specific deficiencies.B. Control of the dog. Handlers are expected tokeep their dogs under control at all times. TheEvent Committee may expel from the eventgrounds any person whose failure to control adog interferes with judging or with the ability ofother handlers to pull their dogs.C. Double handling. Persons outside the chute areprohibited from any actions, intentional or otherwise,which affect the performance of a dog in the chuteor in the holding area. Persons who are family orhousehold members, have trained or handled thedog in any capacity, or have anything to do with thedog in the chute shall not place themselves beyondthe finish line. This prohibition shall apply equally topersons attempting to improve or to impair a per-formance. The Event Committee may expel from theevent grounds any person they reasonably believe isattempting to affect the performance of a dog.Judges may excuse any handler and his/her dogwhen the Judge reasonably believes the dog is ben-efiting from “double handling”.D. Grounds clean-up. Handlers are required toclean up behind their dog if it fouls the chute, on-deck area, holding area, or the event grounds. Amember of the Event Committee may bring clean-ing supplies to the handler and may hold the dogwhile the owner cleans the chute or the on-deckarea. Any handler who fails to clean up after hisdog may be directed by the Event Committee toleave the event grounds.E. Interfering with the Judge. No person mayinterfere with the Judge in any way while he/sheis judging a weight class.F. Performance-altering drugs or supplements.No dog under the influence of a performance-altering drug may participate in a weight pull. Theuse of performance altering drugs or supplementsis strictly prohibited. Owners and handlers are pre-sumed to know the condition of their dogs and riskdisciplinary action for exhibiting dogs under theinfluence of performance-altering drugs.G. Misbehavior of handlers.

1. Excusing a handler. The Judge must excusea handler who exhibits poor sportsmanship. TheJudge has the sole discretion whether or not toallow the dog of an excused handler to continueto participate in the pull with a substitute handler.The Judge’s decision in these matters is final.


the overall authority for judging the event; andb. Therefore a prohibited dog of the HeadJudge may pull under the Backup Judge.c. Therefore a prohibited dog of the BackupJudge may pull under the Head Judge.

Section XI. Weight Classes.A. Determining a dog’s weight class. The classfor a dog is based on the dog’s natural bodyweight as determined at the official weigh-in forthe event. Males and females shall pull togetherin the same class. Owners and handlers are pro-hibited from wetting down their dogs or forcing orencouraging their dogs to drink additional waterin order to place a dog in a more advantageousweight class. Persons caught using this practice,sometimes called “water logging,” will be dis-qualified from participating in the weight pull andmay also face disciplinary action from UKC.B. UKC weight classes.Classes are open to any dog that meets entryeligibility as defined in this rulebook.

Section XII. Rules Applying To Exhibitors AndSpectators. UKC exhibitors and spectators areexpected to display good behavior and goodsportsmanship on and off the course. Judges, EventCommittee members and host club officers mayexcuse exhibitors or spectators from the chute, on-deck area, holding area or the event grounds forviolations of these rules or conduct that interfereswith the event and event participants.

A. Complaints about the Judge’s decision. Byentering in a UKC event, the exhibitor is inviting theopinion of the Judge and must accept the Judge’sdecision as final. Exhibitors are encouraged to dis-cuss calls with Judges but may not argue about theJudge’s final decision. Complaints about the Judgemay only be lodged with the host club if the exhibitor

Weight Minimum MaximumClass Weight Weight

20 lbs No minimum under 21 lbs30 lbs 21 lbs under 31 lbs40 lbs 31 lbs under 41 lbs50 lbs 41 lbs under 51 lbs60 lbs 51 lbs under 61 lbs70 lbs 61 lbs under 71 lbs80 lbs 71 lbs under 81 lbs90 lbs 81 lbs under 91 lbs100 lbs 91 lbs under 101 lbsUnlimited 101 lbs no maximum


Section XIV. Judging Procedures.A. Who may judge a UKC Licensed WeightPull. No person may judge a UKC LicensedWeight Pull unless he/she holds a current UKCJudge’s license for weight pulls and is in goodstanding with UKC.B. Judge’s authority in the chute. The Judge mayuse whatever reasonable procedures he/she deemsnecessary to evaluate each dog’s performance inan effective and efficient manner. The same proce-dures will be used to Judge each dog in a class.C. Responsibility for pulling area. The Judgeis responsible for ensuring that the pulling area isin compliance with the UKC rules.D. Responsibility for pulling equipment. TheJudge is responsible for ensuring that the pullingequipment is in compliance with the UKC rules.E. Responsibility for supervising pull officials.The Judge is responsible for supervising andinstructing all pull officials. Prior to the start of thepull, the Judge must instruct the pull officialsregarding their responsibilities.F. Judge’s decisions. The Judge’s decisions onthe day of the pull are final. All questions or dis-putes occurring at a weight pull shall be resolvedby the Judge and his/her decision shall be final.G. Discussion of dogs’ performance withexhibitors. UKC Judges are encouraged to dis-cuss their decisions with exhibitors.H. Judge’s book. Judges are responsible for theaccuracy of the information in their Judges’books. Each Judge must sign his/her Judge’sbook upon the completion of a judging assign-ment and return it to the Event Secretary.I. Prohibitions.

1. Judges may not ask an exhibitor any unnec-essary questions regarding the dog in the chute.2. Judges may not judge a conformation showand a performance or companion event on thesame day.

Section XV. The Weigh-In.A. Scale. The host club must supply a scale with thecapacity to weigh all dogs entered. It is officially rec-ommended that a digital scale be used for weigh-in.B. Supervising the Weigh-In. The Weigh-Inmust be supervised by the officiating Judge or theofficiating Judge may choose to appoint anotherUKC Licensed Weight Pull Judge, a member ofthe Event Committee or an officer of the host clubto supervise the Weigh-In.


2. Poor Sportsmanship. Poor sportsmanshipthat rises to the level of misconduct must bedealt with in accordance with Section XXXII. B.The handler must not be permitted to exhibituntil the hearing has been held. A differenthandler may exhibit any additional dogs thehandler has entered. In this case the club is notrequired to refund entry fees(s) for said dog orany additional dogs the exhibitor has enteredon that day regardless if the dogs were shownor not.

XIII. Exhibitor Guidelines. A weight pull is an eval-uation of breeding stock, or a handler’s ability totrain and work with a dog. Many breeders havemade a lifelong commitment to their breed andmany exhibitors have made a lifelong commitmentto dog training. Judges have spent years trainingand pulling dogs before stepping beside the chute toJudge. They are serious about the sport, andexhibitors should be as well. Exhibitors’ behavior anddeportment speak to the degree of commitment theyhave to their dogs and to the sport. The following aresuggested guidelines for UKC Exhibitors:• Exhibitors should accept the decision of theJudge gracefully. There should be no snatching ofribbons, loud comments or derision of the Judgeor their decisions, either in the ring or out. • Exhibitors’ clothing should be neat and clean.Their apparel speaks to the respect they have forthe sport, the pull and its proceedings.• Exhibitors’ dogs should be clean and, where neces-sary, brushed or trimmed to present a neat appearance.• Exhibitors should take care when discussing thejudging with the Judge to not appear confronta-tional. The judging was the Judge’s opinion thatday, and poor behavior on the part of the exhibitorwill not change the outcome.• Exhibitors should make an effort to help newexhibitors. We were all new to dog events at onetime and we appreciated when someone helped us.• Exhibitors should always leave event grounds inthe condition they found them. Help the eventcommittee and clean up your area.• Exhibitors should take care not to promoterumors and negative comments about dogs, otherexhibitors or Judges.• Exhibitors should remember they are at the pullat the invitation of the pull-giving club. In order toensure being invited back, exhibitors should dowhatever they can to assist the host club and pro-mote the family flavor of UKC events.


pulls. The officiating Judge shall give instructionsas to how the pull will be run and the load incre-ments will be set. It is recommended that all weightpull handlers be present for the handlers meeting.

A. Load increments. The Judge shall recom-mend load increments based on the pulling con-ditions and the welfare of the dogs. The handlersshall vote on the load increments by which weightshall be increased. The decision shall be madeby a simple majority of the handlers present atthe handlers meeting. Tie votes shall be decidedby the Judge. The load increment for each classshall remain the same throughout the class.B. Checking the pull area. The host club willdecide how frequently to check the pull area andtheir decision will be announced at the handler’smeeting. The pull area may only be checked andgroomed between weight classes.

Section XVII. Pulling Order.A. Dog order. The Timekeeper will determinethe dog order for the class. The Judge will settleany disputes and the Judge’s decision is final.B. Class order. Classes may pull in any order,although most clubs prefer to start with the lightestweight class and work upward. The Judge will tellhandlers the class pulling order at the handler’smeeting. The host club may select one of the follow-ing options when determining the order of pulling:

1. Class by class. Using this option, each classwill pull until a winner is determined before thenext class pulls.2. Two or more classes combined. Whenclasses are small, the club may elect to combinetwo or more classes and pull all the dogs inthose classes so long as the weight incrementsare the same and acceptable for all classes.3. All classes combined. Using this option, allthe dogs pull together regardless of class solong as the weight increments are the same andacceptable for all classes.4. Two or more dogs from multiple classescombined. The club and handlers may elect tocombine dogs from multiple classes to pulltogether as one group, so long as the weightincrements are the same and acceptable to allclasses. In this case each dog’s results will berecorded in their respective class.

C. Conflicts.1. All weight classes. A dog not available topull at the time it is called, may be markedabsent by the Judge or allowed to pull at a later


C. Determining the Dog’s weight recordingmethod. The officiating Judge records the dog’sweight in the method determined by the club onthe Weigh-In form or may choose to appoint anassistant to help with the recording. Before theWeigh-In begins the club must decide the dog’sweight recording method. All dogs must berecorded using the same method. Calculations ofqualifying scores must be the same for all dogsusing the chosen method. The dog’s weightrecording methods are:

1. Dog’s weight recorded as a wholepound. The dog’s weight will be recorded as awhole pound; or2. Dog’s weight recorded to the tenth of apound. The dog’s weight will be recordedto the tenth of a pound.

D. Official Weigh-In Time. Each dog must havean official weight before it will be allowed tocompete at a UKC Licensed Weight Pull in accor-dance with the following:

1. The Weigh-In shall be scheduled not morethan 24 hours prior to the start time of the pull.2. Publishing Weigh-In time. The weigh-instart time(s) will be published in the “UpcomingEvents” section of BLOODLINES Dog Event Newsmagazine or on the UKC website. Host clubsmust begin the weigh-in at the published time.3. Closing of Weigh-In time. A dog mayweigh-in until 30 minutes before the weight pullbegins, unless a deadline weigh-in time is pub-lished. Meaning that a dog may only beweighed during that time, or the day of the pullup until 30 minutes before the weight pull starts.

E. When one club is hosting weight pull(s).When there are UKC Licensed Weight Pulls held bythe same club, at the same location, on consecu-tive days, the dog will only have to be weighedonce before competing in up to four events.F. When more than one club is hostingweight pull on the same weekend. Whenthere are UKC Licensed Weight Pulls held bymore than one club, at the same location, eachclub is required to hold a mandatory weigh-in.G. Weigh-In requirements. Dogs may wear astandard collar during weigh-in but weightedcollars and collars wider than three inches areprohibited. Dogs may not be “waterlogged” norwet during the weigh-in.

Section XVI. Handlers meeting. The officiatingJudge shall conduct a handlers meeting at theconclusion of the weigh-in and before the first dog


pull, no dog is required to pull more than themaximum starting weight listed for its weightclass. There will be no required come-in weight.*I. Number of dogs that an exhibitor may han-dle per class. An exhibitor may handle an unlim-ited number of dogs per class. Exhibitors of multi-ple dogs must inform the record keeper doing theweight pull paperwork that they have multiple dogsin the same class prior to the start of the pull. Amaximum time of three minutes per round will beallowed for a dog change. After that time haspassed a foul will be assessed. It is recommendedthat the competitor have a harness for each dogthey are pulling in the same weight class.J. Other artificial aids. Noisemakers, whips orany other devices may not be used to encouragedogs to pull, and are prohibited from the chuteand the on-deck area.K. Prohibition against dogs outside the chutebut forward of the start line. During the pull, nodog, whether entered or not, may be in front of a lineextended outward from both ends of the start line.L. Rest period. Dogs will pull in the prescribedorder, but no dog will be required to pull, includ-ing dogs that have fouled, without a five-minuterest between pulls. If the rest period is taken, thepull is to continue with the dog re-entering at theend of the five minute period. During the restperiod, a dog must remain at the rear of the linein the holding area for the next pulling round. Ahandler may waive the rest period.M. When a dog is excused. When a dog isexcused, the dog’s last valid pull will count as itstop pull in the class and division.N. When a dog is disqualified. No points, legsor other awards shall be given to disqualifieddogs or females found to be in season.O. When a dog fails to make a qualifyingpull. A dog shall be required to pull a weightedvehicle 16 feet in 60 seconds or less without afoul, excusal or disqualification. A qualifying pullis required to move to the next round.P. When a dog fails to make a qualifyingleg/score (NQ.) A dog earns a qualifyingleg/score by completing an uninterrupted pull ofa weighted vehicle loaded with the followingweights for 16 feet within 60 seconds and:

1. On natural or artificial surfaces. Eighttimes the dog’s body weight on the day of theevent for events held on natural or artificial sur-faces, or2. On snow. Three times the dog’s body weight


time. The Judge’s decision is final.

Section XVIII. Pulling rules.*A. Weather restrictions. Pull events may beheld year round but dogs may not pull when thetemperature meets or exceeds 95° Fahrenheit inthe area in which the dogs are pulling.B. Baiting in the on-deck area and the chute.Handlers are prohibited from using food or anyother type of lure to bait their dogs while in theon deck area or the chute. Judges must excuseany handler that they reasonably believe is bait-ing their dog or has bait on his/her person in theon-deck area or the chute. The Judge’s bookmust be marked accordingly. The Judge’s deci-sion on this matter is final. Handlers who violatethis rule may also be subject to disciplinary actionby the host club and UKC.C. Completing a pull after fouling or timing out.A dog who has been timed out or has been assesseda foul shall be allowed to complete the pull. Nocredit is given for completing a pull when a foul hasbeen assessed. The pull through should be a positiveexperience for the dog, with the handler encourag-ing and assisting the dog to complete the pull. Itshould not be corrective in any manner. A handlerwho is harsh or corrective during a pull through maybe excused from the pull at the Judge’s discretion.D. Corrections. Physical corrections to the dogshall not be allowed in the chute.E. Harnessing the dog. When a dog is called fromthe holding area to the on-deck area, the dog will beharnessed and remain harnessed in the on-deck areauntil the dog is called to the chute or is eliminated fromcompetition. A dog’s harness may be removedbetween pulls as long as it does not cause delay.F. Language. Profanity or offensive language shallnot be allowed in the chute or on-deck area. Thefirst incident the Judge will issue a warning. The sec-ond incident the Judge shall excuse the handler. TheJudge has sole discretion whether or not to allow thedog of an excused handler to continue to participatein the pull with a substitute handler.G. Leash. Leashes are prohibited from beingattached to the dog’s collar or harness while thedog is pulling. The leash must be removed beforeor immediately after the dog is hooked to thecart. The leash is to be given to the cart handleror placed in the handler’s pocket. No part of theleash may be visible. The handler shall not throwthe leash to the opposite end of the chute.H. Maximum starting weights. At the start of a


class. There will be no required come-in weight. Startingclass weights shall not exceed the following:

*Section XX. Requirements for a qualifying pull.For a qualifying pull, a dog shall be required to pulla weighted vehicle 16 feet in 60 seconds or less with-out a foul, excusal or disqualification. The pull is com-plete and time recorded when the front wheels or thecontact points of the sled runners first touch the finishline. A qualifying pull is required to move to the nextround. Once the maximum weight is reached the dogis automatically withdrawn from the pull. The maxi-mum weight a dog may pull is set as follows:

A. Wheel System: a dog is allowed to pull amaximum of 35 times the dog’s body weight orthe next closest amount in an increased incre-ment. For example a dog who weighs 100pounds will be allowed to pull up to 3,500pounds and no more.B. Rail System: a dog is allowed to pull a max-imum of 45 times the dog’s body weight or thenext closest amount in an increased increment.C. Snow System: a dog is allowed to pull amaximum of 15 times the dog’s body weight orthe next closest amount in an increased incre-ment.

Section XXI. The Start and Finish.A. Notifying scorekeeper of total weight onthe cart. It is the competitor’s sole responsibilityto verify that the proper amount of weight hasbeen loaded on the cart. If there is a questionabout the weight on the cart a brief recess will betaken while the weight is recounted and verified.B. Starting placements for the weighted vehicles.

1. Wheeled cart. The cart shall be placed withfront wheels directly behind and touching thestarting line. The handler has the option of plac-ing the cart anywhere on the starting line as long


on the day of the event for events held on snow, or3. On rails. Ten times the dog’s body weight on theday of the event for events held on a rail system.

Q. When a dog fouls out. A team is allowed tofoul twice during a class at which time the dog isineligible to continue competing in the pull. Thedog’s last qualifying pull will count as its top pullin the class and division.R. When the pull is completed. The pull is com-pleted when the cart wheels or the contact points ofthe runners touch the finish line. The Judge mustsignal the handler and the timekeeper when the pullhas been completed, either by calling “Pull” or witha hand signal. The Judge shall immediately stophis/her timer and call out the time and the recordkeeper shall immediately record both the time andweight pulled on the recording sheet. If the weight-ed vehicle is in motion at the expiration of the 60seconds, the dog shall be allowed to complete thepull but the dog shall be assessed a foul.S. When a dog pulls off the rail track. Nopenalty shall be assessed when a dog pulls onthe ground instead of on the rail track.T. Withdrawal of dog from competition (HW).A handler may withdraw his/her dog at anytimewithout jeopardizing any possible points orawards earned at the pull. Once a handler indi-cates the dog is withdrawn, the dog is no longereligible to compete in the pull and the dog’s lastqualifying pull will count as its top pull in theclass. “HW” shall be written on the Judge’s Book.*U. Automatic Withdraw. Once the maximumweight is reached the dog is automatically with-drawn from the pull. The maximum weight a dogmay pull is set as follows:

1. Wheel System: a dog is allowed to pull amaximum of 35 times the dog’s body weight orthe next closest amount in an increased incre-ment. For example a dog who weighs 100pounds will be allowed to pull up to 3,500pounds and no more.2. Rail System: a dog is allowed to pull a max-imum of 45 times the dog’s body weight or thenext closest amount in an increased increment.3. Snow System: a dog is allowed to pull amaximum of 15 times the dog’s body weight orthe next closest amount in an increased incre-ment.

Section XIX. Maximum starting weights. A club shallnot require a dog to start pulling at a higher weight thanthe maximum starting weights listed for each weight

Weight Maximum Starting WeightsClass (in pounds)

20 lbs 7530 lbs 12540 lbs 20050 lbs 30060 lbs 40070 lbs 50080 lbs 60090 lbs 700100 lbs 800Unlimited 900


handler they have a maximum of three secondsin the no pull zone.G. Start time. The timing of the pull starts whenone of the following occurs:

1. The handler gives the dog a command topull. The command may be given by voice orsignal or both.2. The dog starts to pull without a command.

*H. End time (when the pull is completed). Thepull is completed when the cart wheels or the con-tact points of the runners touch the finish line. TheJudge must signal the handler and the timekeeperwhen the pull has been completed, either by calling“Pull” or with a hand signal. The Judge shall imme-diately stop his/her timer and call out the time andthe record keeper shall immediately record boththe time and weight pulled on the recording sheet.If the weighted vehicle is in motion at the expirationof the 60 seconds, the dog shall be allowed to com-plete the pull but the dog shall be assessed a foul.

Section XXII. Passes. At the start of a pull, no dogis required to pull more than the maximum start-ing weight listed for its class. There will be norequired come-in weight.

A. Number of passes allowed. Once a doghas pulled, its handler may pass no more thantwo turns before the dog must pull again.B. After the dog is hooked to the weightedvehicle. Once the dog is hooked to the weightedvehicle, the handler may not pass in that roundexcept when pull is interrupted as the result ofequipment failure. See paragraph E below.*C. Signaling a pass. The Handler must signalhis/her decision to pass a round to the recordkeeper or Judge before the first dog of the newround starts.D. Rescinding a pass. Once the handler hasindicated to the timekeeper or the Judge thathe/she is passing a particular round, that passmay not be rescinded after the start of the round.E. Equipment failure (see Section XXIV para-graph A).

Section XXIII. Fouls. A team is allowed to foultwice during a class at which time the dog is ineli-gible to continue competing in the pull. When adog receives a foul the record keeper shall markan F in the appropriate round’s column of theJudge’s Book.

A. What constitutes a foul. A foul is anythingthat interrupts a qualifying pull. Examples of


as the wheels are perpendicular to the start line.The handler may reposition the cart one time.No test rolling of the cart shall be allowed.2. Sled. Before each dog pulls, the sled must beplaced with the contact points of the runners justtouching the break line. At the Judge’s direction,the sled may be moved from the break line tothe start line in order to ensure that the sled isnot frozen to the snow, a procedure called“breaking the sled”. Once the sled is “broken”,it must be positioned with the contact points ofthe runners just touching the start line and thesled runners’ perpendicular to the start line.3. Rail cart. The cart shall be placed with frontwheels directly behind and touching the startingline.

C. Clearing the chute. All pull officials shouldbe behind the front of the weight vehicle whenthe dog starts to pull. Only one handler may bein the chute during each dog’s pull.D. Starting position of the dog. The handler mayplace his/her dog anywhere between the wheels orrunners in front of the cart or sled. The dog shall bepositioned with its D-ring forward of the trace linebefore being hooked ensuring that there is no morethan one foot of slack in the trace when releasingthe dog. When releasing the dog the trace must bein contact with the pulling surface. Once the dog isin position in front of the cart or sled and released,the handler may not touch the dog or any equip-ment again until the pull is completed.E. Starting position of the handler.

1. Normal. The handler shall be in front of thecart/ sled, and forward of or perpendicular tothe dog’s hind legs. The handler shall not touchthe dog or equipment until the Judge indicatesthe pull has been completed.2. Driving from the rear. When driving thedog from the rear, the handler shall be behindthe front of the cart/sled. The handler shall nottouch the dog or equipment until the Judgeindicates the pull has been completed.

F. No Pull Zone applies to Normal andDriving from the rear starting positions. Ahandler must not position himself to the rear ofthe dog’s hind legs and forward of the front ofthe cart. This area shall be considered a “no pull”zone. The handler will be allowed a maximum ofthree seconds in the no pull zone. A handler whoremains in the no pull zone for more than threeseconds will be assessed a foul. It is suggestedthat the Judge call out “no pull zone” to alert the


the handler will have the opportunity to re-pull thatround one time with no foul or pass being assessed.

Section XXV. Weight Pull Titles.A. Titles. The following titles shall be awardedfor excellence in UKC weight pulling.• United Weight Puller (UWP)• United Weight Pull Champion (UWPCH)• United Weight Pull Champion Excellent (UWPCHX)• United Grand Weight Pull Champion (UGWPCH)• United Grand Weight Pull Champion 1 (UGWPC1)• United Weight Pull Champion Versatile (UWPV)• United Weight Pull Champion Outstanding (UWPO)• United Weight Pull Champion Supreme (UWPS)B. Requirements for Weight Pull Titles.

*1. United Weight Puller (UWP) title. To earnthis title, a dog must earn a qualifying leg atthree different UKC licensed weight pulls. A dogearns a qualifying leg/score by completing anuninterrupted pull of a weighted vehicle loadedwith the following weights for 16 feet within 60seconds and:

a. On natural or artificial surfaces. Eighttimes the dog’s body weight on the day of theevent for events held on natural or artificialsurfaces, orb. On snow. Three times the dog’s bodyweight on the day of the event for events heldon snow, orc. On rails. Ten times the dog’s body weighton the day of the event for events held on arail system.

2. United Weight Pull Champion (UWPCH)title.

*a. Eligibility. A dog must earn the UnitedWeight Puller (UWP) title before it is eligible toearn points toward the United Weight PullChampion title. Accumulation of pointstoward the title of United Weight PullChampion (UWPCH) begins at the next pullfollowing the completion of the requirementsof the UWP title.b. Requirements. A dog must then earn 100championship points in accordance with theChampionship Points Schedule in Section XXVIto become a United Weight Pull Champion.

3. United Weight Pull Champion Excellent(UWPCHX) title.

*a. Eligibility. A dog must earn the UnitedWeight Pull Champion (UWPCH) title before it iseligible to earn points toward the United WeightPull Champion Excellent title. Accumulation ofpoints toward the title of United Weight Pull


fouls include:1. A dog that eliminates in the chute.2. Aggressive action of handler towards dogduring the pull competition.3. Improper Starting position (see Section XXI. E)4. Dropping a dog at the start of the pull.5. No leading the dog out (no pulling a doginto the start). The dog must be releasedprior to the trace coming off the ground.6. Sling shot start. Sling shot starts are notallowed. A sling shot start is a dog that isreleased with more than 1 foot of slack in thetrace and running in to start.7. Handler touching the cart or dog in anyway after the Judge/Timekeeper has started totime the pull.8. Dog becomes entangled in the tug lines.9. A handler who remains in the no pull zonefor more than three seconds will be assesseda foul.*10. Using a leash on a dog while pulling orhaving a leash on your person visible afterbeing removed from the dog and before thepull is complete.11. Dog times out (see Section IV, paragraph II).12. Weighted vehicle becomes tangled in thechute barrier.13. Equipment failure (see Section XXIV para-graph A).

B. When a foul is committed. When a foul is com-mitted, the handler may unhook the dog and returnto the holding area or he/she may elect to finish thepull. No points or legs shall be awarded on the basisof a completed pull that included a foul. The dogmust pull again at the end of the round in which thefoul occurred or may return to pull immediately atthe handler’s discretion. If the handler elects to takethe five (5) minute rest period between pulls theymust pull at the end of the round. A handler changeshall not be allowed after a dog has been assesseda foul, until the foul has been cleared and the roundin which the foul was called has been completed.C. Who determines when foul is committed.The Judge calls fouls and his/her decision is final.

Section XXIV. Equipment Failure.A. Handler Equipment. If any part of the har-ness or other equipment provided by the handlerbreaks the handler has the option to accept thisinterrupted pull as a pass rather than a foul.B. Club Provided Equipment. If any part of theclubs equipment breaks i.e. the cart or trace line,


100 additional championship points each on twodifferent types of weighted vehicles. Championshippoints are awarded in accordance with theChampionship Points Schedule in Section XXVI.8. United Weight Pull Supreme (UWPS) title.A dog must earn the United Weight Puller (UWP)title before it is eligible to earn points toward theUnited Weight Pull Supreme title. A dog mustthen earn 100 additional championship pointson each type of weighted vehicle (rail cart, sled,wheeled cart.) Championship points are award-ed in accordance with the Championship PointsSchedule in Section XXVI.

Section XXVI. Championship Points Schedulefor Weight Pull Titles. Championship pointschedule for the United Weight Pull Champion(UWPCH), United Weight Pull ChampionExcellent (UWPCHX), United Grand Weight PullChampion (UGWPCH), United Grand WeightPull Champion 1 (UGWPC1), United WeightPull Versatile (UWPV), United Weight PullOutstanding (UWPO), and United Weight PullSupreme (UWPS) titles. A qualifying pull isrequired to earn the following championship points:

Section XXVII. Awards, Trophies and Ribbons.A. Cash prizes. UKC clubs may not offer cashprizes which includes but is not limited to cashawards, gift cards and gift certificates, withoutwritten authorization from UKC.


Champion Excellent (UWPCHX) begins at thenext pull following the completion of therequirements of the UWPCH title.b. Requirements. A dog must then earn 250additional championship points in accordancewith the Championship Points Schedule inSection XXVI to become a United Weight PullChampion Excellent.

4. United Grand Weight Pull Champion(UGWPCH) title.

*a. Eligibility. A dog must earn the UnitedWeight Pull Champion Excellent (UWPCHX) titlebefore it is eligible to earn points toward theUnited Grand Weight Pull Champion title.Accumulation of points toward the title of UnitedGrand Weight Pull Champion (UGWPCH)begins at the next pull following the completionof the requirements of the UWPCHX title.*b. Requirements. A dog must then earn 500additional championship points in accordance withthe Championship Points Schedule in Section XXVIto become a United Grand Weight Pull Champion.

5. United Grand Weight Pull Champion 1(UGWPC1) title.

a. Eligibility. A dog must earn the UnitedGrand Weight Pull Champion (UGWPCH) titlebefore it is eligible to earn points toward theUnited Grand Weight Pull Champion 1 title.Accumulation of points toward the title of UnitedGrand Weight Pull Champion 1 (UGWPC1)begins at the next pull following the completionof the requirements of the UGWPCH title.*b. Requirements. A dog must earn 1,000 addi-tional championship points in accordance with theChampionship Points Schedule in Section XXVI tobecome a United Grand Weight Pull Champion 1.

6. United Weight Pull Versatile (UWPV) title. Adog must earn the United Weight Puller (UWP) titlebefore it is eligible to earn points toward the UnitedWeight Pull Versatile title. A dog must then earn anadditional 100 points on one weighted vehicle andan additional 100 points, which may be earned onany combination of at least two types of weightedvehicles. Championship points are awarded inaccordance with the Championship PointsSchedule in Section XXVI. Accumulation of pointstoward the title of United Weight Pull Versatile(UWPV) begins at the next pull following the com-pletion of the requirements of the UWP title.7. United Weight Pull Outstanding (UWPO) title.A dog must earn the United Weight Puller (UWP) titlebefore it is eligible to earn points toward the UnitedWeight Pull Outstanding title. A dog must then earn

SYSTEM

Pounds ofWeight pulledper pound ofdog’s body

weight

Championship Points

WHEELS 10 5

15 10

25 15

35 20

RAILS 20 5

25 10

35 15

45 20

SNOW 5 5

7 10

10 15

15 20


another dog of the same breed. If there is nocompetition of the same breed, a Best of Breedwinner who defeats another dog of a differentbreed by placing in the Group, by winning Bestor Reserve Best In Multi-Breed Show, or by win-ning Best or Reserve Best In Show shall be con-sidered to have a win with competition.

Section XXIX. Weight Pull Judge Rules andGuidelines.

A. Applying to become a UKC LicensedWeight Pull Judge. Information on the require-ments and procedure to apply can be found with-in the Judge’s Handbook found on the UKC web-site.B. Judges’ Code of Ethics. UKC Judges areapproved on the basis of their knowledge of dogs,their understanding of the UKC rules, their dedicationto the sport of purebred and performance dogs andtheir integrity. Judges are the role models for our sportand, as such, are expected to adhere to the higheststandards of conduct both in and out of the ring.Judges must adhere to the following guidelines whenjudging:

1. Remember that Judges’ decisions play a keyrole in determining future breeding stock.Conformation decisions must be based strictlyon the UKC standard and performance place-ments on the UKC rules.2. Remember that performance Judges must besure they make every effort to be consistentwhen scoring each dog.3. Judges should dress appropriately for theevent and the weather. A Judge’s appearanceshould always be neat and professional.4. Judges must not only avoid impropriety butalso the appearance of impropriety. In a sportwhere Judges are often exhibiting and not offi-ciating at the trial, it is important that the judgeremain an exhibitor and refrain from critiquingruns or calls made by the officiating judge tofriends and others exhibiting at the trial. In suchcases Judges should be cordial to all exhibitorswhile maintaining a professional distance.5. When not judging, Judges are encouragedto participate in UKC events as spectators,exhibitors, workers, and club members. In suchsituations, however, Judges must be mindfulthat people give extra attention to their words.Judges should refrain from gossip and be cau-tious about discussing dogs they have judged.6. Judges may exhibit in a trial when two trials


*B. Awards and trophies. Clubs may notaward placement awards and trophies

1. Ribbons and rosettes. All ribbons androsettes must include the UKC Seal of Merit.The following ribbon colors and combinationsare mandatory:2. Weight Pull:Qualifying – blueParticipant (Optional) – No required colorTotal Dog: Qualifier – red, black and white

Section XXVIII. Total Dog Award. A club offeringconformation and at least one performance eventmay apply to offer the Total Dog Award when sub-mitting its Application for One Day’s Licensed Events.

A. Eligible dogs. Dogs that are permanentlyregistered with UKC as of the day of the eventsand dogs that have a valid Temporary Listing (TL)number as of the day of the events are eligible tocompete for the Total Dog Award.B. Requirements for Total Dog Award. To beeligible for this award, a dog must meet therequirements listed below at the same event.

1. Compete in conformation with competitionand win one of the following classes:

a. Best Male/Female of Varietyb. Best Male/Femalec. Best of Winnersd. Champione. Grand Championf. Best of Breedg. Group 1 through 4 (Note: Group 4 winonly counts if there are five or more breeds inthe Group class.)h. Best in Multi-Breed Showi. Reserve Best In Multi-Breed Showj. Best In Showk. Reserve Best In Show

2. Earn a qualifying score in a performanceevent. A weight pull qualifying score shall be:

a. On natural or artificial surfaces. Eighttimes the dog’s body weight on the day of theevent for events held on natural or artificialsurfaces, orb. On snow. Three times the dog’s bodyweight on the day of the event for events heldon snow, orc. On rails. Ten times the dog’s body weighton the day of the event for events held on arail system.

C. For the purpose of this award, competitionthrough Best of Breed is defined as defeating


other than in the ring must report it immediatelyto a member of the Event Committee or the hostclub. The host club must investigate the allegedbite, attempted bite or attack and the club mustfile a complaint using the procedure outlined inSection XXXII of this rulebook. Once the com-plaint is complete, the Event Committee mustsend the complaint to UKC with their EventReport. The dog is considered disqualified in thissituation and must not enter or exhibit at anyUKC Licensed event until reinstated by UKC, andthe Event Committee must immediately notify allconcerned parties of same.3. UKC procedures for dogs disqualifiedunder this section. When UKC is notified that adog has been disqualified under this section, theowner of the dog will be notified by certified mailof the Judge’s report (disqualified in the ring) orthe findings and recommendations of the hostclub (Complaint and hearing for biting or attack-ing outside the ring). The owner of the dog shallhave 14 days from receipt of this notification toshow cause why the dog should not be barredfrom participating in future UKC events and fromall registration privileges. After reviewing any miti-gating or extenuating evidence submitted by theowner, a Disciplinary Committee composed ofUKC staff members shall make a finding of factsand determine the penalty, and this ruling shall befinal. The owner of the dog shall be notified of theoutcome within 30 days of receipt of the owner’sresponse. Owners of dogs that are barred fromregistration privileges are required to return thedog’s UKC registration certificate within 14 days ofnotice that the dog is barred. Failure to promptlyreturn the registration certificate can result in lossof UKC privileges. Dogs barred from registrationprivileges may not be transferred. The name,breed and owner of a dog barred from registra-tion privileges shall be published once in the firstissue of BLOODLINES Dog Event News magazineafter the owner is notified.

Section XXXI. Use of Alcohol and IllegalDrugs at Events. The use of alcohol and illegaldrugs at UKC events is prohibited. Violators maybe excused from the ring by the Judge and fromthe show or event grounds by the EventCommittee or any officer of the host club. Thedecisions of these officials are final. The EventSecretary is to file a Misconduct and Disciplineform notifying UKC in writing of any Judge who isexcused by the host club for violation of this rule.


are held on the same day provided it does notinterfere with the trial in which the judge is offi-ciating.7. When a club has scheduled a Chief Judgeand a Back-up judge for the trial as publishedin the UKC Upcoming Events listing an officiat-ing Judge’s dog may be exhibited by the Judgeor another handler in the trial under the Back-up Judge.

Section XXX. Dog Temperament And Behavior.Owners of UKC Registered dogs are responsible forthe behavior of their dogs at UKC events. Dogs par-ticipating in UKC events are expected to have stabletemperaments appropriate to their breeds and to besufficiently well trained so that no dog’s behavior inter-feres with the Judge’s ability to evaluate the dog or itsperformance. Owners or designated handlers areexpected to ensure at all times that their dogs presentno threat to persons or other dogs attending the event.

A. Excusing a dog for temperament or behav-ior in the chute or on-deck area. A Judge mayexcuse a dog when the dog’s behavior significant-ly interferes with the Judge’s ability to evaluate thedog’s performance. This includes, but is not limit-ed to, a dog that is so unruly that it indicates to theJudge it is unable to compete. A Judge mustexcuse a dog when the dog’s demeanor gives theJudge reason to believe that the dog may not safe-ly be in the chute or on-deck area with pull officialsor its handler. In such cases, the Judge must markthe dog “Excused” in the Judge’s book and statethe reason for the excusal. The Judge’s decision insuch matters is final.B. Disqualifying a dog for temperament orbehavior.

1. When the bite or attack occurs in the chuteor on-deck. A Judge must disqualify a dog thatbites or attempts to bite a person, or that bites orattacks another dog. The term “attack” shall beconstrued to include unprovoked physical contactbetween the two dogs. If the bite, attempted biteor attack occurs in the ring, the Judge must markthe dog “disqualified” in the Judge’s book andstate the reason for the disqualification. TheJudge’s decision in such matters is final. TheJudge must complete the UKC “Disqualified forAttacking” report form and report any such inci-dent to the Event Committee immediately.2. When the bite or attack occurs elsewhere.Any person who witnesses a dog biting orattempting to bite a person, or biting or attack-ing another dog anywhere on the event grounds


at any time during the hours of the event. (1) When a Judge observes misconduct inthe chute or on-deck area. Any Judge whoobserves misconduct by an exhibitor in theJudge’s ring must excuse the exhibitor fromthe ring and file a complaint with the EventChairperson or Event Secretary as soon aspracticable. The Judge must note the reasonfor excusal in his/her Judge’s book.(2) When a person is excused for miscon-duct in the chute or on-deck area. A personexcused by the Judge for misconduct in the ringmay not show in any other class or event untilafter his/her hearing. The club shall not refundany entry fees unless the Hearing Committeemakes a finding that the alleged misconductdid not occur, that the misconduct was not prej-udicial to the interests of the sport of purebreddogs, or that the misconduct did not occur inconjunction with a UKC event. No dog ownedor co-owned by the excused person may con-tinue in further competition until the matter hasbeen resolved by a hearing. If the excused per-son is handling a dog that he/she does notown or co-own, that dog may be returned tocompetition with another handler.(3) When a person observes misconductby a member of the Event Committee ora Judge at an event. Any person whobecomes aware of an act of misconduct by amember of the Event Committee or a Judgeduring the hours of an event must file a com-plaint in accordance with this Section.Complaints about a Judge’s placements mustbe dealt with in accordance with Section XII,Paragraph A.

b. Upon receipt of a complaint. Upon receiptof a complaint, the Event Chairperson shallprovide the complainant with a UKCMisconduct Report and Hearing Form. Thecomplainant must enter the name of the subjectof the complaint (hereinafter referred to as the“respondent”) in Section 3, and complete all ofSections 1 and 2, providing the following:

(1) Section 1. The club name, location ofthe event, the date of the incident, and thename of the Event Chairperson.(2) Section 2. The complainant’s name,address, daytime and evening phone numbers,and the facts and circumstances of the allegedmisconduct, including the specific sections of thepertinent UKC rulebook which have allegedly


Section XXXII. Misconduct And Discipline.A. Standard of conduct at a UKC event. UnitedKennel Club events are intended to be family-ori-ented recreation for dog lovers and their UKCRegistered dogs. Accordingly, UKC expects thehighest standard of conduct at events.B. Misconduct. Misconduct may be defined asconduct by a person that is prejudicial to theinterests of the sport of purebred dogs. There arethree general categories of misconduct:

1. Wrongdoing at a UKC event. This mayinclude, but is not limited to, threatening,assaulting or battering another individual; falsi-fying any event-related document; cheating orconspiring to cheat in order to improve thestanding of any dog competing at an event;abusing or neglecting a dog; throwing bait inthe ring; littering the ring with bait; using bait ora squeaker in the ring when a Judge has pro-hibited their use.2. Wrongdoing not associated with a UKCevent. This may include, but is not limited to,falsification of UKC registration papers;misidentification of a dog or the parentage of adog; abuse or neglect of dogs; or continuedfailure to keep proper registration records.3. Uttering a payment with non-sufficientfunds. This category refers to paying entry feesvia a check with non-sufficient funds in theaccount, the use of a debit or credit card that isdeclined, forged or invalid money orders, orother forms of payment where an exhibitor’s entryfees remain unpaid after competing. Refer toSection XXXII. E. Procedures for handling an act ofuttering a payment with non-sufficient funds.

C. Jurisdiction. All persons present on thegrounds of a UKC event during the event hoursare subject to the jurisdiction of the UKC. In addi-tion, UKC has jurisdiction over any misconductthat may occur off the grounds of the event oroutside event hours, provided that the misconductis reasonably related to the event. This paragraphshall be interpreted as broadly as is necessary toregulate such off-grounds misconduct as abuse ofmotel rooms by persons attending the events.D. Procedures for handling misconduct dur-ing or associated with an event.

1. The complaint.a. Who must file a complaint. Any person orpersons who become aware of an act of miscon-duct during the hours of a UKC event, must notifyeither the Event Chairperson or the Event Secretary


3. If the respondent fails to appear at thehearing. If, after having been advised of thecomplaint and the date, time and place of thehearing, the respondent fails to appear, thehearing shall proceed without the respondent.4. The Hearing.

a. Advisement of respondent’s rights. TheHearing Committee Chairperson shall advisethe respondent of the following rights:

(1) The right to be present during the testi-mony of all witnesses;(2) The right to cross-examine all witnesses;(3) The right to present witnesses on his/herown behalf; and,(4) The right to testify in his/her own behalf.

b. Witnesses. All witnesses who come beforethe Hearing Committee shall testify under oathadministered by the Hearing Chairperson.Witnesses who are unable to attend in personmay testify by telephone.c. Order of testimony. The complainant shallpresent his/her evidence first, followed by therespondent’s evidence.d. Cross-examination. Each party shall beallowed to cross-examine the other’s witness-es. Members of the Hearing Committee shallalso be allowed to question the witnesses.e. Spectators. Spectators shall not be allowedat Hearing Committee hearings except forUKC Field Representatives appointed to attendthe hearing on behalf of UKC or UKC staff.f. Attorneys. No party shall be entitled tohave an attorney present at the hearing.

5. Findings. At the conclusion of the hearing,the complainant, respondent and all witnessesshall be excused. The Hearing Committee shalldeliberate and make their findings based on apreponderance of the evidence. A two-thirdsmajority is sufficient to make findings. The find-ings shall be reported as follows:

a. Whether the alleged misconduct wasproven to have occurred;b. Whether the alleged misconduct was prejudi-cial to the interests of the sport of purebred dogs;c. Whether the alleged misconduct occurred inconnection with a UKC event. In reaching itsdecision, the Hearing Committee may not con-sider the respondent’s general reputation orstatus in the sport of purebred dogs, prior actsof misconduct, nor the extent of the respon-dent’s investment in dogs. The sole considera-tion must be the specific instance of miscon-


been violated. The Event Chairperson shall thenappoint from the officers and directors of thehost club, two persons who shall serve, with theEvent Chairperson, as the Hearing Committee,except that no officer or director who witnessedthe alleged misconduct shall serve on theHearing Committee. Additionally, no personwho is related to or living in the same house-hold as either the complainant or any accusedperson shall serve on the hearing committee. Ifno officer or director is eligible to serve, thenother club members may be appointed. TheEvent Chairperson shall serve as Chairperson ofthe Hearing Committee and shall set a time andplace for the hearing. If the Event Chairpersonwitnessed the alleged misconduct, he/she shallappoint, from the officers and directors of thehost club, three persons who shall serve as theHearing Committee and shall also designateone to serve as Chairperson of the HearingCommittee. The Chairperson of the HearingCommittee shall appoint a member to recordthe notes of the hearing. The place for the hear-ing shall be on the event grounds and the hear-ing time shall be set so as to give the respondentadequate time to prepare for the hearing.

2. Notice. As soon as possible after receivingthe complaint, the Hearing Chairperson shalladvise the respondent of:

a. The specific conduct that is the subject ofthe complaint and the time and place at whichthe alleged misconduct occurred;b. The name of the complainant;c. The names of witnesses against him/her; and,d. The time and place of the hearing. The HearingChairperson must enter the respondent’s addressand daytime and evening phone numbers inSection 3 of the complaint. He/she may obtain thisinformation directly from the respondent or fromrespondent’s UKC official entry form, if therespondent is an exhibitor. If the respondent can-not be located on the grounds, the HearingChairperson shall select a date, time and place forthe hearing and notify the respondent in writing bycertified mail (return receipt requested) at the mail-ing address on the UKC official entry form or therespondent’s last known address, whichever isapplicable. Every reasonable effort shall be madeto locate and notify the respondent of the com-plaint and hearing. Hearings not held on the dayof the event must be held no more than 28 calen-dar days from the date of the event.


c. The club may collect a reasonable amountof fees in addition to the entry amount fromthe exhibitor.d. When the outstanding debt has been suc-cessfully paid by the exhibitor, which mayinclude additional charges assessed to theclub by their financial institution, the club mustnotify UKC within 7 days.

3. Appeal. After UKC has been notified by theclub or Event Manager that the uttering hasbeen successfully paid, the exhibitor may makean appeal to re-instate the dog’s points to theDisciplinary Committee. An appeal must befiled not later than 30 days from the date theuttering has been successfully paid to the club.The Decision of the Disciplinary Committeeshall be final4. Habitual uttering. The UKC DisciplinaryCommittee may place on Probation, Suspensionor Barring any exhibitor or owner for repeatedinstances of uttering as described in the Penaltiessection below.

F. Misconduct by an Event-giving club. Whenany person or persons become aware of an act ofmisconduct by an event-giving club, its event offi-cials, any person acting in an official capacity oracting event manager during the hours of a UKCevent must make written notification of the viola-tion by the club to UKC within 7 days of the event.G. Penalties. The appropriate UKC DepartmentHead shall review all Hearing Committee find-ings and staff investigation results with the UKCDisciplinary Committee. If a Hearing Committee’sfindings of prejudicial misconduct are upheld, theDisciplinary Committee shall impose one or moreof the following penalties:

1. Probation. Probation can last for a period upto three years. During the period of probation,the individual shall be closely monitored byUKC. Any further instances of misconduct mayresult in an immediate suspension or barring ofthe individual at the discretion of the DisciplinaryCommittee and without further due process.2. Suspension. The Disciplinary Committee shallimpose a minimum three hundred dollar fine anda minimum one-year suspension for probationviolations and for most serious acts of miscon-duct. The suspension will begin immediately uponnotification by certified mail (return receiptrequested) but the fine must be paid before thetime counts toward the sentence. For example, aperson may be notified on January 1 that hispenalty will be a one-year suspension and a fine


duct with which the respondent is charged.6. Completing The UKC® Misconduct ReportAnd Hearing Form. The Hearing CommitteeChairperson shall complete Sections 4, 5 and 6of the Misconduct Report and Hearing Form asfollows:

a. Section 4: The name, address and phonenumber of each witness and a summary ofeach witness’s testimony. This summary shallinclude all pertinent facts provided by the wit-ness. If the space on the form is insufficient,additional sheets of paper may be used torecord the summary.b. Section 5: The date and time that respon-dent was notified of the hearing and the names,addresses and daytime and evening phonenumbers of the Hearing Committee members.c. Section 6: The Hearing Committee’s findingsand recommendations shall be entered in thissection. In addition, each member of theHearing Committee shall then sign the form inthe space provided and enter his/her address,daytime and evening phone numbers and e-mail. Within 10 calendar days of the hearing, theHearing Chairperson shall forward one copy ofthe UKC Misconduct Report and Hearing Formto United Kennel Club. The club hosting theevent shall also keep a copy of the completedUKC Misconduct Report and Hearing Form.

E. Procedures for handling an act of utteringa payment with non-sufficient funds.

1. When the club or Event Manager becomesaware of an act of uttering in the amount of$100 or more, the Treasurer must make a writ-ten notification along with proof the violationand a copy of the dog’s entry form(s) to UKCwithin 21 days of the event.2. The appropriate UKC Department Head shallreview all such cases. If the findings of prejudicialmisconduct are upheld, the UKC DepartmentHead or Disciplinary Committee shall imposeone or more of the following penalties:

a. Invalid Entry. The dog’s record for theevent will be treated as an invalid entry whenrecording the Event Results.b. The exhibitor must contact the club imme-diately upon notification from their financialinstitution that the payment was insufficientand resolve the insufficient funds entry pay-ment to the club. Additionally, the club mustmake every reasonable attempt to collect suf-ficient funds.


ment and discretion, to investigate any mis-conduct and to impose such sanctions andpenalties as deemed appropriate.

INHERENT RIGHTS & POWERS OF UKC®

(Revised December 18, 2009)United Kennel Club holds and has reserved to itself

certain inherent rights and powers in connection withconducting its business, registering litters, transferringregistrations of dogs, licensing events, and awardingtitles. These inherent rights and powers include but arenot limited to the following:

United Kennel Club has the right to inspect all reports,scorecards and documents related to UKC events. Some,but not all, of the items subject to inspection are:a) scores; b) disqualifications of dogs for fighting or other reasons; c) errors by the recording person; and d) documentation excluded for any reason.UKC reserves the right to correct any mistakes found

during such inspection whether or not the document hasthe signature of a Judge or Club Officer. UKC reserves theright to itself and in its sole judgement and discretion, totake such actions and impose such sanctions as would:a) Bar an individual from entering or participating in

any way in any UKC licensed event.b) Bar an individual from transferring or registering any

pups or dogs in that person’s name (joint or full reg-istration) or to any member of that person’s family.

c) Bar an individual from receiving Championshippoints for any dog registered in that person’s name(joint or full registration).By way of illustration, the following constitute some, but

not all, of the situations calling for the above sanctions:a) Falsification or alteration of a UKC Registration

Certificate, Pedigree, UKC Easy Entry™ Card or anyother UKC document.

b) Falsification or alteration of any reports of winsissued to UKC

c) Falsification or alteration of receipts issued by UKCJudges.

d) Switching, wrongfully using or attempting to use aUKC Registration Certificate, Pedigree, UKC EasyEntry™ Card or any other UKC document.

e) Selling or attempting to sell a dog with false orincorrect UKC Registration Certificate or Pedigree.

f) Intimidating, threatening, or injuring a Judge,Club/Association member or official, event partici-pant or spectator, or UKC representative.The six illustrations given above are only by way of

example and UKC reserves to itself its inherent right andpower to impose such sanctions in any other circum-stances deemed appropriate by UKC.

Any individual who is found guilty by a court of law of


of three hundred dollars. This individual will besuspended as soon as he is notified of the penal-ty but the one-year suspension does not start untilthe date the fine is paid. If the suspended individ-ual waits until March 1 to pay his fine, his sus-pension will actually run fourteen months untilmidnight of February 28 the following year.3. Barring. The Disciplinary Committee shallbar an individual for an indefinite period oftime for repeat instances of misconduct or forthe most serious form`s of misconduct, includ-ing cruelty to dogs. The period of barring shallbegin upon notification of the respondent bycertified mail (return receipt requested).4. Privileges lost during suspension or bar-ring. The following rules apply to persons whoare barred or suspended:

a. A suspended/barred person may not regis-ter any dogs in his/her name (joint or individ-ual ownership).b. No dog registered in the name of a sus-pended/barred person (joint or individualownership) may be used for breeding and nooffspring of such a dog is eligible for registra-tion with UKC.c. A suspended/barred person may transferany dogs currently registered in his/her name(joint or individual ownership), except that nodog registered in the name of a suspended/barred person, regardless of co-ownershipstatus, may be transferred to any member ofthat person’s family.d. A suspended/barred person may not regis-ter any litters or sign any litter registrations inany capacity.e. A suspended/barred person may not enter orparticipate in any way in any UKC licensed event.f. No dog registered in the name of a suspend-ed/barred person (joint or individual owner-ship) may be entered or participate in any wayin any UKC licensed event nor may such a dogreceive points or legs toward any UKC title.g. Appeals. Any person placed on probation,suspended or barred may appeal directly, inwriting, to the UKC President. An appeal mustbe filed not later than 30 days from the date aperson is notified of the probation, suspensionor barring. The decision of the President is final.h. UKC Inherent Rights and Powers.Notwithstanding anything herein and regard-less of whether these procedures are followed,under the Inherent Rights and Powers, UKCreserves the right to itself and its sole judg-

55

The Total Dog Registry

UNITED KENNEL CLUB, INC.100 E Kilgore Rd

Kalamazoo MI 49002-5584Tel: (269) 343-9020www.ukcdogs.com


a crime involving dogs will be barred from United KennelClub for an indefinite period. A person shall be consid-ered guilty in a criminal proceeding if they are convictedby a Judge, jury, or if they enter a plea bargain or otherarrangement to plea to a lesser offense, or if their case isdisposed of by any form of deferred adjudication; a per-son shall be considered guilty in a civil proceeding if theyare held responsible or liable by a Judge, jury, or if acompromised settlement is reached between the parties.—————————————————————UKC® POLICY REGARDING PERSONS ASSOCIATED WITH FIGHTING DOGSAny individual or group of individuals known byUKC to promote, support, raise dogs for fighting;knowingly sell, give or trade dogs that will be usedin fighting; condone or be associated with the fac-ing off, game testing, rolling or pitting of dogs; orarrested for attending and/or participating in adog fight, will have the following actions takenagainst them by United Kennel Club and BLOOD-LINES Dog Event News:1. All dog registration privileges will be revokedfor life.a. The person(s) will not be permitted to regis-ter any litters of puppies.b. The person(s) will not be permitted to trans-fer ownership of any puppies or adult dogsinto their name.

2. The person(s) will be barred for life from par-ticipating in or entering any UKC licensed events.Their dogs will not be awarded any UKCChampionship points or titles even if handled byanother person.3. The person(s) will be barred for life fromadvertising in BLOODLINES or any other UKCpublications. Anyone aware of any persons cur-rently involved in such activities as are listedabove should report them to United Kennel Club.

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table of contents - res.ukcdogs.comres.ukcdogs.com/pdf/weightpullrules.pdf4 ukc weight pull rules...

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