FCI prohibited equipment (overreach?)

[Nordika]

Was not sure where to post this, or if it's been posted somewhere.

If the FCI discovers any social media posts, photos, or videos showing a competitor using prohibited training equipment, including but not limited to electronic collars, electric sticks, or pinch collars, that competitor may be disqualified from the FCI Championship.

This applies even if the equipment is legal in the competitor’s home country. Such equipment is not permitted under FCI rules.

Things are about to get very ugly...

 

[Rits]

Waiting for an official FCI post to see if this is true or social media rumor.

Huge overreach, imo but they were able to ban cropped and docked from competing, even if it is legal in the dog's country, doesn't surprise me they will push as far as they can.

Are they going to ban buggy whips, gentle leaders, harnesses, choke collars too until we are using no tools? Any of these can be used abusively and incorrectly.

 

[BGpa]

I use Grok sometimes as a search engine and found reference to FCI rules-on tools used in competition...nothing found on scanning social media, etc. That doesnt mean it does not exist: Grok has access like other AI to public facing webforms, places like reddit, websites and open comments, but doesnt have API permission at FakeBook private groups.

I could link to a couple links found at FCI inc pdf on rulebook from 2025, nothing mentions "social media scanning"

but defer to those with more experience in working dog world here in the US, or on "how things are going" in Europe oversight culture, to include dog shows and trials.

This does sound a little like conspiracy thinking, but TBH the over-reach IMHO in overly top down bureaucratized countries elsewhere is not limited to dog world.

IMHO that trend is an entirely valid concern, about both over-reach by well meaning but ignorant social activists (see Canada's updated rules on CD) and the PositiveOnlyNinnies Movement

plus, the more ominous privacy concerns-

and my guess is the political discussion is buzzing at FakeBook...which I dont use so cant confirm.

Suggests to me further discussion in
Off Topics/Political forum,
where it cant be crawled by goolagbots or AI, defer to Mods on that.

Just my $0.02 and YMMV
You can have my prong collar anytime:
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ.

 

[Nordika]

Waiting for an official FCI post to see if this is true or social media rumor.

Huge overreach, imo but they were able to ban cropped and docked from competing, even if it is legal in the dog's country, doesn't surprise me they will push as far as they can.

Are they going to ban buggy whips, gentle leaders, harnesses, choke collars too until we are using no tools? Any of these can be used abusively and incorrectly.

I considered the source credible coming from Lars Lentz while at the World Championship.

His words:
Bliver interessant , hvordan de vil "handle" det I praktik , tænk hvor nemt det er at fremstille AI foto , som "bevis"!
Effective immediately:
Team Leader meeting:
Going forward, if the FCI discovers any social media posts, photos, or videos showing a competitor using prohibited training equipment, including but not limited to electronic collars, electric sticks, or pinch collars, that competitor may be disqualified from the FCI Championship.
This applies even if the equipment is legal in the competitor’s home country. Such equipment is not permitted under FCI rules.

 

[Rits]

I considered the source credible coming from Lars Lentz while at the World Championship.

Not doubting his credibility at all. I just would like to see an official word once/if it is put into place.

 

[BGpa]

Thank you for the Lars Lentz reference. I read he and Balabanov competed in same time frame. Another highly useful resource for my dog nerd bookshelf.

The IGP Track Book — The Definitive Guide to IGP Tracking Training

The only book dedicated entirely to IGP tracking. From the coach behind multiple National Champions. Get your first 2 chapters free.

theigptrackbook.com

Slightly OT ?
@Nordika Are you thinking of doing tracking with Rollo?

 

[JanS]

Going forward, if the FCI discovers any social media posts, photos, or videos showing a competitor using prohibited training equipment, including but not limited to electronic collars, electric sticks, or pinch collars, that competitor may be disqualified from the FCI Championship.

Is this just on the showgrounds or does it apply if they see a photo of you using at home or off the showgrounds? Not that I ever plan to do FCI but I also don't want someone telling me what I can and can't do on my own time or at my own home.

 

[BGpa]

I considered the source credible coming from Lars Lentz while at the World Championship.

His words:
Bliver interessant , hvordan de vil "handle" det I praktik , tænk hvor nemt det er at fremstille AI foto , som "bevis"!
Effective immediately:
Team Leader meeting:
Going forward, if the FCI discovers any social media posts, photos, or videos showing a competitor using prohibited training equipment, including but not limited to electronic collars, electric sticks, or pinch collars, that competitor may be disqualified from the FCI Championship.
This applies even if the equipment is legal in the competitor’s home country. Such equipment is not permitted under FCI rules.

"It will be interesting to see how they handle this in practice—just think how easy it is to generate AI photos as "evidence"!"

Yes, its almost impossible to avoid AI generated rip-off original creator content on youtube, now add in Flock cameras everywhere...Meta getting sued in the EU for 'pervert glasses...'
And social media weaponized ...
Now...
dont get me started on tiktok and IG...
(cue the old guy on lawn screaming at sky, @Bernie memes)

Srsly, I suppose if one were to post ones content it would be wise to edit/change the image...if you intend to compete in FCI.

We need an app for this:
Call it "Dobe Gentle-fy"

"Add butterflies, unicorns filter;
Convert collars;
Apply safe space and crayolas background"

so the international safetyist karens and trigglypuffs can go somewhere else?

 

[BGpa]

Needs work...

 

[Nordika]

Not doubting his credibility at all. I just would like to see an official word once/if it is put into place.

It will be interesting. FCI IGP 2025 rules state: "suspected attempt of fraudulent intent by use of prohibited training aids" as grounds for disqualification for unsportsmanlike behavior."

I'd expect it would be in that line of reasoning, going well beyond the venue to include any use of prohibited equipment, anywhere, anytime? We'll have to wait and see what happens, but it would essentially eliminate the US teams.

And one has to wonder if this is IGP specific or everything under the FCI umbrella....and as we know, they've already banned cropped dogs from competing. They're just tightening the noose.

 

[Nordika]

Slightly OT ?
@Nordika Are you thinking of doing tracking with Rollo?

Not IGP style tracking, but I do tracking and trailing with my dogs, which method depends entirely on the dog. If the dog prefers tracking, i.e. nose to the ground, or trailing, i.e. airscenting and quickest path. Rollo prefers trailing, and that's great for SAR and works for me.