Dog Aggression Policy
The Blue Ridge Bernese Mountain Dog Club takes incidents of dog aggression during Club sponsored
events very seriously and will investigate any incidents and take actions as outlined below to ensure the
safety of all participants and dogs in attendance at Club events.
What is and is not aggressive behavior
What is aggression? Aggression in dogs is defined as a threatening, intimidating or harmful
behavior directed toward a human or another animal. This behavior is displayed when the
dog's threshold for fear, pain or territory has been met and his attempts to avoid an
undesirable situation fail. Any dog acting in an aggressive manner will be asked to leave a
club event. Aggression should not be confused with a dog giving a “correction” in response to another
dog’s unwanted attention.
Dog aggression during a Club sponsored event
If there is an incident of dog aggression at a Club sponsored event*, the dog that initiated the aggression
should be removed from the event by the owner. If it is not clear that a single dog initiated the incident,
all dogs involved should be removed from the event. If the owner(s) fails to voluntarily remove the
dog(s) and the event organizer or an attending Board member will ask the owner(s) to remove the
dog(s).
A report by the event organizer and/or attending Board members must be filed with the Secretary of the
BRBMDC. The incident needs to be verbally reported to the Secretary within 3 days of the incident. A
handwritten report needs to be directed to the BRBMDC secretary within 10 days.
The report will be reviewed at the next scheduled Board meeting, or in urgent circumstances, a special
meeting will be called. At the discretion of the President, others with experience or expertise may be
included in the review of the incident by the Board.
The Board will review the report and decide upon actions to be taken and provide a written response to
the dog’s owner. The dog(s) may not participate at any BRBMDC event nor be on the grounds of an
BRBMDC event unless and until the Board has responded to the dog’s owner.
*Club sponsored events include but are not limited to; 4 required club meetings, BRBMDC Draft Test,
social events promoted by the club through email or social media, other sanctioned club events. This will
include any event, hike or meet up in which a flyer has been sent to the membership or posted on the
club’s social media account or public website.
The Blue Ridge Bernese Mountain Dog Club takes incidents of dog aggression during Club sponsored
events very seriously and will investigate any incidents and take actions as outlined below to ensure the
safety of all participants and dogs in attendance at Club events.
What is and is not aggressive behavior
What is aggression? Aggression in dogs is defined as a threatening, intimidating or harmful
behavior directed toward a human or another animal. This behavior is displayed when the
dog's threshold for fear, pain or territory has been met and his attempts to avoid an
undesirable situation fail. Any dog acting in an aggressive manner will be asked to leave a
club event. Aggression should not be confused with a dog giving a “correction” in response to another
dog’s unwanted attention.
Dog aggression during a Club sponsored event
If there is an incident of dog aggression at a Club sponsored event*, the dog that initiated the aggression
should be removed from the event by the owner. If it is not clear that a single dog initiated the incident,
all dogs involved should be removed from the event. If the owner(s) fails to voluntarily remove the
dog(s) and the event organizer or an attending Board member will ask the owner(s) to remove the
dog(s).
A report by the event organizer and/or attending Board members must be filed with the Secretary of the
BRBMDC. The incident needs to be verbally reported to the Secretary within 3 days of the incident. A
handwritten report needs to be directed to the BRBMDC secretary within 10 days.
The report will be reviewed at the next scheduled Board meeting, or in urgent circumstances, a special
meeting will be called. At the discretion of the President, others with experience or expertise may be
included in the review of the incident by the Board.
The Board will review the report and decide upon actions to be taken and provide a written response to
the dog’s owner. The dog(s) may not participate at any BRBMDC event nor be on the grounds of an
BRBMDC event unless and until the Board has responded to the dog’s owner.
*Club sponsored events include but are not limited to; 4 required club meetings, BRBMDC Draft Test,
social events promoted by the club through email or social media, other sanctioned club events. This will
include any event, hike or meet up in which a flyer has been sent to the membership or posted on the
club’s social media account or public website.
| dog_aggression_policy_-_approved-3.pdf |