Mondioring and ring sport dog breeders in the UK

About mondioring and ring sport dog breeders in the uk

Mondioring is an international ring sport combining obedience, jumps and biting exercises under FCI rules. The mondioring UK community is supported by the British Mondioring Association, which says the sport’s popularity here is growing. This page explains the sport, who trains the dogs, the breeds involved and what to ask a breeder.

What this work involves

FCI-Mondioring was created by delegates from several countries in Europe and America, who combined parts of existing national dog sports into a common programme. Every trial runs three disciplines in the same order:

• Obedience: heeling off lead, a period with the handler out of sight, a send away, positions, refusal of food, a retrieve of a thrown object and a search for an object.
• Jumps: a palisade, a long jump and a hurdle.
• Biting exercises: face attacks, defence of the handler, search and escort, and guarding an object, performed against a decoy protected by a bite suit.

There are three levels. A dog must score at least 160 out of 200 twice at Level I, then 240 out of 300 twice at Level II, before entering Level III. Dogs must be at least 12 months old, hold a pedigree from a canine society recognised by the FCI, have a health record and pass an FCI-recognised sociability test. The FCI rules describe the sport’s purpose as highlighting the dog’s aptitudes, the quality of its training, the handler’s control and the dog’s genetic inheritance.

Who trains and supplies these dogs in the UK

Ring sport dogs are trained by their owners, working with experienced trainers and decoys. A puppy from titled parents is a prospect only, and Canine Breeder does not sell, train or certify ring sport or protection dogs.

The British Mondioring Association (BMA) supports the sport in the UK. It publishes the FCI rules, its own code of ethics and constitution, guidance for competitors, events and results, and a list of UK training locations for anyone looking for mondio ring training. The BMA states plainly that these locations are private individuals or businesses that may charge, and that it has not vetted or approved them; it also says it does not organise or supervise the training and events it lists, so visit and ask questions before joining. Its competition guidance covers entering trials in France and Belgium, and it records that a British handler and dog first competed in August 2001, with many teams competing internationally since.

French ring is France’s own national ring sport. The British Mondioring Association supports mondioring rather than French ring, so anyone searching for French ring UK training should ask trainers directly which rules they train to.

Breeds and lines

The FCI rules admit any breed with a recognised pedigree, but in practice a few dominate:

• Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois): the classic ring sport dog, prized for speed, agility over the palisade and intensity.
• German Shepherd Dog: working-line shepherds with the athleticism for the jumps also compete.
• Dutch Shepherd: an FCI-recognised working breed, but not a breed recognised by The Royal Kennel Club, so check what pedigree documentation a competition will accept before you buy.

Palisades and long jumps repeated over a dog’s career make soundness essential. Ask for hip and elbow scores under the BVA/Royal Kennel Club schemes or equivalent overseas screening, plus the breed’s DNA tests, and meet the parents to judge their temperament for yourself.

What to ask a breeder

1. What ring sport or IGP titles do the parents hold, and at what level?
2. Can I see the parents work, including with a decoy, and meet them at home?
3. What are the parents’ hip and elbow results and DNA tests?
4. Will the puppy have a pedigree accepted for FCI-Mondioring competitions?
5. How do the parents behave with visitors, children and other dogs?
6. Which trainers and decoys do you work with in the UK?

Legal and welfare notes

Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 makes it an offence for a dog to be dangerously out of control in any place in England, Wales or Scotland, public or private, and it applies in full to ring sport dogs. Mondioring titles are sporting qualifications, not protection certifications, and do not make a dog a guard or security dog: guarding premises with a dog is covered by the Guard Dogs Act 1975, and contract security guarding is licensed by the Security Industry Authority. Bitework should only be trained with experienced decoys in a controlled setting. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 requires owners in England and Wales to protect their dogs from pain, suffering and injury, and the FCI rules disqualify anyone using electric, prong or corrective collars anywhere at a competition venue, including the car park.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I do mondioring training in the UK?

The British Mondioring Association lists UK training locations on its website. They are private individuals and businesses rather than BMA-approved clubs, so visit, watch a session and ask about decoy experience before committing.

Is French ring available in the UK?

The British Mondioring Association supports mondioring, not French ring, which is France’s national ring sport. If French ring is what you want, ask UK ring sport trainers whether they train for it and where you would compete.

What age can a dog start mondioring competitions?

12 months under FCI rules, after passing a recognised sociability test. Foundation obedience, jumping technique and play start much earlier, with bitework introduced by experienced trainers.

If you breed Malinois, German Shepherds or other working lines that compete in mondioring or ring sports, list your kennel on Canine Breeder and reach handlers looking for their next prospect.