At a meeting of An Ard Chomhairle f the Irish Kennel Club on 8th August a proposal to drop the present three generation restriction on the registration of Belgian Shepherds was unanimously passed.

This will now leave the way clear for dogs to be registered that are not three generations clear to their variety and which previously had been denied registration under the old rule. It also immediately widens the genepool available in the UK and Europe to Irish breeders and allows more UK and overseas exhibitors to show their dogs in Ireland.

With effect from 1st January 2004 the Belgian Shepherds will be moved from the Working Group to the Pastoral Group in line with FCI and Country of Origin. Groenendael, Tervueren, Malinois and Laekenois will be scheduled in future and progressing judges will be required to judge any two of the four varieties.