UK_dog_show_rules_and

Rules and Regulations

Please note:- Dogs registered and resident outside the UK must have an "Authority To Compete" (ATC) number from The Kennel Club.

Only undocked dogs and legally docked dogs may be exhibited.

1/ Puppies under six calendar months of age on the first day of the show are not eligible for exhibition.

2/ The mating of bitches within the precinct of the show is forbidden.

3/ Best Puppy in Show - Where a Best Puppy in Show competition is scheduled the Best Puppy in Show is a puppy which has competed and is unbeaten by any other puppy exhibited at the same show. A puppy is a dog of six and not exceeding twelve calendar months of age on the first day of the show. Where the Best of Breed, Best of Group or Best in Show is a puppy it will automatically be Best Puppy in Breed, Best Puppy in Group and Best Puppy in Show respectively. Similarly if the Reserve Best of Group or reserve Best in Show is a puppy which has only been beaten by an adult dog it will automatically be Best Puppy in Group and Best Puppy in Show respectively. Consequently selection of Best Puppy in Show must follow the selection of Best of Breed, Best in Group and Best in Show respectively.

Best Puppy in Group. Best Puppy in Group must be selected from those puppies which have been judged and which are unbeaten by any other puppy.

Best Puppy in Show. Best Puppy in Show must be selected from the Best Puppy in Group winners provided that they are unbeaten by any other puppy.

Withdrawal From Competition. Puppies which become eligible for Best Puppy in Show may be withdrawn from all other competition prior to the competition for Best Puppy in Show as appropriate in order to remain unbeaten. A puppy beaten in competition for Best Puppy in Show may subsequently be exhibited in all competition for which it was previously eligible. The dog declared Best Puppy in Show, however, must not compete in any subsequent competition. Proviso. For the purpose of this regulation, dogs beaten in competition for Stud Dog, Brood Bitch, Progeny, Brace and Team or a Special Award confined to one breed will not be considered to be a beaten dog.

4/ Best in Show. The dog declared Best in Show is a dog which has competed and is unbeaten by any other dog exhibited at the same show.

Best of Breed. Where Best of Breed is separately classified a Best of Breed must be declared. Where separate classes are provided for each sex of a breed a Best of Sex must be selected from which the Best of Breed must be declared.

Show Judged on the Group System. Best of Group must be selected from, the Best of Breed winners in each group provided they are unbeaten winning dogs. The best unbeaten winning dog from the AVNSC classes in each group or on each day.

Best in Show. Best in Show must be selected from the Best of Group winners provided they are unbeaten. Reserve Best in Show must be selected from the remaining Group winners following the selection of Best in Show.

Withdrawal From Competition. Dogs which become eligible for Best in Show may be withdrawn from all other competition other than breed classes and Best of Breed prior to the competition for Best in Show as appropriate in order to remain unbeaten. A dog beaten in competition for Best in Show may subsequently be exhibited in all competition for which it was previously eligible. The dogs declared Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show however, must not compete in any further competition. Proviso. For the purpose of the Regulation, dogs beaten in the competition for Stud Dog, Brood Bitch, Progeny, Brace and Team or a Special Award confined to a single breed, will not be considered to be beaten dogs.

5/ Exhibits will not be admitted to Best in Show competition after a period of ten minutes has elapsed since the announcement that exhibits are required for judging, unless they have been unavoidably delayed by previous judging not being completed on time, and then only with the special permission of the Show Management

6/ No modifications will be made to this schedule except by permission of the General Committee of the Kennel Club, which will be followed by an advertisement in the Canine press wherever possible.

7/ All exhibitors must be familiar with Kennel Club Regulation "F" (Annex B) - Regulations for the Preparation of Dogs for Exhibition.

8/ Dog Fouling and Grooming Waste. Any owner, exhibitor, handler or other person in charge of a dog is required to remove immediately any fouling caused by there dog(s) and grooming waste at any Kennel Club Licensed Show within the Licensed venue and within the environs of the event, including caravan parks and approaches. Any organisation holding a Kennel Club Licensed event is required to provide an adequate number of receptacles for the disposal of such fouling.

9/ The committee of the show can accept no responsibility for products advertised or sold by stand holders at the show, and remind exhibitors that grooming products on sale may not meet the requirements of the Regulation for the Preparation of Dogs for Exhibition.

Definitions of Classes

In the following definitions a Challenge Certificate includes any show award that counts towards the title of Champion under the rules of any govering body recognised by the Kennel Club. Show awards issued by the Irish Kennel which count towards the title of Champion shall be five Green Stars or more. Wins at Championship Shows in breed classes where Challenge Certificates are not on offer will be counted as wins at Open Shows. In the case of a dog owned in partnership and entered in Members' classes or competing for Members' Specials each partner must at the time of entry be a member of the society.

In estimating the number of awards won, all wins up to and including the seventh day before the date of closing of entries shall be counted when entering for any classes. Wins in Variety Classes do not count for entry in Breed classes but when entering for Variety classes, wins in both Breed and Variety classes must be counted. A first prize does not include a Special Prize of whatever value.

If an exhibitor reports before the judging of a class or classes that a dog has been entered which is ineligible, the exhibitor may choose one of the following options:-

1/ Withdrawal. The dog may be withdrawn from competition subject to the conditions of Regulations 9(j) and 20.

2/ Transfer. (a) If a dog is ineligible for a class or classes as regards its colour, sex, weight or height the Show Secretary shall transfer it to the equivalent class or classes for the correct colour, sex, weight or height and in the event of there being no equivalent class, Minor Puppy and Puppy excepted,to the Open Class for the correct colour, sex, weight or height. (b) For an exhibit entered incorrectly in a Minor Puppy class or a Puppy class which is over age but under twelve calendar months or eighteen calendar months of age respectively, the Show Secretary shall transfer the exhibits to the Puppy class or the Junior class respectively for the correct breed, colour, sex, weight or height, and in the event of there being no puppy or junior class respectively to the Open Class for the correct breed, colour, sex, weight or height. (c) For any reason other than the above, the Show Secretary shall transfer it to the Open Class for the correct breed. colour, sex, weight or height.

If an exhibitor arrives late and misses a class, even if it is the only class in which the dog is entered, the dog may not be transferred to any other class.

Minor Puppy. For dogs of six and not exceeding nine calendar months of age on the first day of the show.

Puppy. For dogs of six and not exceeding twelve calendar months of age on the first day of the show.

Junior. For dogs of six and not exceeding eighteen calendar months of age on the first day of the show.

Special Yearling. For dogs of Twelve and not exceeding Twenty Four calendar months on the first day of the show.

Novice. For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or Three or more First prizes at Open and Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Puppy, Puppy, Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not.)

Undergraduate. For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or Three or more first prizes at Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes, whether restricted or not.)

Graduate. For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or Four or more first prizes at Championship Shows in Graduate, Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit or Open classes, whether restricted or not.

Post Graduate. For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or Five or more first prizes at Championship Shows in Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit and Open classes, whether restricted or not.

Minor Limit. For dogs which have not won two Challenge Certificates or Three or more first prizes in all at Championship Shows in Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not, at shows where Challenge Certificates where offered for the breed.

Limit. For dogs which have not won Three Challenge Certificates under Three different judges or seven or more First Prizes in all, at Championship Shows in Limit and Open classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not, at shows where Challenge Certificates where offered for the breed.

Open. For all dogs of the breeds for which the class is provided and eligible for entry at the show.

Veteran. For dogs of not less than Seven years of age on the first day of the show.

Imported Register. When an Interim Breed Standard has been approved by the Kennel Club, breeds whose registration is confined to the Imported Register may be exhibited in this class only and are ineligible for any other competition whatsoever.

Any Variety Not Separately Classified. For breeds of dog for which no separate breed classes are scheduled.

KCJO Stakes. For Any Variety Dog or Bitch exhibited and handled by a fully paid up member of the Kennel Club Junior Organisation. The dog should be registered either:- (a) solely or jointly in the members name or (b) in the name of a member of the family and under these circumstances the dog must be resident at the KCJO members address.

Not For Competition. Societies may at their discretion, accept Not for Competition entries. Societies may accept such entries from breeds of dog not included within the title of the Society and at shows held over more than one day, such entries may be accepted on any day from any breed.

Brace. For two exhibits (either sex or mixed) of one breed belonging to the same exhibitor, each exhibit having been entered in some class other than Brace or Team.