The Kennel Club has approved a number of amendments to the F (show) regulations which came into effect on 1 January 2024, these include the confirmation of the introduction of Baby Puppy classes at breed club shows, which featured in a Kennel Club Press Release (Kennel Club specimen schedules revised for 2024) issued on 18 December.
The introduction of Baby Puppy classes (for dogs of 4 months and less than 6 months old) will create more opportunities for training and socialisation in young dogs and lead to an increase in entries at breed club shows. The idea was proposed by The Kennel Club Shows Liaison Council, which is a key channel for the dog community to make positive changes to the dog showing world. Any societies that have published their show schedules and now wish to add the class should email
Breed Shows (The Kennel Club)where providing entries have not yet closed the team will be able to help.
A number of amendments to the F (show) regulations in 2024 were also proposals from The Kennel Club Breeds Liaison Council which is another channel for grass roots exhibitors to review the show scene and advise The Kennel Club on any changes that may be needed to enable showing to continue and flourish.
The full F regulations are listed below and can also be viewed on the Show Regulations 2024 document here.
F1.c.
Only dogs of six four calendar months of age and over on the first day of the show are eligible for exhibition at Kennel Club licensed shows. However, societies may accept Not for Competition entries at their discretion. and dogs aged four calendar months and over are eligible to enter Not for Competition at all Kennel Club licensed shows. Furthermore, dogs aged four calendar months and over are eligible to enter match competitions.
(Additions in bold, deletions struck through)
F(1).8.a.
Puppies under 6 four calendar months of age on the first day of the show are not eligible for exhibition.
(Additions in bold, deletions struck through)
F(1)20.a
(3) General canine society open shows and affiliated organisation open shows only. Persons appointed to judge Best in Show, Best in Group, Best Puppy in Group and/or Variety Classes must be listed at Judges Education Programme Level 4 or have previously been approved to award and have awarded Challenge Certificates to at least one breed, and be currently eligible to do so. Classes for varieties of a breed and handling classes are exempt from this Regulation.
(Additions in bold)
F(1)20.d
All judges at championship shows and open shows must produce a written critique for the first two placings in each Breed class and will dispatch these to, at least one of the weekly United Kingdom canine journals journal or upload onto the Kennel Club Judges Critique Website.
(Additions in bold, deletions struck through)
F(1)22.d
(3) Judges for Group competitions
(a) The judge of a group* at a championship show shall not judge any breed, Any Variety Not Separately Classified or Any Variety Imported Breed Register classes in that group at the show except when acting in the capacity of referee. Subject to the above a group judge is eligible to judge other variety/stakes class(es) at the show.
(b) There must be an interval of not less than 9 calendar months between appointments to judge the same group at championship shows.
*A group judge is not eligible to judge any class or classes at a championship show, from which dogs become eligible to compete in his/her appointed group.
(Deletion struck through)
F(1)22.e
F(1)22.e
Judges for Puppy Group competitions.
The judge of a Puppy Group* at a Championship Show shall not judge any
Breed, Any Variety Not Separately Classified or Any Variety Imported Breed
Register Classes in that Group at the show except when acting in the
capacity of Referee. Subject to the above a Group judge is eligible to judge
other variety/stakes class(es) at the show.
* A Group Judge is not eligible to judge any class or classes at a
Championship Show, from which dogs become eligible to compete in
his/her appointed Group.
(Deletions struck through)
F(1)23.d
The judge shall decide on a Best of Sex and Reserve Best of Sex winner in each sex. Before deciding to award a Challenge Certificate the judge must be clearly of the opinion that the exhibit to which he is awarding the Challenge Certificate is of such outstanding merit as to be worthy of the title of Champion and that the exhibit to which he is awarding the Reserve Challenge Certificate is in his opinion worthy of being awarded the Challenge Certificate should the Challenge Certificate winner be disqualified. Should the Challenge Certificate not be awarded the Reserve Challenge Certificate cannot be awarded. The dog must be in the ring at the time the awards are made. The judge must complete and sign all certificates, including Best of Sex and Reserve Best of Sex, in accordance with the catalogue details. If requested by the judge, the steward may complete but must not sign certificates.
(Additions in bold)
F(1)26.g
A Baby Puppy is a dog of four and less than six calendar months of age on the first day of the show.
(a) Baby Puppy classes may be scheduled at any breed club show
(b) Any Variety Baby Puppy classes may be scheduled at any breed club show
(c) Best Baby Puppy in Breed may be declared in each breed from the dogs entered in the Baby Puppy breed classes. There must be no progression to further competition
(Additions in bold)
F(1)34.h
For complaints of conduct whether at a licensed event or on social media, in addition to a warning issued - a short term fixed period of refusal of entry/attendance at Kennel Club licensed events may also be imposed in accordance with procedures to be published from time to time to implement this regulation.
(Addition in bold, Effective 1 November 2023)
F(A)
*** applies to breed club shows only
***BABY PUPPY
A baby puppy is a dog of four and less than six calendar months of age on the first day of the show.
(Additions in bold)
For any enquiries regarding the above amendments please write to
Breed Shows (The Kennel Club)There is further information on the Shows Liaison Council and Breeds Liaison Council at The Kennel Club website.