Kennel Club announces Stud Book Bands for 2022: System re-set and made more transparent

More opportunities to win stud book numbers
Stud book bands more evenly distributed
Stud book bands no longer linked to judge approval criteria

The Kennel Club has announced details of its stud book bands for 2022. As previously announced, stud book bands are allocated based upon average show entries, using the same formula as for the CC allocation. These new bands have been adjusted so that they are more evenly spread than in previous years, which will have the bonus of providing extra opportunities for dogs to gain stud book numbers.

In making this adjustment, the link has also been removed between a breed’s stud book band and the minimum requirements for hands-on experience to be considered to award challenge certificates for the first time. These numbers will be reviewed regularly by the judges committee.

The following table shows the stud book bands for 2022 for all eligible breeds including details of those which have moved from one band to another.

Band A 1st Open Class

HOUND GROUP: Basset Fauve de Bretagne, Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand), Bloodhound, Finnish Spitz, Greyhound, Ibizan Hound, Norwegian Elkhound, Otterhound, Pharoah Hound

GUNDOG GROUP: Brittany, German Wirehaired Pointer, Retriever (Chesapeake Bay), Retriever (Curly Coated), Spaniel (Clumber), Spaniel (Irish Water)

TERRIER GROUP: Australian Terrier, Cesky Terrier, Fox Terrier (Wire), Glen of Imaal Terrier, Irish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Skye Terrier, Welsh Terrier

UTILITY GROUP: Shar Pei

PASTORAL GROUP: Australian Cattle Dog, Belgian Shepherd Dog (Gronendael), Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois), Collie (Smooth), Hungarian Puli, Norwegian Buhund, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Swedish Vallhund

WORKING GROUP: Bouvier des Flandres, Mastiff

TOY GROUP: Lowchen (Little Lion Dog), Maltese

Band B 1st/2nd Open Class

HOUND GROUP: Basenji (from A), Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit) (from A)

GUNDOG GROUP: Bracco Italiano (from A), Irish Red & White Setter (from A), Large Munsterlander (from A), Spaniel (American Cocker), Spaniel (Field) (from A), Spaniel (Sussex) (from A), Spanish Water Dog (from A)

TERRIER GROUP: Airedale Terrier (from A), Bedlington Terrier (from A), Dandie Dinmont Terrier (from A), Fox Terrier (Smooth) (from A), Scottish Terrier (from A)

UTILITY GROUP: Akita (from A), German Spitz (Klein) (from A), German Spitz Mittel (from A), Poodle (Toy) (from A), Schipperke (from A), Schnauzer (from A)

PASTORAL GROUP: Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervueren) (from A), Briard, Lancashire Heeler (from A), Pyrenean Mountain Dog (from A)

WORKING GROUP: Giant Schnauzer (from A), Portuguese Water Dog (from A), Tibetan Mastiff (from A)

TOY GROUP: Pekingese (from A)

Band C 1st 2nd/Open Class and 1st Limit Class

HOUND GROUP: Basset Hound (from B), Borzoi (from B), Dachshund (Long Haired) (from B), Dachshund (Miniature Wire Haired) (from B), Dachshund (Smooth Haired) (from A), Deerhound (from B), Irish Wolfhound (from B), Saluki (from B)

GUNDOG GROUP: Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla (from B)

TERRIER GROUP: Bull Terrier (from B), Bull Terrier (Miniature) (from A), Cairn Terrier (from B), Norfolk Terrier (from A), Parson Russell Terrier (from A), Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (from B), West Highland White Terrier (from B)

UTILITY GROUP: Chow Chow (from B), Japanese Shiba Inu (from B), Japanese Spitz (from B), Keeshond (from B), Poodle (Miniature) (from B), Poodle (Standard) (from B)

PASTORAL GROUP: Australian Shepherd (from B), Finnish Lapphund (from A), Old English Sheepdog (from B), Welsh Corgi (Cardigan) (from B)

WORKING GROUP: Leonberger (from B), St Bernard (from A)

TOY GROUP: Affenpinscher (from B), Bichon Frise (from B), English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) (from A), Griffon Bruxellois (from B), Havanese (from B), Italian Greyhound (from B), Miniature Pinscher (from B), Yorkshire Terrier (from B)

Band D 1st/2nd/3rd Open Class and 1st Limit Class

HOUND GROUP: Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired) (from C), Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired) (from C), Dachshund (Wire Haired) (from B), Rhodesian Ridgeback (from C)

GUNDOG GROUP: English Setter (from C), German Shorthaired Pointer (from C), Gordon Setter (from C), Hungarian Vizsla (from C), Italian Spinone (from C), Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling) (from C), Spaniel (English Springer) (from C), Spaniel (Welsh Springer) (from C), Weimaraner (from C)

TERRIER GROUP: N/A

UTILITY GROUP: Boston Terrier (from C), Lhasa Apso (from C), Miniature Schnauzer (from C), Shih Tzu (from C), Tibetan Spaniel (from C)

PASTORAL GROUP: German Shepherd Dog (from C), Samoyed (from B), Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) (from C)

WORKING GROUP: Alaskan Malamute (from C), Bernese Mountain Dog (from C), Bullmastiff (from B), Dobermann (from C), Dogue de Bordeaux (from C), Great Dane (from C), Newfoundland (from C), Siberian Husky (from C)

TOY GROUP: Chinese Crested (from C), Japanese Chin (from C), King Charles Spaniel (from C), Pomeranian (from C)

Band E

1st/2nd/3rd Open Class and 1st/2nd/3rd Limit Class

HOUND GROUP: Afghan Hound (from C), Beagle (from D), Whippet

GUNDOG GROUP: Irish Setter (from D), Pointer (from D), Retriever (Flat Coated) (from D), Retriever (Golden), Retriever (Labrador), Spaniel (Cocker) (from D)

TERRIER GROUP: Border Terrier (from D), Staffordshire Bull Terrier (from D)

UTILITY GROUP: Bulldog (from D), Dalmatian (from C), French Bulldog (from D), Tibetan Terrier (from D)

PASTORAL GROUP: Bearded Collie (from D), Border Collie (from D), Collie (Rough) (from D), Shetland Sheepdog (from D)

WORKING GROUP: Boxer (from D), Rottweiler (from C)

TOY GROUP: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua (Long Coat) (from D), Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) (from D), Papillon (from D), Pug

The new stud book bands are effective between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2025 and will be reviewed in 2026 and then at four-yearly intervals.

The following table shows the latest minimum requirements for hands-on experience to be considered to award challenge certificates for the first time. Going forward, these requirements are to be known as judging Tiers. Please note that no breed has had its requirements increased in the updating of this table.

 

Breeds in this tier

Traditional route

JEP route

Tier 1

HOUND GROUP: Basset Fauve De Bretagne, Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand), Bloodhound, Finnish Spitz, Greyhound, Ibizan Hound, Norwegian Elkhound, Otterhound, Pharaoh Hound

GUNDOG GROUP: Brittany, German Wirehaired Pointer, Retriever (Chesapeake Bay), Retriever (Curly Coated), Spaniel (Clumber), Spaniel (Irish Water)

TERRIER GROUP: Australian Terrier, Cesky Terrier, Glen Of Imaal Terrier, Irish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Skye Terrier, Welsh Terrier

UTILITY GROUP: Shar Pei

PASTORAL GROUP: Australian Cattle Dog, Collie (Smooth), Hungarian Puli, Norwegian Buhund, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Swedish Vallhund

WORKING GROUP: Bouvier Des Flandres, Mastiff

TOY GROUP: Lowchen (Little Lion Dog), Maltese

30 dogs

15 dogs

Tier 2

HOUND GROUP: Basenji, Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)

GUNDOG GROUP: Bracco Italiano, Irish Red & White Setter, Large Munsterlander, Spaniel (American Cocker), Spaniel (Field), Spaniel (Sussex), Spanish Water Dog

TERRIER GROUP: Airedale Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Norfolk Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Scottish Terrier

UTILITY GROUP: Akita, Keeshond, Schipperke, Schnauzer

PASTORAL GROUP: Briard, Finnish Lapphund, Lancashire Heeler, Pyrenean Mountain Dog

WORKING GROUP: Giant Schnauzer, Portuguese Water Dog, St. Bernard, Tibetan Mastiff

TOY GROUP: English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan), Griffon Bruxellois, Italian Greyhound, Pekingese

40 dogs

20 dogs

Tier 3

HOUND GROUP: Basset Hound, Borzoi, Deerhound, Irish Wolfhound, Saluki

GUNDOG GROUP: German Shorthaired Pointer, Hungarian Vizsla, Hungarian Wire Haired Vizsla, Italian Spinone, Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)

TERRIER GROUP: Cairn Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, West Highland White Terrier

UTILITY GROUP: Boston Terrier, Chow Chow, Japanese Shiba Inu, Japanese Spitz, Miniature Schnauzer

PASTORAL GROUP: Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd Dog, Old English Sheepdog, Samoyed, Welsh Corgi (Cardigan), Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)

WORKING GROUP: Alaskan Malamute, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bullmastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Leonberger, Newfoundland, Siberian Husky

TOY GROUP: Affenpinscher, Bichon Frise, Chinese Crested, Havanese, King Charles Spaniel, Miniature Pinscher, Yorkshire Terrier

70 dogs

35 dogs

Tier 4

HOUND GROUP: Afghan Hound, Beagle, Rhodesian Ridgeback

GUNDOG GROUP: English Setter, Gordon Setter, Pointer, Spaniel (English Springer), Spaniel (Welsh Springer), Weimaraner

UTILITY GROUP: Bulldog, Dalmatian, French Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier

PASTORAL GROUP: Bearded Collie, Border Collie, Collie (Rough), Shetland Sheepdog

WORKING GROUP: Dobermann, Great Dane, Rottweiler

TOY GROUP: Japanese Chin, Papillon, Pomeranian

120 dogs

60 dogs

Tier 5

GUNDOG GROUP: Irish Setter, Retriever (Flat Coated), Spaniel (Cocker)

TERRIER GROUP: Border Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier

WORKING GROUP: Boxer

TOY GROUP: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Pug

180 dogs

90 dogs

Tier 6

HOUND GROUP: Whippet

GUNDOG GROUP: Retriever (Golden), Retriever (Labrador)

250 dogs

125 dogs

The judging tiers come into effect for CC nominations received by The Kennel Club from 1 January 2022, and approval via the Judge Education Programme (JEP) route still requires 50 per cent of the numbers listed under the traditional route. Variety breeds retain their numbers as before and are listed separately below.

All non-CC breeds are to be classed as tier 2 breeds with the exception of the Catalan Sheepdog, Greenland Dog, Estrela Mountain Dog and Hovawart, which are tier 1 breeds at the request of the breed clubs.

The minimum requirements for hands-on experience for variety breeds are shown in the following table:

Dachshund

250 (125 for JEP route) Dachshunds of any combination of the six varieties

Poodle

150 (75 for JEP route) Poodles of any combination of Poodle (Miniature), Poodle (Standard) and Poodle (Toy), which must include a minimum of 30 of each variety (15 for JEP route)

German Spitz

70 (35 for JEP route) German Spitz of any combination of German Spitz (Klein) and German Spitz (Mittel)

Fox Terrier

70 (35 for JEP route) Fox Terriers of any combination of Fox Terrier (Smooth) and Fox Terrier (Wire)

Bull Terrier

80 (40 for JEP route) Bull Terriers of any combination of Bull Terrier and Bull Terrier (Miniature)

Belgian Shepherd Dog

70 (35 for JEP route) Belgian Shepherd Dogs, any combination of Groenendael, Tervueren, Malinois and Laekenois

Chihuahua

200 (100 for JEP route) Chihuahuas, any combination of Long Coat or Smooth Coat

The Board has previously clarified that the following types of event may be used to claim hands-on experience numbers under both the JEP and traditional approval system:

  • Breed classes at championship shows without CCs
  • Breed classes at open shows
  • Breed classes at limited shows
  • Mock/training classes at breed club shows (practical judging days) – only one occasion can be claimed and a maximum of 5 dogs
  • Dogs judged at Kennel Club approved assessments, maximum of 5 dogs – only one occasion and a maximum of 5 dogs. Cannot be used in addition to mock classes.
  • Dogs judged at inter or intra-club single-breed matches
  • Special award classes at breed club shows
  • Supported entry shows
  • Dogs judged at single breed dog of the year competitions
  • Overseas appointments

Dogs judged at the following types of event may not be included in a judge’s hands-on experience:

  • AVNSC and variety classes
  • At fun days
  • Conjointly with other judges at events where the candidate judge is not required to give independent judgment on the dogs
  • Any JEP mentoring sessions.

Please direct enquiries about stud book bands to Society & Show Services  and about Judging Tiers to Breed Shows (The Kennel Club) .