Crufts 2023 qualifications for entry of dogs

Published on 12 April 2022 at 5:12pm

Crufts 2023 will take place on the 9 – 12 March at The NEC, Birmingham. Groups are scheduled as follows:

Thursday 9 March – Gundog
Friday 10 March – Working & Pastoral
Saturday 11 March – Terrier & Hound
Sunday 12 March – Utility & Toy

Qualifications are unchanged from the 2022 show with the addition of Bavarian Mountain Dogs who will have their own classes for the first time. Dogs will also be able to qualify for Crufts 2023 by winning ‘Best Puppy’ and ‘Best of Breed’ at a Championship Show for non Challenge Certificate and Import Register breeds.

More information on Crufts 2023 will be available in due course.

The following are the qualifications a dog must have for entry at Crufts 2023.

a. Entry in breed classes at Crufts 2023, where challenge certificates are offered.
A dog is eligible for entry in breed classes where Challenge Certificates are offered if it has qualified in any of the following ways under the rules and regulations of The Kennel Club.

(1) If it is a Champion, Show Champion, Field Trial Champion, Working Trial Champion, Obedience Champion or Agility Champion under the rules of The Kennel Club.
(2) If it is entered in The Kennel Club Stud Book, or qualifies for entry in The Kennel Club Stud Book by 23 January 2023.
(3) If it is entered in The Kennel Club Stud Book, or qualifies for entry in The Kennel Club Stud Book by 23 January 2023 through Field Trials or Working Trials.
(4) If it has won any of the following prizes in a breed class (as defined in The Kennel Club regulations for the Definitions of Classes at Championship Shows) at a championship show, where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023.
- i. First, Second or Third in Minor Puppy Class
- ii. First, Second or Third in Puppy Class
- iii. First, Second or Third in Junior Class
- iv. First, Second or Third in Yearling Class
- v. First, Second or Third in Novice Class
- vi. First, Second or Third in Graduate Class
- vii. First, Second or Third in Post Graduate Class
- viii. First, Second or Third in Limit Class
- ix. First, Second or Third in Open Class
- x. First, Second or Third in Veteran Class
(5) If it has won a First Prize in any breed class at Crufts 2022. (NB This is in addition to those dogs which have qualified in classes listed under a. (4) above).
(6) If a Beagle, has won a First Prize at a Hound Show between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023 held under the Rules and Regulations of the Masters of Harriers and Beagles Association.
(7) If it has been placed 1st – 4th in each Group or 1st – 4th in each Puppy Group at a Premier Open Show held on the Group system between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023.
(8) If it has won Best in Show, Reserve Best in Show or Best Puppy in Show at a General or Group Open Show between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023.

b. Additional entry into breed classes at Crufts 2023 where Challenge certificates are offered.

If it has won any of the following prizes at General and Group Championship Shows, scheduled between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023 in non-CC classes for breeds normally allocated Challenge Certificates (provided there are more than three breed classes or more than five classes for Stud Book Band E breeds).

i. Best of Breed
ii. Best Puppy in Breed
iii. First, Second or Third in Minor Puppy Class
iv. First, Second or Third in Puppy Class
v. First, Second or Third in Junior Class
vi. First, Second or Third in Yearling Class
vii. First, Second or Third in Novice Class
viii. First, Second or Third in Graduate Class
ix. First, Second or Third in Post Graduate Class
x. First, Second or Third in Limit Class
xi. First, Second or Third in Open Class
xii. First, Second or Third in Veteran Class

c. Entry in breed classes at Crufts 2023 where Challenge certificates are not offered (including Bavarian Mountain Hound).
A dog is eligible for entry in breed classes where Challenge Certificates are not offered if it has qualified in any of the following ways under the rules and regulations of The Kennel Club.

(1) If it has been declared Best of Sex or Reserve Best of Sex of a breed or gained any of the following Prizes in Breed or Variety Classes at a Championship Show, including Crufts between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023.
- i. Best of Breed
- ii. Best Puppy in Breed
- iii. First, Second or Third in Minor Puppy Class
- iv. First, Second or Third in Puppy Class
- v. First, Second or Third in Junior Class
- vi. First, Second or Third in Yearling Class
- vii. First, Second or Third in Novice Class
- viii. First, Second or Third in Graduate Class
- ix. First, Second or Third in Post Graduate Class
- x. First, Second or Third in Limit Class
- xi. First, Second or Third in Open Class
- xii. First, Second or Third in Veteran Class (See note 2.)
(2) If it has won a First Prize in any breed class at Crufts 2022 (including AV Imported Register classes). (NB This is in addition to those dogs which have qualified in classes listed under c. (1) above).
(3) If it has been placed 1st – 4th in each Group or 1st – 4th in each Puppy Group at a Premier Open Show held on the Group system between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023.
(4) If it has won Best in Show, Reserve Best in Show or Best Puppy in Show at a General or Group Open Show held between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023.

d. Entry into AV imported register classes at Crufts 2023.
A dog is eligible if it has been awarded Best of Sex or Reserve Best of Sex or gained any of the following prizes in the Imported Register classes at a General or Group Championship Show held between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023.

(1)
- i. Best of Breed
- ii. Best Puppy in Breed
- iii. First, Second or Third in Puppy class
- iv. First, Second or Third in Junior class
- v. First, Second or Third in Post Graduate class
- vi. First, Second or Third in Open class
(2) If it has won a First Prize in any breed class at Crufts 2022. (NB This is in addition to those dogs which have qualified in classes listed under d. (1) above).
(3) If it has been placed 1st – 4th in each Group or 1st – 4th in each Puppy Group at a Premier Open Show held on the Group system between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023.
(4) If it has won Best in Show, Reserve Best in Show or Best Puppy in Show at a General or Group Open Show held between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023.

e. Entry in field classes at VCrufts 2023.
A dog is eligible for entry in Field Trial classes for its breed if it has at any time won an award, a Diploma of Merit or a Certificate of Merit in actual competition at a Field Trial held under The Kennel Club or Irish Kennel Club Regulations.

f. Entry in special working Gundog classes at Crufts 2023.
A dog is eligible for entry in Special Working Gundog classes for its breed if it has at any time been awarded a Working Gundog certificate, a Kennel Club Show Gundog Working Certificate or won an award, Diploma of Merit or Certificate of Merit in competition at a Field Trial held under the rules of any governing body recognised by The Kennel Club.

g. Entry in special working trial classes at Crufts 2023.
With the exception of Bloodhounds, a dog is eligible for entry in Working Trial classes for its breed if it has gained a qualification not lower than UD Excellent under Kennel Club Working Trial Regulations. A Bloodhound is eligible for entry in Working Trial classes if it has won a prize at a Working Trial for Bloodhounds held under Kennel Club Working Trial Regulations.

h. Obedience Championships at Crufts 2023.
A dog is eligible for entry if it has won a Kennel Club Obedience Certificate at a Show held between 24 January 2022 and 23 January 2023.

Overseas qualifications
The following qualifications refer to Kennel Club fully recognised breeds only.

(1) Any champion from a country with which The Kennel Club has a reciprocal agreement qualifies automatically if it is domiciled in the UK and is on The Kennel Club Breed Register.
(2) Any FCI International Beauty Champion and the two Show Champion titles CIB for 'non-working breeds' and CIE for 'working breeds’.
(3) Winners of Junior Dog and Junior Bitch classes, plus the Best Dog and the Best Bitch at nominated shows in overseas countries as listed on the Crufts website.
(4) Winners of Junior Dog and Junior Bitch classes, plus CACIB Dog and CACIB Bitch at the World Dog Show 2022. Winners of Junior Dog, Junior Bitch, Veteran Dog, Veteran Bitch plus CACIB Dog and CACIB Bitch at the European Dog Show in 2022.
(5) USA – (to be confirmed) Winners of Best of Breed, Best of Opposite, Awards of Excellence at the AKC National Championship, December 2022 and in addition, Best of Breed, Best of Opposite, Grand Champion Select Dog and Bitch, Awards of Merit Winners (if offered) and Best Bred by Exhibitor (if offered), at one National Breed Specialty show per breed chosen by the parent breed club and agreed by the AKC.
(6) CANADA - The top five dogs from each breed according to the Top Show Dog point system, as well as the Best of Breed, Best of Opposite, Select Dog, Select Bitch and Award of Merit Winners at the National Specialties agreed by the Canadian Kennel Club.
(7) AUSTRALIA – (to be confirmed) Shows have been nominated for 2023 in each of the eight states. Winners of Junior Dog and Junior Bitch classes, plus the Best Dog and the Best Bitch to qualify at each show.
(8) JAPAN – Winners of Best Dog of each breed (BOB Dog) and Best Bitch of each breed (BOB Bitch), as well as Best Puppy Dog of each breed (BPOB Dog) and Best Puppy Bitch of each breed (BPOB Bitch) at the FCI Japan International Show 2022, 2 & 3 April, Tokyo (JKC Sakura Annual Show).
(9) NEW ZEALAND – (to be confirmed) Winners of Junior Dog and Junior Bitch classes, plus the Best Dog and Best Bitch to qualify from the NZKC National Show.
(10) GUERNSEY – (to be confirmed) All Group Winners, Best Puppy in Show, Reserve Best Puppy in Show, Best Veteran in Show plus Best Junior in Show from the Spring, Autumn and Winter Open Shows in 2022.
(11) JERSEY – All Group Winners, All Puppy Group Winners, All Junior Group Winners plus Best Veteran in Show from three nominated Championship Shows in 2022.
(12) HONG KONG – (to be confirmed) Winners of CAC Dog and CAC Bitch for all Kennel Club recognised breeds from the 255th & 258th All Breed Championship Dog Show, in 2022.
(13) SOUTH AFRICA – All Challenge Certificate (CC’s) and Best of Breed (BOB) winners at the KUSA Championship Show 2022 (29 May)
(14) IRELAND – Winners of Best Junior Dog, Best Junior Bitch, Best Dog and Best Bitch in each Kennel Club recognised breed from the Celtic Winners Show on Saturday 19 March 2022 and the National Centenary Show on Sunday 2 October 2022.

Notes on qualifications

A breed class is a class confined to one breed.
Awards as above qualify a dog for entry at Crufts 2023 only if the class in which the award was gained was not made ‘Special’ in any way, i.e. by age, colour, height, weight, coat, to members of a society, to breeders etc. Wins in sweepstake classes do not qualify, nor do wins in any classes other than those stated above.
Junior and Veteran Champion titles are not recognised by The Kennel Club
In any class scheduled at Crufts 2023 for which an age limit appears in the definition the age is calculated to 9 March 2023.
No entries will be accepted ‘Not for Competition’.
Dogs qualifying after 9 January 2023 can only be entered online.
For a full list of overseas qualifying shows please go to crufts.org.uk.

Competing in the UK
Competing with docked or cropped dogs in the UK

Docked Dogs - Under law, no docked dogs are permitted to be shown at Crufts.
Cropping - No dog with cropped ears is eligible to compete at any Kennel Club licensed event.

Bringing dogs into the UK
Crufts exhibitors must ensure that their dogs fully comply with the entry rules for bringing dogs into the UK. In the case of dogs being brought from some countries, this will involve a process which can take a number of months to complete prior to travel to the UK and Crufts.

Find further details.
Please note: Birmingham Airport is not a legal point of entry into the UK for those travelling with dogs. Please ensure you come into the UK via an approved route. Read more guidance.

Postal entries close on Monday 9 January 2023.

Online entries close on Monday 23 January 2023.