The Royal Kennel Club has approved the following changes to the regulations for dog shows held under F Regulations with effect from 1 January 2025.
Scheduling Best in Show
Following a recommendation from the Royal Kennel Club Shows Liaison Council that Best in Show should be the last competition of the show the Board has approved an amendment to regulations to state that Best in Show may be the last event if the society wishes to schedule the events in that order.
F(1)26
“Where a Best Puppy in Show competition is scheduled the Best Puppy in Show is a puppy which has been declared Best Puppy in Breed or Best Puppy in Group. A puppy is a dog of 6 and not exceeding 12 calendar months of age on the first day of the show. The selection of Best in Show may follow the selection of Best Puppy in Show and Best Veteran in Show (if scheduled) respectively”.
(Additions in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
F(1)26.c
“Consequently, selection of Best Puppy in Breed, Best Puppy in Group and Best Puppy in Show must follow the selection of Best of Breed, Best of Group and Best in Show respectively.”
(Deletions struck through)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Time frame between Best Puppy in Show appointments
The Royal Kennel Club Shows Liaison Council recommended that the same time frame be introduced between Best Puppy in Show appointments as is in place for Best in Show appointments. These appointments do not need approval by the Royal Kennel Club and will not appear on The Royal Kennel Club’s Find A Judge service.
F(1)22.d.
“(4) Judges for Best Puppy in Show (excluding single breed championship shows)
(a) There must be an interval of not less than 9 calendar months between appointments to judge Best Puppy in Show at a championship show.”
(Additions in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Definition of Undergraduate class
The Royal Kennel Club Breed Liaison Council recommended an amendment to the definition of the Undergraduate class to help clarify which dogs are eligible for the class.
Regulation F(A) Definitions of Classes at Championship, Open and Limited Shows:
* applies to championship and open shows only
** applies to limited shows only
UNDERGRADUATE
* For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate/CACIB/CAC/Green Star or 3 or more first prizes at championship shows in Undergraduate, Graduate, Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit or Open Classes whether restricted or not where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
** For dogs which have not won 3 or more first prizes at open or championship shows in Undergraduate, Graduate, Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit or Open Classes whether restricted or not (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
(Additions in bold, deletions struck through)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Penalties and Appeal Regulation
The Board has approved an amendment to regulations to state when an appeal may be lodged
F(1)34
Penalties
The Board shall have power to impose any of the following penalties upon any person for any breach of Royal Kennel Club Regulations subject to a right of appeal, notice of intention of which must be lodged within 14 days from the date on which the decision is given and subject to the prescribed appeals process as shall be determined by the Board from time to time.
- Warn
- Censure/Reprimand
- Apology directive (Conduct Regulation or the Control of Dog Regulation)
- Fine
- Award disqualified
In addition, the Board may make the following directives;
- A dog’s registration record may be marked ‘incident recorded’
- A dog’s registration record may be endorsed ‘not eligible for entry in any
event held under Royal Kennel Club Rules and Regulations, nor any unlicensed event recognised by the Royal Kennel Club.’
- 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 Royal Kennel Club licensed events may also be imposed in accordance with procedures to be published from time to time to implement this regulation.
The right of appeal against directives f) and g) listed above extends to an appeal on the finding of fact of a deliberate dog bite only, but does not extend to an appeal against those directives f) and g) in terms of cancellation or modification of such directives if there is a finding of fact of an intentional dog bite.
In the event of any fine not being paid, or non compliance with any apology directive issued within the time stipulated by the Board, then that person may, at the discretion of the Board, be dealt with as if a complaint under Royal Kennel Club Rule A11 had been lodged and proved to the satisfaction of the Board.
(Additions in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Handler Details
A regulation has been introduced which requires an exhibitor to provide contact details of a handler on request.
F1.h
An exhibitor or competitor should ensure that contact details for any handler are available and must be provided upon request in any investigation of a breach of this regulation by such handler.
(Additions in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2025)
Licence Application timeframes
Societies are reminded of the following regulation amendments which became effective on 1 July 2024 requiring licences to be applied for and paid for at least 12 months in advance of the show.
Regulation F8:
The application for a licence to hold a show must be made to the Secretary of the Royal Kennel Club at least 12 months before the proposed date of the show together with the appropriate licence fee. and must be accompanied by the appropriate licence fee.
(Additions in bold, Deletions struck through)
(Effective 1 July 2024)
Regulation F(1)1.a
Application
Application for show licences must be submitted at least 12 months six weeks before the proposed date of the show, properly completed in accordance with Royal Kennel Club General Show Regulation F4.
(Additions in bold, Deletions struck through)
(Effective 1 July 2024)
