Kennel Club breed standards reviewed to ensure clarity and consistency

Engagement begins over new terminology that improves clarity of expectation around health, colour and temperament

The Kennel Club has produced standardised definitions for common terminology in breed standards, to ensure that they are used and interpreted consistently, and is now engaging with breed clubs about a number of amendments to individual standards that are proposed as a result. These include amendments to consistently describe any features that could be detrimental to a dog’s health as ‘unacceptable’.

The Breed Standards and Stud Book Committee [BSSB] has reviewed the usage of commonly occurring terminology in standards, used to describe the desirability or otherwise of a specific trait, in order to provide greater clarity of meaning and consistency across all breeds. A table of definitions has been produced to standardise how words such as desirable, acceptable, permissible, tolerated, undesirable and unacceptable are used in Kennel Club breed standards, which should be a useful guide to judges.

As a result of this work, amendments are proposed to many breed standards. This includes reviewing the terminology used to describe features that are detrimental to health or temperament, with ‘unacceptable’ being the consistent word now being used to describe such features.

Similarly, upon the recommendation of the Non-Breed Standard Colours Working Party, and following feedback from breed clubs, amendments have been proposed to the colour clauses of a number of breed standards, in line with the new table of definitions, to make it clear which colours are desirable and which are a departure.

The Kennel Club is now engaging with the relevant registered breed clubs about the proposed amendments. Breed clubs are being contacted directly and invited to give their initial feedback and raise any significant concerns with The Kennel Club, via their breed club secretary, by 31 January 2025. The earliest date at which any of the proposed amendments to the breed standards would become effective, would be 1 April 2025.

Additionally, the opening paragraph in all Kennel Club breed standards – which clearly underlines the importance of soundness and health when breeding and judging dogs – has been revised to align with the table of definitions as follows: 

‘If a feature or quality is desirable it should only be present in the right measure. However, if a dog possesses a feature, characteristic or colour described as highly undesirable unacceptable, it must not be rewarded in the show ring.’

(Deletion struck through, Addition in bold)

(Effective from 1 January 2025)

Tim Hutchings, Chairman of the Breed Standards and Stud Book Committee, said: “We will be engaging with breed clubs over the coming months about the proposed amendments to the breed standards, which The Kennel Club has carefully reviewed to ensure the terminology used is clear and consistent across the board.

“This will also help those showing and judging dogs, so that there is absolute clarity and consistency in the terms used to describe features that are unacceptable, which include those that can be linked to poor health or temperament.

“We have proposed new wording to colour clauses to emphasise the importance of breed standard colours and to make a clear distinction between those colours which are desirable and those which are a severe departure from the breed standard.

“We look forward to engaging with breed clubs over the coming months and introducing amendments that will help to ensure that the terminology in breed standards is clear and consistent for judges and breeders alike.”

The new table of definitions, which has resulted in proposed amendments to a number of breed standards, is as follows: