Since the end of 2007 the Kennel Club has been actively monitoring the judging of breeds considered to be affected by potentially significant health issues. This monitoring has taken the form of observing judging and by receiving written reports from judges on their findings.  All these reports are considered by the Judges Sub-Committee and in some instances judges have been asked to comment further on the views they have formed of the breed’s virtues and weaknesses.

In order to support and enforce the work the Kennel Club is doing to safeguard and improve canine health and welfare generally, and to support its monitoring of breeds as described above in particular, it is evident that there should be a clear statement in the Show Regulations that only dogs without any visible condition which adversely affects their health or welfare should be exhibited.

To this end a regulation has been added to the Kennel Club Regulations which clearly sets out the General Committee’s health and welfare standards for entry to dog shows.  Having set out these standards, the General Committee has also added regulations which give authority for these standards to be enforced.

The new regulations, all of which are introduced with immediate effect, outline that show officials, Kennel Club officials and judges are required to take responsibility, as far as is reasonably possible, to ensure that only obviously healthy dogs are being exhibited and thereby given awards at shows.

This does not of course mean that show officials must check all dogs entered – but it does require them to refer to the show veterinary surgeon any exhibits which they believe have been justifiably brought to their attention as allegedly being in contravention of the new regulation.  This follows a broadly similar process applied to a dog reported to be suffering from a contagious or infectious disease.  Should such a report be received, the dog must be referred to the show veterinary surgeon for him/her to determine whether the report is valid. If the allegation is upheld the dog must be excluded from subsequent competition at the show.  The new regulations give authority for this action to be taken. The veterinary surgeon’s decision is final and a written report must be forwarded to the Kennel Club for consideration.

Regulation changes have been introduced to give similar authority for the judge to exclude a dog from the ring if, in his/her opinion, it is similarly obviously unhealthy. Under these circumstances the judge’s decision is final and the dog does not need to be referred to the show veterinary surgeon.

In both instances the dog may remain within the precincts of the show to allow, for example, for the exhibitor to compete with other dogs he/she may have entered, but the dog cannot be exhibited in any other subsequent classes or for any other show awards even if these are judged by different judge(s). 

In drafting these regulations the General Committee accepted that there are many licensed shows which do not have a veterinary surgeon in attendance, and accepted that the upholding of its canine health and welfare standards at these shows would therefore rest entirely with the appointed judge(s).

The following regulation amendments are effective immediately;

F(1)16.  Exhibition of Dogs Suffering from Contagious or Infectious Disease or Any Visible Condition which adversely affects their Health or Welfare.

No dog suffering from any infectious or contagious disease or having been exposed to such disease during the period of 21 days prior to the Show or suffering from any visible condition which adversely affects its health or welfare may be exhibited.  Exhibitors infringing this Regulation will be liable to be fined and/or to be dealt with under Kennel Club Rule A42.

Regulation F(1) 15 - Exclusion of Dogs

Add new sub-paragraphs

a.         If in the opinion of the Show Secretary, Show Manager, or Judge any dog is considered not in a fit state for exhibition owning to disease, savage disposition, or any other cause, the dog may be excluded or removed from the Show on the instruction of the Show Management.  Once excluded or removed from the Show the dog must not be brought into the Show at any time under any circumstances

b.                  If in the opinion of the Show Secretary, Show Manager or duly appointed official of the Kennel Club any dog is suffering from a visible condition which adversely affects its health or welfare the dog must be examined by the Veterinary Surgeon of the Show to establish the validity of the allegation.  The Veterinary Surgeon’s opinion shall be final and if the allegation is upheld, the dog shall be excluded from all subsequent competition at the Show. 

c.                  A full report on any exclusion(s) must be made by the Show Secretary to the Kennel Club for consideration within 7 days of the close of the show.

Amendments underlined

F(1)21n. Judges and Judging

n.         Judges may exclude any dog from the ring if it is considered not in a fit state for exhibition owning to savage disposition or suffering from any visible condition which adversely affects its health or welfare­ and the exclusion must be reported immediately by the judge/steward to the Show Secretary.  The judge’s decision is final and the dog shall be excluded from all subsequent competition at the Show. The judge must make a report to the Show Secretary at the first opportunity after the Show.

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Dog Health and DNA, Judging 

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