Q.    Could the Kennel Club explain its reasoning for this Veterinary check when
an accredited expert, the Judge, has already agreed to penalise any features or exaggerations they would consider detrimental to the soundness, health and wellbeing of the dog?
A.    The decision to implement Veterinary checks was taken by the General Committee on the advice of the Kennel Club Dog Health Group, in order to ensure that the high profile breeds, all of which suffer from health issues associated with exaggerated conformation and as a result attract the greatest criticism, do not bring the whole hobby of dog showing into disrepute.

The purpose of the Veterinary check is for the Vet to look for visible conditions causing pain or discomfort under the headings; externally visible eye disease, lameness, dermatological / skin disorders and respiratory / breathing difficulty.

This will be a Veterinary observation and opinion at the time, for the purpose of establishing whether the dog is fit to continue on to the group competition on the day. It is not intended in any way for Vets to act as a Show Judge of conformation. For example, Vets will not assess gait in relation to conformational inadequacies.

This acts as an independent verification of the absence of clinical signs affecting the health and wellbeing or soundness of the animal associated with exaggeration of conformation.

A Judge in the first instance should note clinical signs associated with exaggerations and penalise excessive exaggeration. This is a subjective view based on experience. The Veterinary check ensures that the Judge has not permitted a dog with clinical signs to enter the ring for the Group Competition.

The clinical signs include:

• Lameness – including ‘hopping’
• Inappropriate temperament whether this is excessive timidity or aggression
• A discharge from one or both eyes or any signs of discomfort in either eye especially if associated with poor eyelid conformation
• Obvious breathing difficulty
• Obvious skin or ear irritation or inflammation

Q.    This procedure could lead to a considerable loss of entries by exhibitors who do not want their dog to undergo a Veterinary check. Shouldn’t the Kennel Club look for a different approach?
A.    This is part of an overall approach and it is the Kennel Club’s view that if exhibitors are not prepared to accept a Veterinary inspection; this has to be their decision. Feedback so far from the high profile breeds has not indicated this to be a problem since exhibitors believe their dogs to be healthy. The focus should at all times be on the health and welfare of the dogs.

Q.    What is the purpose of the Veterinary check?
A.    The dog declared Best of Breed / Best Any Variety Not Separately Classified from a breed designated by the Kennel Club as a High Profile Breed is not eligible to compete in the Group competition unless it has passed an examination by the Show’s Veterinary Surgeon. The Veterinary check is necessary in order to satisfy the eligibility requirements for the Group competition. The Veterinary check is also required for confirmation of a Champion Award.

Q.    What will the Vet look for?
A.    The Vet will be checking for obvious signs of ill health and especially for signs of eye discomfort or inflammation, lameness, respiratory difficulty and skin inflammation and no special diagnostic aids will be used so all of these signs of ill health would be noticeable by the Judge. Championship level Judges have a minimum of 7 years judging experience as well as significant experience as exhibitors and breeders; therefore, the Kennel Club is confident that Judges are able to recognise visible conditions which may cause health and welfare concerns i.e. lameness, painful sore eyes, skin irritations and obvious respiratory problems.

Show Society

Veterinary Health Checks for High Profile Breeds - Show Society Information

Veterinary Health Checks for High Profile Breeds - Veterinary Surgeon Information

Q.    Will the Kennel Club be nominating the Vet to carry out these checks?
A.     No, it will be the responsibility of the Vet appointed by the Show Society to carry out the checks.

Q.    What if a Show Vet advises he will increase his fee to do these checks, will the Kennel Club be making a contribution towards the cost?
A.    This fee is between the Vet and the Show Society to arrange. If Vets are not currently charging for their services, it is understandable that they might now charge for the additional work. Some Vets could charge a nominal fee to sign the Veterinary check form. However, those already being paid may choose not to increase their fee, or may avoid increasing the fee until they understand how much extra work is involved.

Q.    Can the Show Society appoint a different Vet for the Best of Breed checks?
A.    Yes, but the Vet must have received the Kennel Club briefing for this task.

Q.    Some Shows may change a Show Vet or some Vets may not have been able to attend the Kennel Club briefing. Will the Kennel Club provide Societies with an information pack to be used by the Show, detailing those conditions which need to be checked for each breed?
A.    Yes, Show Societies will have an information pack which is available from the
Canine Activities Department; however as far as possible Vets should receive a briefing from the Kennel Club.

Q.    What if the appointed Vet cannot attend on the day of the Show?
A.    Show Societies are required to have Veterinary cover at the Show and therefore a Vet will have to be appointed.

Q.    What happens if there is no Vet at the Show or the Veterinary check cannot be conducted in time for the Group?
A.    Without a successful Veterinary check the Best of Breed is ineligible for the Group Competition.

Q.    Would owners be required to provide ID to prove the dog presented for the check is the correct dog?
A.    There is an expectation that the exhibitors will not compromise their integrity. However, the Vet could, if they wished, scan the dog for a microchip and record the number.

Q.    When checking for movement, does the dog have to be examined on the same type of surface as it was moved for the Judge?
A.    No. The surface should be selected by the Veterinary Surgeon to allow him/her to make a reasonable assessment of soundness of movement.

Q.    It may prove difficult for some societies to provide an area suitably private for the Veterinary check to take place. Shows will not wish to spend money on hiring specific undercover areas in which to carry out checks, and at some venues it may not even be possible to do so.
A.    This has not proved a problem at Crufts where space is always at a premium. It is not expected that this will prove an issue.

Q.    Will Specimen Schedules carry the new Show Regulations?
A.    Yes, Specimen Schedules and the amended Rules & Regulations are available from the Kennel Club website.

Q.    Can this system be put into operation without it being included in the Schedule? Some Schedules for Shows post Crufts will already have gone to print. What does the Society do if an exhibitor refuses to submit to the Veterinary check because this requirement is not in the Schedule?
A.    The new Show Regulations are effective from 01 March 2012 and therefore exhibitors and Show Societies are required to abide by these regulations from this date. Anyone believed to be in breach of these regulations should be reported to the Kennel Club for follow up. In any event the Best of Breed award can only be confirmed following a veterinary examination.

Q.    Are there legal grounds to sue in the case of a dog failing the Veterinary check?
A.    The exhibitor by virtue of being bound by Kennel Club Rules and Regulations has signed up to the Veterinary check procedure. The exhibitor is contractually bound to permit the Veterinary check, but there is no direct contract between the Vet and the exhibitor.

The basis upon which legal action can be brought is usually (breach of) contract or negligence (breach of duty of care). The contract with the Vet is between the Society or the Kennel Club not the exhibitor. The veterinary opinion and observation is being sought by and given to the Society or the Kennel Club.  It is important to understand that the examination is not intended as a Veterinary diagnosis upon which an exhibitor should rely.  In the event that a Vet highlights concerns, the exhibitor is strongly recommended to seek his or her own independent veterinary advice after the Show.

Q.    Are there any guidelines on avoiding confrontation?
A.    Show Societies should impose the usual escalation & disputes procedure. Abusive behaviour should be reported to the Kennel Club for follow up.

Society/Exhibitor

Q.    How many people can be present at the examination?
A.    Only the Vet, owner and / or handler and a Show Official. It is preferable for the Show Society to have a Show Official present when the check is carried out. If there are multiple owners, a lead owner or nominated person should be present. The exhibitors should be respectful of a request from the Vet that only one owner is present for the examination. It may be difficult for the Vet to complete an effective examination with a large number of people present.

Q.    Who receives a copy of the results?
A.    The Kennel Club, Vet and Exhibitor.

Q.    Can a Veterinary check be done more than once i.e. if a dog fails at one Show, can it be re-examined at a subsequent Show in order to have its Champion status confirmed?
A.    Yes. There are any number of reasons why a dog could fail its Veterinary check at one Show but be fit enough to pass at its next Show. Each time a dog is selected as Best of Breed it will require an examination. Therefore a dog may pass an examination but fail a similar examination at a later show.

Q.    Will Societies have to accept requests for Veterinary checks for CC winners which have not previously undergone a Veterinary check for confirmation of a Champion Award?
A.    Yes, this can be done after the second CC has been awarded.

Q.    Must Show Societies allow an unentered dog into a Show so that the dog may undergo a Veterinary check for confirmation of its Champion Award?
A.    This is at the Show Society’s discretion. However, it is expected that Societies will not prevent dog owners from undergoing a Veterinary check. Show Societies are advised to admit these dogs to the Show using the Spectator Dog entry form.

Q.    If the dog fails the check, is it still Best of Breed?
A.    No, for High Profile Breeds confirmation of the Best of Breed award is dependent on a successful Veterinary check.

Q.    If the Best of Breed withdraws before the Group competition, should the Kennel Club be notified?
A.    Yes, the withdrawal should be noted in the Show Report.

Q.    If the exhibitor keeps a Best of Breed rosette, could they not falsely advertise that the Best of Breed was received?
A.    The exhibitor must return the rosette along with the Best of Breed card. It will be given back to them if the dog successfully passes the Veterinary check.

Exhibitor

Veterinary Health Checks for High Profile Breeds - Exhibitor Information

Q.    Is it possible for the check to be carried out after the Group competition?
A.    The Veterinary check must be carried out prior to the dog going into the Group ring. The new Show Regulations are explicit that for eligibility for the Group, a dog must have successfully passed a Veterinary check.

Q.    Can a dog still be exhibited in the other classes it has entered if it fails the Veterinary check?
A.    Yes. The Veterinary check only affects eligibility for Best of Breed, the Group competition and Champion status.

Q.    How many times can a dog fail a health check?
A.    The Kennel Club will be monitoring reports on Veterinary checks, especially those reporting failures and will be in correspondence with exhibitors. It is expected that exhibitors will take a responsible attitude and in the event of a number of failures, will not continue to exhibit the dog in question.
 
Q.    Is the Challenge Certificate affected?
A.    No, not at this time. The CC will not be disqualified in the event of a failed Veterinary check. However, it does affect confirmation of Champion status.

Q.    Is there an appeal procedure if the Judge and / or Exhibitor disagree with the Vet?
A.    The Show Regulations state that the Vet’s decision is final. There is no process to appeal the Vet’s decision.

Q.    What is the level of confidentiality on the results of the Veterinary checks?
A.    The matter shall be kept confidential between the relevant parties. If the exhibitor is approached, what they allow to become public knowledge is at their discretion but the Vet and Show Society must keep the reason for failure to pass the examination confidential.

Q.    Will details of failed checks be published?
A.    No, the details of a failed Veterinary check will be kept confidential but any Best of Breed not awarded will be annotated in the Kennel Club Stud Book.

Q.    What will be published on Show result websites?
A.    If a dog has failed the Veterinary check, the Best of Breed should be published as ‘Not Awarded’.

Judge

Q.    Can the Judge be present at the examination?
A.    No.

Q.    Should the Best of Breed card be withheld until after the Veterinary check is complete?
A.    Yes it must be; the award is invalid until a successful Veterinary check has been completed.

Q.    Can the Judge still hand out the Best of Breed card as is custom and practise?
A.    Yes, but the card and rosette should be collected back in and be completed and signed by the Judge then retained either by a Show Official or the Show Secretary. They are then only handed over to the exhibitor if the dog successfully passes the Veterinary check.

Q.    In the event of an unsuccessful Veterinary check what follow up will there be from the Kennel Club regarding the Judge and / or Exhibitor?
A.    The Kennel Club will write to the Judge with details of why the dog failed the check and request the Judge’s comments. The Regulations have been amended to allow the Judge to withhold the Best of Breed if there are visible conditions which may cause health or welfare concerns.

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