New Online Agility Judging Film And Exam Added To Kennel Club Academy: Compulsory For First-Time Judges

The Kennel Club has added a new resource for the education of agility judges to the Kennel Club Academy, its online educational facility. The ‘Requirements of an Agility Judge’ resource is made up of a film and examination and is supported by Kennel Club Regulations and guidance.

From 1st July 2017 it is mandatory for all aspiring agility judges to demonstrate that they have undertaken the necessary education and passed the subsequent online examination prior to their first appointment. 

This latest addition to the Academy follows swiftly on from the launch of the Kennel Club’s Conformation and Movement resource which has received favourable reviews within the canine community and will prove to be a valuable tool to subscribers as it provides a unique insight into canine form and function – a crucial factor in ensuring that dogs are ‘Fit for Function’ for any disciplines undertaken.

The ‘Requirements of an Agility Judge’ course forms one part of the Agility Judges Training Programme and is aimed primarily at aspiring agility judges.  It also acts as a refresher and support base for existing judges regarding procedures and practical aspects of judging.

Once a judge has watched the film and passed the online examination, they will be eligible to attend a Kennel Club agility judging practical seminar and take the subsequent assessment, conducted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer.

The film covers the following areas:

  • Introduction to judging – regulations and obligations to competitors
  • Guidelines for agility judges – integrity, responsibilities to the competitor and show management
  • Understanding the eligibility criteria to judge at Kennel Club licensed shows
  • Invitation to judge
  • Preparing for a show
  • Prior to judging
  • At a show
  • Mentoring

Subscribers to the Kennel Club Academy are advised to read the following resources in conjunction with watching the film before taking the online examination:

  • Kennel Club Agility ‘H’ Regulations
  • Guide for Agility Judges and Stewards
  • Judges Guide to Agility Equipment (including course measuring and matrix)
  • Guideline for Owners and Handlers with Dogs Taking Part in Canine Activities
  • Kennel Club Code of Conduct

Dave Jolly, Kennel Club Accredited Trainer, said: “A lot of hard work has gone into creating this new agility learning resource, which will be an important online resource for all judges and my fellow Kennel Club Accredited Trainers. It is there to complement and support the delivery of the practical elements for the assessments conducted by Accredited Trainers. The film provides pre-learning ahead of the mandatory online agility judging seminars and further acts as a refresher.”

Gerald King, Chairman of the Kennel Club Training Board, said: “This resource is an exciting development which will be a valuable learning aid going forward. We want to thank everyone involved including our experts on the Activities Judges Working Party who have been invaluable in producing this film.”

This latest addition to the Judges Education section of the Kennel Club Academy supports the other resources which are already available, including the Conformation and Movement film and the Points of the Dog drag and drop exercise. Other films hosted include the ‘Requirements of a Dog Show Judge’, ‘Ring Stewarding’, Breed Health Monitoring Forms and a number of breed-specific productions. Further resources provide information on canine health and breeding.

The Kennel Club Academy costs just £26 for one year's access to all of the Judges Education resources, including new resources which the Kennel Club will continue to add over the next 12 months. Visit the Academy for more information.