Kennel Club Reiterates Importance of Filling Out Entry Forms Correctly

The Kennel Club would like to issue a further reminder to exhibitors about the importance of filling out entry forms accurately.

Over the past year, the Kennel Club has seen an increase in the number of awards which have had to be disqualified through exhibitors providing incorrect information. Situations such as these are not only disappointing for exhibitors, but also for judges and show societies, and are completely avoidable if exhibitors take extra care and time when filling out entry forms.

A recent spate of disqualifications is particularly regrettable as it has occurred in the wake of previous advice issued to exhibitors on the correct way to complete an entry form.

It is especially important that exhibitors enter their dog only in the class for which it is eligible. They should always read the show schedule very carefully and, if in any doubt at all, either contact the Kennel Club for guidance or enter their dog in the open class, which by definition is open to all.

Exhibitors can double-check their own dogs’ details, including dates of birth and parentage, by logging on to the Kennel Club’s online MyKC facility at www.mykc.org.uk.

Now that the Kennel Club is working more closely with show data providers, such as Fosse Data and Higham Press, it is more important than ever that the information on entry forms is accurate. If there are any discrepancies between an exhibitor’s address on the Kennel Club database and that listed in a show catalogue for example, this could result in a delay in sending out Challenge Certificates and other awards.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “In this fast-moving digital age, we hope that the way awards are processed at the Kennel Club will become more streamlined in the foreseeable future.  But we need exhibitors to do their bit and help in this process. With fewer errors in catalogues, we hope to get to the stage where certificates are sent out within a matter of days after a show, but this will not be possible where exhibitors provide incorrect information.

“With the recent changes to the definition of the Mid Limit and Limit classes at breed shows, it is more important than ever that exhibitors make every effort to understand which classes their dog may compete in and which classes they may not. Getting this right will save any disappointment further down the track.”