Please note that much of this information will be superseded over the next 3/4 years by the new Judges Competency Framework although all this information will remain valid until January 2022.
More details can be found under the Judges Competence Framework tab on the home page.
On this page
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Just starting
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Who can judge
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First time Challenge Certificate judges
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Kennel Club Judges Development Programme (JDP)
- Generic Application Form for Breed Club Lists
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What our members say ....
Just starting
Once anyone gets hooked on exhibiting it is not long before they begin to assess the dogs of other exhibitors both in the ring and from the ringside. They quickly learn that there is often a wide range of type in any given breed and through discussions with other enthusiasts begin to develop their own unique ideas about what the breed should look like. Inevitably many of these ideas are based on their own dogs for they are the ones that they see all the time. Unfortunately, few new owners coming into the world of dogs are lucky enough to have bought a puppy which is excellent in every respect and therefore an early lesson should be keep an open mind about what is considered correct in their breed.
There are three primary factors to be taken into consideration:
- conformation
- movement and
- breed type
All require considerable study if they are to provide a sound foundation on which expertise can be built. Much of this information can be gained from joining a breed club and as different clubs often have a different view of the breed it would be sensible to join more than one and preferably several if you can. It is also sensible to try and take an active part in the activities of the club, not just by exhibiting but by attending seminars and meetings and helping out in any way which would be useful. Joining breed/general canine focused message boards and social network sites can also be useful but be aware that there are problems with such sites for much of the chatter is distracting, peripheral and unimportant so they must be used and approached critically and intelligently. However if you are going to be a judge intelligence and the ability to critically analyse mentally and visually are essential qualities in any case!
You should certainly take one of the newspapers devoted to pedigree dogs either as hard copy or through the Internet. They not only provide a great deal of thoughtful discussion but, through their special supplements and Annuals, good quality information and photographs about breeds. It is important to build up a library of good quality information and pictures and also to learn about other breeds related to yours..
There are many books which you should have on your shelves if you are serious about judging dogs. They need to be read and studied and used as a ‘context’ for your discussions with individual exhibitors and breeders all of whom will have a personal view - which is likely to differ both from yours and from other enthusiasts. Picking your way through this minefield and coming to your own conclusions independently is an essential progression and learning curve for you. (There is a suggested reading list at the end of this article.)
For these reasons, although you may feel that you have a clear understanding of your breed it is worth taking your time before accepting a judging appointment. It also helps for you to have some success in the ring. The Kennel Club suggest that you should not feel ready to judge a breed for at least five years and in that time you should not just watch dogs but watch judges too.
People get involved in judging because they show that they are interested and active. This is why membership of both a breed and a general canine society is so important: it shows your commitment. You are much more likely to be asked if you are active, if you show and steward regularly and become involved through training/handling classes - where you will have an opportunity to practice and perhaps begin your career at Companion Dog Shows and Matches.
You can also take part in the Kennel Club Judges Training scheme at any time - you do not have to have judged at all. In fact, some believe that no one should begin judging unless they have completed the scheme and the Kennel Club will soon be setting out a new programme which all new judges will have to complete before they can judge at Open Shows. There is more information on the current scheme further down this page.
It is not considered ethical to either ask directly or write to secretaries putting yourself forward to judge but you can attend breed seminars and ask for an application form to join a club's judging list (Some breed clubs have the facility for you to download application forms direct from their web site and iJD also has a Generic Application Form for judging Lists which you can use) .
As you gain experience and when you feel confident, then take any opportunity offered. Professional musicians have a saying: ‘never refuse a gig – you never know who might be in the audience'. The same applies to judging. Good committee members and secretaries are on the lookout for those who show commitment, have confidence in the ring, generate good entries and demonstrate competence.
Becoming a member of I Judge Dogs is one way in which you can bring your name to the attention of those who are responsible for appointments. The section on your CV allows you to set out your credentials once you have had a judging appointment.
You could also take a correspondence course in the theory and practice of judging - The Judging Diploma. It is hard work but many well known judges have taken it and found it helpful. You can find full details by clicking this link.
Credibility as a judge cannot be created - it has to be earned. Whether we like it or not the process in the UK is slow - and exhibitors quickly recognise anyone who looks as though they are pushing too hard.
Recommended books
Experience is vital but books provide the foundation upon which knowledge is built. The following are those which have proved their value over many years. Some are out of print but are often available through Amazon, other Internet sites or through specialist canine booksellers.
Basic:
Good Judgement – Peggy Grayson
‘Take the Round Please’ - Tom Horner
‘Dog Steps’ - Rachael Page Elliot
Our Dogs plus Annuals and Breed Supplements
Dog World plus Annuals and Breed Supplements
Essential:
‘K9 Structure and Terminology’ by Edward Gilbert and Thelma Brown
‘An Eye for a Dog’ - Robert Cole
‘Canine Terminology’ - Harold Spira
Advanced
‘Dogs in Motion’ - Prof D Martin & Dr K Lilje
‘Dog Locomotion and Gait Analysis - Curtis Brown
‘The Science and Techniques of Judging Dogs’ - Robert Berndt
'Judging the Gundog Breeds' - Frank Kane (not just for Gundogs)
Find books about showing and judging through our bookstore by clicking on this link
Who can judge
At Matches, Limited and Open Shows where there are no more than three classes for a breed (or 5 classes if the Breed is in 'Band E') anyone can judge.
Then the following applies:
Kennel Club regulation F(1)b.(1) (b)
General Canine Society Championship and Open Shows - Affiliated Societies and Breed Club Open Shows.
(1) For non CC breeds at Championship shows and for General Canine Society Open Shows, Affiliated Organisations Open shows and Breed Club Open Shows scheduling more than three breed classes for a particular breed (five classes for Stud Book Band E breeds), the selected judge must, when appointed by the Club/Society, either:
(a) Have previously been approved to award CC's to the relevant breed and not have been declared ineligible to do so by the time of carrying out the appointment or
(b) Be included on a Breed Council/Breed Club B judges list or above.
In the latter case before accepting such an appointment, the selected judge must ensure that their name is included on a relevant Breed Council/Club judges list. Except:-
(i) Judges resident in Northern Ireland. Persons who are approved to award Green Stars under IKC rules and are resident in Northern Ireland are permitted to judge the above mentioned classes at KC licensed Championship and Open Shows held in Northern Ireland without being included on a Breed Council/Club judges list.
(ii) Overseas Judges. For non CC breeds at Championship Shows and for General Canine Society Open Shows, Affiliated Organisations Open Shows and Breed Club Open Shows the organising Club/Society must ensure that any overseas Judge appointed to judge more than three classes (five classes for Stud Book Band E breeds) has been approved to judge the breed concerned at Championship level in the country in which they are domiciled, or are on a KC registered Breed Club/Council B list or above for the breed concerned.
First time Challenge Certificate Judges
The Kennel Club requires the following mandatory requirements to have been achieved prior to a person being nominated to award with Challenge Certificates for the very first time. These new judges are required to:
- attend a Seminar on the Requirement of a Dog Show Judges (formery Regulations and Judging Procedures) and pass an exam delivered by an approved Kennel Club Accredited Trainer. The syllabus is based on Kennel Club Judges Regulations and the Kennel Club Guide for Judges.
- attend a Seminar on Conformation and Movement of a Dog delivered by an approved Kennel Club Accredited Trainer for Conformation and Movement.
- pass the Points of the Dog Assessment (formerly the Hands on Assessment of a Dog) conducted by specially trained Conformation and Movement Accredited Trainer.
- to have stewarded at 12 shows
- attended a bred specific seminar in the format approved by the Kennel Club
Details of seminars are usually hosted by a general or breed canine society and announced in the canine press under 'Forthcoming Events' and in The Kennel Gazette. Eevents are aso being listed on the iJD Seminar Calendar.
The Kennel Club Judges Development Programme (referred to as JDP throughout this site)
Eligibility to attend a Judges Development Programme
Judges wishing to attend a JDP Breed seminar must have:
- previously awarded CCs to at least three breeds within the relevant Group (i.e. the same group as the host Group) or
- previously awarded CCs to two breeds within the relevant Group (i.e. the same group as the host Group) and at least one CC in another Group, or
- been previously approved by the Kennel Club to judge a Group at Championship Show level.
Judges listed as having a Kennel Club Judges Development Programme Breed Credit meet the above criteria and have received a Breed Credit certificate.
These judges are, by virtue of their 'Breed Credit' exempt from Kennel Club regulation F(1)b.(1) (b) which require judges to be included on a breed council/club B judges list or above in order to judge more than three breed classes for the breed in question. This applies to open shows and to breeds without CCs at a championship show.
Generic Application Form for Breed Club Lists
What our members say
The original emails of all these quotes are available on request
'This endeavour is a big step forward for many judges that are not within the charmed circle, but have years of commitment to the world of dogs behind them. Such a wealth of knowledge is out there and this site will help Secretaries to expand their lists. Incidentally, I have received three judging offers in the past month!'
'I am secretary of 5 societies. Your site is brilliant and I find many knowledgable judges. Keep up the good work. Many thanks'
'I would like to thank you and register my support for your significant effort to create progression paths for aspiring judges. My husband and I love to judge and have been advancing slowly up the 'greasy pole'. This mail is just to acknowledgement your work and record my thanks.'
'I appreciate what a task you took on with the web site,it is a wonderful tool for show secretaries and I hope it will get the hits it deserves now. I have had 2 enquiries on the strength of it in the last month.'
‘Some people are of the opinion that you shouldn’t promote yourself as a Judge . However, I think the website is a good idea, particularly since many Show Secretaries do not seem to use the Club Judges lists'
'I just love the site - so very informative and links to very interesting articles'
‘I have used the site to select judges for our clubs' open shows, so know how useful it is to secretaries. I find the site easy to use and manipulate, and if I can use it with ease - anyone can.'
'The site is excellent and should, in time, become the bible for dog show secretaries. I hope it will used for securing a more diverse range of judges. My biggest criticism of the dog show world is that we have too many of the same judges appearing at show after show.'
'Great idea. I would like to join please'
'I would like to say a big thank you to I Judge Dogs - after been a member for under a month I have already received a judging appointment for next year'
'Great idea and I hope it takes off'
'Keep up the good work David!'
'Just wanted to say thank you for all your efforts.
Wishing you every success with the website as it develops.'
'A well thought out site and very user friendly. There have been many half-hearted attempts in the past to set up such a database but this is the first that has impressed me.'
