JUDGES EDUCATION PROGRAMME

JEP CRITERIA.

A new system has been developed for the education, approval and listing of every level of judge, from those who aspire to judge, right through to open show judges, plus those who go on to award Challenge Certificates, judge championship show groups and best in show.

The system has been designed taking into account the feedback received from exhibitors, show societies and judges.

The Judges Education Programme introduces a structured and logical approach to the training of judges, incorporating a step-by-step approach.

Kennel Club Regulations implementing the Judges Education Programme came into force on 1 January 2021. Seminars undertaken prior to this date can be accepted for use when progressing via the Judges Education Programme. However, judges are required to complete the criteria at each Judges Education Programme level before moving on to the next.

Stewarding is a requirement for both levels 1 and 3 and therefore a more fluid approach can be taken here.

LEVEL ONE

Requirements to meet this level:

Minimum of five years proven interest in pedigree dogs

Attend a Conformation and Movement seminar hosted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer

Complete a minimum of two full-day stewarding appointments

Attend a Requirements of a Dog Show Judge seminar and pass associated exam (either in person or online via Kennel Club Academy, exam effective from 1 January 2024)

Pass the Points of a Dog assessment conducted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer (effective from 1 January 2024)

Eligibility to judge

Up to three classes (four if one is a puppy class) for any breed at limited or open shows.

LEVEL TWO

Requirements to meet this level

First breed:

Attend a breed appreciation day (BAD) and pass a multiple-choice examination (MCE) for the respective breed.

View ring stewarding seminar and take online quiz.

Complete critique writing seminar and take online quiz.

Subsequent breeds

Attend a breed appreciation day (BAD) and pass a multiple-choice examination (MCE) for each breed.

Note: Not mandatory for group judge for breeds in the group that they are not approved at level 4, but attendance strongly recommended.

Eligibility to judge

Unlimited number of classes for the respective breed at limited, open or championship shows (no CCs).

Any variety classes, groups and best in show at limited shows.

LEVEL THREE

Requirements to meet this level

Undergo minimum of three mentoring sessions with a minimum of 12 months between first and third session

Be observed judging a breed club show, breed supported entry show or championship show without CCs once mentoring sessions have been undertaken

Complete remaining 10 full-day stewarding appointments (onetime qualification)

Have owned/bred a minimum of three dogs when they obtained their first entry in The Kennel Club Stud Book – save for exceptional circumstances (one-time qualification for first breed in which a judge awards CCs)

Attended the appropriate sub-group field trial/open gundog working test for first gundog breed or ring procedure at licensed shows (German Shepherd Dog education programme) online exam (one-time qualification)

Have achieved the relevant hands-on experience in line with the stated requirements for the relevant breed:

Breeds in this tier

Traditional route 30 DOGS JEP route 15 DOGS

Tier 1

Hound group: Basset Fauve De Bretagne, Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand), Bloodhound, Finnish Spitz, Greyhound, Ibizan Hound, Norwegian Elkhound, Otterhound, Pharaoh Hound

Gundog group: Brittany, German Wirehaired Pointer, Retriever (Chesapeake Bay), Retriever (Curly Coated), Spaniel (Clumber), Spaniel (Irish Water)

Terrier group: Australian Terrier, Cesky Terrier, Glen Of Imaal Terrier, Irish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Skye Terrier, Welsh Terrier

Utility group: Shar Pei

Pastoral group: Australian Cattle Dog, Collie (Smooth), Hungarian Puli, Norwegian Buhund, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Swedish Vallhund

Working group: Bouvier Des Flandres, Mastiff

Toy group: Lowchen (Little Lion Dog), Maltese

Tier 2 Tradional Route 40 dogs JEP Route 20 dogs

Hound group: Basenji, Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)

Gundog group: Bracco Italiano, Irish Red & White Setter, Large Munsterlander, Spaniel (American Cocker), Spaniel (Field), Spaniel (Sussex), Spanish Water Dog

Terrier group: Airedale Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Norfolk Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Scottish Terrier

Utility group: Akita, Keeshond, Schipperke, Schnauzer

Pastoral group: Briard, Finnish Lapphund, Lancashire Heeler, Pyrenean Mountain Dog

Working group: Giant Schnauzer, Portuguese Water Dog, St. Bernard, Tibetan Mastiff

Toy group: English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan), Griffon Bruxellois, Italian Greyhound, Pekingese

Tier 3 Traditional Route 70 dogs JEP Route 35 dogs

Hound group: Basset Hound, Borzoi, Deerhound, Irish Wolfhound, Saluki

Gundog group: German Shorthaired Pointer, Hungarian Vizsla, Hungarian Wire Haired Vizsla, Italian Spinone, Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)

Terrier group: Cairn Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, West Highland White Terrier

Utility group: Boston Terrier, Chow Chow, Japanese Shiba Inu, Japanese Spitz, Miniature Schnauzer

Pastoral group: Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd Dog, Old English Sheepdog, Samoyed, Welsh Corgi (Cardigan), Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)

Working group: Alaskan Malamute, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bullmastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Leonberger, Newfoundland, Siberian Husky

Toy group: Affenpinscher, Bichon Frise, Chinese Crested, Havanese, King Charles Spaniel, Miniature Pinscher, Yorkshire Terrier

Tier 4 Tradional Route 120 dogs JEP Route 60 dogs

Hound group: Afghan Hound, Beagle, Rhodesian Ridgeback

Gundog group: English Setter, Gordon Setter, Pointer, Spaniel (English Springer), Spaniel (Welsh Springer), Weimaraner

Utility group: Bulldog, Dalmatian, French Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier

Pastoral group: Bearded Collie, Border Collie, Collie (Rough), Shetland Sheepdog

Working group: Dobermann, Great Dane, Rottweiler

Toy group: Japanese Chin, Papillon, Pomeranian

Tier 5 Traditional Route 180 dogs JEP Route 90 dogs

Gundog group: Irish Setter, Retriever (Flat Coated), Spaniel (Cocker)

Terrier group: Border Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Working group: Boxer

Toy group: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Pug

Tier 6 Traditional Route 250 dogs JEP Route 125 dogs

Hound group: Whippet

Gundog group: Retriever (Golden), Retriever (Labrador)

All non-CC breeds are to be classed as tier 2 breeds with the exception of the Catalan Sheepdog, Greenland Dog, Estrela Mountain Dog, Hovawart, German Longhaired Pointer and Pyrenean Sheepdog (Long Haired), which are tier 1 breeds at the request of the breed clubs.

For those breeds with varieties:

Dachshund: 125 Dachshunds of any combination of the six varieties

Poodle: 75 Poodles of any combination of Poodle (Miniature), Poodle (Standard) and Poodle (Toy), which must include a minimum of 15 of each variety

German Spitz: 35 German Spitz of any combination of German Spitz (Klein) and German Spitz (Mittel)

Fox Terrier: 35 Fox Terriers of any combination of Fox Terrier (Smooth) and Fox Terrier (Wire)

Bull Terrier: 40 Bull Terriers of any combination of Bull Terrier and Bull Terrier (Miniature)

Belgian Shepherd Dog: 35 Belgian Shepherd Dogs, any combination of Groenendael, Tervueren, Malinois and Laekenois

Chihuahua: 100 Chihuahuas, any combination of Long Coat or Smooth Coat

The following types of event may be used to claim hands-on experience numbers:

Breed classes at championship shows without CCs

Breed classes at open shows

Breed classes at limited shows

Mock/training classes at breed club shows (practical judging days) – only one occasion can be claimed and a maximum of five dogs

Dogs judged at Kennel Club approved assessments, maximum of five dogs – only one occasion and a maximum of five dogs. Cannot be used in addition to mock classes

Dogs judged at inter or intra-club single-breed matches

Special award classes at breed club shows

Supported entry shows

Dogs judged at single breed dog of the year competitions

Overseas appointments

Dogs judged at the following types of event may not be included in a judge’s hands-on experience:

AVNSC and variety classes

At fun days

Conjointly with other judges at events where the candidate judge is not required to give independent judgment on the dogs

Any JEP mentoring sessions

Eligibility to judge

Unlimited number of classes for the respective breed at limited, open or championship shows (no CCs)

Any variety classes groups and best in show at limited shows

Level 4 CC judge

Requirements to meet this level

Attend and passed a breed-specific assessment for the specific breed run by The Kennel Club

Eligibility to judge

Award Challenge Certificates in the respective breed

Any variety classes, groups and best in show at open and limited shows