Dear Breed Education Coordinators and Club Secretaries,
You will doubtlessly be aware that Judges Education Programme (JEP) has sparked lots of feedback from the dog showing community. In response to this feedback, the Judges Committee recommended to the Kennel Club Board that four changes to the transition from the traditional route to the Judges Education Programme (Breed Shows) be implemented.
These adjustments address the concerns raised by our community and improve the overall experience for judges as they progress.
The Judges Education team is in the process of updating our website to reflect the following changes, which are effective immediately:
Group and Best in Show judges
Existing Group and Best in Show judges will not be required to take and pass Eye for a Dog assessment for further breed nominations via the traditional questionnaire route, within the Groups they are already approved to judge.
Transition to JEP via traditional nominations – extended by 12 months The Kennel Club judges department will now accept nominations via the traditional questionnaire route until 31 December 2026 for shows up to 31 December 2028.
Judges progressing via a questionnaire for a breed are not required to have taken and passed Eye for a Dog while the traditional route remains open until 31 December 2026.
Grandfathering/A2 route
The cut-off date for grandfathering and A2 applications for breeds will remain 31 December 2025, as previously announced. No grandfathering or A2 applications will be accepted after this date. The previously agreed changes to Grandfathering remain in place*.
Ongoing review
The Kennel Club Board also agreed to carry out a wider educational review of the Judges Education Programme to ensure it meets its objectives of improving judging standards for all exhibitors and meets the demand for capable judges in the future.
Further information
More information about the Judges Education Programme can be found on our website. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Helen Kerfoot, Chief Canine Officer at The Kennel Club.
Judges are to note that there will be no further extensions to any JEP deadlines.
Yours faithfully,
Helen Kerfoot
Chief Canine Officer
*Grandfathering is not allowed for Groups and Best in Show (JEP criteria apply for those categories). Judges must be on at least 50% of breed clubs’ A3 lists. Judges must complete Eye for a Dog assessment for 4th or subsequent breed.