Dog Show Classifications

The information on this page is taken from the Kennel Club Document "showregs.pdf". This information is an abbreviated extract. Please see the source document for full details - the classifications are on page 37. This page amended November 2013.

In the following definitions:
* applies to Championship and Open Shows only.
** applies to Limited Shows only.

MINOR PUPPY For dogs of 6 and not exceeding 9 calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.


PUPPY For dogs of 6 and not exceeding 12 calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.


JUNIOR For dogs of 6 and not exceeding 18 calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.


YEARLING For dogs of twelve and not exceeding twenty-four calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.

MAIDEN * For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or a First Prize at an Open or Championship Show (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
** For dogs which have not won a First Prize at any Show (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted whether restricted or not).

NOVICE * For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or 3 or more First Prizes at Open and Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
** For dogs which have not won 3 or more First Prizes at any Show (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy,whether restricted or not).

TYRO * For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or 5 or more First Prizes at Open and Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
** For dogs which have not won 5 or more First Prizes at any Show (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

DEBUTANT * For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or a First Prize at a Championship Show where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy, Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
** For dogs which have not won a First Prize at an Open or Championship Show (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

UNDERGRADUATE * For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or 3 or more First Prizes at Championship Shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
** For dogs which have not won 3 or more First Prize at Open or Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

GRADUATE * For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or 4 or more First Prizes at Championship Shows in Graduate, Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes, whether restricted or not where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
** For dogs which have not won 4 or more First Prizes at Open or Championship Shows in Graduate, Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes, whether restricted or not.

POST GRADUATE * For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or 5 or more First Prizes at Championship Shows in Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes, whether restricted or not where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
** For dogs which have not won 5 or more First Prizes at Championship and Open Shows in Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes, whether restricted or not.

MINOR LIMIT * For dogs which have not won 2 Challenge Certificates or three or more First Prizes in all at Championship Shows in Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not at Shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
** For dogs which have not won 3 or more First Prizes in all at Open and Championship Shows in Minor Limit,Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not.

MID LIMIT * For dogs which have not become show Champions under Kennel Club Regulations or under the rules of any governing body recognised by the Kennel Club or won five or more First Prizes in all at Championship Shows in Mid Limit, Limit or Open Classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not, at shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
** For dogs which have not won 5 or more First Prizes in all at Open and Championship Shows in Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not.

LIMIT * For dogs which have not become show Champions under Kennel Club Regulations or under the rules of any governing body recognised by the Kennel Club or won 7 or more First Prizes in all, at Championship Shows in Limit or Open Classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not at shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
** For dogs which have not won 7 or more First Prizes in all at Open and Championship Shows in Limit and Open Classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not.

OPEN * For all dogs of the breed for which the class is provided and eligible for entry at the Show.

VETERAN For dogs of not less than 7 years of age on the first day of the Show.

CHAMPION For dogs which have been confirmed a Champion, Show Champion or Field Trial Champion. Champion Classes may not be scheduled for individual breeds or varieties of breeds.

BREEDS Confined to those breeds not granted Challenge Certificates in the current year, with the exception of those breeds whose registration is confined to the Imported Register.

FIELD TRIAL For dogs which have won an award, Diploma of Merit or Certificate of Merit in actual competition at a Field Trial held under Kennel Club or Irish Kennel Club Field Trial Regulations.

WORKING TRIAL For dogs which have won an award in competition at a Bloodhound Working Trial and Kennel Club licensed Working Trials, held under Kennel Club Regulations.

STUD DOG For stud dogs and at least two progeny of which only the progeny must be entered and exhibited in a breed class at the Show.

BROOD BITCH For brood bitches and at least 2 progeny of which only the progeny must be entered and exhibited in a breed class at the Show.

PROGENY For a dog or bitch, accompanied by at least three of its registered progeny. The dog or bitch not necessarily entered in another class however, all progeny having been entered and exhibited in another class. The dog or bitch and the progeny need not be registered in the same ownership.

BRACE For 2 exhibits (either sex or mixed) or one breed belonging to the same exhibitor, each exhibit having been entered in some class other than Brace or Team.

TEAM For 3 or more exhibits (either sex or mixed) of one breed belonging to the same exhibitor, each exhibit having been entered in some class other than Brace or Team.

BREEDERS For dogs bred by the exhibitor.

IMPORTED REGISTER For breeds confined to the Imported Breeds Register and only when an Interim Breed Standard has been published by the Kennel Club. Such breeds may be exhibited in this class only, and are ineligible for any other competition whatsoever.

ANY VARIETY NOT CLASSIFIED For breeds of dog for which no separate breed classes are SEPARATELY scheduled.

Qualification for Crufts

The list of qualifications for Crufts (2014) may be viewed at http://www.crufts.org.uk/qualification-crufts-2014.

A very generalised, incomplete,summary is:

Please consult the Crufts site for a complete list.