Just a quick question, is the minimum age for companion shows 6 mths the same as open and champ? Thanks.

Yes it is.

technically yes it is 6 months, however who's to know if your pup is a week or two shy of that ;-)

Depends on the show, my pup got first at a county dog show age 4 months, it was for puppies up to 6 months. So some shows do have classes for younger pups

They're only allowed to have those younger classes if they're not KC licensed shows. In which case they should be described as anything but a companion show. :)

Think the answer is that if the shows are KC Licensed then there is a bottom age limit of 6 months although a lot of people do cheat a bit. If the show has classes for pups up to 6 months then they are not KC licensed and to exhibit or judge at such shows could lead to a problem if you later wish to show the dog or be a KC judge.

Snap Maranne B :-)

I went to an RSPCA fun day and my boy was 4 months old. We entered puppy class and got no where..
We also entered most handsome dog, and at 4 months old he won that class out of 30 or so dogs.. Bless him.. Lol..
So it does depend if the show is a companion show which works on the KC regs.

Snap to both above's.. lol

> to exhibit or judge at such shows could lead to a problem if you later wish to show the dog or be a KC judge.

Really??? Why would or should showing your dog at a fun show preclude you from showing at a KC event later on?

It is perfectly permissable to have classes for puppies under 6 months at a KC Licensed companion show, provided they are in the 'fun' section. The winner is ineligible to compete for best puppy.

> Why would or should showing your dog at a fun show preclude you from showing at a KC event later on? <IMG class=qButton title="Quote selected text" height=10 alt="Quote selected text" src="/images/mi_quote.gif" width=20>

Because I believe that the KC states that people wishing to exhibit or officiate at their shows should not do so at unlicensed ones. But I could be wrong they change their rules every week and I have difficulty keeping up. I did not know that you could have classes for pups under 6 months at KC licensed shows although I know you can have a puppy walk at a match but that is a bit different to a show open to all, so you see what I mean.

> It is perfectly permissable to have classes for puppies under 6 months at a KC Licensed companion show, provided they are in the 'fun' section. The winner is ineligible to compete for best puppy.

Saxon this must have changed recently and I should have known so can you tell me when it was changed? I have the 2007/8 red book but not the 2008/9 so would guess it must have changed in the last year. My rules (F(3) Regulations 5 F says Only dogs of 6 calendar months of age and over on the day of the show are eligible for entry. Would you be kind enough to tell me how this has changed as I don't want to get my club into trouble by giving them the wrong info.

No idea Nova. I organise a Companion Show for my village every year and this was the information I was given by somebody at the Kennel Club. She told me it would be viewed in the same way as a 'puppy walk' class at a match and provided the winner didn't go forward to best puppy and the class was in the fun section, she thought it was a splendid idea.

So if you went to a companion show with a puppy under 6 months they're not eligible for either the pedigree or novelty classes except if there's a special novelty puppy class and then that's ok? Is that right?

Funnily enough I was just thinking about this the other day because if everything goes to plan (doubtful!) I may have a new puppy later this year but the bitch has only just been mated so puppies wouldn't be born until the end of March, making them too young for June/July/August companion shows. I knew they weren't eligible for pedigree classes and I didn't think they were eligible for novelty classes either but I wasn't 100%.

Yes, it has to be a special novelty class for puppies 3 to 6 months. If your local dog societies run monthly matches, there is usually a puppy walk class at the beginning for puppies under 6 months. These are excellent for getting your babies used to the show ring as there are only ever 2 puppies in the ring at any one time and the judge, knowing that they are very young babies, will usually be very patient and understanding. As with the companion show, winning the puppy walk doesn't make you eligible to compete for best puppy.

Thanks Saxon, think I have better get that in writing from the KC before I make any plans as it is defiantly against there written rules, unless they are over written elsewhere and I have not found them yet.

I hate to rain on your Parade Saxon but this rule-Only dogs of 6 calendar months of age and over on the day of the show are eligible for entry-is still in force. The KC Companion Show Regulations are here

> So if you went to a companion show with a puppy under 6 months they're not eligible for either the pedigree or novelty classes except if there's a special novelty puppy class and then that's ok? Is that right?

Wrong the Regulations haven't changed "Only dogs of 6 calendar months of age and over on the day of the show are eligible for entry."still applies So there can be no under age classes

Thanks Moonmaiden, that was how I saw it. But you know the KC, new rules and changes every week and it is easy to miss something, even though it was said they had the info from someone at the KC; I would want it in writing as even they can make a mistake as I have found before although they are good and pass you to someone who does know the true answer.

Clubs do hold Puppy walks before the start of a match and the judge appointed by the club to judge the match will go over the pups and place them in order of preference but that is part of the training not part of the match.

And am I correct in saying that the KC requires that it's judges do not officiate at un-licensed events and it is unwise for exhibitors to do so.

'winning the puppy walk doesn't make you eligible to compete for best puppy.'

what does? :)

No, it takes place before the match begins; it has to be completely separate.

What does is taking part in the puppy class with a puppy that is over 6 months, if there is is a class for puppies .

I'm a Show Secretary & I have to be up to date with all the rule/regulation changes & believe me there have been no changes to the KC rules on lowest age for competition in any of their licensed events. The only rule that did change was for 4 to 6 month old puppies being able to be entered NFC at Obedience, Agility & now some breed shows, but they cannot compete

The KC has given up trying to stop people judging etc at unlicensed events, the Agility people hold both types of shows with the same dogs entered & there are now other conformation shows being held-similar to Open shows & the KC cannot sanction anyone for being involved

Yes, I am too which was why I wanted to get to the bottom of the suggestion, even started to search back through the Kennel Gazettes to look for the change but could not find anything, was relieved when you confirmed my thoughts. Interesting that they have given up on the people officiating at un-licensed events, I have always wondered if they would win a legal case if someone said it was restricting there ability to judge. Mind you I am never likely to be involved in an un-licensed event but it is nice to know that should one of our judges do so close to our show I would be on my own so to speak.

Just to clarify re the unlicenced shows, you do not need a KC license if it's only a fun show with no pedigree classes, eg our one in August with just 9 novelty classes does not need a license, but the one we run in June with pedigree, novelty, obedience and (hopefully) rally does need one. :-)

Thank you Lucy, any show we run will be licensed as that is what our members would wish.

As a matter of interest who does your insurance for you, if you don't mind saying.

No idea I'm afraid, we have a show secretary who does that, I just get lumbered with finding judges as I'm the only one at the club who shows my dogs, it's a pet training club. :-)