WDF Official Rules of Dog Shows

The Official Rules of Beauty Dog Shows of the World Dog Federation (WDF) — the foundational document (WDF code A001) from which the technical regulations published by the Association derive. Approved by the federation’s bodies; this English version is published by the Association through Decision no. 184/13-08-2026.

The official list of recognised breeds (the annex to this regulation) can be consulted in the Breed standards explorer.

Preamble

At all dog shows, the welfare of the dogs must take absolute priority.

General Rules

Article 1

This special regulation establishes the rules governing national dog shows recognised by the WDF.

Article 2

Dog shows are cynotechnical assessments in which dogs undergo examination and evaluation of their beauty and exterior conformation, both against the official standard of the breed to which they belong and against the standards of the countries of origin recognised by the WDF.

From the examination of the subjects presented, qualifications are established concerning the absolute value of the dogs in relation to the characteristics of the breed, while their comparison with one another produces placements concerning the relative value of the participating subjects, with aptitude for the Ring.

For each class, only the first 3 subjects are placed, by sex and by breed, it being understood that all dogs presented are graded and receive a written report with comments.

Article 3

Dog shows, depending on the titles that may be awarded, are divided into:

National shows (in which the certificate of aptitude for the National Championship is issued)

International shows (in which the certificates of aptitude for the National and International Championship are issued)

Admitted Breeds

Article 4

The breeds and varieties from which the dogs presented at shows must come are those included in the list of dog breeds recognised by the WDF.

The organising committees shall ensure that only dogs are entered in the catalogue that belong to breeds whose standard is definitively or provisionally recognised by the WDF and that are registered in the Breed Register or in the Experimental Register, pending approval by a WDF partner country or by a non-member country whose studbook is nonetheless recognised by it.

Canine subjects entered in competition (having passed the phenotypic recognition) but not yet in possession of a Genealogical Certificate, even though they cannot aspire to titles, may compete for BOB and Best in Show, provided they have obtained the grade “1 Excellent” in their class.

Programme

Article 5

Within two months of the date of each event, the WDF must receive the draft programme, with an indication of the panel of judges and, as an annex, copies of the letters of acceptance of the expert judges or a declaration signed by the president of the organising committee confirming the composition of the panel.

The WDF will reply within 15 days of receipt. It accepts no responsibility for the approval of the panel in the case of drafts received after the deadline.

The starting time of the Ring of Honour is between 15:00 and 16:30, with the possibility of derogation depending on environmental conditions.

At shows recognised by the WDF, the publication of the programme of the day is provided for. It must contain all the elements needed for participants to be informed of the main rules of the event, including:

a) the exact location and date of the event;

b) the organising committee;

c) the names of the expert judges and the breeds assigned to each of them;

d) the prospectus of the classes organised;

e) the starting time of the judging;

f) the WDF fees, visible on the club’s national website, in the show price-list section;

g) a presentation of the prizes at stake;

h) a clear statement that the show is held in accordance with WDF regulations.

Registration of Competitors

Article 6

All dogs belonging to breeds recognised within the WDF system may take part in all shows and breed reunions.

The entry application for a show is handled by the organising committee of the event.

Entry on site is also possible, at most one hour before the start of the event, though online entry is recommended for better overall organisation.

The online registration deadline is irrevocable.

Entries containing obviously incorrect data may be corrected by the committee, such as:

class changes due to age limits,

missing documents required for the working class,

missing homologation for subjects wishing to enter the champion class.

In the case of obvious errors that could not previously be detected by the organisers (sex, breed, age limit, size, colour or coat variety), the WDF Delegate may make the necessary changes at the time of the show in order to avoid exclusion from judging.

When checking the judges’ reports, the WDF may automatically annul the qualifications and placements awarded to dogs that competed in a class in which they were not entitled to be entered.

Article 7

Dogs whose owners are under an active suspension imposed by the WDF or by affiliated clubs may not take part in competitive shows.

CAJC

Article 8

Certificates of Aptitude for the National Junior Beauty Championship (CAJC) may be awarded by WDF expert judges:

• A single CAJC for the Very Junior and Junior classes, for all breeds belonging to the 10 WDF groups.

The judge may award one CAJC to the most beautiful male and one CAJC to the most beautiful female of each breed, for the Very Junior and Junior classes, regardless of variety, provided they have obtained the grade “1 Excellent” and belong to the official list of breeds recognised by the WDF.

Each CAJC issued at a show shall be approved by the secretariat on the same day, before the close of the event, and entered in the official WDF qualification booklet.

Subjects without a qualification booklet may not collect any title or certificate; the entitlement passes to the next-placed dog, provided it has received “2 Excellent”.

The issuing of the CAJC remains strictly at the discretion and judgement of the expert judges.

CAC

Article 9

Certificates of Aptitude for the National Beauty Championship (CAC) may be awarded by WDF expert judges:

• One CAC for the best male and one CAC for the best female from the Intermediate, Open, Working, Winner, Champion and Foreign Champions classes, without distinction of breed.

Judges may award the CAC only to subjects that have obtained the grade “1 Excellent”.

Each CAC shall be homologated on the same day and entered in the official WDF qualification booklet.

Subjects without a booklet may not collect the certificates, and the entitlement passes to the next-placed dog with “2 Excellent”.

At the end of the individual evaluations, a play-off is held in the classes mentioned to designate the best representative of the breed, who goes forward to Best in Show – the Adult or Champions category.

The awarding of the CAC remains exclusively at the judge’s discretion, even for dogs with 1 Excellent.

CACIB

Article 10

Certificates of Aptitude for the International Beauty Championship (CACIB) may be proposed only at international shows recognised by the WDF and only for the breeds marked as eligible in the official list.

• One CACIB for the best male and one for the best female from the Intermediate, Open, Working, Winner, Champions and Foreign Champions classes.

Judges may award the CACIB only to subjects that have received the CAC.

Each CACIB shall be homologated on the same day and entered in the official qualification booklet.

Subjects without a booklet may not collect the CACIB; the entitlement passes to the deserving dog chosen by the judge from among those holding a CAC.

The awarding of the CACIB remains at the judge’s free discretion.

The judge is obliged to award the CACIB to the dog that received the CAC only if there is no play-off between classes; otherwise, the judge freely decides to whom the title is awarded.

BOB and JBOB

Article 11

The Very Junior and Junior classes will enter a play-off for the awarding of the Best of Breed Junior title and, subsequently, for qualification for BIS Junior (JBOB).

The “Best of Breed” (BOB) title is awarded by the judge on the basis of the following criteria:

one BOB in the direct competition between the Intermediate, Open and Working classes, and

another BOB in the direct competition between the Winner, Champions and Foreign Champions classes.

Each of the BOB winners will go forward to the BIS category.

BBR – Best Breed Representative

Article 12

The “Best Breed Representative” (BBR) title is awarded by the judge according to the following criteria:

A direct comparison between the BOB-winning dogs that have passed the direct challenge in their categories, namely:

the best of Very Junior and Junior,

the best of Intermediate, Open and Working,

the best of Winner, Champions and Foreign Champions.

This title does not affect the BIS, being awarded as a comparative competition within the breed.

Classes

Article 13

The classes are separated by sex, and those admitted at recognised shows are:

Baby Class

For dogs aged between 3 and 6 months. No CAJC, CAC or CACIB may be awarded. These dogs may not take part in couples, breeding groups or the play-off for “Best of Breed”.

Puppy Class

For dogs aged between 6 and 9 months. No CAJC, CAC or CACIB may be awarded. They may not take part in couples, groups or the play-off for “Best of Breed”.

The best from these two classes may go forward to BIS Puppies.

Very Young Class

For dogs between 9 and 12 months. The CAJC may be awarded. They may compete for “Best of Breed” if they have obtained 1 Excellent. They may take part in couples and groups. No CAC or CACIB may be awarded.

The awarding of the certificates remains at the judge’s discretion.

Young Class

For dogs between 12 and 18 months. The CAJC may be awarded. They may compete for “Best of Breed” if they have obtained 1 Excellent. They may take part in couples and groups. No CAC or CACIB is awarded. Aptitudes are awarded at the judge’s discretion.

Intermediate Class

For dogs between 15 and 24 months. In this class the CAC for the Annual Championship may be awarded. Dogs may take part in couples, groups and the play-off for Best of Breed. The awarding of the CACIB is provided for at international shows.

Open Class

For dogs of at least 18 months. The CAC and the CACIB (at international shows) may be awarded. They take part in couples, groups and the play-off for Best of Breed.

Working Class

For dogs of at least 18 months. The CAC may be awarded within the Annual Championship for breeds subject to working trials. Entry requires the minimum qualifications provided for in the sporting regulations.

All certificates (test, date and place) must be stated on the entry form.

Dogs registered in the WDF Breed Register must hold the required qualifications from national or foreign trials recognised by the WDF. Qualifications obtained abroad are recognised if they come from organisations accepted by the WDF.

The CACIB may be awarded at international shows.

Winner Class

Compulsory for adult dogs that, at the time of entry, hold 4 CACs in accordance with WDF regulations. The CAC for the Annual Championship may be awarded. Participants may enter couples, groups and the play-off for Best of Breed. The CACIB may be awarded at international shows.

Champion Class

Compulsory for WDF national champions officially declared before entry. In this class the CAC for the Annual Championship may be awarded. Participants may enter couples, groups and the play-off for Best of Breed. The CACIB may be awarded at international shows.

Foreign Champions Class

Compulsory for WDF national champions from member countries. The title of World or European Champion does not permit entry in this class. The CAC for the Annual Championship is awarded. Entry requires a copy of the document certifying the champion title. They may take part in couples, groups and the play-off for Best of Breed. The CACIB may be awarded at international shows.

Veteran Class

For dogs of at least 10 years. No CAC or CACIB may be awarded. They may take part in couples and groups. The BOB Veteran dog goes directly to BIS Veteran.

“Out of Competition” Class

Dogs may take part in the breeding group if they are deemed “eligible” by the judge. Participants may be measured to confirm size or breed, where applicable.

The fee is set in the programme. No grades or placements are awarded. For dogs of at least 6 months aspiring to registration in the Breed Register, a special evaluation is carried out for the Typicality Certificate.

For all classes, the age taken into account is that on the day of presentation at the show. Entering the same dog in more than one class is prohibited.

Additional comparative competitions

Couples

Two specimens (male and female) of the same breed and variety, belonging to the same owner or breeder, entered in the show and having completed their judging.

The judge selects the couple that will enter the Ring of Honour.

Breeding group

Made up of 3–5 dogs of the same breed and variety, regardless of sex, coming from the same breeder, entered in the catalogue and in classes that permit access to the breeding group.

The judge selects the group that enters the Ring of Honour.

The prizes for couples and groups are awarded in the Ring of Honour.

Phenotypic Recognition of the Breed

Article 14

Registration in the Register of Breeds recognised by the WDF system is open to all breeds whose world registers are open within the WDF and that aspire to their first registration as breeding stock.

The evaluation is carried out by a qualified expert judge; if the breed is foreign, a foreign expert judge may also evaluate.

The judge, after identifying the dog by reading and transcribing the tattoo/microchip, issues the Typicality Certificate for dogs displaying the typical characteristics of the breed.

Dogs that do NOT obtain at least the grade VERY GOOD may not return for another evaluation. The committee is obliged to notify the WDF of these dogs.

Ownership of the Dogs

Article 15

All dogs must be owned by the persons under whose names they appear entered and must be registered by the closing date of entries.

Only breeders may enter dogs belonging to other persons for the couples and groups competitions, provided they come from their kennel.

Entries with co-owners are not permitted.

The exhibitor is obliged to inform the show secretariat of any change of owner occurring between the closing of entries and the start of the show. In the absence of this notification, the dogs will be regarded as belonging to the former owner for the purpose of awarding prizes.

Exclusions

Article 16

Entry is refused to dogs owned by persons suspended, excluded or disqualified by WDF delegates, by the WDF itself or by other affiliated international cynological organisations.

The following may not be judged and the fees are not refunded for:

a) dogs with skin diseases or other diseases, contagious or not;

b) dogs that have undergone alterations or make-up intended to conceal a transmissible defect;(exception: breeds where the standard permits such practices)c) blind or crippled dogs;

d) undershot (enognathous), monorchid or cryptorchid dogs, or dogs with insufficiently developed testicles→ these must be disqualified. Procedure: the judge proposes the disqualification, notes the reason on the judging report form and requests the intervention of the WDF Delegate, who retains the form and the qualification booklet and forwards them to the WDF.

e) dogs whose age does not correspond to the class in which they were entered;

f) bitches in heat (at the discretion of the WDF Delegate);

g) visibly lactating bitches.

In case of disputes, the decision of the WDF Delegate is final.

Dogs are judged in the condition in which they are presented; veterinary certificates concerning injuries are taken into account.

The judge assesses the severity of the defect and the possibility or impossibility of judging the dog.

Only certification issued by the WDF concerning the completeness of the dentition prior to the appearance of the defect is accepted.

Organisers may not present their own dogs at the shows they organise, with the exception of reunions organised by specialised associations.

Equipment and Presentation of the Dog

Article 17

Every subject presented at an event must be equipped with: a soft collar, a lead, a transport crate or pen, a health record book and a qualification booklet, with the exception of subjects entered in classes in which the awarding of grades is not provided for and of dogs registered in a foreign studbook of origin.

Altering the structure and colour of the coat, skin or nose is prohibited; the use of a brush, comb and scissors is nevertheless permitted. It is prohibited to keep a dog tied on the grooming table longer than the time needed for preparation.

The person presenting the dog at the start of the judging (the handler) must remain the same until its end, unless the expert judge gives consent for the handler to be changed.

In a ring where calling out, shouting or double handling occurs, the expert judge is obliged to suspend the judging until the WDF delegate intervenes.

Order of Entry

Article 18

At the opening of the event, exhibitors will receive a competition number for each dog presented, a number that must be worn visibly by the exhibitor in the ring during the judging. The number shown on these badges must correspond to the one indicated in the catalogue.

The dogs will be judged strictly in the order established by the organisers.

Presence of the Dogs at the Show

Article 19

Duly entered dogs must be in the show area at the time indicated in the programme and may not leave the area before the individual judgings have ended.

It is compulsory for all exhibited dogs to remain at the show for the entire duration of the entries in which they take part. Early release of a dog may be granted only with the authorisation of the organising committee and, in any case, only after withdrawal of the Qualification Booklet, with the homologation of the results validated by the Expert Judge.

Public Access and Admissions

Article 20

Exhibitors are expected to enter the grounds in the hours before the start of the event.

Public access to shows is permitted. The organisers set the amount of the admission fee.

WDF members are entitled to free admission to all events organised or recognised by the WDF throughout the national territory.

Members of the organising committee, if they hold the membership card issued by the WDF for the current year, are entitled to free admission to events organised by the association to which they belong.

Catalogues

Article 21

Without prejudice to the provisions of the General Show Regulations, it is specified that printing the catalogue is not compulsory.

The catalogue must, however, always contain:

a) the date and place of the show, the starting time of the judgings, the time of the Ring of Honour and the compulsory time the dogs must remain at the show;

b) the name and address of the organising committee and its composition;

c) the list of expert judges, indicating the breeds assigned to each, the names of the veterinary surgeons on duty, etc.;

d) the name of the WDF delegate(s);

e) the list of prizes;

f) the numbered list (progressive, without interruptions, starting from 1, with no bis numbers permitted) of the participating dogs, divided by group, breed, sex and class, with their registration numbers in the studbook (Book of Origin) and stating the name, breed, sex, age, coat colour, identification code and parents, as well as the names of the breeder and the owner. The list of dogs must be drawn up in the order of the official breed list, annex no. 1 to this regulation.

No additions to the catalogue are permitted, except those authorised by the WDF delegate.

The catalogue must expressly state that the show is held in accordance with WDF regulations, whose logo must appear on the cover. The WDF logo is likewise compulsory within the show grounds.

The catalogue may be offered for sale at the show to those who request it. Exhibitors will each receive one free copy.

The WDF Delegate

Article 22

At every recognised event, the WDF reserves the right to officially appoint one or more delegates, who have the duties indicated in the General Regulations for recognised events and in the Regulations for the qualification of the WDF Delegate.

The Expert Judges

Article 23

At events recognised by the WDF, grades and certificates are always awarded exclusively by the official WDF expert judges, indicated in the catalogue for the breeds and judgings assigned to them.

The WDF Expert Judge is a member entered in the Register of Expert Judges, in accordance with the disciplinary rules of the body of Expert Judges. The expert judge carries out their activity and exercises their functions under the moral protection of the WDF, to which they will turn in case of need.

The expert judges will be appointed in accordance with the procedures provided for in the General Regulations of events. They will decide on the morpho-functional characteristics in strict compliance with the official breed standards described by the WDF.

Dogs with docked tails and/or cropped ears are admitted in accordance with the laws in force in the country of origin and in the country where the show takes place. The judging of dogs with and without intact ears or tail must be carried out without any discrimination and solely in compliance with the breed standard, taking account of its non-retroactivity.

Expert judges must, however, refuse to examine and judge any subject not appearing on the lists received from the show’s organising committee, except in cases of force majeure entailing changes, which must in any event be authorised by the WDF delegate.

Only the expert judge authorised to judge is entitled to decide on the awarding of grades, placements and certificates. In this respect, they are obliged to act without outside help or interference. For organisational support, the judge has ring stewards at their disposal and, if necessary, an interpreter.

The organising committees are obliged to invite the expert judge in writing, and the judge must reply likewise in writing, accepting or declining the invitation. The judge is obliged to honour the commitments undertaken, except in cases of impediment for important reasons.

If an expert judge is unable to fulfil their obligations for important reasons, the organising committee must be informed immediately by telephone, fax, e-mail or telegram. The inability to judge must be confirmed in writing.

The organising committee must, in turn, honour the invitation addressed to the judge. Any cancellation of the invitation is permitted only for reasons of force majeure or by mutual agreement with the judge concerned.

If the organiser is obliged to cancel the event, they must reimburse the expert judges for the expenses already incurred and substantiated. Conversely, if the expert judge, for reasons other than “force majeure” or not provided for in the cases above, cannot honour their commitment to judge, they are obliged to cover the expenses already incurred by the Organising Committee.

When invited to judge at an international show, judges from non-member WDF countries must complete the standard questionnaire drawn up by the WDF, sent by the organising committee and returned to it, completed and signed.

Expert judges from non-member WDF countries must, in all cases, comply with the WDF standards for the breeds they judge at shows recognised by the WDF. The WDF standards of the breeds to be judged must be sent in good time by the organising committee.

Expert judges from non-member WDF countries or from associated member countries may judge only breeds recognised by the national cynological organisation of their country.

Expert judges from non-member WDF countries must be fully informed, in advance and in detail, of the WDF Show Regulations and of the other important procedural and regulatory information. The national cynological organisation of the country where the show takes place must provide this information to the judges concerned beforehand.

The show’s organising committee must see to the reception of the expert judge, in accordance with prior arrangements, from the moment of their arrival at the event venue until their departure (as a rule, this includes the day/hours before the show and the day/hours after).

All normal travel expenses must be reimbursed immediately on arrival or, depending on the arrangement, paid in advance.

Article 24

Each expert judge must be allocated a well-delimited judging area (ring), of dimensions appropriate to the breeds and the number of dogs to be judged; the surface of the rings must be well levelled, with compacted earth or short-mown grass or another suitable type of flooring, provided it is not slippery.

Steeply sloping grounds or surfaces covered with gravel or crushed stone, even of small grain, are strictly prohibited.

The WDF Delegate has the duty to check in advance whether the rings set up by the organisers are suitable and large enough for the breeds to be judged in them.

Article 25

Each expert judge must receive, from the organising committee and at the start of their work, the appropriate report forms for the dogs that will be submitted to their judgement during the day. These forms must be drawn up in the language of the host country for national judges and in one of the official WDF languages for foreign judges.

On these forms the expert judge will record the notes on the judgements delivered, the grades and placements awarded, and the CAJC, CAC and CACIB attributed.

The forms must be of the type approved by the WDF, which will supply them to the organising committees on request and against payment.

The WDF also reserves the right to have one or more aspiring judges or assistants present at the judging of each expert judge, without their having any right to intervene in the judgement.

The organising committees may assign a maximum of 80 dogs to one expert judge.

They are therefore obliged to warn in good time, by means of a technical report, those expert judges who would have more than 80 dogs to judge, and to obtain their written consent.

Ring stewards

During the judging, the expert judges are assisted by one or more ring stewards, who however cannot and must not intervene in the act of judging.

The organising committees are responsible for appointing the ring stewards, who must be identified through the Register of Ring Stewards.

In the case of a foreign expert judge, at least one ring steward must speak fluently the language preferred by the judge, which must be one of the official WDF languages.

The ring steward must have a good knowledge of the Show Regulations according to the type of show at which they carry out their work.

The duties of the ring steward are the following:• to group the dogs by class;• to check the absentees, by class;• to inform the expert judge of any change of handler;• to write down, in the indicated language, the expert judge’s written opinion/critique;• to see to the completion of the qualification booklets and the related forms, returning at the end of the judge’s work all the material both to the persons concerned and to the show secretariat;• to contact the WDF delegate about any discrepancy found.

After the close of the event, the organising committees must send the WDF the list of ring stewards appointed for each ring.

Judging at Shows

Article 26

The owners of the entered dogs must keep their subjects at the disposal of the expert judges from the start of the show until the end of all the entries in which they must take part.

During the judging, only the following may enter the ring:

a) the WDF delegate;

b) the expert judge, the ring stewards, the assistants and the ring manager;

c) the competitors called for judging;

d) aspiring judges authorised by the WDF.

Representatives of the organising committee may enter temporarily only for reasons of duty.

Dogs not presented at the expert judge’s call for judging lose their right to be judged, and the owners may not request a refund of the entry fee.

For each subject examined, the expert judge must record in the report the strengths and weaknesses identified; the report is written in an official language and handed to the show secretariat.

At the secretariat of every show there must be permanently available to the judges:

a measuring stick,

a measuring tape,

a microchip reader.

Evaluations

Article 27

The judgement of a dog must always be summarised in a grade that the expert judge attributes to each competitor, except where the dog is withdrawn before judging or is considered by the judge to be atypical, insufficient and, as such, ungradable.

The grades that WDF expert judges may award at recognised shows are exclusively the following:

EXCELLENT (EXC.) – Awarded to a subject that clearly reflects the ideal standard of the breed, is presented in perfect condition, has a harmonious and balanced whole, “has class” and elegant movement. It must stand out through outstanding qualities and display the characteristics typical of the sex to which it belongs.

VERY GOOD (V.G.) – Awarded to a subject perfect in type, well proportioned and in good physical condition. Some minor faults are tolerated, but not serious morphological ones. This grade may be awarded only to a dog of quality.

GOOD (G.) – Awarded to a dog displaying the characteristics of the breed, even with small faults, as long as these are not disqualifying.

DISQUALIFIED (DSQ.) – Awarded to a dog displaying eliminatory faults with respect to the standard; it shall always be awarded if the subject displays disqualifying faults provided for in the breed standard. The WDF Delegate must take down the dog’s details, retain the qualification booklet and forward them to the WDF. With the judge’s consent, a description may also be completed on the evaluation form.

NOT JUDGABLE (N.J.) – Awarded to a dog that does not move, jumps continuously or tries to leave the ring, making it impossible to assess its movement and bearing; or to a dog that refuses examination (does not allow the checking of the teeth, structure, tail, testicles, etc.).

This grade is also awarded to dogs on which the judge observes traces of interventions or operations. The judgement remains valid even where the judge has reason to believe that the interventions were carried out to correct the dog’s original condition or certain of its features (eyelid, ear, tail). The reason for awarding the N.J. grade must be stated on the judging form.

Subjects that cannot be judged may not remain in the ring.

In the Puppy (6–9 months) and Baby (3–6 months) classes, judgements will be given that, at the time the dog is presented, reflect the subject’s presumed future morphological development. The qualification booklet is not compulsory.

WDF judges may award in the Baby and Puppy classes only the following grades:

Very Promising (V.P.)

Promising (P)

Quite Promising (Q.P.)

Article 28

On the basis of the grades awarded, the expert judge will then proceed to place the competitors in order of merit.

For each breed, only the first 3 dogs of each sex are placed, it being understood that all dogs presented are graded and receive a written report with comments.

The best three dogs in each class will be placed only if they have obtained at least the grade “VERY GOOD”.

Article 29

On the basis of the indications in the programme, the expert judge will award the prizes at stake exclusively to dogs graded at least “Very Good”.

At the end of the judgings, after the awarding of the prizes and the completion of the groups, each competitor will be able to collect a copy of the report form from the secretariat.

If a dog has obtained the CAJC, CAC or CACIB, or has won one or more special honour prizes, the corresponding homologations will be handed over and recorded in the Qualification Booklet.

Once the reports and qualification booklets have been handed over to the exhibitors, at the end of all the judgings, the expert judge may no longer modify in any way the judgement, the grades or the placements, and may no longer award the CAJC, CAC, CACIB or other prizes.

The organising committees are obliged to use the standard forms/paperwork established and approved by the WDF.

Prizes

Article 30

The prizes at stake at recognised shows may be awarded on the basis of the grades or placements of the participating subjects.

Cash prizes are normally prohibited, unless offered by institutions or persons outside the show’s organisation; in these cases, the wishes of the donors may not be altered.

All other prizes – cups, medals, objects, etc. – must be handed to the winners during the event, except where a protest has been lodged or where, due to stock running out, a later partial delivery of the missing prizes is necessary.

In that case, the prizes must be sent to the winners by the organising committee within no more than 30 days of the close of the event.

Special Prizes

Article 31

At international and national shows, special prizes are awarded at the discretion of the organising committee.

Special prizes may be awarded only to dogs graded at least “Very Good”.

At regional shows or within specialties and reunions organised by breed associations, other special prizes may also be provided for, in addition to those indicated, provided they are distributed in a simple and clear manner.

Trophies organised by the WDF fall within the category of special prizes.

Honour Prizes

Article 32

The honour prizes will be awarded as follows:

At National and International Shows:• Best in Show Couples• Best in Show Breeding Groups• Best in Show Puppies• Best in Show Junior• Best in Show Adult• Best in Show Champions• Best in Show Veterans

The number of honour prizes awarded must be the same for each Best in Show within the same show.

These competitions must be judged in a specially arranged Ring of Honour, by a single expert judge for each category.

That judge must establish a placement of the top 5 winners.

International or national shows may also offer an honour prize for the BBR – Best Breed Representative of the show.

For the awarding of the prizes in Couples and Breeding Group, the expert judge will take account above all of the uniformity of the subjects, more than of the grades obtained individually.

In the Ring of Honour, the organising committee may also include:

a) a Junior Handler competition (optional);

b) Best in Group (optional);

c) Lady & Dog (optional).

Any other similar initiatives must be communicated to the WDF in advance.

The Expert Judges of the Honour Prizes

Article 33

An expert judge may not judge the same groups at international shows until at least two months have passed since the show at which they previously judged them, and at national shows only after one month or at a distance of more than 200 km.

Duties of the Exhibitors and the Public

Article 34

Dog owners and/or their handlers, all those who present dogs at shows or assist in presenting them, and anyone involved in the participation of dogs at recognised shows, owe the greatest respect and consideration to the expert judges, the WDF representatives, the members of the organising committee and the other competitors, on pain of exclusion from the event by the WDF delegate, who must inform the WDF through the “Delegate’s Report”.

Competitors must strictly observe the regulatory provisions of the WDF and of the organising committee. Punctuality is not only a disciplinary obligation but also one of courtesy and sporting fair play.

Those who present themselves late before the expert judge, when called, will be excluded from judging.

It is prohibited for anyone to make remarks or reproaches to the expert judges.

Anyone who believes they have grounds to make remarks or protests, for any reason, may do so only in the manner provided for by the regulations, through a written complaint addressed to the WDF Delegate, who, if they deem it appropriate, may intervene promptly to verify the case.

The expert judge’s judgement is considered final.

Article 35

Anyone who publicly addresses offensive words to the expert judges or other competitors, refuses to comply with a decision of the judges or of the WDF delegate, or commits acts of indiscipline or disrespect towards them, may be immediately suspended from the event, either by the expert judge or by the WDF delegate, and will be reported to the institutional bodies of the WDF, within the scope of their competence.

Protests

Article 36

In case of irregularities, the intervention of the WDF delegate may be requested before the completion of the judging of a breed, and no later. The delegate will carry out the necessary checks.

Otherwise, protests drawn up in writing, on the special form that can be collected from the secretariat and then lodged there as well, will be examined at the national headquarters by the Disciplinary Commission.

Liability

Article 37

The show’s organising committee will take all appropriate measures and the best arrangements for the proper treatment and safety of the persons and dogs present, without in any way assuming liability for damage, illness, escape, death or theft of dogs or objects.

Miscellaneous

Article 38

For cases not provided for in this regulation, reference is made to the General Regulations of dog shows recognised by the WDF, to the statutes and the other internal regulations, as well as to the rules subsequently approved by the Board of Directors.

Attainment of Titles

Article 39

JUNIOR CHAMPION

The title of Junior Champion is awarded on obtaining 4 (four) CAJC (WDF) certificates, issued by at least 3 (three) different expert judges.

The CAJC (WDF) certificate is awarded only in the Junior and Very Junior classes.

NATIONAL CHAMPION

To obtain the title of National Champion, it is necessary to obtain 6 (six) CAC (WDF) certificates, issued by at least 4 (four) different expert judges, one of them at an International Show.

The CAC (WDF) certificate is awarded from the Intermediate Class onwards.

The same title may be obtained for each year of the subject’s life, up to the age of 10 years.

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION

The title of International Champion is obtained through:

6 (six) CACIB (WDF) certificates from 4 (four) different expert judges, in international competitions in one’s own country, or

3 (three) CACIBs (WDF) as follows: 2 (two) certificates issued in the country of origin and 1 (one) certificate issued at an international show in a WDF member country.

The CACIB (WDF) certificate is awarded from the Intermediate Class onwards.

BREEDING CHAMPION

The title of Breeding Champion is obtained as follows:

The subject (male or female) must have produced, from at least two different litters:

6 (six) different descendants that have obtained the grade EXCELLENT at beauty shows, or

3 (three) descendants that have obtained the title of National Champion (including Junior Champion).

GRAND CHAMPION

The title of Grand Champion may be awarded on obtaining three National Champion titles.

This highly prestigious title may be awarded only once in a subject’s lifetime.

MULTI CHAMPION

The title of Multi Champion, of the highest and most esteemed level, is awarded to the subject that, in its show career, has obtained:

1 (one) Grand Champion title;

1 (one) International Championship.

This particularly prestigious title may be awarded only once in a subject’s lifetime.

WORLD CHAMPION

The title of World Champion is awarded by right to subjects that have obtained the International Beauty Certificate within the World Cup.

This highly prestigious title, too, may be awarded only once in a subject’s lifetime.

These Regulations, drawn up by the Central Technical Commission and approved by the Board of Directors, enter into force as of 1 January 2023.