UKC Beagle Bench Show Rules
*Revised January 1, 2002

1. A UKC Licensed Beagle Bench Show is a distinctive gathering of UKC registered Beagles and their owners for the purpose of determining the winners and making an official record of such winnings. Only UKC registered dogs compete in a UKC Licensed Beagle Bench Show. Non-registered dogs cannot be entered in a UKC Licensed Beagle Bench Show.

2. UKC licensed shows MUST appear in the “Upcoming UKC Licensed Events” listing in COONHOUND BLOODLINES and American Beagler in order for the event to be approved and Championship points awarded. Events must be listed in the issue published the month before the event is held, i.e. – February events will be listed in January.

3. The local club management has the right to refuse entry to any dog or handler. However, no handler shall be barred on basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age or sex.

4. No Bench Show entries are to be taken after the advertised deadline for any reason. The show shall start as soon as possible after the advertised deadline.

5. The registration certificate (purple or yellow) or Easy Entry™ Card must be presented to the entry taker(s) to enter a dog in a UKC Licensed Beagle Bench Show. These rules are to be strictly followed. Clubs found to be accepting Bench Show entries without the registration certificate or UKC Easy Entry™ Card could lose the right to hold UKC licensed events. See “Entering Dogs in UKC Licensed Events” on page 10 of this rulebook.

6. Dogs may be entered in the Champion or Grand Champion portions of a UKC licensed event when the registration certificate is presented along with the Championship or Grand Championship degree or UKC Easy Entry™ Card. The Championship degree is not required if the registration certificate or UKC Easy Entry™ Card indicates the Championship.

7. No copies of a registration certificate, pedigree, championship degree, or UKC Easy Entry™ Card will be accepted.

8. Only one UKC Licensed Bench Show Judge shall judge a UKC Licensed Beagle Bench Show. A panel of Judges cannot be used. The Judge will follow the rules and regulations covering the show, and sign the official UKC report for show winners and award Championship points. Judges shall be familiar with UKC Beagle Bench Show procedures (listed elsewhere). The Judge must sign the report immeditely following the show so that the officers of the club may sign.

9. The Judge’s decision is final. Any exhibitor entering dogs in any show is, in effect, asking the Judge for their personal opinion and decision. Any exhibitor may question the Judge concerning their decision at the time the decision is made, after the completion of the class in which the exhibitor’s dog is entered. Such questions shall be presented in a sportsmanlike manner. It is suggested that the Judges give oral comments after selection of Best Male/Best Female winners and above.

10. Qualifications for UKC recognized Show Champion: Dog must have earned a minimum of 100 UKC recorded Championship points and one win with competition for “Best Male” or “Best Female.” Dogs having no competition for Best Male/Best Female will receive Championship points, but no win toward the Show Champion Degree. Points must be earned under at least three different Judges. Champion males and females are shown together and a Champion win will be awarded to the winner.

11. Qualifications for UKC recognized Grand Show Champion: Dog must win five Champion of Show Champions classes at five different UKC Licensed Beagle Bench Shows. These must be earned under at least three different Judges. Grand Champions shall compete in the Grand Champions class only. This class is held for the honorary title, and no UKC points are awarded.

12. A UKC recognized Bench Show Champion or Grand Champion may not compete in open competition once they have received their Championship or Grand Championship Degree. Champions may compete in the Champion of Champions class only. Grand Champions may compete in the Grand Champions class only.

13. If a dog is shown in the wrong class, no Championship points will be awarded. It is the responsibility of the owner to see that their dog has been entered and shown in the correct class. Dogs must compete in each class as they advance unless scratched by the Bench Show Judge.
The handler may not withdraw the dog at any point throughout the show, except for health reasons. Dogs withdrawn for health reasons will be subject to verification by a licensed veterinarian.

14. Notice - Dogs which fulfill the requirements for a Grand Champion may be entered in the next level of competition even though they have not been officially notified of their new title by the United Kennel Club.

Warning! - This is contingent on the condition that the records kept by the dog’s owner are in accordance with those kept by UKC

Neither UKC nor the host club are responsible for any mistakes made by the owners of these dogs concerning the dog’s degree.

If it is found that the owner’s records were in error, and the dog had not fulfilled the requirements for Championship title, all points attained by that dog in the higher level will be considered void.

15. Receipts shall be issued to Class Winners, Best Male and Female (registered), Best of Winners (registered), Champion of Champions, and *Best of Breed. These receipts are for your personal records and do not replace the official report.

16. The Judge shall have the right to disqualify any owner or handler for misconduct, or any dog for growling, snapping or fighting. If a dog is disqualified for growling, snapping and fighting, it must be reported and sent along with the Bench Show report to UKC. Read detailed policy “Disqualified for Fighting - UKC Beagle Bench Show Policy,” elsewhere in the rulebook.

17. Any person intimidating, threatening or injuring a Bench Show participant, Judge, club officer or UKC representative, will be barred for one year up to life from any UKC licensed event. Details on this particular rule can be found elsewhere in the rulebook.

18. Any person caught administering unprescribed drugs to any dog will be barred for life from registering dogs and participating in UKC events.

19. Absolutely no alcoholic beverages, unprescribed drugs firearms or gambling will be allowed on the grounds or while participating in the show or in the buildings during the hours of the event.

20. Spectators and/or handlers must remain away from the show ring at all times and dogs must be kept away from the show ring until that dog is called for showing.

21. It is the responsibility of the owner or handler to listen to the secretary or ring steward of the show so that they will be ready to enter their dog in the correct class. If a dog is not shown due to neglect of the owner or handler, there is no way to enter that particular dog in that show.

22. Owners, handlers and spectators may not interfere with the Judge in any way during the judging of a show.

23. A Judge has the right to request that a handler or spectator be removed from the show site for unsportsmanlike behavior.

24. Handlers are responsible for their conduct and personal appearance.

25. Dogs must be benched. The bench on which the dogs shall be shown must be two (2) feet high and eighteen (18) inches wide with the top covered with indoor/outdoor carpeting or some similar non-slip surface. (Dogs stand well on rough material while they tend to “cow down” on a slippery or smooth surface). Individual benches of a minimum length of 44 inches are recommended. If the benches do not meet these standards, the Judge shall still allow the show to be held, but should instruct the club to correct the problem and notify UKC that the benches do not meet the standards.

26. A Bench Show report shall be filled out and signed by two club officers and the Bench Show Judge. A total of three different signatures are required. One copy shall be retained by the club for one year, one copy by the Judge and one copy sent to UKC. The host club and Judge are responsible for the report being accurate, neat and properly filled out, showing the complete names of the dogs, correct UKC registration numbers, sire and dam information, names of owners and handlers and their addresses. The United Kennel Club, Inc., accepts the report of each show as an accurate and true report of the Bench Show.

27. The club sponsoring the show will forward with the report and the fee of $1.50 per dog entered in the Bench Show to UKC. Reports must be submitted to UKC within ten days of the event or a penalty fee of $20 will be charged. An additional charge of $20 per month will be made for reports that are 30 days past due.

28. Dogs shall not be judged on handlers showmanship.

29. No grooming devices (such as combs, brushes, cleaning cloths) are to be used while dog is on the bench.

30. Baiting of dogs is not allowed in show rings.

31. Working dogs are not to be penalized for scars or injuries caused by hunting.

32. Female dogs in season shall not be shown.

33. Dogs will be disqualified if male is castrated or female is spayed.

34. A male is disqualified if monorchid or cryptorchid (lacking two normal descended testicles in the scrotum.)

35. A dog is disqualified if it is deaf or blind.

36. A dog is disqualified if over 15 inches in height.

37. A dog is disqualified if overshot or undershot.

38. Dogs will be evaluated both while gaited and shown on the bench