XXIV. Judging Procedures.

A. Judge’s authority in the ring. The Judge may use whatever reasonable procedures he/she deems necessary to evaluate the dogs in an effective and efficient manner. All dogs within a breed will be examined in the same manner and all exhibitors will be given an equal opportunity to present their dogs. Judges have the sole discretion to authorize the use of squeaky toys and bait in their rings (See Section XVIII, Paragraph E)

B. Mandatory evaluations. All conformation judges will gait each dog and require each exhibitor to show his/her dog’s bite as part of the judging process.

C. Discussion of placements with exhibitors. UKC Judges are encouraged to discuss placements with exhibitors and to give a short oral critique after Best of Breed judging.

D. Judge’s book. Judges are responsible for the accuracy of the information in their Judges’ books. Each Judge must sign his/her Judge’s book upon the completion of a judging assignment and return it to the Event Secretary. The Event Secretary must provide the Judge with a copy of his/her signed Judge’s book, which the Judge is required to keep on file for a period of one year after the judging assignment.

E. Prohibitions.

1. Judges may not ask an exhibitor any questions regarding the dog being evaluated other than age.

2. Judges may not judge the licensed classes of the same breed more than once in a four-day period. This prohibition may be waived upon written request to UKC for Senior Judges assigned to judge a National Grand Champion or National Best of Breed class.

3. Judges may not judge a conformation show and a performance event on the same day.

1. Universal disqualifying faults. Viciousness, extreme shyness, unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism, and albinism are disqualifications for all breeds of dog recognized by United Kennel Club. Judges must disqualify any dog that exhibits these faults, immediately dismiss the exhibitor and dog from the ring and mark the Judge’s Book accordingly. Judges must write an explanation of what behaviors the dog exhibited to enable the Judge to make a determination that the dog was vicious or extremely shy in the comment section of the Judge’s book.

2. Breed-specific disqualifying faults.


*a. Judges must disqualify any American Leopard Hound that is overshot or undershot. Overshot or undershot is defined in these breeds as a dog having a visible gap between the upper and lower teeth. The Judge must disqualify the dog and immediately dismiss the exhibitor and dog from the ring. The Judge is to mark the Judge’s book accordingly and name the specific disqualifying fault.

b. Judges must disqualify any dog that exhibits a disqualifying fault as defined in its UKC breed standard. The Judge must disqualify the dog and immediately dismiss the exhibitor and dog from the ring. The Judge is to mark the Judge’s book accordingly and name the specific disqualifying fault.


i. When a dog has been disqualified for a breed specific fault, it is ineligible to continue competing at that show. However the dog may continue to be shown at future shows.

ii. Any dog that has been disqualified for the same fault under three different judges shall be ineligible for entry in any UKC Conformation event unless and until notified by UKC that the dog’s show eligibility has been reinstated.

3. Prohibited alterations. UKC encourages exhibitors to emphasize the conditioning and training of their dogs and to avoid extreme grooming practices. A dog should be sufficiently clean and well groomed to enable a Judge to properly evaluate the dog. Breeds with traditional trimming patterns may be presented in those patterns. Except as allowed by a dog’s UKC breed standard, exhibitors are prohibited from altering coat color, coat texture, pigment color, ear carriage, tail carriage or any other essential element of the dog’s conformation by any external means, including artificial color, foreign substances, or surgical means. Dogs are to be disqualified from conformation events when any physical fault has been corrected by surgery or other medical procedure. This prohibition does not apply to any necessary medical procedure required to restore a dog to its previous normal condition, provided such procedure does not:


a. Correct, alter or obscure a condition that would render a dog ineligible for competition, or

b. Improve an existing condition to the benefit of the dog’s appearance, gait or temperament.

c. When a dog has been disqualified for a physical fault, it is ineligible to continue competing for that show. However, the dog may continue to be shown at future shows.

d. Any dog that has been disqualified for the same fault, under three different judges, shall be ineligible for entry in any UKC Conformation event unless and until notified by UKC that the dog’s show eligibility has been reinstated.

4. Notice of Disqualification. When UKC has received notice that a dog has been disqualified under this section for the third time, the owner of the dog will be notified by certified mail. The owner of the dog shall have 14 days from receipt of this notification to show why the dog should not be barred from all registration privileges. After reviewing any mitigating or extenuating evidence submitted by the owner, UKC staff shall make a finding of facts and determine the penalty, and this ruling shall be final. The owner of the dog shall be notified of the outcome within 30 days of receipt of the owner’s response. Owners of dogs that are barred from registration privileges are required to return the dog’s UKC registration certificate within 14 days of notice that the dog is barred. Failure to promptly return the registration certificate can result in loss of UKC privileges. Dogs barred from registration privileges may not be transferred nor may litters produced by these dogs be registered.

5. Mandatory Excusals. When a dog is excused for any reason, the Judge must immediately dismiss the exhibitor and dog from the ring. The Judge’s Book must be marked accordingly and the Judge must write an explanation of the reason the dog was excused in the comment section of the Judge’s Book. The Judge’s decision on these matters is final. Owners and exhibitors are presumed to know the condition of their dogs and risk disciplinary action for exhibiting dogs with prohibited alterations.


a. Judges must excuse any dog being exhibited with sutures, bandages, adhesive or any other material that is indicative of or related to any surgical or medical procedure.

b. Lameness or illness. Judges must excuse any dog that is lame or appears to be ill. The Judge’s Book must be marked accordingly and include the reason the dog was excused. The Judge’s decision on these matters is final.

c. Deafness or blindness. A Judge may excuse any dog he/she suspects is blind or deaf and mark the Judge’s Book accordingly. The Judge’s decision is final.

6. Withholding placements. Judges play an important role in the selection of future breeding stock. For that reason, UKC Judges must not reward any dog that lacks sufficient quality to be a champion. In very large classes, such dogs are usually left out of the placements. In small classes, however, it is important that Judges deny placements to dogs that are so lacking in breed type and soundness that they should never achieve a champion title. Judges withholding placements for lack of quality must note this in the Judge’s Book and specifically address the elements where the dog fails to meet the standard. Judges must always take the time to discuss withheld placements with the exhibitor, either at the end of judging the class or the breed.

*7. Coonhound Breeds Eliminating Fault. If either a male or female of the following Coonhound Breeds is over or under the official UKC height standard for that breed, it will be considered an eliminating fault: American Leopard Hound, Bluetick Coonhound. Dogs which are in the Puppy Class are not to be assessed an eliminating fault for being under the minimum height requirement for their breed standard. If they are over the maximum requirement at any age the eliminating fault will apply. Information on becoming a licensed UKC Judge can be found in the UKC Judges andbook or go to www.ukcdogs.com.