52 Breed Notes – December 2024

A few bits for my final notes of the year!

KC regulations require judges to provide written critiques on 1st and 2nd placed dogs in each breed class at both Ch & open shows and they will investigate any judge not submitting a critique within a reasonable amount of time following the appointment, which may result in disciplinary action. It is not normally possible for a complaint regarding the non-submission of a critique to be made later than six months following the show concerned. This allows three months for the judge to write and publish the critique, and a further three months for any missing critiques to be reported.

Whilst it is easy enough for anyone to check for a Ch show critique on the Club’s website; open shows can be trickier as it’s generally only the exhibitor who was actually at that show who’s interested!! Missing critiques for both open and Ch shows can be reported by anyone to the KC via https://kcjudgescritiques.org.uk; details can be found under the FAQ section, where you’ll need to log in your MyKC account to complete the on-line form.

For those of you who either don’t get Our Dogs or missed the KC’s press release; below is an update on travelling to Ireland with dogs. Up to now it has been a requirement for pets to have a health certificate, rabies vaccination, proof of worming and pet passport to take dogs into Northern Ireland. After next April this will no longer be necessary as part of the requirements of the Windsor Framework which also covers cats and ferrets; although all pets must be microchipped.
Applications can be made either online or by phone for a Pet Travel Document (which is free and lasts for the life of the dog) from April 2025 and the scheme will launch fully on June 4th 2025. Onward travel into the rest of Ireland will still require the pet passport. Owners who are resident in Northern Ireland will not require the travel document to travel to Great Britain and back.
The scheme can’t be used if you are moving 5 dogs or more for commercial reasons ie for sale; but exhibitors travelling to a show or sporting event, may take more than 5 if they produce proof of entry to the event. Each animal must have its own pet travel document and must be over 6 months of age.
Full details of the scheme can be found on https://www.gov.uk/northern-ireland-pet-travel-scheme.

A reminder that all claims for the Club’s Annual Trophies (for wins in 2024) need to be with Gill Brunt by the 10th January, details and forms can be found on the Club’s website, also another reminder that if you haven’t already paid them, your membership subs are due for both clubs.

All that is left is for me to wish you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Anji Marfleet