{"id":4889,"date":"2026-02-09T13:11:30","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T13:11:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=4889"},"modified":"2026-02-09T13:11:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T13:11:30","slug":"crufts-bans-husbands-from-judging-wives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=4889","title":{"rendered":"Crufts bans husbands from judging wives"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Husbands have been banned from judging their wives in qualifiers for Crufts in a crackdown on bias.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/business\/2024\/08\/03\/crufts-in-crisis-as-botched-tech-upgrade-prompts-kennel-clu\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Royal Kennel Club;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">Royal Kennel Club<\/a> has changed rules for gun dog field trials that will prevent spouses from assessing canines belonging to their other half.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Success in the competitions, which are organised by regional gun dog clubs, is one of the conditions for entering the <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/2025\/11\/25\/crufts-to-accept-rescue-dogs\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:world-renowned dog show;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">world-renowned dog show<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Retrievers, spaniels, pointers and setters compete at Crufts annually in gun dog classes, where they are assessed on retrieval, agility and obedience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Judges have long been banned from assessing dogs belonging to their spouses at Crufts itself, and any dogs found to have been judged by their owner\u2019s spouse can be retrospectively disqualified.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">However, regional field trials, which can be used to qualify for Crufts, have previously not been subject to the rule.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Royal Kennel Club said the rule change was necessary to combat \u201cconflicts of interest\u201d, with judges also now prohibited from adjudicating gun dogs belonging to other members of their immediate family or anyone else living at the same address.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The changes were proposed by the North Western Counties Field Trial Association last May at the Royal Kennel Club\u2019s field trials liaison council.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Dog show event\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"681\" height=\"429\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/7TR61udUuBm0vC26NJK1Dg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYwNTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/the_telegraph_258\/001e1b759bd2d772c899f7b47a722692\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Success at regional events is one of the conditions of entering Crufts &#8211; Crufts<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The association argued that previous guidance advising that spouses should not judge their partners\u2019 dogs, as \u201cthere may be a perception that the partner or spouse had played a role in preparing the dog for competition\u201d, was insufficient.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe committee of North Western Counties Field Trial Association believe that a new regulation should be included&#8230;to prevent the proliferation of this situation in the future,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The proposal was adopted by the Royal Kennel Club on Feb 2 and now applies to all gun dog field trials, except when judges are appointed in an \u201cemergency\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ryan Kay, of FarlaVale Gundogs, told The Shooting Times that the changes would \u201chelp to add clarity for handlers, judges and gun dog clubs alike\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Gun dog field trials are usually held in winter and are designed to \u201cresemble, as closely as possible, a day\u2019s shooting in the field and dogs are expected to work with all manner of game, from rabbits and hares, to partridges and pheasant\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A number of individual gun dog clubs have previously issued their own bans on judges assessing their spouse\u2019s dog.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Whippet Miuccia won Best In Show at last year&amp;#39;s Crufts\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"600\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/DiHNBCEcWM1prV_6N3t3tg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYwMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/the_telegraph_258\/e843347307ffefc809dcb3bdd17af110\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Whippet Miuccia won Best In Show at last year\u2019s Crufts &#8211; Anthony Devlin<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt is not acceptable to run under a partner, spouse or cohabitant at a trial, as there may be perception that this person has played a role in preparing the dog for competition,\u201d the Central Scotland Gundog Club\u2019s regulations read.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A Royal Kennel Club spokesman said no official competitions were allowed to have judges assessing their spouse\u2019s dog.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe regulation over Field Trials in respect of judges and spouses is an expansion of the conflict of interest regulations which appear in all other disciplines \u2013 so this was just aligning the position for consistency,\u201d the spokesman said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThere are no licensed Kennel Club competitions where it would be permissible for judges to judge their spouses\u2019 dogs and regulations are in place to support the position.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe Royal Kennel Club has a presiding commitment towards a fair and even playing field in all its licenced canine activities. Decisions need to be made in the best interest of the sport, and so that there is trust and confidence for those participating.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThat includes ensuring that conflicts of interest are managed and there is therefore a raft of regulations in all the licenced activities to assist both competitors and judges to avoid or minimise conflicts of interest arising inadvertently.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Crufts takes places at the NEC in Birmingham between March 5 and March 8.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/customer\/subscription\/store\/us\/?ICID=yahoo_article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><b>Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Husbands have been banned from judging their wives in qualifiers for Crufts in a crackdown on bias. The Royal Kennel Club has changed rules for gun dog field trials that will prevent spouses from assessing canines belonging to their other half. Success in the competitions, which are organised by regional gun dog clubs, is one [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4890,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4889"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4889\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}