How to Become a Dog Show Judge

Of the 20,000 dog show judges in the United States, only one-tenth of one percent qualify with the American Kennel Club to judge all breeds, or "Best in Show." This is because it takes years of experience before you can qualify to judge just one breed. If you're considering becoming a dog show judge, follow these steps onto that long path.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Gain the required experience. To become an AKC-approved judge, you must have a minimum of 12 years experience showing the breed, have whelped and raised 5 or more litters of pups on your premises, and bred and raised 4 or more champions. The AKC sometimes recognizes additional years of experience in exchange for some of the breeding and showing requirements.

2. Complete a mandatory pre-application interview with an AKC field representative, and then submit your application to the Judging Office with the nonrefundable fee. The office will review your application and notify you by mail if you must undergo another interview.

3. Finish your interview. Upon staff approval, your name is published in the AKC "Gazette." Other members then have the opportunity for 30 days to give their opinions of your application.

4. Take your breed standard exams and return them to be graded. Once the 30-day response period is over and you have passed your exams, you're granted a "Provisional Status," notified by mail and again published in the "Gazette."

5. Accept and complete 5 judging assignments for each breed, and then request approval from the Judging Office for "Regular Status."

Resources

• American Kennel Club's website.