The Royal Kennel Club is inviting applications from individuals interested in becoming Obedience Accredited Trainers for the Judges’ Training Programme. Applications close on Friday 3rd April 2026.
About the Judges’ Training Programme
This programme has been developed over time to align with the requirements already in place for all judges across canine activities. It reflects The Royal Kennel Club’s commitment to:
- Maintaining and improving the standard of judges and judging at official Royal Kennel Club licensed events.
- Ensuring the quality of dogs and the value of awards they receive at these events.
Accredited Trainers are appointed for each discipline to deliver seminars and conduct assessments and offer guidance and support to judges. All trainers are established experienced judges, having attended training and assessment sessions to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and competence in delivering the seminar syllabus. Trainers are appointed with a good geographical spread to minimise travel distances for seminar attendees.
Role of Obedience Accredited Trainers
Successful applicants will:
- Deliver seminars and assessments in line with the programme syllabus.
- Participate in at least 2 shadowing sessions with experienced Accredited Trainers before presenting seminars independently.
- Be an active member of the obedience accredited trainers group to assess, review and amend the provision of judges training to ensure it remains fit for purpose to promote and support new and experienced judges to retain their competence
Candidate Criteria
We are looking to recruit both existing CC qualified judges and those with a wide range of judging experience up to and including Class B:
- Proven presentation, facilitation and teaching skills are essential (preferably to have own laptop / tablet and a knowledge of how to use PowerPoint).
- A minimum of 8 years judging experience and 30 judging appointments, either as a qualified/working towards CC judge, or extensive experience across all classes up to class B.
- Show management experience, so as to demonstrate knowledge of the needs of societies when organising competitions.
- Have attended and passed the exam for the Obedience Regulations and Judging Procedure seminar and attended the Test Design and Practice of Judging Seminar
- A willingness to travel to deliver seminars.
- Be required undertake at least 2 shadowing sessions with experienced Accredited Trainers before gaining accreditation to present seminars independently.
- CC judges will be accredited to deliver all levels of seminar and undertake judges observations as required.
- Judges up to Class B will be accredited to deliver new judges seminars and support judges progression up to class B.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should send their applications to Judges.Seminars@royalkennelclub.com by Friday 3rd April 2026.
Applications must include:
- A canine CV (detailing judging, training, and relevant experience)
- A cover statement/application addressing the criteria listed above. Please ensure your application provides all the information outlined in the criteria.
Interviews and assessments will be held online during w/c 20th April 2026, with the exact date to be confirmed.
The current Accredited Obedience Judges Trainers are happy to discuss the role with anyone prior to application – you can find the Obedience Accredited Trainers’ contact details here.