Young Kennel Club

If you know someone aged 6-24 years, the Young Kennel Club is an ideal place to make new friends, develop your love of dogs and acquire new skills. The annual membership fee for the Young Kennel Club is just £20, includes:

• A membership pack

• Membership number so you can compete with your dog in YKC Crufts Qualifiers held at a variety of dogs shows throughout the year.

• Opportunities to try out different disciplines at YKC training days and weekends.

• Opportunities to attend YKC events and camps

• Fetch magazine for members, which is issued twice a year.

• Free Crufts ticket (one day pass)

• A YKC member-only ring at Crufts, where members qualify and compete at the highest level

Sign up today!

Make sure that you bring any youngsters or young adults (aged up to 24 years) along to see us at the show as we have our very own stand and ring, jam packed with competitions and displays over all four days. If you are new to the club, this is the perfect opportunity to come along and find out firsthand from members about the activities you can become involved with. If you’re an old hand, the show is the ideal occasion to catch up with your friends.

Dog showing, or exhibiting as it is known, is the most popular canine activity in the UK. In the Young Kennel Club stakes finals, the judge will compare each dog against the official Kennel Club breed standard (which is a guide for the characteristics for that breed, including health and temperament). The dogs which come closest to the breed standard receive the top places.

YKC handling competitions let members compete against one another to find out who is the best at showing their dog. The competition is held in exactly the same format as a breed ring, but it isn't the dog being judged, it's you! 

Dog agility is an action packed and hugely exciting sport for you and your dog. It involves loads of obstacles for your dog (not you!) to run through, jump over, and weave in and out of – and all against the clock! Not only does agility test your dog’s fitness, you can also show off your skills as a handler, directing your dog around the agility course.

Training your dog for competitive obedience is fun, challenging and an interesting activity for you to enjoy together. Competitive obedience shows take place all over the country throughout the year, and are open for competitors of all levels to enter. 

Heelwork to music is obedience training with a twist! Your dog has to show its understanding and knowledge of training commands - but the great part is that your dog can show off their obedience skills within a dance routine with music, which has been created by you.

There are two types of HTM classes, freestyle and heelwork, and most shows stage official classes in both categories.

Flyball competitions involve two teams of handlers and their dogs racing against each other. These competitions are great for making new friends, while enjoying time with your dog and competing.

Our annual award is the chance to celebrate young people who are transforming the lives of others. We seek to recognise young people who have overcome huge challenges, or who go above and beyond to demonstrate their love of dogs, and encourage others to become a part of the dog world.

The YKC offer lots of ways for young artists to practice and enter competitions. We hold one main competition a year. The winner will receive a range of prizes and have their work on display at Crufts.

Even if you own a short-haired breed, grooming is an important part of dog care in the show ring as well as with pet dogs. Regular grooming is also a good way of checking the general health of your dog.