Championship titles › France
Championship title guide · Cairn Terrier · for exhibitors from any country
France
Société Centrale Canine (SCC) · French Kennel Club · centrale-canine.fr
Champion de France de Conformité au StandardChCS
A set route of certificates (CACS) at named French shows, under three different judges, at least one of them French. For the Cairn the breed club (CATE) sets the route. The SCC confirmed to us that a foreign dog with an SCC-recognised pedigree can take the title, and that there is no shortcut for dogs already titled elsewhere.
Certificates
3 CACS
How they must be split
- 1at the Championnat de France or the Nationale d'élevage (or 2 reserve CACS there within 2 years)
- 1at a CACIB show in France
- 1at the CATE Spéciale de race
Judges
3
different, at least 1 French
Official rulesTime gap
2 yrs
last 2 CACS within 2 years of the first
Official rulesMinimum age
9 mo
for the behaviour test (TC)
Official rulesMust also
DNA, health and TC
- DNA identified and registered with the SCC.
- Free of patellar luxation.
- OCM (craniomandibular osteopathy) genetic test.
- Health tests within 2 years of the Championnat or Nationale CACS.
- TC behaviour test with Excellent or better (ask the CATE for dates).
- Confirmation for French-owned dogs, not for dogs living abroad.
Already a champion elsewhere?
No shortcut
A dog already a champion in another country must still win all 3 CACS here, like any other dog.
Confirmed by kennel clubHow we label each factConfirmed by kennel clubthe kennel club confirmed it to us by emailOfficial rulesfrom the published rulesGovernment travel rulefrom government pet travel pagesTo be confirmedwe are still checking
Requirements for the dog
- Age
- The behaviour test (TC) can be taken from 9 months. Official rules
- Registration
- A foreign dog whose pedigree is recognised by the SCC can go for the title. The SCC did not say directly whether a pedigree from The Kennel Club (UK) is recognised. French-owned or co-owned dogs need confirmation (a French breed check). Confirmed by kennel club
- Dogs from abroad
- Allowed with an SCC-recognised pedigree. Confirmation is not needed for dogs living abroad. Confirmed by kennel club
- Where to win
- 1 CACS at the Championnat de France or the Nationale d'élevage (or 2 reserve CACS there within 2 years), 1 CACS at a CACIB show and 1 CACS at the CATE Spéciale de race, all in France. Official rules
- Foreign champion
- None. Dogs already titled elsewhere follow the same conditions. Confirmed by kennel club
- DNA or health
- DNA identified and registered with the SCC, free of patellar luxation, and an OCM (craniomandibular osteopathy) genetic test. Health tests within 2 years of the Championnat or Nationale CACS. Official rules
- Working or terrier rule
- Behaviour test (TC) with Excellent or better. The SCC told us to contact the breed club (CATE) for its TC calendar. Whether a dog owned abroad can take the TC was not answered. Confirmed by kennel club
- Reserve certificates
- 2 reserve CACS at the Championnat or Nationale d'élevage within 2 years can replace that CACS. Official rules
- Owner residence
- To be confirmed. Not found in the rules we read. To be confirmed
How to claim the title
- Win the certificatesThe 3 CACS above, under 3 different judges, at least 1 French, plus the TC and health tests.
- Send the applicationWithin 2 months, by email to the CATE address on the form: the form, copies of the cards and judging slips, the TC, the DNA certificate, and the vet and genetic certificates.
- Wait for the titleTo be confirmed.
FormSCC ChCS formFeeTo be confirmed
Official rules How to apply is from the published SCC and CATE rules.
Good to know
- The route is fixed: one CACS must come from the Championnat de France or the Nationale d'élevage.
- Book the TC and the health tests early. The CATE runs the TC calendar.
- No shortcut for champions from other countries (SCC email).
Ready to show? · official places to enter
Where to enter a show in France
- SCC ExpoAccount: Yes, create an account · English: To be confirmedOnline entries (engagements en ligne). Shows the entry closing date for each show.
- CEDIAAccount: Yes, create an account · English: YesShow list and online entries for French shows.
Next stepPick a show from the calendar, then enter on SCC Expo or CEDIA.
Travel and entry requirements
These are European Union pet travel rules, not kennel club rules. What applies depends on the country the dog travels from. For every group: up to 5 dogs per trip. More are allowed only for a show, competition or sporting event, with written proof that the dogs are entered, and all dogs over 6 months old. France follows the European Union pet travel rules. Source: European Commission and national government pages, accessed 3 Nov 2026. Rules change, so check again before every trip.
Arriving from an EU countryGovernment travel rule
Any other EU country, for example Germany, France or Italy.
- Microchip
- Microchip, fitted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination (otherwise the dog must be vaccinated again). A clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted.
- Rabies
- Valid rabies vaccination, given at 12 weeks or older and not before the microchip. The first vaccination is valid after 21 days. A booster given before the last one runs out keeps cover with no wait.
- Titre test
- Not required.
- Document
- EU pet passport, filled in by an authorised vet, showing the microchip number, the rabies vaccination and any tapeworm treatment.
- Tapeworm
- Not required to enter France. Under EU rules only Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland and Norway ask for it.
- Entry point
- No travellers' point of entry is needed. Those checks are only for dogs coming from outside the EU.
- Pre-notice
- Not stated.
Arriving from Great BritainGovernment travel rule
England, Scotland and Wales. The EU treats Great Britain as a listed non-EU country. Northern Ireland follows EU rules.
- Microchip
- Microchip, fitted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination (otherwise the dog must be vaccinated again). A clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted.
- Rabies
- Valid rabies vaccination, given at 12 weeks or older and not before the microchip. The first vaccination is valid after 21 days. A booster given before the last one runs out keeps cover with no wait.
- Titre test
- Not required. Great Britain is on the EU list of non-EU countries that need no titre test.
- Document
- EU animal health certificate, issued by an official vet (or an authorised vet, endorsed by the authorities) in the country you leave, plus your signed declaration that the trip is not commercial (no sale or change of owner). It is valid for 10 days from issue until the check at the first EU point of entry (longer by the length of a sea crossing), then for up to 6 months for travel between EU countries, or until the rabies vaccination runs out if that is sooner. A dog living in Great Britain cannot use a pet passport, even one issued in the EU. The same certificate covers the onward drive, so it still works if you enter the EU in, for example, France or Italy and then travel on to France. You need a new certificate for each trip.
- Tapeworm
- Not required to enter France. Under EU rules only Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland and Norway ask for it.
- Entry point
- Your first stop in the EU must be a travellers' point of entry, where you tell the officials you have a dog so they can check it and the papers. If you come straight to France, use one of the places on France's list.
- Pre-notice
- Not stated.
- Going home
- Back to Great Britain: tapeworm treatment by a vet 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before you arrive, unless you come straight from Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland. Treat again within 28 days of getting home.
Arriving from a listed non-EU countryGovernment travel rule
Countries on the EU list (Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2026/636), for example Australia, Canada, Japan, Serbia or the USA. Check your country on the European Commission list.
- Microchip
- Microchip, fitted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination (otherwise the dog must be vaccinated again). A clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted.
- Rabies
- Valid rabies vaccination, given at 12 weeks or older and not before the microchip. The first vaccination is valid after 21 days. A booster given before the last one runs out keeps cover with no wait.
- Titre test
- Not required.
- Document
- EU animal health certificate, issued by an official vet (or an authorised vet, endorsed by the authorities) in the country you leave, plus your signed declaration that the trip is not commercial (no sale or change of owner). It is valid for 10 days from issue until the check at the first EU point of entry (longer by the length of a sea crossing), then for up to 6 months for travel between EU countries, or until the rabies vaccination runs out if that is sooner.
- Tapeworm
- Not required to enter France. Under EU rules only Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland and Norway ask for it.
- Entry point
- Your first stop in the EU must be a travellers' point of entry, where you tell the officials you have a dog so they can check it and the papers. If you come straight to France, use one of the places on France's list.
- Pre-notice
- Not stated.
- Exceptions
- Dogs from Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland or Vatican City (Annex I) can travel on a pet passport from that country and do not need a travellers' point of entry.
Arriving from an unlisted non-EU countryGovernment travel rule
Any other country outside the EU that is not on either EU list.
- Microchip
- Microchip, fitted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination (otherwise the dog must be vaccinated again). A clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted.
- Rabies
- Valid rabies vaccination, given at 12 weeks or older and not before the microchip. The first vaccination is valid after 21 days. A booster given before the last one runs out keeps cover with no wait.
- Titre test
- Required. A vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least 90 days before the health certificate is issued. A laboratory approved by the EU must find at least 0.5 IU/ml, and a copy of its report goes with the certificate. Not needed again if every booster is given before the last one runs out.
- Document
- EU animal health certificate, issued by an official vet (or an authorised vet, endorsed by the authorities) in the country you leave, plus your signed declaration that the trip is not commercial (no sale or change of owner). It is valid for 10 days from issue until the check at the first EU point of entry (longer by the length of a sea crossing), then for up to 6 months for travel between EU countries, or until the rabies vaccination runs out if that is sooner. The titre test result is recorded on the certificate.
- Tapeworm
- Not required to enter France. Under EU rules only Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland and Norway ask for it.
- Entry point
- Your first stop in the EU must be a travellers' point of entry, where you tell the officials you have a dog so they can check it and the papers. If you come straight to France, use one of the places on France's list.
- Pre-notice
- Not stated.
Shows in France in 2026 where the CACS (national certificate) can be won
Every show in 2026 in our show database where the CACS towards the France title can be won: international (CACIB) shows, which also award the CACS. Shows on two or three days in a row at the same place are one row. 24 of 58 events in 2026 have a Cairn count. Every CACIB show day also awards the CACS, so there are 68 chances in 2026: 55 CACIB days plus 13 national-only days.
2026 onlyAll figures and shows below are for this year. Earlier years are not included.
68
chances to win the CACS in 2026: 55 CACIB show days (each also awards the CACS) plus 13 national-only days
24 of 58
events in 2026 with a Cairn count
200
Cairns in total, counting each event once at its highest show
8
average Cairns per event, using its highest show (24 events)
2 to 32
smallest and largest event, using its highest show
Counts come from our show database (published results and catalogues). Every show in an event that awards the CACS is one chance to win it. For an event with several shows, the bar and the figures above use the highest Cairn entry of any show in that event. The CACIB (international certificate) appears only as a label on each row. We have not yet checked the national show calendar of French Kennel Club, so national or club shows that award the CACS may be missing. National and club shows are included only where official results or catalogues show the certificate on offer to or won by Cairns; other national shows may be missing. Fewer entries can mean less competition, but numbers are only one part of the picture.
Members area coming soon. Everything on this page is open to read for now. Later, the claim steps and travel checks will move into a free members area.
Show planner · coming soon
Plan my route to ChCS
Tell us your dog, your dates and how far you will travel. The planner will suggest which shows to enter, how many Cairns usually compete there, and the travel paperwork for each leg.
"When are the Championnat de France, the Nationale d'élevage and the CATE Spéciale next year?"Coming soon
My titles · coming soon
My title map
Track the certificates your dog has won and see every country where it holds a title, on one map.
Map preview
Sources
- SCC ChCS application form (EN 22.100 a V7, in force 21 Jan 2020), centrale-canine.fr
- CATE, French champion titles, club-ate.fr (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- Email from the SCC, 3 Nov 2026
- FCI member page, fci.be (30 Oct 2026)
- European Commission, pet travel within the EU, food.ec.europa.eu (accessed 3 Nov 2026)
- European Commission, bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country, food.ec.europa.eu (accessed 3 Nov 2026)
- European Commission, list of non-EU countries and territories, food.ec.europa.eu (accessed 3 Nov 2026)
- European Commission, travellers' points of entry, food.ec.europa.eu (accessed 3 Nov 2026)
- GOV.UK, taking your pet dog abroad, animal health certificate and tapeworm pages, gov.uk (accessed 3 Nov 2026)
Information is a guide only. Always check the kennel club rules and government travel pages before you travel.