Terms of Service

Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Welcome to the SHOWS.dog platform (including judges.dog and all related subdomains), operated by the SHOWS.dog Team (“we,” “our,” or “us”).

By accessing or using our websites, applications, and software (collectively, the “Platform”), you (“you” or “User”) agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

1. About the Platform

SHOWS.dog is a cloud-based software platform for the dog show industry. We provide technology tools that enable:

Event Organizers (kennel clubs, breed clubs) to manage dog shows, registrations, catalogs, ring administration, invoicing, and judge assignments.
Exhibitors (dog owners, handlers) to discover shows, register dogs, and manage their participation.
Judges to manage their profiles, availability, and assignments via judges.dog.

SHOWS.dog is a technology platform only. We do not organize dog shows, employ judges, own dogs, or act as a party in any transaction between Organizers and Exhibitors. We facilitate connections and provide tools — nothing more.

2. Platform Role and Disclaimer of Agency

2.1. SHOWS.dog acts solely as an intermediary technology provider. We are not a party to any agreement, transaction, or relationship between Organizers and Exhibitors, or between Organizers and Judges.

2.2. Registration fees, entry fees, and any other payments made through the Platform are transactions between the Exhibitor and the Organizer. SHOWS.dog does not collect, process, or hold these funds on behalf of either party unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g., through an integrated payment processing feature where we act only as a technical intermediary).

2.3. We do not endorse, guarantee, or verify the quality, safety, legality, or suitability of any dog show, judge assignment, registration, or result published on the Platform. All information is provided by Users and Organizers and is their sole responsibility.

2.4. We do not verify dog pedigrees, championship titles, breeding records, or judging licenses beyond what is self-reported by Users. Organizers and governing kennel clubs are responsible for verifying credentials in accordance with their own rules.

3. Account Registration

3.1. To use certain features, you must create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information.

3.2. You must verify your email address before accessing the Platform. Accounts with unverified email addresses will have restricted access.

3.3. You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately at support@shows.dog if you suspect unauthorized access.

3.4. We offer different account types (Exhibitor, Organizer, Judge). Additional terms and features may apply depending on your account type.

3.5. You may not create multiple accounts for the same person, or create accounts on behalf of others without their explicit consent.

3.6. By creating an account, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. Registration requires explicit acceptance of these documents.

4. User Responsibilities

4.1. You agree not to:

Upload false, misleading, or fraudulent information (fake registration numbers, falsified titles, unverified credentials).
Use the Platform for any purpose that violates applicable laws or regulations.
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Platform, other accounts, or our systems.
Scrape, crawl, or otherwise extract data from the Platform by automated means without our written permission.
Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Platform.
Use the Platform to send unsolicited communications or spam.

4.2. Event Organizers are solely responsible for:

Compliance with the rules of their respective national and international kennel clubs (e.g., FCI, AKC, The Kennel Club) and all applicable local laws and regulations.
Ensuring that their events comply with animal welfare legislation in their jurisdiction.
The accuracy and completeness of event information, registration rules, pricing, and results published through the Platform.
Verifying the age, identity, and eligibility of participants in accordance with applicable laws and their own event rules.

4.3. Exhibitors are solely responsible for:

The accuracy of information provided about their dogs (breed, pedigree, health records, registration numbers).
Compliance with the specific entry requirements and rules of each event they register for.
Any obligations arising from their registration and participation in events, including payment of fees to the Organizer.

4A. Auto-Fill Data Sharing (Exhibitor Opt-In)

4A.1. The Platform offers an optional Auto-Fill feature that allows Event Organizers to retrieve an Exhibitor's profile and dog data by entering a microchip number during manual registration. This feature is designed to streamline the registration process and reduce data entry errors.

4A.2. Auto-Fill is disabled by default. To enable it, the Exhibitor must explicitly activate the data sharing option in their account settings. Before activation, the Exhibitor will be informed that enabling this feature means:

Their profile data (name, contact details) and dog data (breed, pedigree, microchip) will be accessible to Event Organizers who enter a matching microchip number.
Any Organizer using the Platform may retrieve this data for the purpose of event registration.
The Exhibitor may disable this feature at any time, which will immediately stop sharing their data with Organizers for future lookups.

4A.3. By enabling Auto-Fill, the Exhibitor acknowledges and agrees that:

The decision to share data is made voluntarily and at their own discretion.
SHOWS.dog acts solely as a technical tool facilitating this data sharing and bears no responsibility for how the retrieved data is subsequently used by the Organizer.
The Platform is not liable for any consequences arising from the Organizer's use of data obtained through Auto-Fill.

4A.4. Event Organizers who use the Auto-Fill feature are solely responsible for:

Using the retrieved data only for legitimate event registration and management purposes.
Complying with applicable data protection laws (including GDPR) when processing Exhibitor data obtained through Auto-Fill.
Not storing, sharing, or using Auto-Fill data for purposes unrelated to their events.
Deleting Auto-Fill-retrieved data when it is no longer needed for event purposes, in accordance with data retention obligations.

4A.5.SHOWS.dog bears no responsibility for the use, misuse, or further processing of data shared through the Auto-Fill feature. The data is shared at the Exhibitor's voluntary decision, and the responsibility for its proper use rests entirely with the Organizer who retrieves it.

5. Third-Party Transactions and Disputes

5.1. All transactions between Exhibitors and Organizers (including show entry fees, service fees, and any other charges) are strictly between those parties. SHOWS.dog is not a party to these transactions and bears no responsibility for their execution, quality, or outcome.

5.2. Any disputes, claims, or disagreements arising between Users — including but not limited to disputes between Exhibitors and Organizers regarding registrations, fees, refunds, show results, disqualifications, or event cancellations — are to be resolved directly between the parties involved.

5.3. Such disputes shall be resolved in accordance with the applicable civil procedure laws of the relevant jurisdiction. SHOWS.dog shall not be required to participate in, mediate, or arbitrate any such dispute.

5.4. SHOWS.dog is not responsible for any loss, damage, or inconvenience arising from:

Cancellation, postponement, or modification of events by Organizers.
Incorrect or incomplete show results, catalog entries, or judging reports.
Failure of an Organizer to issue refunds or fulfill any obligation to an Exhibitor.
Disputes over judging decisions, ring assignments, or breed classifications.

5A. Registration Data Handling

5A.1. When an Exhibitor registers for a show, the Platform creates a frozen snapshot of the registration data at the moment of submission. This snapshot remains unchanged regardless of any subsequent profile updates by the Exhibitor.

5A.2. After the event concludes, the Organizer receives a time-limited download link (valid for 14 calendar days) to retrieve all frozen registration documents for their event.

5A.3. After the download window expires, frozen registration data is permanently deleted from the Platform. SHOWS.dog does not retain copies of registration documents beyond this period.

5A.4.It is the Organizer's sole responsibility to download the registration documents within the 14-day window. SHOWS.dog bears no responsibility for documents not downloaded within this period.

5A.5. Published show catalogs and results (containing participant names, dogs, classes, placements, and awards) remain available on the Platform as part of the public show record.

6. Fees and Billing

6.1. Use of the Platform is free for Exhibitors. Organizers may be required to pay subscription or usage-based fees for access to certain features (e.g., event management dashboards, catalog generation, advanced analytics).

6.2. All fees payable to SHOWS.dog are billed as described in the applicable subscription plan. Fees are exclusive of applicable taxes unless stated otherwise.

6.3.We reserve the right to change our pricing with at least 30 days' prior written notice. Continued use of the Platform after a price change constitutes acceptance of the new pricing.

6.4. Refund policy: Subscription fees are generally non-refundable. However, if you are a consumer within the European Union, you may exercise your right of withdrawal within 14 days of purchase in accordance with the EU Consumer Rights Directive, unless you have expressly consented to waive this right and the service has been fully performed during the withdrawal period.

7. Intellectual Property

7.1. All code, software, design, trademarks, and original content on the Platform (excluding User-Generated Content) are our exclusive property or the property of our licensors.

7.2. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or reverse-engineer any part of our software or Platform.

7.3. You retain ownership of the personal data and content you upload. By uploading content, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, store, process, and display that content solely for the purpose of providing and improving the Platform.

7.4. Canine Data. Information about dogs entered on the Platform — including pedigree numbers, microchip numbers, breed, color, sire, dam, date of birth, and show results — is publicly available information in the dog show industry (published in kennel club registries, show catalogs, and official results). This data is stored in a de-identified form (not linked to owner identity) and will be retained indefinitely in our database. It may also be used across related projects within our ecosystem (such as mypedigree.dog) for maintaining comprehensive canine records. By entering dog information on the Platform, you acknowledge and agree to this use.

7.5. The license granted in Section 7.3 terminates when you delete your content or your account, except where the content has been shared with other Users or is reasonably required for the continued operation of the Platform (e.g., published show results, catalog entries). Canine data as described in Section 7.4 is exempt from this termination.

8. Limitation of Liability

8.1. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, SHOWS.dog shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, business opportunities, or goodwill.

8.2. Our total aggregate liability for any claims arising under these Terms shall not exceed the total amount of fees you have paid to us in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

8.3.The Platform is provided on an “AS-IS” and “AS-AVAILABLE” basis. We make no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, reliability, or availability of the Platform.

8.4. We shall not be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in show catalogs, judging schedules, registration data, or pedigree information generated through the Platform. Such data is inputted by Users and Organizers, and its accuracy is their sole responsibility.

8.5. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability for (a) death or personal injury caused by our negligence, (b) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or (c) any liability that cannot be excluded or limited by applicable law.

8A. Indemnification

8A.1. Event Organizers agree to indemnify and hold SHOWS.dog harmless from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

The Organizer's use, storage, or processing of registration documents downloaded from the Platform.
The Organizer's failure to comply with applicable data protection laws (including GDPR) in relation to Exhibitor data.
Any disputes between the Organizer and Exhibitors or Judges.
Any claims arising from the Organizer's events, including but not limited to personal injury, property damage, or animal welfare violations.

8A.2. Exhibitors agree to indemnify and hold SHOWS.dog harmless from any claims arising from false or misleading information they submit through the Platform, including fraudulent dog registration numbers, falsified titles, or misrepresented credentials.

9. Data Privacy

9.1. Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and protection of personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, which forms an integral part of these Terms.

9.2. If you are an Event Organizer processing personal data of Exhibitors through the Platform within the European Economic Area, you act as the Data Controller and we act as the Data Processor. The terms of data processing are set out in our Data Processing Agreement.

10. Account Suspension and Termination

10.1. We may suspend or restrict your access to the Platform if we reasonably believe that:

You have violated these Terms.
Your account poses a security risk.
Your use of the Platform may cause harm to other Users or to us.
We are required to do so by law or a regulatory authority.

10.2. For non-critical violations, we will provide reasonable notice (at least 7 days) and an opportunity to remedy the violation before suspension or termination, except where immediate action is necessary to protect the Platform, other Users, or comply with legal obligations.

10.3. Upon termination, you may request export of your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Your data will be handled as described in the Privacy Policy after account deletion.

10.4. You may terminate your account at any time by contacting support@shows.dog or through your account settings.

11. Modifications to Terms

11.1. We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by email or by posting a notice on the Platform at least 14 days before the changes take effect.

11.2. Your continued use of the Platform after the changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree with the changes, you must stop using the Platform and may request account deletion.

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

12.1. These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the European Union and the applicable laws of the jurisdiction in which the SHOWS.dog Team is registered, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

12.2. Any legal disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms shall be submitted exclusively to the competent courts of the jurisdiction in which the SHOWS.dog Team is registered.

12.3. If you are a consumer within the European Union, you may also use the European Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform at https://ec.europa.eu/odr to resolve disputes.

12.4. Nothing in these Terms affects your rights as a consumer under the mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence.

13. Force Majeure and Event Continuity

13.1. We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations under these Terms where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: natural disasters, acts of government, internet or telecommunications failures, power outages, cyberattacks, pandemics, or any other event that could not have been reasonably foreseen or prevented. In such cases, the 14-day document download window (Section 5A) may be extended by the duration of the force majeure event.

13.2. Offline Event Preparedness. SHOWS.dog makes every effort to ensure that events run smoothly, including preparing for unforeseen circumstances. For every show, the Platform generates printable judging forms, evaluation sheets, catalogs, and other event documents specifically designed for offline use. These materials are made available for download in advance so that events can proceed even without an active internet connection or Platform access.

Event Organizers are required to:

Download all printable event documents (judging forms, catalogs, entry lists) before the event date.
Ensure availability of a computer, printer, paper, and other necessary equipment at the event venue.
Be prepared to conduct the event using printed materials in the event of Platform unavailability.

13.3. In the event of force majeure circumstances that could not have been foreseen by the SHOWS.dog Team, the Platform bears no liability for any disruption to events, provided that the disruption was not caused intentionally or through willful misconduct on the part of the SHOWS.dog Team.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us:

Email: support@shows.dog
Company: SHOWS.dog Team
Address: [To be updated upon company registration]
Registration No.: [To be updated upon company registration]