HOW DOG SHOWS WORK...

Becoming a Champion & Best of Breed

If you're new to the dog show process, it can seem confusing. But after going over the steps in order, it will make more sense.

To become designated a champion, a dog must win a certain number of points, which it can earn from different dog show competitions. A dog becomes a champion after it gains at least 15 points from three different judges and gains at least two major wins from separate judges. A major win is one in which the dog earns three, four or five points. Reaching the level of champion offers the dog the privilege of attaching the prefix "CH." to its name.

So how exactly do dogs go about earning these points? The process begins with specialty shows that focus on a particular breed. Specialty competitions separate the dogs into male and female groups and then separate them into six different classes:

Puppy: Dogs between six and 12 months old are eligible for this class. (Those under six months may not enter.)

12-to-18-Month-Old: Those that fall in this age-range are eligible.

Novice: Those over six months old are eligible as long as they: have not won any points yet, have not yet won three first place prizes in this class and have not won first prizes in the Bred-by-exhibitor, American-bred or Open classes.

Bred-by-exhibitor: As the name implies, these dogs' breeders are also their exhibitors.

American-bred: This class is reserved for those dogs conceived in the U.S.

Open: Any dog that is over six months old can enter into this class. Champions are not allowed in any of the other classes and are only permitted to enter this class.

With the males going first, the judges inspect each of these classes individually, and award ribbons for first through fourth place. At this stage, first-place winners do not get any points. First-place winners from the male classes then come together to compete for Winners Dog. Females then go through this same process and then compete for Winners Bitch. The Reserve Winners Award goes to the runners up for Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. Only Winners Dog & Winners Bitch get points. However, the number of points awarded varies and depends on how many dogs of its sex competed in the show. This means that the more dogs it defeated, the greater the point-reward (with five being the highest).

But wait; the competition doesn't stop there. Next comes the award for Best of Breed. Dogs that have earned the points necessary to be champions can enter this race with the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. After judges award Best of Breed, they give out an award for Best of Winners, which is only between the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. Finally, the judges determine the Best of Opposite Sex, which is for the best dog of the opposite sex of the Best of Breed. A dog can actually earn extra points during these awards, depending on the number of dogs of its sex and champions that were competing against it.

Show Dog Terminology

All Rounder: A judge qualified to judge any breed.

Bench Show: A kind of conformation dog show in which the competing dogs stay on benches when they are not being judged.

Breeder: The owner of the dog's mother.

Breeder-Judge: A judge who specializes and has thorough knowledge in judging a particular breed.

Exhibitor: In a conformation show, this is the person who shows the dog. This person is also known as a handler, especially in performance shows.

Pedigree: A record of a dog's lineage going back at least three generations.

Stacking: The process of positioning a dog's legs in preparation for being judged. More impressive is when the handler has trained the dog to do this on its own.

The Road to Best in Show

Out of several hundred distinct dog breeds that exist, the AKC only recognizes a little more than 150. The AKC then separates these breeds into groups that loosely distinguish them based on what they were bred to do. These groups are:

Sporting Dogs: People breed these dogs for sporting purposes, such as hunting. This group includes pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels.

Hounds: Hounds, such as beagles, bloodhounds and dachshunds, often have exceptional senses of smell or physical endurance that can make them effective hunters.

Working Dogs: With large sizes and great strength, the dogs in this group make great assets in practical tasks such as search-and-rescue and guarding your home. Examples include Great Danes, rottweilers and Saint Bernards.

Terriers: This group includes all terriers, who are known for their unique and energetic personalities. Examples include bull terriers, Scottish terriers, and miniature schnauzers.

Toy Dogs: This group includes small dogs, such as the Chihuahua that you'll often see Paris Hilton carrying around. Toy dogs include shih tzus, poodles, and pugs.

Non-Sporting Dogs: This is a catch-all category for breeds that don't have any unifying characteristics. It includes the bulldog, dalmation, and American Eskimo dog.

Herding Dogs: As the name implies, people breed these dogs to herd animals such as sheep and cows. Breeds in this group include collies, Australian shepherds, and briards.

Miscellaneous: As part of the process of recognition, the AKC allows breeds into this group that have generated popularity and interest over a wide area. Breeds in this group, however, cannot earn championship points in conformation shows. If the breeding activity grows for a breed in this class, the AKC might recognize it in one of the other groups.

Best of Breeds in each group compete against each other in group shows. If a dog wins first prize at its group show, then it goes on to compete in an All-Breed show. In an All-Breed show, before dogs compete against other groups, they must defeat other first-prize winners in their group. Finally, after the judges have narrowed it down to seven winners from the seven different groups they award Best in Show, the highest prize, to the best dog. The meticulous judging process and heated competition explains why people get so passionate about their show dogs, despite the fact that there is no significant cash prize :)