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The most
competitive events held under AKC rules are dog shows, where the accent
is on conformation. After being examined by a judge, dogs are placed
according to how well (in the judge's opinion) they measure up to their
breed standard.
To be eligible to enter, an AKC-registered dog must be at least six
months old on the day of the show and be of a breed for which classes
are offered in the premium list (the list of breeds being shown). Dogs
that are spayed or neutered are only eligible to be shown in stud dog
and brood bitch classes. Dogs with disqualifying faults as described in
their breed standard are ineligible.
Most show dogs are competing for points toward their championship. To
become an official AKC champion of record, a dog must earn a total of 15
points, which would include 2 major wins under 2 different judges. These
points are awarded based on the number of dogs in actual
competition--the more dogs, the more points. However, the number of dogs
required for points varies with the breed, sex and geographical location
of the show. The AKC makes up a schedule of points each year to help
equalize competition from breed to breed and area to area.
Dogs can earn from one to five points at a
show. A win of three, four or five points is called a major. The 15
points required for a championship must be won under at least three
different judges, and must include two majors won under different
judges.
There are six regular classes in which dogs seeking points may compete.
(Dogs that are competing for points are frequently referred to as class
dogs.) these classes are
Puppy (frequently into 6 to 9 months and 9 to 12
months12 to 18 Months)
Novice (dogs
that have no points toward their championship and have not won three
first prizes in the Novice class or a first prize in any but the Puppy
classes)
Bred by Exhibitor (the
dog must be owned or co-owned by any one of the breeders of record or
a spouse and must be shown by one of the breeders of record or a
member of their immediate families)
American Bred
(dogs
bred in America)
Open (dog of any
age)
There is no intersex
competition in these classes; dogs compete against other dogs, and
bitches against other bitches. Only one male (dog) and one female
(bitch) of each breed can win points at a show.
Judging in every breed proceeds along the same lines. The judge begins
with the Puppy Dog class. In each class the dogs are evaluated and
placements are made for first, second, third and fourth. Only the
first-place winner in each class remains in competition; the others are
eliminated.
After the judge has completed the Puppy Dogs, 12-to-18-Month Dogs,
Novice Dogs, Bred-by-Exhibitor Dogs, American-Bred Dogs and Open Dogs,
the first place winners from each class are brought back to compete
against one another. This is called Winners class. The dog selected best
is the Winners Dog. He is the male who receives the points at the show.
Next, the dog that placed second to the Winners Dog in his original
class is brought into the ring to compete with the other class winners
for Reserve Winners Dog. The Reserve Winners Dog will receive the points
if for any reason the Winners Dog is disallowed by the AKC.
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Puppy
1st |
Bred
By 1st |
Am
Bred 1st |
Novice
1st |
Open
1st |
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WINNERS
1st Place from each class compete for the point (s) |
The same process is repeated in bitches, resulting in a Winners Bitch
(the only bitch of the breed to receive points at the show) and a
Reserve Winners Bitch.
Next, the Best of Breed/Variety class is judged. All dogs and
bitches that are already champions enter in the ring for this class,
joined by the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch, the judge selects one Best
of Breed/Variety. Then, between the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch, the
judge selects a Best of Winners. If either the Winners Dog or the
Winners Bitch is selected Best of Breed, it automatically becomes Best
of Winners. (The Best of Winners gets the higher number of points, too.
If the points at the show for the defeated Winner were higher than those
of the Best of Winners, the Best now gets the same higher total.) The
judge finishes the breed judging by selecting a Best of Opposite Sex to
the Best of Breed/Variety. (A Variety exists when there are two or more
varieties of a breed. Such breed divisions are approved by the AKC and
may be according to height, weight, color, or hair type.)
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Winners
Dog |
Winners
Bitch |
Best
of Breed Dogs |
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Best
of Breed ~ Best of Opposite Sex ~ Best of Winners |
At all-breed shows, this process of elimination takes place in every
breed. Each Best of Breed/Variety winner then competes against other
Best of Breed/Variety winners within its Group (Hound, Sporting,
Working, Non-Sporting, Herding, Toy, Terrier). In the Group judging, the
judge's job is to pick the dog that most embodies the standard for its
breed. Four placements are awarded in each Group, but only the
first-place winner remains in competition. Finally, the seven Group
winners are brought into the ring and a Best in Show winner is selected.
Description courtesy of www.akc.org
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