Conformation or Breed Showing
Conformation Events, or Dog
Shows, are competitive events where a judge evaluates a
dog’s structure as it compares to a written description of the perfect
specimen of that breed, called a standard. While it may appear that dogs
are being judged against one another, each dog is actually being
compared to the judge’s mental image of the perfect dog of that breed.
The judges must be familiar with not only the standards of the breeds
they judge, but with the Conformation rules and regulations as well.
Each dog is examined by the judge in a posed position (often referred to
as a stack) and must also gait
in a pattern to allow the judge to evaluate its efficiency of movement.
Dog shows may be held for one breed (a specialty), several breeds
(usually a group like hounds, terrier, etc) or all breeds, depending on
the experience of the club in managing such events.
AKC:
The American Kennel Club is the largest and primary
registry for purebred dogs in the USA. The AKC currently
recognizes 155 breeds of dogs. At a dog show, each
dog is presented to a judge by its owner, breeder or a hired
professional. Most dogs at a dog show are competing for points
toward their championship. The AKC requires a dog to win 15
points, including 2 majors (which are wins of 3, 4 or 5 points)
awarded by at least 3 different judges to become a champion.
The number of points a dog wins depends on the number of dogs in its
breed in competition as well as the locale of the show. The
maximum number of points a dog can win at any show is 5 points.
The following classes, divided by
gender are offered at a show: 6-9 months, 9-12 months, 12-18 months,
novice, bred-by, american bred and open. After each of the
classes is judged, all the class winners compete to see who is the
best. Males and females are judged separately. Only the
best male and best female earn championship points. The best
male and best female then compete with all the champions of that
breed. The judge then selects Best of Breed, Best of Opposite
Sex to Best of Breed and Best of Winners.
Once your PH is a
champion, you can compete for the Grand Champion title. This
requires 3 major wins from 3 different judges and a total of 25
points. BOB, BOS, Select Dog and Select Bitch are each
eligible for GCh points.
For more information, please got to
www.akc.org
CKC:
The Canadian Kennel Club is the primary registry body
for purebred dogs in Canada and currently recognizes 174 breeds. Foreign born dogs
may be either registered with the CKC or you can submit an ERN
(Event Registration Number). CKC offers lure coursing. A
separate group offers Canadian racing. To become a CKC champion, your dog
must earn at least 10 points under at least three different judges
and have earned at least one 2-point win, either at the breed or
group level. Winner's points at a CKC show are
calculated from the following:
|
Dogs Competing |
1 |
2 |
3 to 5 |
6 to 9 |
10 to 12 |
13 or more |
|
Points |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
-
In counting the number of
eligible dogs in competition, a dog that is disqualified,
dismissed, excused or ordered from the ring by the judge shall
be included in the calculation for championship points.
-
To determine the number of
championship points earned by a dog awarded Winners, total all
the dogs in competition which the dog defeated, directly or
indirectly, for the highest of the following official breed
awards: Winner, Best of Winners, Best of Breed or Best of
Opposite Sex, and then consult the schedule above.
-
In addition to the
Championship points allocated at the breed level, a dog awarded
Winners which also places in the regular Group competition shall
be credited with the following points provided that a dog was
defeated in the group level (see table below.)
-
No dog may be awarded more than 5
points at a show.
|
Number of Breeds Competing
at Group Level |
Dog Placed First |
Dog Placed Second |
Dog Placed Third |
Dog Placed Fourth |
|
13 or more |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
|
10 to 12 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
6 to 9 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
For more information on Canadian
Kennel Club events, please go to
www.ckc.ca
UKC:
The United Kennel Club is another registry in the USA and 25 foreign countries,
where one can show your pure-bred dog.
UKC dog shows are family events designed by
and for the breeder-owner-handler. Professional Handlers are not
eligible to exhibit dogs for others at UKC Conformation Events. In
order to participate in UKC shows and activities, you must register
your dog with the UKC. UKC does not yet offer racing or lure
coursing.
Earning points toward your UKC
Championship title:
-
A first place class win: 10 points
-
Best of sex (Best Male or Best Female):
additional 15 points
-
Best of Winners (must have Best
Male/Best Female compete against each other or the class is not held
nor are points awarded): additional 10 points.
There are no additional points for any other wins (BOB, Groups or BIS
wins).
The requirements for a Championship is a
minimum of 100 points and three wins with
competition under three different Judges. Competition is defined as
follows:
-
As long as the Judge does not
withhold a placement or higher award then the appropriate points
will be awarded to the dog, regardless of how many dogs are
entered at the class level in a breed. However, there are no
additional Championship points awarded for going Best of Breed
nor will a Best of Winners class be held or points awarded if
the Best Male and Best Female winners are not present for this
competition.
-
Competition is credited in one of
the following manners.
-
The class dog must win a minimum
of their Best of Sex (Best Male or Best Female) and win over
another class dog (any class) of the same breed, same sex.
-
If the dog is the only one of
its sex then it must also win a minimum of their Best of Sex
and beat the other Best of Sex for Best of Winners. In
other works the Best Male and the Best Female would compete
and the dog awarded Best of Winners would receive an
appropriate competition win.
-
If the class dog is awarded the
Best of Breed win OVER either Champions or Grand Champions
of the same breed then competition would be credited.
UKC also offers the Grand Champion Title.
The requirements to earn the GRCH
title is as follows: A Champion dogs must win the Champions class a
minimum of 5 times with competition (a minimum of 3 Champions shown in
this class) under 3 different judges. UKC has also expanded the way a
GRCH title is earned. A Champion dog may earn a competition win towards
its GRCH title if it wins BOB over a Grand Champion and the total number
of dogs entered in the both the Champion class and the Grand Champion
class meets or exceeds the minimum 3 dog requirement.
For more information on
UKC events and shows, please go to
www.ukcdogs.com
