What the judge is looking for:
Each breed has a standard.  The dogs that are presented to the judge should be as close to this standard as possible.  (Remember, no one is perfect.) What will be evaluated is head, expression, length of neck, towline, tail set & carriage, gait & movement (from side, rear & front), and stance.


The Show:
Dogs and Bitches are separated because of sexual dimorphism (difference in height, weight, etc.) Each gender is judged separately and is awarded ribbons per class.

The classes offered:
  6-9 Month
  9-12 Month
  12-18 Month
  Bred By Exhibitor
  Novice
  American Bred
  Open
  Winners
  Best of Breed Competition


Puppy Classes:
Pups are judged against their age groups due to immaturity of mind and body. They can grow at different speeds and thus not represent the adult populations.

Bred by Exhibitor
The Breeder of the dog in this class is also the Handler and Owner/Co-Owner. It is a way for breeders to present their "stuff" to the Judge and Breed Community.

Novice:
For any dog or bitch that has not obtained a ribbon in any of the offered classes.  This is a class to place a dog that is older and does not have the show seasoning the other dogs do.

American Bred (Am Bred):
Once a class for American bred and born Dogs, it is now a class to enter dogs that are not quite ready for the Open Class ( usually over two years of age ).

Open:
Typically, the dogs entered in this class are about two years and older.  Growth and Development should be complete and the animal is considered an adult.  Champions can be entered. but ethically are entered in "Best of Breed Competition" due to a Champion winner "taking the points away from a class dog".

Best of Breed Competition:
Entered are the Breed Champions trying to advance to the breed particular Group judging. These dogs should be excellent representations of the Breed Standard and will one day carry on their kennel legacy.

Also included are the Class Dog and Bitch Winners ( changes with each show ). They also have the opportunity to achieve one of three awards that day.


The Classes:
Breed Judging begins with the Dogs ( males ) and starts with the youngest class. As each class is judged ( 6-9, 9-12, etc. ), a 1st through 4th place is awarded. This is what people mean when they say, "he or she placed in the class".

After all of the Dog Classes are judged, each of the First Place Winners come back into the ring. Normally they are lined up according to the age group and are re-presented to the Judge.  The judge goes through another inspection and finally picks one dog for "Winners Dog", the dog that received the points for that day. Winners Dog leaves the ring and is replaced by the second place dog for that class ( if it is the Open Dog that wins, the 2nd place Open Dog comes in. ) The judge then awards "Reserve Winners Dog" This again, can be anyone.

The Bitch Classes are started and the same procedure is repeated, with Pups going first through to the Adult Classes. The only differences is the title of Winners Bitch and Reserve Winners Bitch. Normally the adult dogs will be Winners Dog or Bitch, but it is not unheard of to have one of the puppies win. Each breed is different and has different normality, it just depending on the judge's opinion.


Best of Breed:
Once the classes have been judged and Winners selected, The Best of Breed class will be judged. This class includes any Champion Dog and Bitch entered, plus the both Class Winners.

The judge will select three dogs for:
Best of Breed (or Variety)
Best of Opposite Sex
Best of Winners

Best of Breed winner will go on to represent the breed in its particular Group judging.

Best of Winners will be awarded to either Winners Dog or Bitch; the Best of Both. Of the two class winners, the Judge will select what he or she feels is the better of the two.

Best of Opposite Sex:
If a Dog "goes Breed", a Bitch goes "Op".
If a Bitch goes breed, a Dog will go "Op".