CHEAP CHAMPIONS!
What Makes a Championship System Credible?
Sierra
Cheap champions! That term has
been used more than once to validate the archaic show system used by the Kennel
Club (
The American use of the words ‘cheap
champion’ is totally different from the British counterpart. Americans refer to cheap champions as those
who obtain their championships through nefarious means: professional handlers willing to finish a dog
they know is not worthy with judges who lack the fortitude to say… ‘bring me something better!’
When the British refer to ‘cheap champions’ they mean every dog in every
country that has a championship that is not
British. Only the
There are some champions in every
country that falls into the ‘couldn’t get a championship without the good ole
boy system’ and every country should acknowledge and work toward eliminating
the ways this type of ‘cheap champion’ occurs.
In the
We need to work to eliminate these types
of truly cheap champions through tightening up the show system, educating
judges and demanding that closer scrutiny and greater emphasis is placed on
integrity and ethics. With all its
faults, the
Even when faced with the miniscule percentage difference, British
exhibitors will point that their dogs must compete against finished champions
to obtain the necessary three ‘challenge certificates’ for a UK show champion,
while the US dogs compete against unfinished dogs for the Winners’ class and
then go on to compete against the finished champions for Best of Breed. What is amazing though,
is the very small number of champion dogs that continue to compete against the
huge entries for unfinished dogs in the
[NOTE: The actual percentage of championships
awarded annually as compared to the number of dogs competing is revealed at the
conclusion; don’t peek!]
Every system has it flaws, but in my view and having shown in many
countries, the American Kennel Club system is one of the best.
Using data from the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Kennel Club
(KC) websites, it appears that there are over 700 events in the
Surprisingly, although the Kennel Club was established in 1873 and the
American Kennel Club was established a mere eleven years later in 1884, the AKC
now has a vast computerized system allowing for statistical analysis of such
things as shows, entries, breed growth/decline, etc. The equivalent statistics are very difficult
to obtain from the KC, even after countless calls to various personnel.
History of Championships in the
AKC
Prior to around 1900, the AKC awarded championships very similarly
to the KC. Championships were based upon
a specified number of wins in the Open class, regardless of the number of dogs
in competition. This is similar to the present
KC system whereby a challenge certificate (when available) is awarded to the
winning dog and bitch, regardless of the number of dogs in competition. Conceivably in numerically smaller breeds,
the number of dogs in competition may be less than what is required in the
United States for major wins (of three to five points) necessary as part of the
award system. Granted, the total number
of classes for many breeds here in
The early point system for the AKC was not based upon breed of dog,
but rather the total numbers of dogs in competition for each point level. Somewhere around the 1920’s, it was decided to
limit majors to 18% of the shows. This
means that the numbers required for ‘majors’ (those wins of three to five
points) was raised so that only 18% of the shows would have the numbers in
competition necessary to attain a major.
The system still only had a single schedule for all breeds and sexes for
the entire country.
The next change occurred around the 1930’s when it was decided that
the numbers of dogs varied in different areas of the country (see Table 7 for a
comparison of geographical/population area sizes for each country). Still only a single schedule for all breeds
and sexes, the new point schedule divided the country into four areas and
allowed for the variance in numbers of dogs shown for the points earned. The number of dogs necessary to earn points
at each level varied between the four areas.
In the 1950’s a change to having different point schedules for dogs and
bitches was made, allowing for the fact that the numbers in both sexes often
varied.
The most recent change to the AKC point system occurred in
1989. The continental
The AKC point schedule allots from one to five points to the
Winners Dog and Winners Bitch dependent upon the number of dogs actually
shown. It gets a bit more complicated
when taking into consideration Best of Winners (selected from Winners Dog and
Winners Bitch) and Best of Breed where a class animal can, and sometimes do,
win Best of Breed over the ‘specials’ (dogs which have already attained their
championship). Because many people don’t
have a clear understanding of the AKC system, a comparison between the AKC and
KC classes, manner of attaining points toward a championship, and competing
against the champions of record should be made.
Competition Classes
The AKC shows offer seven classes, divided by sex:
Ø Puppy 6-9 Months
- dogs between six and nine months of age, that are not yet champions.
Ø Puppy 9-12 Months – dogs between nine and twelve months of
age, that are not yet champions
Ø Twelve-To-Eighteen Months - dogs between twelve to eighteen
months of age that are not yet champions.
Ø Novice - dogs that have never won a blue ribbon in any of
the other classes, or have won fewer than three first place ribbons in the
Novice class.
Ø Bred By Exhibitor - the dog is not yet a champion, and
the exhibitor is the breeder and the owner.
Ø American-Bred - a dog whose parents were mated in
Ø Open - any dog of the breed, at least 6 months of age.
The first place
winner of each of these classes will compete to see which is best of the
winning dogs. The sexes are judged
separately. The Winners Dog and Winners
Bitch will then go on to compete against the Champions in the Best of Breed
class. Three awards are given at this
stage of the competition (see Table 1):
Ø Best of Breed – the dog judged to be best in the
breed
Ø Best of
Winners – the dog
judged as the better of the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch (This is important
because the Best of Winners will also receive the larger number of points
available for that day. More on that
later.)
Ø Best of
Opposite Sex – the best
dog of the opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner
Speciality
shows may offer additional classes divided by sex in addition to the above six
classes. For example, the German
Shorthaired Specialities may also have classes for:
Ø Puppy 6-9
Months – dogs
between six and nine months of age, that are not yet champions (winner of this
class will compete for Winners)
Ø Puppy 9-12
Months – dogs
between nine and twelve months of age, that are not yet champions (winner of
this class will compete for Winners)
Ø Junior – dogs between the ages of twelve and
eighteen months of age, that are not yet champions (winner of this class will
compete for Winners)
There may also
be classes available wherein the winners will not compete for Winners Dog or
Winners Bitch points, but will compete in the Best of Breed class, along with
the Champions, Winners Dog and Winners Bitch.
These classes, using the German Shorthaired Pointer as an example, are:
Ø Veterans – dogs considered by the breed club to
be of veteran status; normally 7 years of age or older. This class may also be divided by age, i.e.
Veterans 7-10 years; Veterans 10 years and older.
Ø Field Trial – dogs that have earned a placing at an
AKC sanctioned Field Trial event
Ø Hunting Class – dogs that have earned a hunting title
(such as Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter, Master Hunter)
The KC, by
comparison, has the following fifteen classes as compared to the AKC seven
classes:
Ø Minor Puppy – dogs of six and not exceeding nine
calendar months of age on the first day of the show
Ø Puppy – dogs of six and not exceeding twelve
calendar months of age on the first day of the show
Ø Junior – dogs of six and not exceeding
eighteen calendar months of age on the first day of the show
Ø Maiden – dogs which have not won a Challenge
Certificate or a First Prize at an Open or Championship show (Minor Puppy,
Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether
restricted or not)
Ø Novice – dogs which have not won a Challenge
Certificate or three or more First Prizes at an Open or Championship show
(Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted,
whether restricted or not)
Ø Tyro – For dogs which have not won a
Challenge Certificate or five or more First Prizes at an Open or Championship
Show (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes
excepted, whether restricted or not).
Ø Debutant – dogs which have not won a Challenge
Certificate or a First Prizes at a Championship show (Minor Puppy, Special
Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or
not)
Ø Undergraduate – dogs which have not won a Challenge
Certificate or three or more First Prizes at Championship Shows (Minor Puppy,
Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether
restricted or not)
Ø Graduate – dogs which have not won a Challenge
Certificate or four or more First Prizes at Championship shows in Graduate,
Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, whether
restricted or not
Ø Post Graduate – dogs which have not won a Challenge
Certificate or five or more First Prizes at Championship shows in Post
Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, whether restricted or
not
Ø Minor Limit – For dogs which have not won two
Challenge Certificates or three or more First Prizes in all at Championship
Shows in Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, confined to the breed,
whether restricted or not at Shows where Challenge Certificates were offered
for the breed
Ø Mid Limit – dogs which have not won three
Challenge Certificates or five or more First Prizes at Championship Shows in
Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or
not, at shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed
Ø Limit – for dogs which have not won three
Challenge Certificates under three different judges or seven or more First
Prizes in all, at Championship Shows in Limit and Open classes, confined to the
breed, whether restricted or not, at shows where Championship Certificates were
offered for the breed.
Ø Open – for all dogs of the breeds for which
the class is provided and eligible for entry at the show [NOTE:
Any champion of record in any country must enter the Open class.]
Ø Champion – dogs which have been confirmed a
Champion, Show Champion, or Field Trial Champion
Ø Veteran – dogs of not less than seven years of
age on the first day of the show
NOTE: Any champion of record in any country must
enter the Open class. Further, dogs that
have received any championship points in any country should enter the Open
class to prevent possible rescinding of any wins by the KC based on
championship points earned in other countries.
There are
also special classes for the KC:
Ø Special Open – similar to an Open class, except that
it is restricted as to weight, colour, height, coat, etc., or to the members of
an Association
Ø Special
Beginners – dogs and
bitches shown by an exhibitor whose dogs have never won a Challenge Certificate
in the breed (Note: it is the Exhibitor
who has to qualify, not the dog)
Ø Special
Yearling – dogs of
six and not exceeding twenty-four months of age on the first day of the show
Ø Special
Novice – similar to
a Novice class, except that it is restricted as to weight, colour, height,
coat, etc., or to the members of an association
The AKC and
the KC both have categories for Stakes classes which are non-regular classes
and offered as additional enticement to exhibitors and also as a means of generating
additional revenue for the clubs. The
AKC specialty breed clubs also often offer a ‘Futurity’ class which may be
divided by age. The entries in these
classes must have been nominated by the breeder (who pays a ‘forfeit’ or fee to
make the litter eligible) and the eligibility kept current by the owner of the
dog paying the required fees prior to the futurity. Each National Breed club will, of course,
have different rules, though most require the prior payment of fees on a
scheduled payment in order to keep dogs eligible and that the breeder (and
co-breeder if any) and owner both be members of the National Speciality
Club. These Futurity classes are divided
by age and sex and held during the annual National Speciality. It is a way of recognizing both the members’
dedication to improving their lines and the future breeding stock of the
breed.
While the AKC
allows for Stakes class categories, these are seldom seen at all-breed
championship shows and never in the proliferation of various Stakes classes
predominant at all championship and open shows in the
Another
notable difference is that the AKC does not offer ‘any variety’ class
competition categories. Each breed is
judged separately and the only time that a dog will compete against other
breeds is in the Group competitions or in non-AKC events sponsored by a dog
product company. Because the AKC shows,
unless a specific ‘group’ show such as the Montgomery terrier show, have
classes for each and every AKC-recognized breed, there are also no ‘any variety
not specified’ classes under the AKC system.
By looking at
the above ‘normal’ available classes, it is apparent that the KC system should,
theoretically, attempt to encourage newcomers to the sport. Unfortunately, the clubs are not compelled to
offer the fifteen ‘regular’ classes that the KC allows and, instead, pick and
choose the classes by whatever system each club utilizes. For example, taking German Shorthaired
Pointers (with an average entry at 100+) and a brief look at some of the
championship club shows, we find that an average of 7 classes are offered per
show, with Maiden, Debutant, Undergraduate, Mid-Limit and Champion never
offered. (Table 2)
Some breeds
and/or sexes do not fare even that well, having fewer classes still; some breeds
fare better, having more classes.
Conversely at the AKC shows, all breeds have the same classes available
at each and every show. If there is
only one dog in a class, there is, of course, a win for that dog. However, both the KC and AKC judges have the
ability to withhold placements on entries that they do not feel worthy. Additionally, the single entry class winner
still has to compete against the other class winners for Winners’ Dog or Bitch.
Not only is
the difference in classes noticeable between the two countries. While the various classes can serve to
differentiate between those dogs which have won previously, it also serves to
give an unfair advantage to Open and Limit dogs when those important Challenge
Certificates are awarded. The judges are
very ‘safe’ in awarding the tickets to dogs winning one of the classes normally
only entered by dogs who have previously been awarded Certificates. Research into the number of times that a dog
from a lower class is awarded the Challenge Certificate could prove very
interesting. In the AKC system, there is
no such differentiation in the classes until it gets to the ‘Best of Breed’
class. The dogs and bitches competing
for the points in the Winners classes are all on equal ‘win’ footing in the
eyes of the judges.
Difference in Number of Placings and Groups
While the
The breeds
are broken into somewhat different groupings also. The American Kennel Club recognizes Sporting,
Terrier, Hound, Working, Herding, Non-Sporting and Toys, while the Kennel Club
recognizes Gundog, Terrier, Hound, Working, Pastoral, Utility and Toys. Some of the breeds are placed into different
groups in accordance with each organization’s separations. For example, both the
The American
Kennel Club has a miscellaneous group for breeds that have applied for recognition
but have not yet fulfilled all the requirements. Breeds in this category are all shown
together in the various class offerings and winners may not proceed to the
group level.
Critiques
Written
critiques are not the norm for the AKC shows; exceptions to this may be the
‘speciality’ breed shows where the judge(s) may be asked to critique the
winners and give an overall evaluation of what they observed. While it could be debated that critiques give
an exhibitor an idea of what the judge likes or doesn’t like in the dog, most
critiques in the UK tend to be a ‘cookie cutter,’ in that the observations are
so generalized they can be applied to any number of dogs For example – and this
is taken from a recent issue of ‘Our Dogs’: “1.……Spectacular
black and white, loved him from head to toe, in superb form, I understand he
has 2 CC’s, must surely be made up; 2…..Gold so close up and another I’d
happily sign a CC for, totally fills my eye both standing and moving, clever
breeder this, she’s produced so many good ones, be amazed if he doesn’t take
his title.” This doesn’t tell anybody
anything about the dogs themselves or even what type the judge is looking for.
Even more
disturbing are those critiques given on dogs that have been placed yet the
judge could find nothing positive to say about the dog. Where are the comments about angulation, movement, balance, length of leg, eye
shape? The question then arises as to
why that particular dog was placed at all and why the placing was not
withheld. It is not uncommon to see the
same dog described in contradicting terms or to see two totally different types
of dogs critiqued and placed with no similarities explaining the places. Do critiques actually have a value when all
dogs are not critiqued and/or graded which then enables us to get a better
insight?
Obtaining a Championship
Another major difference between the
The
When counting
the number of eligible dogs, any dog that is disqualified, dismissed, excused
or ordered from the ring by the judge, or from which awards are withheld, is
not included in the number calculating the points available. At any given show, the maximum number of
points that can be awarded to a dog is five points. This means that even if there were twelve
bitches entered in Region 8, the points would be determined on the number of
dogs actually competing (absences do not count) and not excused. So, if there were two absentees and one of
the remaining ten bitches competing was excused by the judge for lameness, the
‘major’ would be ‘broken’ and the winner’s bitch would only receive two
points. However, and this is very
important, if in the course of breed judging, there was enough eligible
competing dogs to obtain a major (twelve dogs for three points) and the
bitch was awarded Best of Winners (meaning that she was the best of the Winners
Dog and Winners Bitch), then she would be awarded the major in dogs and both
the dog and the bitch would have earned one of the required three
‘majors’. This becomes crucial when the
inevitable pettiness of ‘breaking majors’ -- seeing who is competing and then
not exhibiting a dog which subsequently means that there is not enough dogs (or
bitches) for a major -- occurs between competitors. This is one of the ways that helps to
equalize the tendency of some exhibitors to attempt to prevent dogs from
obtaining their championships.
The dog
awarded Winners Dog has the number of points calculated on the number of
eligible competing dogs, as does Winners Bitch.
Table 1 shows how the winners of each class compete for Winner’s and
then both Winners compete for Best of Winners and against the champions of
record for Best of Breed. It is
important to note that the ‘class’ dogs can potentially have the number of
points obtained increased by winning either Best of Opposite Sex or Best of
Breed. If Winners Bitch or Winners Dog also
is awarded Best of Breed over the ‘specials’ (Champions of record in the Best
of Breed class), the dogs of both sexes that were entered and eligibly
competing (not excused, dismissed, disqualified or ordered from the ring by the
judge) are counted in addition to the dogs competing in the regular
classes. That means, using the examples
above, if there were four dog champions and two bitch champions competing in
the Best of Breed class and the Winners Bitch wins Best of Breed, a total of
six would be added to the number of bitches competing in regular classes (nine)
to make a total of fifteen ‘bitches’, equivalent to a four-point ‘major’
win. If the Winners Dog had won Best of
Winners and Best of Breed, the six dogs would be added to the twelve dogs competing,
making a total of eighteen dogs, equalling a five-point win!
If Winners
Bitch or Winners Dog is awarded Best of Opposite Sex, the dogs of its own sex
that were entered and eligibly competing in the Best of Breed competition, and
were defeated, are counted in addition to the dogs entered and eligibly
competing in the regular classes. Using
the example above, with four dog champions and two bitch champions, Winners
Bitch, if awarded Best of Opposite Sex, would add the two bitches to the nine
competing bitches, making a total of eleven and earning three points. In the case of Winners Dog being awarded Best
of Opposite Sex, the four champion dogs would be added to the twelve dogs
competing eligibly in the regular classes, totalling sixteen dogs and enabling
the Winners Dog to earn a four-point major.
A class dog
that is awarded Best of Breed and then goes on to win its Group is awarded
championship points calculated on the highest point rating of any breed entered
at the group level. So we see that if
the German Shorthaired Pointer bitch who won Best of Breed and had four points
going into the group also won the group and the Labrador Retriever breed had a
five-point major that day, the German Shorthaired Pointer bitch would earn five
points. These five points are not added
to the points she already as earned since the maximum number of points
available at any single show is five points.
Likewise, a class dog that is awarded Best in Show obtains championship
points calculated at the highest point rating of any breed entered at the
show. It is, therefore, possible for a
class dog to have competed singly in his breed and earning no points to go on
to win the group and Best in Show and obtain a five-point major if any breed in
the show had a five-point major that day.
One sees this
‘breaking of majors’ frequently in Ireland where it is necessary to obtain either four different wins of five points or more in the breed
under four different judges as part of a total of forty points or two
wins of five points or more together with one win of ten points in the breed
under three different judges or three wins of five points or more in the
breed together with one group win under four different judges; in all cases it
is necessary to obtain a total of forty points.
There are dogs in Ireland that have been the top show dog of the year,
winning multiple Best in Shows and still not obtaining their championship
because of needing the necessary ‘major’ breed wins.
Looking at Table 6 (under the heading ‘Superintendents’)
and comparing it to the point schedule for Division 5 (Table 3a) which shows
the points available for that particular show, a quick comparison shows that
there were only three ‘majors’ (wins of three, four or five points) available
to the 112 different breeds being shown that day: three points were available for Airedale
dogs, four points for Spinoni Italiano bitches, and three points for Jack
Russell Terrier bitches; and, in most cases, all of the dogs entered for those
sexes would have to appear and eligibly
competing (not excused, dismissed, disqualified or ordered from the ring by the
judge) or the majors would be ‘broken.’
In the
When considering the lower numbers of
dogs at each show, exhibitors from the
This is much different than the
How
Does the AKC Determine the Point System?
Each year in May the AKC publishes a
point system schedule which is based upon a set of percentages. These are calculated on the previous three
years actual dogs in competition and are made in order that a certain
percentage of shows where there was an actual competition for a particular sex
of a breed or variety will carry appropriate championship points. The percentages are calculated using the
criteria shown in Table 4.
In comparison to the
yearly evaluation by the AKC of available points, each year the KC decides on
the allocation of Challenge Certificates for two years into the future.
It is unusual for the KC to ever decrease the number of tickets; although it
should be noted that in 1995 several breeds lost up to five sets (each set
comprised of a Challenge Certificate for dogs and one for bitches). The
number of tickets available does not appear to relate to the number of dogs in
each breed being exhibited or the number of dogs registered.
While the maximum number of Challenge Certificates on offer can be 25 for the
general championship shows and up to four for club shows, the minimum offered
when a breed has been granted Challenge Certificate status is five sets of
‘tickets’.
Championship
Classes
In the
The purists in the sport will adamantly
argue that if the dog is good enough it will beat the show champions of
record. The realists among us have seen
that most often this does not occur.
Theory is wonderful, but we have to live with reality.
The AKC system acknowledges that the
established champions are often at a different level than upcoming dogs, while
at the same time acknowledging that these champions may still be campaigned to
win prestigious Best of Breeds, Groups and Best in Shows. The AKC system also acknowledges that the
publicity these established champions who win multiple Best of Breeds, Groups
and Best in Shows plays an active part in any judge’s mind when choosing
between two good dogs. How many times
has the comment been heard from judges about how the dog they gave breed (or
group or best in show) to had ‘also won’ the week before or the week
after? Human nature being what it is
means that judges like to feel that their decisions are justified or supported
by others who have also chosen that dog.
Robert Killick, a UK columnist, stated
the case very succinctly in a recent piece concerning ‘instant champions’ and
the senselessness of a dog winning numerous tickets in a row under different
judges and in the same breed another dog winning the same number of reserve
tickets to the winning dog being statistically illogical and infeasible. The reasons he gave for the phenomenon were:
“…favouritism, fear, ignorance, fashion, face and ingratiation judging, not
forgetting mutual back-scratching.”
This phenomenon and the manner that the AKC has worked diligently to
prohibit some of the politics in judging will be discussed later under ‘Judging
Criteria’. The fact is openly discussed in
the UK by noted authorities that in every breed there are dogs which come in
reserve repeatedly to dogs owned by other judges, owned by ‘faces’ in the
breed, dogs which have been doing a lot of winning, etc. This reserve dog is no undeserving specimen
of the breed and, perhaps in a different show career timeframe would have been
that top dog. With the champion classes,
it becomes possible to recognize that this dog (and others) are quality animals
and should be proud representatives of their breed.
Taking a very cynical look at the
continued showing of dogs already attaining their championships in the
Perhaps the real answer is that the
owner is craving adulation and that the dog shows have become a place of
obtaining power and recognition rather than the original, though perhaps understated,
purpose of proving that stock is of high enough quality to breed.
The champions’ class helps even out the
playing field while still allowing those champions to be exhibited and compete
for the successes in Groups and Best in Show.
How different might showing be if dogs were required to retire after
obtaining championships!
Judging Criteria
The manner in
which judges are eligible to render their opinions is different in the
The AKC system of licensing judges is
much different. Judges are expected to fulfil
the following mandatory requirements in applying for their initial breed:
Note: Litters
and co-owned litters
must have been
whelped and raised
on applicant’s premises.
The required four champions must be from litters whelped and raised on
applicant’s premises.
If the applicant
for judging does not meet the litter/or champion requirements, the AKC may
ensure that quality of experience, rather than quantity, is employed for
considering new judges. This is called
the ‘60 Point System’ and applicants must have fifteen years of
documented experience in the sport and must achieve a total of 60 points per
breed, of which fifteen points must be accrued in Sections 1 and 2 of the
application, by using the factors in Table 5.
Following a process of initial screening
and interview, the application is sent to the Staff Committee and Board of
Directors for review. After being
notified in writing of the Board’s decision, the applicants are sent the breed
standard tests for the breed(s) accepted by the Board as suitable for the
applicant. Applicants’ names are then
published in the next monthly AKC GAZETTE in order that interested parties may
submit their opinion on whether an applicant is qualified.
Provisional status to judge is granted
thirty days after the applicant’s approval by the board and subsequent
publication in the GAZETTE provided
that the applicant has received a passing grade on all breed standard tests. If
the applicant does not receive a passing grade on any breed test, the
application is shelved for three months and an AKC Field Representative must
review the missed questions with the applicant prior to continuing the application
process. Judges may not accept any
assignments until they have received official notification of their provisional
status at which time the provisional status is noted in the GAZETTE with the
judge’s name and number of breeds granted provisionally.
This still does not complete the
licensing provision for judges since they must still complete five provisional
assignments in each breed (and are listed in the schedules or premium lists as
‘provisional judges’ during this
process) and must have been observed during at least three of those provisional
assignments by three different Field Representatives. After completing this portion of the
requirements, the judge must then request in writing to obtain regular
status. Requests for regular status are
evaluated by the Staff Committee and the judges are notified of the decision at
which time their names along with their breed(s) are published in the GAZETTE
and added to the AKC judging lists. If
an applicant is disapproved, there is a waiting period of ONE YEAR which must
be fulfilled prior to the resubmission of application.
It is evident that there is no granting
of favours in obtaining a judging license in the
It is not surprising that recent
articles have evolved around the KC’s concern of exhibitors believing that judging
is corrupt. There are potential championship show level
judges who will most likely never advance to the all-important ‘A’ lists
capable of giving those championship certificates. I know of one gentleman in the UK who has
judged over 1500 dogs, including foreign assignments, has attended numerous
seminars as well as undertaking judging, anatomy, movement, breed standard
courses. Yet in all probability, he will
never be able to step into a championship ring and have his abilities recognized. The KC has ensured that the political forces
are in full control of the show ring by requiring that only individuals who
have been invited to judge at speciality club shows - in the case of the German
Shorthaired Pointer there are two such organizations, other breeds have more
and some have just one - or at a championship show where there are no
CC’s (challenge certificates) on offer for the breed. In the case of the German Shorthaired
Pointer this means only one championship show would fulfil that
requirement because there are challenge certificates available at all other
championship shows. It is highly
believable that if one person with those qualifications is being kept at bay by
the political manoeuvrings, there must be many, many more. Further,
an aspiring judge may be kept from ever becoming a judge based on bias and
even, in some cases, whether the aspirant will play the ‘I give you, so you
give me’ game.
One of the hottest debates around dog
show rings is that concerning the merits of the speciality or breeder judge
against those of the all-breeds or all-rounder judge; the speciality judge is
one who judges that breed which he breeds and exhibits; the all-rounder being
one who has experience in and judges many different breeds.
Maxwell Riddle had this to say about
breeder judges: “Many breeder judges are
unbalanced in their judging because they are overly swayed either by the
presence of a single quality for which they have been striving or a fault which
they have been trying to eliminate. It
is not uncommon to hear speciality judges criticized for doing an uneven
job. The criticism may be something like
this: ‘He judges solely on heads.’
Or: ‘She simply won’t put up a
tri-color.’ The speciality judge will
also be more subject to pressures from friends and enemies than would be the
all-breeds judge.”
He went on to discuss the all-rounder by
stating: “His (the all-breeds judge’s)
very lack of association with the breed is to his advantage. And there will be other points in his
favour. The all-breeds judge has had
greater ring experience. He will make
fewer mistakes in the conduct of his ring than will the specialist…..will have
a greater general knowledge, based on all breeds, of the goals in
breeding. He will have both greater
knowledge and greater experience in determining true balance and harmony. He will have fewer breed prejudices than the
specialist. He will be less likely to be
impressed by current, and often temporary, fads within a breed. And he is less likely to be impressed by the
record of a given dog, even if he recognizes the dog.”
Why then does the KC have so few
all-rounder judges and seem determined to promote speciality breeder judges?
This is a question oft asked and which continues to confound and dismay the
majority of exhibitors. In my view, the
proliferation of speciality-breeder judges in the
The breeds and sport cannot continue to
improve without experienced breeders and competitors. It certainly cannot do so with only a handful
of powerful breeders determining the type through such things as Robert Killick
stated. Favouritism, ignorance,
kennel-blindness, mutual favour-returns, colour or size prejudice, ignorance,
and the host of other things we see in a proliferation of 'breeder-judges' can
only continue to harm the very dogs we love.
It is no wonder that the majority of the
Conflicts
of Interest in Judging
Regulations on what a judge may and may
not engage in professionally and in who the judge may judge is very stringent
in the
In addition there are areas in which the
judge is cautioned to be very careful so that even the slightest hint of impropriety
cannot be construed. It is recommended
that judges not attend shows immediately before events that they are to judge
and, if they do, they should not watch the breeds that they are later scheduled
to judge. For example, it would be
considered an impropriety if Judge Smith attended a championship show the
weekend before he was scheduled to judge Dobermann Pinschers and watched the
Dobermann Pinscher judging. It would
appear that the judge was either pre-judging or confirming what was popular to
win.
The AKC does, however, understand that
judges start as breeders and exhibitors.
They are encouraged to continue these activities after becoming
judges. It is also well acknowledged
that judges who exhibit are frequently a major source of complaints and that
this becomes even more evident if the judge handles his/her own dogs. It is recommended, therefore, that judges
should never transfer or lease a dog to someone for the sole purpose of
permitting the dog to be exhibited at shows or companion shows where the judge
is officiating; i.e., if the judge is judging Old English Sheepdogs and has a
Pembroke Corgi, the judge should not transfer the Corgi into Mr. Doe’s
ownership so that the Corgi could be exhibited at the same show where the judge
was officiating. Judges are warned by
the AKC to be prudent in how and when they exhibit and should understand that
they are under special scrutiny. Judges
are expected to err on the side of being overly cautious in their manner. The AKC evaluates each and every complaint
about judging impropriety on an individual basis and takes corrective action
when necessary.
Under Chapter 11, Section 13 of the AKC
Rules Applying to Dog Shows, conformation judges (including junior showmanship)
and household members may not exhibit any breed and judge on the same
weekend or at companion shows within three days of each judging assignment
(i.e., three days before and three days after an assignment). Dogs owned by the judge and/or household
members may be exhibited at shows at least 200 miles from the show at which the
judge is officiating without being restricted by the three-day ruling. Sweepstakes and Futurity judges are accepted
from this ruling and may exhibit at companion shows; however they may not
exhibit at the same event at which they are judging.
Chapter 11, Section 13 is very specific:
Section 13. No judge or
any person residing in the same household with a judge shall exhibit or act as
agent or handler at a show at which he is officiating as judge and dogs owned
wholly or in part by such judge or any member of his household shall be
ineligible to be entered at such show. Subject to the foregoing, members of a
judge’s immediate family as defined in this Section who no longer reside in the
same household may enter or handle a dog at a show if the judge is not
officiating over any competition, including a group class or Best in Show, for
which the dog is entered or may become eligible.
No entry shall be made at any show under a judge of any dog which said judge or
any member of his immediate household or immediate family has been known to
have owned, handled in the ring more than twice, sold, held under lease or
boarded within one year prior to the date of the show.
For the purposes of this Section, the members of an immediate family are:
husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, father-in-law,
mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister -in-law.
The above will apply to judges of sweepstakes or futurities held with licensed
or member shows exactly as it does to judges of regular competition at shows.
Judges may only handle those dogs owned or co-owned by
themselves or a member of the immediate family.
It is not considered proper for any judge to co-own a dog specifically
for the purpose of being able to handle the dog. This policy also applies to all members of
the judge’s household (defined as husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter,
brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and
sister-in-law). Handlers employed by the
judge or any member of the judges household may not exhibit under the judge nor
under any member of the judge’s immediate family while in the judge’s employ or
for a period of at least four months after cessation of employment. While the policy pertains only to breed
competition, judges are advised that it is best to recommend this situation at
all levels of competition.
Club dinners are another area in which judges are cautioned to use
commonsense. It is very proper to attend
affairs given by the club holding the show; however, the judge is warned to
take particular care concerning any attendee who may later be appearing in the
ring as an exhibitor. One of the
examples given is about a judge who is seated next to someone who mentions
showing the breed for which the judge is assigned. It is recommended that the judge tell
everyone that he/she will be judging the breed and that the judge feels it is
inappropriate to discuss anything concerning the assignment.
Judges are ineligible to remain a judge if they or a member of
their household chooses to enter an ineligible occupation. Chapter 7, Section 1 defines this as:
Section 1. Any
reputable person who is in good standing with The American Kennel Club may
apply for approval to judge any AKC recognized breed or breeds of purebred
dogs, which in his or her opinion he or she is qualified by training and
experience to pass upon, with the following exceptions:
Persons connected with any publication in the capacity of solicitor for kennel
advertisements, persons connected with dog food, dog remedy or kennel supply
companies in the capacity of solicitor or salesman, persons who buy, sell and
in any way trade in or traffic in dogs as a means of livelihood in whole or in
part, professional show superintendents and their employees, and persons who
show dogs for others will not be approved if still engaged in such activities.
No Judge shall be granted a license to be a licensed superintendent.
No person shall be eligible for approval to judge if he or she resides in the
same household with a professional handler or licensed superintendent.
No Judge may accept an assignment nor officiate at any event where a member of
his or her household is involved to the extent that there might exist an actual
conflict of interest or the reasonable appearance of a conflict of interest.
It is evident that there are a great
many more restrictions placed upon the AKC judges than upon the KC judges. While this may seem at first glance to stifle
the judges, and to limit the pool of persons able to judge, it does tend to
curtail the allegations of corruption and unseemly conduct. Those who owe their livelihood to customers
may be perceived as having an obligation to those people who give them trade. The AKC has chosen to eliminate this
possibility.
Multiple
Day Shows versus Cluster Shows
Perhaps the
fourth greatest difference between
The benefits
are numerous:
The annual
‘Munster Circuit’ in Ireland could easily adapt this strategy if the
show-giving clubs would agree to hold the four shows in alternating locations
each year; that is, one year all four shows would be held in Clonmel, the next
year the shows would rotate to Killarney, the following year to Tralee, and
finally the last year to Limerick before starting the rotation circuit over
again. It means that there would only need
to be one set-up/take-down for the entire set of shows. Vendors would not have to set up vast
displays only to take them down and rebuild them the next day elsewhere. Judges could be shared amongst the clubs and
the expenses shared (of particular benefit to the Irish clubs who tend to bring
in quality foreign judges instead of relying upon familiar faces continually). Exhibitors would not be forced to travel the
several hours between each show location and instead could spend the time
between shows relaxing, getting acquainted with other exhibitors and allowing
their dogs important exercise and care.
Local businesses would certainly benefit from the added numbers of
people gathering to talk over drinks or dinner.
The downside is that three of the four show committees would have to
travel some distance each year to the central location. A pipe dream? Perhaps, but then before the cluster shows
became popular in the 1970s in the
Show Sites
AKC shows are
seldom benched shows and, therefore, grooming tents take the place of the
benching areas. There are seldom more
than two grooming tents erected at outdoor shows and these are open sided. Crating is not permitted at ringside for most
shows. Crates can be set up on the outer
perimeters.
Outdoor shows
are normally designed with the rings set to either side of a long open-sided
canopy which gives spectators some shade and protection from incumbent weather
as well as covering perhaps six feet or so of the ring which allows for shade
and protection for the judge’s table.
There are no ‘wet weather’ rings such as those required by the KC so
that the judging can be moved out of the rain.
In the rainy seasons and areas of the
AKC outdoor
shows will find exhibitors setting up gazebos and exercise pens next to their
cars. Crates are normally set up under
the gazebo rather than left in the car.
Many of the
AKC indoor
shows have grooming and crating areas set up for the convenience of the
exhibitors. Dogs may not be left unattended
if not in crates. The typical grooming
and crating area will be multi-breed and have clusters of crates stacked or in
a line with grooming tables set up in front of the clusters or lines. Because of the multi-breed aspect, gundog
exhibitors may be set up right next to a person with pastoral and hound
breeds. It makes for a good environment
to learn about other breeds and what is happening in the veterinarian, genetic,
showing and other areas of the dog world.
Exhibitors get the opportunity to develop that important ‘eye’ on breeds
that they are unfamiliar with and which ultimately will help in assessing their
own breed. Breeds are not isolated all
together and lasting friendships with those in other breeds are generated
through the close proximity.
One of the
benefits to the show-giving clubs, and passed along to the exhibitor, is
cost-savings. Because there is not the
requirement for benching at all championship shows, the clubs save on the costs
of the actual benching and its installation/removal, as well as the costs saved
for space requirements. There is not the
need for large tents to be erected for the benching, nor are additional tents
required for wet weather. This means
that grounds which may be more suitable for the actual exhibiting of the dogs
may be utilized since that of primary importance.
Of lesser
import - to anyone except the exhibitors and spectators! - is the larger number
of toilet facilities set up at AKC outdoor shows.
Field
Representatives
AKC Field Representatives are present at
the majority of US shows. The
responsibilities of the Field Representative are broad when compared to the UK
Field Representative.
The AKC Field
Representatives serve as eyes and ears of office staff and the Board of
Directors by providing factual first-hand information regarding conduct of Dog
Shows, rules and policy compliance by dog clubs, and ability of judges. While AKC Field Representatives are not at all
shows, they do attend all major shows and the great majority of other
shows. During an AKC show, the Field
Representative is highly visible, providing show committees, exhibitors,
breeders, judges, novices and spectators with information regarding rules,
regulations, policies and procedures. This
very approachable presence is welcomed by all participants in the dog show
scene for the Field Representatives’ knowledge as well as their ability to
quickly deal with situations thereby preventing more formal and time-consuming
processes. Exhibitors and spectators are
able to avail themselves of a variety of regulation booklets, registration
forms, etc. The presence of a Field
Representative actively interfacing with the public and the dog show population
is very different from the KC representatives who are seldom present or
visible.
During shows, the
Field Representatives assist in judges’ education and the approval (to judge)
process by evaluating judges’ ring procedures and speaking with them about any
changes that may be required in accordance with AKC guidelines. After observing the judge’s performance in
the ring, the Field Representative will meet with them for a constructive
discussion.
In the event of rule
infractions, the AKC Field Representative acts in an advisory capacity to both
the show committee and the accused individual(s) by assuring that all are aware
of the procedures, rights and obligations in alleged misconduct
situations. This is one area which
greatly differs from the KC which does not give the show committees any ability
to deal with alleged misconduct immediately and instead a KC committee must
depend upon testimony obtained in some instances many weeks after the fact
before a determination can be made. Each
show giving club’s show committee has the ability to deal with the alleged
misconduct immediately by convening a hearing.
Any appeal to the determinations is made to an AKC committee.
AKC Field
Representatives arrive early to the show grounds. The Field Representative will meet with the
Show Chairperson and Superintendent to both discuss and implement decisions
regarding any situations that may affect the start of judging as well as the
smooth running of the show. They will
recommend changes to the show layout, site appropriateness, entry limitations,
etc. for future shows in their reports.
During the course of the day, they will interview and test prospective
judges and those judges who are applying for additional breeds. If there application for reinstatement of a
dog has been received, the Representatives will set up committees to inspect
and evaluate that dog for reinstatement.
Each Field
Representative works 120 events annually, but their responsibilities and duties
do not end with the dog shows. They also
attend event hearings as an advisor or counsellor. They attend and speak at many club meetings
and seminars about the role of the AKC as well as question-and-answer sessions
about rules, regulations, application processes, etc. They may also meet with show committee
members to evaluate potential show sites.
This is all in addition to the
necessary paperwork that they must complete.
Superintendents
While each of the shows held in the UK
is done on an individual basis, from contracting for tenting, ring set-ups,
labour, ribbons or rosettes, the cardboard win placards, printing and distribution
of the premium list for the show, receipt and compilation of entries, printing
of the catalogue, the judges’ books for entrants and placings, compiling of the
placings and wins in each breed, group and the show to send to the Kennel Club,
etc., there are very few shows in the US that actually undertake the entire
process. Instead, there are a group of
show superintendents who are licensed by the American Kennel Club to conduct
the tasks. The clubs employ the
superintendents who, for a small fee, do all the necessary work. These show superintendents have been in
existence for more than a century to ensure the smooth running of American
shows.
One of the major benefits of this is,
not only to the clubs who are able to more efficiently utilize their members,
but also to the newcomer to the sport who has only to give their name and
address to the various superintendents in order to receive notifications of
upcoming shows rather than calling each individual club secretary and asking
for a premium/schedule. Because the
superintendents often do their own printing, premium/schedule lists and
catalogues can be produced at a reduced price, benefiting the club. The same is true for the ribbons and
rosettes, benching (if needed, though very few American shows are benched) and
tenting. Rings are most often gated with
two-foot tall or so expandable wooden fencing providing not only a more secure
show ring, but also cutting down on the tape between Stakes blowing in the wind
so often found at
The Superintendent is also responsible
for producing a schedule of the show which is sent to exhibitors approximately
one week before the show. This schedule
will have all breeds listed as well as the times and rings for which they are
scheduled. Also shown is a breakdown of
total dogs entered for the show, a breakdown by breed with the number of males,
females and champions indicated. See
Table 6 for an actual reproduction of the schedule that an exhibitor would
receive for an AKC show. Along with this
schedule would be directions to the show site, the exhibitor pass which will
show the dog’s name, exhibition number, classes entered.
Shows have a closing date, usually seventeen days prior to the
first show, after which no entries can be made. These entries must be in the
hands of the superintendent or, in the case where clubs decide to handle their
own entries, in the possession of the show secretary on the closing date. Entries are not accepted late and posting dates
do not constitute acceptance of entries, unlike the
As can also be seen from the show schedule (Table 3a), AKC shows
start much earlier than the
Indefinite Licensing Privilege vs.
Working Dog Registry
The AKC has designed a program that
allows dogs which are recognizable as a member of an AKC-recognized breed but
which is ineligible for registration to participate in the AKC Companion and
Performance events. These events
include:
•Agility
Trials (All Breeds)
•Obedience Trials (All Breeds)
•Tracking Tests (All Breeds)
•Herding Tests & Trials (Herding Breeds, Rottweilers & Samoyeds)
•Earthdog Trials (Small Terriers & Dachshunds)
•Hunt Tests (Most Sporting Breeds & Standard Poodles)
•Lure Coursing (Sighthounds)
•Junior Showmanship (All Breeds)
This program is known as the Indefinite
Licensing Privilege Program (ILP for short).
To obtain an ILP number which will then allow the dog to compete in the
above events, the owner must complete a form and state where the dog was
obtained (such as through rescue, an animal shelter, found, etc.) and why the
owner believes the dog is pure-bred (a breeder’s opinion, a veterinarian’s
opinion, obtained through a breed rescue club, etc.). The dog must be neutered, unless it is on the
Miscellaneous class grouping (which is comprised of dogs working toward
official AKC recognition and therefore not yet an AKC-recognized breed), and
the certificate of neutering from the veterinarian must accompany the
application form. Two colour photographs
(one standing in profile; one head on showing the facial characteristics of the
dog) must be sent with the application.
This is similar to the KC’s Working Registry with some very notable
differences. On the Working Dog Registry
the dog is not required to be neutered and is often used for breeding
purposes. Enrolment in the ILP program is not an alternative form of registration
for the AKC, but is a listing which enables the dog that is ineligible for AKC
registration to participate in Companion and Performance events. An ILP may be cancelled at any time.
The other notable difference is that
cross-breeds may not appear on the ILP listing as they may on the Working Dog
Registry. The AKC has a very definite
purpose of promoting the pure-bred dog. The
KC Working Dog Registry enables and, perhaps unknowingly promotes, the
cross-breeding of dogs. There are ‘breeders’
who aggressively cross breeds in order to provide the ‘ultimate’ competition
dog. One example of this is the crossing
of Border Collies with the Australian Shepherds for obedience and agility
competition. It should be of grave
concern to the pure-bred dog clubs that such cross breeding or breeding of dogs
not eligible for the breed register is allowed.
The AKC recognizes this concern and, therefore, only permits neutered
dogs to be listed on the Indefinite Licensing Privilege Program and to compete
for titles.
If the dog is not pure-bred or of a breed
not recognized by the AKC, titles are still available to these dogs through a
variety of other organizations:
breed-specific clubs, rare-breed clubs, mixed-breed clubs, and
alternative kennel clubs. The AKC is not
the only kennel club in the
Naming,
Registration and Affixes
Registration of litters is very similar
in both the AKC and the KC. The parents
must both be pure-bred and themselves be registered. There is a difference in that in the AKC a
litter registration form is filled out, indicating the breeder’s name, the sire
and dam’s names and registration numbers, date of breeding, date of whelping,
number of each sex whelped, etc. This
form is then mailed to the AKC and a bundle of individual registration forms is
sent by to the breeder. The breeder can
do one of four things: a) each puppy (or
some of the puppies) can be individually named and those applications sent into
the AKC with the breeder as owner of the puppy; b) the breeder may fill in just
the ‘kennel affix’ and leave the naming up to the individual who buys the
puppy; c) the breeder may leave the name selection entirely to the new owner;
or d) the breeder may fill in a selected name for the puppy and either hope
that the new owner decides to use it when they send in the form or bind them
contractually to use the name.
The owner of the dog at time of
individual registration has the right to name the dog and may elect to cross
out the breeder’s choice of name and substitute one of their choosing. Once a dog’s name is accepted and registered
with the AKC that name cannot be changed unless the AKC has made a mistakes and
the dog has not yet been bred or received any titles unlike the KC which allows
for both the addition of another kennel affix and for a change of name provided
that the breeder will agree and the dog’s name has not yet appeared on the stud
book registry.
The breeder in the
The following rules apply to registering
names with the AKC (from “AKC Policies and Guidelines for Registration
Matters”):
All names are, of course, subject to AKC
approval.
Affixes are another area in which the
AKC and KC differ greatly. It seems that
every newcomer to the breed runs out and applies for a kennel affix. While this does, of course, generate
additional revenue for the KC, it also is not an indication that the person is,
in fact, a breeder or that they will do more than breed one litter, if that. It does make it a bit more difficult for the
average person to discern true experience when what they see is that the person
has a ‘registered affix’ so they must be reputable, right?
AKC affixes are granted in order to
protect the usage of the breeder’s kennel name in the naming of AKC dogs. When the kennel name is registered the AKC
will not allow the name to be used in the naming of dogs without the permission
of the kennel name’s owner. The
registered Kennel Name may be used solely by the owner of that name in the
naming of dogs either owned and registered by or bred by the breeder. There is a non-refundable $50.00 application
fee when applying for the kennel name and the following criteria (taken
directly from AKC material) must be met:
·
The applicant or co-applicants must be
in good standing with the American Kennel Club and whose record of breeding and
registering dogs identifies the applicant as a serious hobby-breeder, with
non-commercial activity and whose past registration practices have been
satisfactory too the American Kennel Club and in conformity with its rules and
regulations.
·
The applicant or co-applicants must be
in good standing with the American Kennel Club and whose record of breeding and
registering dogs identifies the applicant as a serious hobby-breeder, with
non-commercial activity and whose past registration practices have been
satisfactory too the American Kennel Club and in conformity with its rules and
regulations.
·
The applicant(s) must not have an
interest in a boarding or grooming business, a pet store or pet supply store.
Kennel owners with an interest in dog dealerships or pet stores will not be
granted a Registered Kennel Name.
·
The applicant or co-applicants must have
bred at least 5 registered litters in the past 5 years or have owned stud dogs
that produced at least 40 registered litters in the past 10 years.
·
The kennel name must be unique and
unable to be found in any domestic or foreign dictionary.
·
The name may not have been used by
anyone other than the applicant in the naming of any AKC registered dogs within
10 years from the date of the application.
·
The kennel name is limited to 15 letters
and may be a maximum of two words. The only permitted punctuation is a hyphen.
·
Unacceptable words in the kennel name
would include, but are not limited to conflicts, either phonetically or in
spelling with; the name of a breed, AKC titles, names of cities, states,
countries, rivers, lakes, land formations, schools, common family names,
corporations or trade names, as well as the names of very famous and universally
recognized persons, living or dead. Words commonly used by many different
breeders in the naming of dogs will not be registered to one breeder. The
kennel name cannot contain any derogatory or discriminatory words.
·
Note: Meeting the above requirements does
not guarantee the registration of a kennel name. The granting of a Registered
Kennel Name is at the sole discretion of the American Kennel Club. No more than
two individuals can apply for a Registered Kennel Name.
The primary differences between AKC and
KC requirements for obtaining a kennel affix is that the American Kennel Club
requires an applicant to be a serious hobby-breeder, with non-commercial
activity (meaning no dog-related businesses such as pet stores, pet supplies,
boarding kennels, grooming businesses, or dog dealerships. The KC does not make such a distinction. The American Kennel Club further requires
proof that the applicant is a serious hobby-breeder by ascertaining that the
applicant has bred at least five registered litters in the previous five years
or owned stud dogs producing at least 40 registered litters in ten years. The KC grants kennel affixes to newcomers
with no breeding experience or any proof of solid interest in the breed as
stated previously.
Exhibiting
AKC exhibitors seldom enter their dog in
more than one regular class, unlike the
The use of ‘bait’” has been debated
often. Americans and Canadians use bait
as a means of keeping their dogs ‘up’ in the ring. As stated previously, one of the differences
between US shows and
Baiting a dog with tasty titbits (most
often liver) or with feathers, small squeaker toys, balls and other items is
quite common. There is an art to baiting
a dog so that it appears alert and lively while still maintaining control over
the dog and not interfering with other exhibitors. It is simply not good manners to stuff a bit
of food into the dog’s mouth as the judge approaches. Care must be taken so that the dog does not
skew its head trying to look at the food or raise the nose so high that the
neck and shoulder area appears unnatural.
Opponents to baiting normally attempt to decry its use by stating that their
dogs don’t need to be baited, that bait is ‘unsportsmanlike’, that dogs in the
ring later will be unjustly compromised by bait lying around, etc. Dog showing is not a natural occupation for
dogs and, therefore, it is not unnatural for dogs to be less than interested in
standing around instead of being able to run and play with all the other dogs. A bit of bait keeps them happy and with their
minds where they should be – on the job at hand. Good handlers make sure that any liver or titbit
that is dropped is picked up so that other dogs are not tempted.
Another major difference is that AKC
shows are seldom, if ever, delayed for traffic, parking problems, ferries,
etc. AKC exhibitors know that they must
allow enough time for unforeseen delays.
Judges will seldom ‘hold’ a ring to allow for an exhibitor who may be in
another ring as they do in the
Attire is another area where AKC
exhibitors differ greatly from KC exhibitors.
Smart business dress is common at AKC shows. Those exhibitors appearing in jeans,
tee-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, crop-tops, and attire more suitable to working
in the yard or kennel is seldom seen at AKC shows and those people who are new
to the sport quickly adopt a more professional outlook. While it may seem a small thing, it is
perhaps indicative of the American attitude that this is a serious sport and
one that deserves the same attention as other sports. Dogs are immaculately groomed and clean; it
seems somewhat disrespectful to the judge and other exhibitors to appear
without the appropriate attention to one’s own attire.
The paper cards identifying each dog’s
entry number are handled differently also.
In the
Another significant difference is that
the
Conclusion
It is evident that there are a great many differences between
the KC and the AKC concerning dog showing and ownership. The sports of obedience, tracking, agility,
field, lure coursing, herding, and other competition areas have not been taken
into consideration; however, there are differences in the manner in which these
events also are conducted and perhaps will be the topic of future
articles.
The American Kennel Club, the Canadian
Kennel Club, the Irish Kennel Club, the Kennel Club, or any other organization are only as good as the people who run them. What must be considered of paramount
importance is that all these organizations question those who compete and then take
that advice and comments seriously. The
American Kennel Club does just that by giving each licensed organization, such
as the show clubs, the field clubs, tracking clubs, obedience clubs, breed
clubs, the right to have a representative at the AKC meetings held to discuss
and implement important decisions. These
representatives vote in accordance to the manner in which their individual
clubs have directed them and, therefore, each person truly has a vote in how
the American Kennel Club evolves. This
is very different from the group of elites who run the Kennel Club and seem
content to continue to run matters as they have been done in the past
decades. All of this is at the cost to
the dog breeds in general because when exhibitors and dog owners lose
confidence and trust in their governing body and have no say in what changes
may be necessary then the dog world loses out by having this disenchanted
majority decide that their time and money is better spent elsewhere. It is a well-known statistic that the
average dog show exhibitor remains in the sport for five years or less. The breeds and sport cannot continue to
improve without experienced breeders and competitors. And it certainly cannot do so with only a
handful of powerful breeders determining the type through such things as Robert
Killick stated previously. Favouritism,
ignorance, kennel-blindness, mutual favour-returns, colour or size prejudice,
ignorance, and the host of other things we see in a proliferation of
‘breeder-judges’ can only continue to harm the very dogs we love.
As promised, here is that look at those
‘Cheap Champions’ in Table 7 under “Percentage of Dogs Awarded Championships versus
Dogs Shown”.
In the
In a time of declining entries,
cynicism, and disgruntlement perhaps the time is ripe to begin to look at other
organizations and what works for them and their members and step into a new
century of dog showing. For the sake of
those breeds we all love, it is sincerely hoped that the sport does not remain
stagnate in any country and that work continues to ensure that a higher quality
of champions is produced in the future than in the past. After all, shouldn’t we all be working toward
betterment of the future – in the breeds as well as in the shows?
© 2004 Sierra
|
Puppy
6 – 9 Months______
| Puppy
9-12 Months______| Twelve
to Eighteen Months_| Novice_______________ |
--- Winners Dog ----------| Bred
by Exhibitor________| | | American Bred__________|
Reserve Winners | Open_________________| Dog | | | Champions --- |
Best of Breed | | Puppy
6 – 9 Months_______| |
| Best of
Opposite Sex Puppy
9-12 Months_______| | | Twelve
to Eighteen Months__| | | Novice________________|
--- Winners Bitch --------| |
Best of Winners Bred
by Exhibitor________| | (from Winners Dog and Winners Bitch) American Bred__________|
Reserve Winners Open_________________| Bitch Table 1 |
|
TABLE 2 Show |
No. of Classes |
Classes Offered |
|
Southern Counties |
9 |
MP, P, J, N, G, PG, L, O, V |
|
Welsh Kennel Club |
7 |
MP, P, J, N, PG, L, O |
|
|
6 |
P, J, N, PG, L, O |
|
Paignton & District Fanciers Assoc |
8 |
MP, P, J, N, G, PG, L, O |
|
East of |
8 |
MP, P, J, N, G, PG, L, O |
|
National Gundog Association |
9 |
SV, MP, P, J, N, G, PG, L, O |
|
|
6 |
P, J, N, PG, L, O |
Table 3. Point System by Region Note that the number of dogs required
for each point level may vary by region and by sex. * considered “majors” |
|
SCHEDULE OF POINTS
EFFECTIVE MAY 14, 2002 For complete
Conformation Championship requirements see Chapter 16 of the Rules
Applying to Dog Shows SCHEDULE OF POINTS FOR DIVISION 5 Division 5 is
comprised of: The
2002 Schedule of Points reflects a reconfiguration of the Divisions. Division
5 now contains If
the dog designated Winners Dog or Winners Bitch is also awarded Best of Breed
or Variety, the dogs of both sexes that have
been entered for Best of Breed or Variety competition and that have been
defeated in such competition, shall be counted in addition to the dogs that
competed in the regular classes for its sex in calculating championship points. If
the dog designated Winners Dog or Winners Bitch is also awarded Best of
Opposite Sex to Best of Breed or Variety, the dogs of its own sex that have been entered for Best of
Breed or Variety competition that have been defeated in competition for Best
of Opposite Sex, shall be counted in addition to the dogs that competed in
the regular classes for its sex in calculating championship points. After
points have been computed for Winners Dog and Winners Bitch subject to the
above two stipulations, the dog awarded the Best of Winners shall be credited
with the number of points calculated for Winners Dog or Winners Bitch,
whichever is greater. In
counting the number of eligible dogs in competition, a dog that is
disqualified, or that is dismissed, excused or ordered from the ring by the
judge, or from which all awards are withheld shall not be included. Any dog
which shall have won fifteen points shall become a Champion of Record, if six
or more of said points shall have been won at two shows with a rating of
three or more championship points each and under two different judges, and
some one or more of the balance of said points shall have been won under some
other judge or judges than the two judges referred to above. |
||||||||||
|
|
1 POINT Dogs Bitches |
2 POINTS Dogs Bitches |
3 POINTS Dogs Bitches |
4 POINTS Dogs Bitches |
5 POINTS Dogs Bitches |
|||||
|
|
2 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
16 |
19 |
|
Pointers
|
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
10 |
8 |
|
Pointers
(German Shorthaired) |
2 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
15 |
19 |
21 |
|
Pointers
(German Wirehaired) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
10 |
9 |
|
Retrievers
( |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
|
Retrievers
(Curly-Coated) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
|
Retrievers
(Flat-Coated) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
|
Retrievers
(Golden) |
4 |
4 |
14 |
16 |
24 |
28 |
32 |
36 |
48 |
52 |
|
Retrievers
( |
3 |
3 |
12 |
13 |
20 |
23 |
33 |
42 |
54 |
68 |
|
Setters
(English) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
12 |
17 |
24 |
30 |
|
Setters
(Gordon) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
9 |
15 |
14 |
24 |
|
Setters
(Irish) |
2 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
16 |
20 |
30 |
36 |
|
Spaniels
(American Water) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
9 |
|
Spaniels
(Clumber) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
|
Spaniels
(Cocker) Black |
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
8 |
11 |
11 |
16 |
|
Spaniels
(Cocker) ASCOB |
2 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
17 |
|
Spaniels
(Cocker) Parti |
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
8 |
13 |
11 |
18 |
|
Spaniels
(English Cocker) |
2 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
10 |
14 |
15 |
19 |
|
Spaniels
(English Springer) |
2 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
16 |
24 |
26 |
|
Spaniels
(Field) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
|
Spaniels
(Irish Water) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
10 |
8 |
|
Spaniels
( |
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
10 |
8 |
11 |
|
Spaniels
(Welsh Springer) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
9 |
10 |
12 |
16 |
|
Spinoni
Italiani |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
|
Vizslas |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
11 |
15 |
16 |
|
Weimaraners |
2 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
15 |
17 |
20 |
|
Afghan
Hounds |
2 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
9 |
14 |
14 |
20 |
22 |
|
Basenjis |
2 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
14 |
17 |
22 |
|
Basset
Hounds |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
12 |
11 |
20 |
|
Beagles
(13 inch and under) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
11 |
|
Beagles
(over 13 inches) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
|
Black
and Tan Coonhounds |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
|
Bloodhounds |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
9 |
|
Borzois |
2 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
8 |
13 |
12 |
21 |
20 |
|
Dachshunds
(Longhaired) |
2 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
15 |
17 |
|
Dachshunds
(Smooth) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
14 |
16 |
|
Dachshunds
(Wirehaired) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
10 |
11 |
143 |
|
Foxhounds
(English) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
|
Greyhounds |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
Irish
Wolfhounds |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
|
Norwegian
Elkhounds |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
11 |
16 |
|
Otterhounds |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
|
Rhodesian
Ridgebacks |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
|
Salukis |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
11 |
18 |
|
Scottish
Deerhounds |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
7 |
13 |
|
Whippets |
2 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
15 |
22 |
24 |
33 |
|
Akitas |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
15 |
|
Alaskan
Malamutes |
2 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
10 |
13 |
13 |
20 |
19 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
8 |
12 |
13 |
15 |
|
Boxers |
2 |
3 |
13 |
14 |
23 |
24 |
28 |
30 |
37 |
40 |
|
Bullmastiffs |
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
8 |
11 |
11 |
14 |
|
Doberman
Pinschers |
3 |
4 |
10 |
13 |
18 |
22 |
22 |
27 |
28 |
35 |
|
Giant
Schnauzers |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
12 |
|
Great
Danes |
2 |
2 |
9 |
9 |
15 |
16 |
21 |
24 |
33 |
38 |
|
Great
Pyrenees |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
8 |
12 |
12 |
|
Greater
|
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
10 |
|
Komondorok |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
|
Kuvaszok |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
10 |
11 |
16 |
|
Mastiffs |
2 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
12 |
12 |
16 |
|
Portuguese
Water Dogs |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
12 |
8 |
18 |
|
Rottweilers |
3 |
4 |
9 |
9 |
15 |
16 |
23 |
27 |
39 |
46 |
|
St.
Bernards |
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
14 |
24 |
25 |
|
Samoyeds |
2 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
9 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
|
Siberian
Huskies |
2 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
13 |
16 |
20 |
26 |
34 |
|
Standard
Schnauzers |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
12 |
13 |
|
Airedale
Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
9 |
14 |
17 |
27 |
|
American
Staffordshire Terriers |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
14 |
|
Australian
Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
Bedlington
Terrieres |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
9 |
|
Border
Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
9 |
5 |
10 |
6 |
13 |
|
Bull
Terriers (Colored) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
15 |
|
Bull
Terriers (White) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
|
Cairn
Terriers |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
10 |
16 |
|
Dandie
Dinmont Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
Fox
Terriers (Smooth) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
|
Fox
Terriers (Wire) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
12 |
10 |
|
Irish
Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
8 |
12 |
|
Jack
Russell Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
Kerry
Blue Terriers |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
9 |
12 |
16 |
23 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
Miniature
Schnauzers |
2 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
9 |
14 |
14 |
22 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
6 |
9 |
9 |
12 |
|
Scottish
Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
19 |
|
Sealyham
Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
|
Skye
Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
Soft
Coated Wheaten Terriers |
2 |
2 |
4 |
7 |
6 |
11 |
8 |
13 |
11 |
16 |
|
Staffordshire
Bull Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
|
Welsh
Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
|
West
|
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
13 |
13 |
23 |
|
Affenpinschers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
8 |
12 |
|
Cavalier
King Charles Spaniels |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
12 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
12 |
|
Chinese
Crested |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
10 |
14 |
|
English
Toy Spaniels (Blenheim & Prince Charles) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
|
English
Toy Spaniels (King Charles & Ruby) |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
|
Havanese |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
8 |
|
Italian
Greyhounds |
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
12 |
16 |
21 |
22 |
|
Japanese
Chin |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
11 |
10 |
|
Maltese |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
|
Miniature
Pinschers |
2 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
10 |
13 |
13 |
18 |
|
Papillons |
2 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
17 |
|
Pekingese |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
11 |
18 |
20 |
|
Pomeranians |
2 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
9 |
12 |
11 |
17 |
14 |
|
Poodles
(Toy) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
9 |
13 |
|
Pugs |
2 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
11 |
15 |
15 |
21 |
|
Shih
Tzu |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
11 |
|
Silky
Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
9 |
11 |
11 |
14 |
16 |
|
American
Eskimo Dogs |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
|
Bichons
Frises |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
11 |
10 |
17 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
8 |
14 |
|
Bulldogs |
2 |
2 |
9 |
9 |
15 |
16 |
22 |
26 |
34 |
43 |
|
Chinese
Shar-Pei |
2 |
2 |
|
6 |
7 |
10 |
9 |
15 |
14 |
24 |
|
Chow
Chows |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
11 |
|
Dalmatians |
2 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
12 |
14 |
19 |
23 |
32 |
|
French
Bulldogs |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
9 |
8 |
12 |
|
Keeshonden |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
15 |
18 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
12 |
|
Lowchen |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
|
Poodles
(Miniature) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
11 |
|
Poodles
(Standard) |
2 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
10 |
14 |
13 |
19 |
|
Schipperkes |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
6 |
9 |
9 |
13 |
|
Shiba
Inu |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
|
Tibetan
Spaniels |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
|
Tibetan
Terriers |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
|
Australian
Cattle Dogs |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
|
Australian
Shepherds |
2 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
19 |
18 |
|
Bearded
Collies |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
12 |
14 |
|
Belgian
Sheepdogs |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
11 |
|
Belgian
Tervuren |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
10 |
|
Border
Collies |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
|
Bouviers
des Flandres |
2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
11 |
15 |
|
Briards |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
|
Collies
(Rough) |
2 |
2 |
8 |
9 |
14 |
15 |
20 |
23 |
30 |
39 |
|
Collies
(Smooth) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
German
Shepherd Dogs |
2 |
2 |
10 |
12 |
17 |
21 |
22 |
26 |
30 |
36 |
|
Old
English Sheepdogs |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
11 |
|
Polish
Lowland Sheepdogs |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
|
Pulik |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
|
Shetland
Sheepdogs |
3 |
4 |
10 |
10 |
16 |
17 |
20 |
22 |
28 |
30 |
|
Welsh
Corgis (Cardigan) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
13 |
|
Welsh
Corgis (Pembroke) |
2 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
13 |
20 |
20 |
34 |
|
ALL
OTHER BREEDS AND VARIETIES |
2 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
13 |
20 |
20 |
34 |
|
Table 3a |
||||||||||
|
Divisions 1 - 9
Divisions 10 - 12
TABLE 4 |
|
1. Breeding,
Owning and Exhibiting Elements (20 Points for each) Note: This assumes that
using the 60 point system the applicant does not meet both champion and
litter requirements. ·
Bred and raised five
litters in breed(s) requested on his/her premises ·
Bred at least four
champions in breed(s) requested 2. Breeding,
Owning and Exhibiting Elements (15
Points for each) ·
Bred and raised four
litters in breed(s) requested on his/her premises ·
Bred at least two
champions in breed(s) requested ·
Owned at least one dog in
breed(s) requested that sired four champions (dog must have resided at
applicant’s home while used as stud) ·
Owned four dogs in
breed(s) requested that earned championships while residing at applicant’s
home ·
Personally exhibited four
dogs in breed(s) requested to their championships, earning all 15 points and
both majors (this requirement is the
same for owners and professional handlers) ·
Personally exhibited two
dogs in breed(s) requested as specials for a minimum of two years or
approximately 60 showings (this
requirement is the same for owners and professional handlers) ·
Participated in
Performance Events with two dogs of this breed for a minimum of two years 3. Breed Specific
Breeding, Owning and Exhibiting Elements
(10 points for each) ·
Competed in Junior
Showmanship and can document having shown two or more dogs in breed(s)
requested over a period of two or more
years or approximately 60 showings ·
Owned two dogs in breed(s)
requested, exhibited as specials, for a minimum of two years or approximately
60 showings ·
Member of household where
five or more litters of this breed
produced four or more champions but was not breeder of record ·
Judged an AKC sanctioned
match, sweepstakes and/or futurity in this breed 4. Professional
Experience (10 points for each) ·
Handled professionally or
assisted professional handler for at least five years (Attach details and dates of duties if
assisted professional handler) ·
Professionally groomed
breeds in a show-related context (for
a show kennel, for a professional handler, etc.) for at least five years ·
Practiced canine health
related profession for at least five years ·
Recognized author or
frequent speaker on subjects related to purebred dogs. Specific criteria to be
established by staff ·
Instructor/teacher of
purebred dog-related classes for at least five years or approximately 60
classes 5. Club-Related or
Educational Experiences (5 points for each) ·
Active
kennel club member (to qualify,
applicant must have served as a club officer or on a show committee) ·
Performed show-giving club
services, such as committee work, site and ring preparation, and club
educational programs ·
Attended institutes
sponsored by knowledgeable organizations or parent clubs ·
Attended National
Specialties and participated in judges. study groups ·
Presented parent club
workshops, study groups or seminars on the breed requested ·
Volunteered on behalf of
regional or national breed club as mentor or presenter for parent club’s
educational programs or other credible educational programs Table 5 |
|
Actual
Show Schedule Reproduced for one of the Smaller AKC Shows
Attention Exhibitors Show site will be available to
exhibitors the night before each show but gates will be locked at Electric Hookups available. All on a limited basis, first come, first
served. Parking - $3.00 per car. Overnight camping - $12.00 per night. No camping overnight after the
Sunday Show. In the event specified prizes are
not available, prizes of equal value may be substituted. No member of the Saginaw
Valley Kennel Club, Inc. or members of their family will enter or exhibit any dog owned or co-owned at this show. Police will STRICTLY enforce the NO
parking areas. EQUIPMENT & SERVICE
FURNISHED BY: "Please feel
free to come by and take a tour of our Headquarters
Office in NC any business day Mon. thru Fri., FAX - 336-272-0864 • Internet
Address http://www.infodog.com E-Mail Address [email protected] AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB ANNUALLY LICENSED
SUPERINTENDENT MB-F SHOW # 767 Accommodations American Motel, Best Western, 6285 Holiday Inn, 1408 S. Outer Dr., Holiday Inn, Red Roof Inn, I-75 & Holland
Ave., Super 8 Motel, These Hotels will accept dogs
which must be properly controlled and crated. Deposits may be required. We hope you will help us keep these accommodations by cleaning up
after your dogs. Directions to the Show From East or West - Take I-69 then North
on I-75 to M-25 East. From North or South - Take I-75 to M-25, Bay City M-25 East to show grounds on East
side of All RVs Must Be Self Contained. A Dump Station Is Available On Show Grounds. No Sawdust, Shavings Etc. May Be
Used In Private Exercise Pens. No Parking Spaces May Be Reserved By
Red Cones, Etc. No set up until after ALL TROPHIES MUST BE
PICKED UP THE DAY OF THE SHOW. NONE WILL BE SHIPPED. At the discretion of the judge, the following breeds may be judged on a ramp: Clumber Spaniels, Terriers & Bulldogs. Ramps may be used in emergency
situations to judge any breed. (In an emergency situation, an exhibitor does have the option of withdrawing their entry and receiving a
refund). Veterinarian On Call
& 24 Hour Animal Emergency Clinic 6015 NO PRACTICING ALLOWED IN RINGS AT ANY TIME. Dogs May Arrive any time prior to
their scheduled time of judging. Dogs not required for further judging will be excused. Judges Will Not Wait for Any Dog Holding Up a Class. Owners or agents alone are responsible for the presence of their dogs in judging ring when their classes are called to be
judged. All Dogs Present must be held on
leash or confined to their crates except when being judged or when in the exercising ring. No gasoline or diesel generators are permitted inside any building or within 100 feet of any tent in
which this dog show is conducted. Entry Fees shall not be
refunded in the event that a dog is absent, disqualified, excused by
Veterinarian or Judge, or barred from competition by action of Show Committee. If
because of riots, civil disturbances or other acts beyond the control of the management it is impossible to open or
to complete the show, no refund of entry fee will be made. Extreme weather conditions, such as, but not limited to
snow storms, hurricanes, lightning, extreme heat, must be considered for the health and safety of the dogs,
exhibitors and spectators. The wellbeing of dogs, exhibitors and spectators is of paramount importance and, in
the event it is necessary to cancel or stop the show before completion, no refund of entry fee will be made. TABLE 6 |
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* Calculated
by taking Three Counties Show figures (8,550 dogs entered), multiplying by 25
championship shows, adding in the average group size (1162) by the eleven
group shows, adding in 800 for the Scottish breeds show, and another 21,375
for the various breed speciality shows (10% of the annual championship show
figure). Table 7 |