People ask me all the time what dog shows are like. Well… They’re wild, but fun and I love them. Most of the time anyway. Conformation dog shows are frustrating and wonderful at the same time, and at the very heart of the Dog World. They are competitive, educational, and fun. Most owner handlers like me lose more than we win, but there is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you do win. Just when you feel totally defeated and think you want to quit, you win big and get hooked all over again.
As I said in Part 3 of the Reputable Breeder Series, going to a dog show is the best way to meet breeders and to see the breed(s) that interest you. Let’s think of this post as a sort of “Hitchhiker’s Guide to Dog Shows” or “Dog Shows for Dummies”. I almost used the latter as the headline for this post, but my SEO plug-in didn’t rate it very highly.
Anyway, in this post you’ll learn:
The Purpose of Breed Standards
Y’all hold on tight, this is going to be a long one. My longest post to-date, in fact.
What is a Dog Show?
Keeping first things first, you need to know what the point of a dog show is. There is a lot of confusion/misinformation on dog shows in the Pet World. At its heart, a dog show is:
An exhibition of breeding stock.
That’s it. That’s the whole point. Dog shows are similar to livestock shows in that regard. I often hear that dog shows are just beauty pageants for dogs. This is not true. Yes, dog shows are fancier than other animal shows, especially televised dog shows, but that does not make them a pageant. The dogs you see on TV are the product of their breeder’s blood, sweat, tears, and time.
Types of Dog Shows
Speaking of TV, televised shows like Westminster fall into the “all-breed” category. Most dog shows are all-breed shows. All-breed kennel clubs hold these shows and they are open to all AKC breeds.
The other main type of show is a “specialty” show, held by a breed-specific, or “specialty” club and only open to that breed. Specialty shows can be Group specific too. Concurrent (held on the same day as an all-breed show) and independent specialties usually draw bigger and higher quality entries for the breed. Typically, specialties also have more breeders in attendance. In the Dog World, winning at a specialty means more. Specialty wins are a HUGE deal in the Golden World.
Specifically, the Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA) National Specialty, which is the biggest and most important event for Goldens all year. Over 800 Goldens entered conformation at the 2021 National Specialty. Winning at a National is super important for Dog People.
Anyway, both types of shows can be held independently or in the same weekend. Which leads me to my next point.
What a Cluster…
The biggest and best shows are often grouped together in a “cluster”. When several clubs host multiple shows over 3 or more days at the same location, it’s a cluster. If you really want to see a lot of dogs in many different breeds, go to a cluster. It’s highly likely for there to be at least 1,000 dogs, but some clusters have upwards of 3,000 dogs.
How to Find Dog Shows
If you want to attend one of these cluster fluffs or even just a smaller local show, then here are a few different ways to find shows near you:
The first is the AKC Event Search. It’s fairly user friendly, but sometimes glitchy. I like that you can “favorite” events if you have an AKC account. It has lots of filtering options, but isn’t as compact as the next option for finding shows.
The InfoDog Ultimate Event Search. It’s compact, easy to use, and rarely glitchy. The filtering options are on the left side of the screen as shown below. You can filter by state, proximity to a city, type of event, breed, even by who the judge is.
Lastly, I sometimes use The Canine Chronicle Event Calendar. It’s not quite as fancy as the other two, but it has a cluster view that I like.
Attending Dog Shows
Once you’ve found some shows to attend, you need to plan out your visit. The keys to attending a show are the Premium Lists and the Judging Program. Superintendents release premium lists well before the show, and release judging programs about a week before the show. The sites above host premium lists and judging programs.
The Premium List includes details like location, directions, COVID protocols, camping information for RVs, parking, grooming, etc. Most shows are at held local/state fairgrounds or event centers. The Judging Program includes the show time, ring number, and breed entry numbers.
Please, always, always, always check the Judging Program before you go. If you want to see the Goldens, for example, and they show at 9:00AM, but you show up at noon, you probably missed them (unless it’s a giant show with entries of 70+). Most owners pack up and leave after they show. The only one left is the dog that won Best of Breed and is moving on to the Sporting Group. Or the owner-handled Best of Breed, but I’m not going into the owner-handled system in this post.
Oh, and bring folding chairs.
Construction Specs for Dogs
If you decide to attend a show and watch the judging, remember what I said earlier: Dog shows are an exhibition of breeding stock.
Every established breed has a written “breed standard” that describes the perfect specimen of that breed. My engineer brain likes to think of breed standards as the construction specifications. They are instructions for building the perfect dog of that breed. These “specs” include descriptions of structure (think bone construction), movement, coat, allowable colors, general looks, and sometimes temperament.
Movement and structure are essential pieces for evaluating breeding stock. People developed most dog breeds to perform specific jobs. Movement and structure allow them to properly do their jobs. In Golden Retrievers, a dog with a serious movement or structure fault won’t be able to do its original job in the long-term: retrieving birds. Structural faults lead to injuries and arthritis. Inefficient movement leads to early exhaustion, injuries, and – you guessed it – arthritis.
On that note, movement and structure are just as important for dogs that are “just a pet”. You don’t want your walking, running, or hiking buddy to develop a limp at 5 years old.
Hobby breeders strive to breed dogs that match their breed standard as closely as possible, while keeping in mind that there is no perfect dog.
The Judging Procedure
If you’re watching a dog show, here’s how judging works: Judges evaluate how closely each dog matches the judge’s interpretation of the breed standard. The dogs are not judged against each other. In theory, the dog that most closely resembles the judge’s ideal specimen of that breed is the dog that wins its class, breed, group, and even Best in Show.
The Judge’s Exam
After the dogs enter the ring, the judge double checks that each dog belongs in that class and marks absentees in the official judge’s book. Most judges then walk to the center of the ring to look at the dogs’ profiles. Handlers “hand stack” the dogs for this part.
Next, the judge asks the handlers to move around together or one at a time toward the spot where she (or he) will examine them individually.
For the individual exams, the dogs stand with their left side facing the judge. The judge looks at the profile of the dog again before the physical exam. During the physical exam, most judges start with the head, then chest, neck and shoulders, followed by the body and rear. Since this is an exhibition of breeding stock, they also check that both testicles are present on males. Some judges check the dog’s teeth (bite) first and some check the bite last.
Judging Movement
Following the exam, the judge asks the handler to take the dog on a “down-and-back”. When the dog moves away, the judge looks at how the rear legs move in a trot. When the dog moves back toward the judge, they look at how the front legs move in the trot. At the end of the down-and-back, the handler puts the dog into a “free stack”.
After the down-and-back, most judges ask for a “go-around” to watch the dog’s side gait. The go-around is when the judge can see how the dog’s topline (back) looks, if the dog’s foot timing is good, and if the movement outline is appropriate for the breed.
Definitions (not in alphabetical order)
- Hand stack: the handler places each foot in (hopefully) the correct spot for the dog to look its best
- Free stack: at the end of the down-and-back, the dog sets itself up for the judge
- Down-and-back: the handler moves the dog in a trot in a straight line away from the judge, then turns around comes back in a straight line
- Go-around: the handler moves the dog around the outside of the ring in a left-hand (counter-clockwise) circle
Choosing a Winner
Following the individual exams, handlers stack their dogs for a second group profile view. At most shows, the judge asks them to move around the ring again, either together, one at a time, or both. If it’s a large show, the judge may make a “cut” or two. When a judge makes a cut, they choose several dogs that they like, dismiss the others, and then move forward with placements. Every judge’s process is different, but most go over the dogs again and/or continuing moving them until they decide on placements.
How Dog Shows Work
Discussing judging procedure leads me right into how dog shows actually work. If you’ve never been to a show, and you want to know what in the heck is going on, this section is for you.
On the logistical side, every dog entered in the show receives a number from the superintendent or show secretary. On their upper left arm, handlers wear slips of thick paper with their dog’s number printed on it. Dogs (males) get odd numbers and bitches get even numbers. If all of the dogs in the ring have odd numbers, you’re probably watching one of the dog classes.
Another key to watching is to buy a catalog. The catalog includes a list of every dog entered in the show and their number. Sporting breeds are listed first and the dogs are listed in class order.
Classes and Order of Judging
Speaking of classes… every dog begins its show career by showing in “the classes”. Dogs that are not Champions of Record (AKC’s term, “finished Champions” or just “Champion” to everyone else) start by showing in whatever class they are eligible.
The classes are divided by sex. Dogs (males) show against dogs and bitches (females) show against bitches. You’re going to see that word a lot in my posts since it’s the proper term. It’s not derogatory – it’s just how things are. A female dog is a bitch just like a female horse is a mare and female deer is a doe.
Anyway, judging starts with the dog classes. Beginning with 6-9 puppy dogs and continuing through the rest of the dog classes. Next, the 1st place winners of each dog class come back in for Winners Dog, and the winner of the winners will be chosen. Repeat for bitches. After Winners Bitch concludes, the non-regular classes (if any) are judged and followed by Best of Breed.
“The Classes” at Dog Shows
The typical classes available are:
- 6-9 month puppies – must be at least 6 months old, but less than 9 months old
- 9-12 month puppies – at least 9 months, but less than 12 months old
- 12-18 month puppies – at least 12 months, but less than 18 months. Sometimes, this class is broken down further into 12-15 months and 15-18 months
- Novice Dogs/Bitches – must not have won 1st place in this class more than 3 times, cannot have won 1st place in any of the following classes, and has not won any points toward its Championship. People rarely enter this class at all-breed shows.
- Amateur Owner-handler Dogs/Bitches – dogs/bitches must be shown by their owner, and their owner can never have been a professional handler, a professional handler’s assistant, or a judge. Amateur Owner-handler is another low entry class.
- Bred By Exhibitor Dogs/Bitches – the person showing the dog must be the breeder and owner/co-owner of the dog
- American-Bred – sire and dam were mated in the United States of America and the dog was born in America
- Open – any AKC registered dog (full registration only) can compete in this class; additionally, this is the only class in which finished Champions are eligible to compete
Non-regular Classes
Some shows offer classes called “non-regular” classes. The most common non-regular classes are Veterans classes, which are for dogs older than 7 years of age. Veterans classes are unique because altered (neutered/spayed) dogs may be shown in the Veterans class. However, they are typically only offered at specialties. An altered dog cannot compete in the Variety Groups at an all-breed show. If you’re thinking “why can’t altered dogs compete in the Groups?”, remember that dog shows are an exhibition of breeding stock, and altered dogs can’t breed.
The first place winner of each Veterans class will compete in Best of Breed and is eligible for Championship points.
From the Classes to Best in Show: The Winners of Dog Shows
….aaaaaand speaking of winners: Dog shows are a tournament of bests in a way. The first place winners of the regular classes compete for Winners Dog and Winners Bitch, who then compete against the finished Champions in the Best of Breed Competition. The Best of Breed winners then compete against the other Best of Breed winners in their Group. AKC breeds are split into seven Variety Groups:
- Sporting (32 breeds)
- Herding (31 breeds)
- Working (31 breeds)
- Hound (32 breeds)
- Terrier (31 breeds)
- Non-sporting (20 breeds)
- Toy (21 breeds)
The winner of each Group proceeds to the Best in Show competition. In Best in Show, one group winner is chosen for the prestigious honor of Best in Show. The judge also awards Reserve Best in Show.
Who Gets Ribbons at Dog Shows?
In the classes, ribbons go to first through fourth place. The first place winners of each class move on to Winners Dog/Bitch. Reserve Winners is awarded after Winners. The second place dogs for each class remain near the show ring in case the dog that won their class is selected as Winners Dog/Bitch. For example, if Eevee receives second place in the Open Bitch class and the winner of Open Bitch wins Winners Bitch, then Eevee goes back in the ring to compete against the remaining class winners for Reserve Winners Bitch.
Best of Breed
During the Best of Breed competition, the awards are as follows:
- Best of Breed (sort of like first place, but for the whole breed)
- Best of Winners (chosen between the Winners Dog and the Winners Bitch)
- Best of Opposite Sex (must be the opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner, sort of like second place)
- Select Dog (for Grand Champion Points only)
- Select Bitch (for Grand Champion Points only)
The finished champions are eligible for any of the above awards. However, the only way a finished champion can receive the Best of Winners award is if they were entered in the Open class and won Winners. The Winners Dog and Winners Bitch are eligible to win Best of Breed, Best of Winners, and Best of Opposite Sex. Only finished champions receive Select Dog and Select Bitch, and they are basically the second best of each sex.
At a specialty show, Best of Breed is the highest award and is also known as “Best in Specialty Show”. At an all-breed show, the Best of Breed winner moves on to the Variety Group.
Groups and Beyond
In the Groups, awards go to first through fourth place. The first place winners of each group go on to the Best in Show competition. Unlike the classes, the second place Group winners do not go back into the Best in Show ring to compete for Reserve Best in Show. Only the Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show winners receive ribbons/rosettes. Most of the time, the Best in Show dog goes home with three ribbons: one for Best of Breed, one for Group First, and one for Best in Show. However, if the Best in Show dog was not a finished champion, then the dog would go home with five ribbons for the day.
Ribbon Colors
I should add that there is a system for the ribbon colors. First through fourth place in the classes and in Groups are as follows: blue, red, yellow, white. Winners Dog/Bitch get a solid purple ribbon while the Reserve Winners get a purple and white ribbon. Best of Breed ribbons are purple and gold, Best of Opposite are red and white, Best of Winners is blue and white, and the Select Dog/Bitch are light blue and white. Best in Show is typically red, white, and blue, but I have seen them be odd colors.
In the photo above, I’m holding three ribbons, bonus points if you can tell me which is which now!
The Points System
Now, on to the points system! As if things weren’t complicated enough, the points system takes it to a whole other level. This is one of the most confusing parts about the Wonderful World of Dog Shows.
Who Gets Points?
The Winners Dog, Winners Bitch, Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog, and Select Bitch can earn points in a dog show. The first place winner in each Variety Group can also get Championship points, IF the dog won Best of Breed “from the classes”.
Well, except when the Reserve Winners get points. There are two ways that the Reserve Winners Dog and Bitch can get points:
- At a National Specialty in which the number of dogs/bitches competing is at least twice the number required for a 5-point major in that region. In this scenario, the two Winners get 5-point majors and the two Reserve Winners get 3-point majors.
- If the Winners Dog or Bitch is deemed ineligible by AKC. This is rare, but it happens. Here are a couple of examples:
- The Winners Dog/Bitch was actually on limited registration. Only dogs with full registration can compete in conformation shows. An exhibition of breeding stock, remember? See this article for an explanation of the difference between full registration and limited registration.
- If the Winners Dog/Bitch was ineligible for the class in which it competed. Most often this is just an entry error, so double check your entries folks!
How The System Works
Championship points are awarded based on the number of dogs that are actually shown during the event. The minimum number of points possible is one, while the maximum is five. One and two point shows are technically called “minors”, but no one really says that. Most people just call them “singles”. “Majors” are shows worth three or more points.
Dogs must earn 15 points to become an AKC Champion of Record. However, at least six of those points must be from majors. This prevents dogs from only beating a small number of other dogs to become a Champion. They must win at least two 3-point majors. The fastest way to earn an AKC Championship is to win three 5-point majors.
Majors are also where Best of Winners becomes important. If the Winners Dog gets a 3-point major and the Winners Bitch only gets 2 points, but she then beats the Winners Dog for Best of Winners, she also gets a 3-point major. Dog World lingo for this is “crossover” major. Essentially, Best of Winners also beats all of the dogs that the other Winner beat, which is why they get the extra points.
The Points Schedule
This is where things get a little… …well, extra. AKC determines the points schedule on a yearly basis. First, AKC divides the US into several geographic divisions. Each division has a different points schedule and each sex within each breed has its own points schedule within each division. This means that the points schedule for dogs and bitches is different. The points are determined through collection of statistics for all dogs competing at every show throughout the year.
AKC does a lot of math to determine the points schedule. However, the schedule follows this typical formula:
- One-point: 95% of shows with competition will carry at least one point for dogs and bitches.
- Two-points: half the difference between 1-point shows and 3-point shows.
- Three-points: At least 18%, but not more than 20% of the shows within a division need to carry majors. Cross-over majors, and majors won from Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex don’t count toward this calculation.
- Four-points: approximately one-third (1/3) of the difference between three point shows and five-point shows, rounded up to the nearest whole number.
- Five-points: as close as possible to 2% of shows should carry a five-point major. AKC wants this to be difficult to achieve.
The points schedule for Golden Retriever Bitches in my division is as follows:
- One-point: 2 bitches competing
- Two-points: 12 bitches competing – [(22-2)/2]+2=12
- Three-points: 22 bitches competing
- Four-points: 27 bitches competing – [(35-22)*(1/3)]+22=27
- Five-points: 35 bitches competing
Grand Champions vs Champions
Only finished Champions are eligible for Grand Champion points. To become a GCH, a CH dog must win 25 points with at least three majors. Grand Champion Points are awarded using the same point schedule as above. The only dogs that can win points toward their GCH are the Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog, and Select Bitch. If a class animal wins Best of Breed or Best Opposite, the points automatically go toward their regular Championship.
Generally, it is much more difficult for a dog to finish its CH than its GCH. Competition in the classes is STIFF. Most often, there are many more dogs competing in the classes than in the Best of Breed Competition. And, only two dogs are awarded Championship points in any given show: the Winners Dog and the Winners Bitch. However, like I said above up to four dogs can win Grand Championship points in any given show.
If a class animal wins Best of Breed or Best of Opposite, the number of CH/GCH defeated are included in the points count for the Winners Dog/Bitch. This has happened to Eevee before. Last year she won Winners Bitch for a four-point major. We were one bitch shy of 5-points in the classes, so she needed to win Best of Breed or Best Opposite to get the extra point. And she did just that. She ended up going Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, and Best of Opposite Sex. IT. WAS. AWESOME!
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