This dog tip is by Dr. Alvin Grossman, an international dog show judge. He judges the Sporting Group, which includes Retrievers, Spaniels, Setters, and Pointers. He has judged dog shows in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Sweeden, France, Holland, Brazil, Russia, Taiwan, New Zealand, and the Phillipines. He is considered one of the foremost authorities on the American Cocker Spaniel. His books on breeding, dog showing, and the American Cocker Spaniel can be found right here on our web page.

What are the different types of dog shows?

Dog shows can be a whole new way of life. At first, you'll be exposed to sights and sounds and terms that may confuse your senses. Just remember that dog shows are set up somewhat similarly to the NCAA final basketball tournament. There is Breed competition (dogs of the same breed), which is like the preliminary rounds of play in a tournament. In this example, the best dog from each of approximately 140 breeds is selected to go on to compete in the next higher round, the Group competition. You can compare this to a combination of quarter and semifinal rounds.

The "Groups" are basically clustered by function. For example, Cocker Spaniels, Pointers, Springers, Setters, etc., help make up the twenty-four breeds in the Sporting Group--all of which hunt and retrieve birds and other small game. Collies, Shelties, Corgis, etc., make up a group of dogs with herding responsibilities, so they are in the Herding Group. In all there are seven groups.

Each breed and group is judged by an AKC-approved judge who is knowledgeable on dogs within that breed and group. For example, I am approved to judge all Sporting dogs. The judge's job is to select the best specimen at each level to go on to the final seven to compete for the coveted Best In Show award. The final lineup is like the final four and championship game all rolled into one. The elimination rounds are over and only one of the seven finalists can emerge as the Best In Show winner. There is no semifinal or playoff for third place. The dog selected for Best In Show wins all the marbles.

For you, the most important action will take place in your breed ring. This is where all of your attention needs to be focused and where you will spend 90% or more of your time at the dog show.

The breed ring is where you can learn breed type and soundness. You canıt do it by attending just one show or even ten. It comes from intelligent observation and by understanding what the breed standard really means. Your breed's "standard" is usually only two or three pages long, but it is packed with relevant information. Each time you read a part of the standard, "shoulders should be well laid back," for example, ask yourself why? By doing this you can begin to find out that dogs are built around the tasks that they were designed for. Then, and only then, will the standard make sense to you.

The AKC, in cooperation with your national breed club, has put together a video on your breed standard. Be sure to get a copy. They may be obtained for $35.00 from the AKC at their Raleigh, NC office at:
    American Kennel Club
    5580 Centerview Drive
    Raleigh, NC 27690-0643

In addition, there are usually one or more books about your breed available. Buy one (preferably one published by Doral, of course!) and study it for a picture of the breed as it has developed over the years. DO NOT buy the $5.95 books available in pet stores. All they contain are some pictures and very general information that will not further your cause.

Back to the breed ring. Watch the judge sort out his winners and then ask yourself why he did that. Record your answers as well as the name and date of the show. After doing this for ten shows, look at your reasons for the judge's actions. Are you beginning to see a rationale for their decisions? You should. If you think it's all politics or the judge is crooked, you're off on the wrong tack and probably listening to too many disgruntled losers. Start again and form your own opinions by understanding why you have reached your conclusions. Then begin to discuss them with other serious breeders/exhibitors.

There are three types of conformation dog shows: all-breed shows, specialty shows, and matches. Each type of show serves a different purpose.

All-breed shows are sponsored by all-breed clubs. As you probably guessed from the name, all AKC-approved breeds may be exhibited at an all-breed show. AKC championship points are awarded to winnerıs dogs and winnerıs bitches. It takes 15 points to become a champion. Points are awarded on the basis of the number of dogs in competition. AKC establishes the point schedule each year based upon the number of dogs competing in that breed in that area for the past year. To become a champion a dog must win two majors, shows that have enough entries to make up a 3-, 4- or 5-point major.

Specialty shows are sponsored by specialty clubs and are the most common type of dog show in the country. Any breed club that is licensed by the AKC can sponsor this type of show. Only a single breed, such as a Brittany Spaniel or a German Shepherd Dog, is exhibited at a specialty show; this makes the competition for points intense. Championship points are awarded to the winners dogs and winners bitches. Naturally, exhibitors consider winning at specialty shows to be a significant event.

The third type of show is the match. There are both all-breed and specialty matches. Most of these are held under AKC sanction, but no championship points are awarded to the winners. Matches provide a practice ground for novice exhibitors, experienced breeders breaking in their newest show prospects, dog clubs working toward being approved by the AKC, and prospective judges who want to become approved AKC judges. This type of show is fun to attend, because it's a great place to learn how to exhibit your dog, and for the dog to learn proper ring manners.

What are the different competitive classes?

Dog shows, like most sporting events, classify the competitors by age, sex, and experience at winning. For example, in golf, competitors are classified by sex, age (senior, juniors), and by professional/amateur status. At dog shows, dogs trying to win their championships compete by gender within the following classes:

Puppy, 6 to 9 months

Puppy, 9 to 12 months

Novice, which is open to dogs who have not yet won a class

Bred-by-Exhibitor, which is open to dogs being shown by their breeder (who must also be their current owner)

American Bred, which is open to all dogs bred in America

Open Class, which is open to all dogs, including puppies

Dogs who have already earned their championships are entered directly into the Best of Breed or Best of Variety competition. This option is available only to AKC champions.

Specialty shows will sometimes include an additional class, "Puppy, over 12 months and under 18 months."

How does a dog show work?

Every breed is judged in the same way. First, the male "Puppy 6-9 month class" is judged. The judge selects the top four puppies and awards first through fourth place ribbons. The judge then proceeds through the rest of the classes in the same manner.

Next, the first-place winners from each of the classes are brought back in to the ring to compete for winners. This is called the Winners Class. From this competition, the judge selects the Winners dog; this is the only male of this breed who will receive championship points at this show. The second place dog in the class from which the winner came is then brought into the ring to compete against the other class winners for Reserve Winners Dog. If for any reason the Winners dog is later disqualified, the Reserve Winners Dog will receive the championship points. This, however, rarely happens.

This entire process is then repeated for the female dogs, culminating in the selection of a Winners Bitch and a Reserve Winners Bitch. The Winners Bitch is the only female of this breed to gain championship points at this show.

Next comes the Best of Breed or Best of Variety competition. All of the AKC champions of that breed that are entered in the show along with the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch that just won their competition, are brought into the ring to compete. From this group, the judge selects the Best of Breed or Variety winner. The judge then compares the Winners Dog and the Winners Bitch and awards Best of Winners to one of them.

Lastly the judge selects the Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed or Variety, i.e., if a male is selected Best, then the judge seeks his opposite sex winner from among the females. If a female is awarded best, the judge then makes his selection for Best Opposite Sex from among the males.

In an All Breed show the Best of Breed or Variety winner will go on to compete against all the other dogs in his group. For example, the winner of the Cocker Spaniels will go on to compete against the winner of the Pointers, Setters, Retrievers in the Sporting Group.

There are seven groups, roughly divided by function. They are:

   Sporting

   Hound

   Herding

   Working

   Terrier

   Toy

   Non-Working

Each group selects its winners in the same way. Within the group competition the judge awards four placements. The first place winner is the group winner and he moves on to the next level of competition--BEST IN SHOW. Seven dogs compete for this final award but only one can win the coveted award.

Doral books to read for more information: