What do I and my dog have to know to show in Conformation?

All puppies like to play.  As you will see from you first match and show experiences, puppies in the ring will lick the judge's face, lie down when the judge comes to examine them, and show other creative attitudes towards life. This is part of learning to be a show dog and with training, patience and a good sense of humor, they will outgrow it.  Among the books you may find helpful in getting started are How To Show Your Own Dog by Virginia Nichols (T.F.H. Publications, 1976) and The Forsyth Guide to Successful Dog Showing by Robert and Jane Forsyth (Howell Book House, 1975).

For your dog to compete in conformation, a dog must be registered with the AKC and not have been altered, surgically or otherwise, to change its appearance.  To succeed in obtaining a Championship of Record (Ch.) title, he should be as close to the Standard Bulldog as possible.  Since no dog is perfect and each has different strengths and weaknesses, there is opportunity for many dogs to compete successfully in the ring.

The following is what your dogs should learn to show in conformation.  The rest depends on your dog (how well he matches the Bulldog Standard and how he looks that day), on you (how well you handle him in the ring), on the judge (how he interprets the Bulldog Standard), and on the other dogs and exhibitors in the ring competing against you that day (how they compare to you and your dog).  Two dogs can compete against each other and one will win one day and the other the next.  That's what keeps people coming back.

Stand for Examination        He must learn to stand still in place on command, exactly as you place him.  His front legs and the mid portion of his hind legs should be perpendicular to the ground.  The front legs are set to maximize the width between them, while staying straight down from the shoulder.  Set the front legs by grasping them just below the shoulder and setting them with the front feet pointed ahead or slightly outward.

Set the hind legs by grasping the leg at the hock (the joint at the middle of the leg).  Do not grab them near the feet - this makes it more difficult to set them correctly.  The hind legs should not be spread apart; they should be parallel to each other.

Practice stacking him on a table with a mat or towel under him at first.  As he grows, he will be big enough to use the floor.  If he fidgets, set him so his feet are at the edge of the table - he will quickly learn to stand still and rely on you to set his feet.  Of course, you must hold him at all times while he is on the table - don't ever leave him alone.

Being Touched                    He should be accustomed to being examined by anyone while he is standing; he should let them look in his mouth, run their hands over his body or touch his genitals.  The judge will run his or her hands over the entire dog to evaluate his conformation.  You can practice stacking the dog and having someone else run his or her hands over him to get him used to this.  It's not very difficult.

Moving on lead                    Your dog should be able to walk on a leash next to you without you having to tug or pull him and should be able to do this with distractions around.  In a show ring, he usually will have to walk around, in a large right triangle or up and back.  With practice, none of these is particularly difficult.

Finally, he must learn to stop walking when you do and stand waiting for your next movement.  This is needed so that when he comes to the judge, he can be stopped for the judge to look him over.

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What are the different types of Point Shows?

The types of AKC point shows you may encounter are: All-Breed Shows, Group Shows, and Specialty Shows.

All-Breed shows may have dogs exhibiting from over 140 breeds recognized by the AKC.  The exact number of breeds shown depends on the club giving the show and the entries received for that show.  Clubs holding the shows may be either members clubs of the AKC or licensed by the AKC to hold shows.

Not every breed has to be exhibited at any one show.  The breeds are divided by the AKC into Groups for judging purposes.  The Groups are:  Group 1 -- Sporting Dogs; Group 2 -- Hounds; Group 3 -- Working Dogs; Group 4 -- Terriers; Group 5 -- Toys; Group 6 -- Non-Sporting Dogs; Group 7 -- Herding Dogs.  Bulldogs are in the Non-Sporting Group, which contains dogs which no longer serve the original purpose for which they were bred.  After competition within each breed, the Best of Breed or Variety for each Breed or Variety competes within its group.  The first place winners in each group then compete for Best in Show.  Judges at All-breed shows must be licensed AKC judges, but need not be bulldog breeders.

Group shows are a fairly new phenomenon.  The AKC permits clubs to form consisting of exhibitors from a single group.  In this area, there is one club for our group, The Non-Sporting Group Club of the Garden State.  This is a new club which expects to hold its first show in about a year.  At the present time, it is holding matches to qualify for AKC membership.

Specialty shows are held by Clubs which are devoted to a single breed.  There are a number of clubs for Bulldogs.  The parent club in the United States is the Bulldog Club of America  (BCA).   The local clubs usually are members of BCA.   A specialty show may be held independently or in conjunction with an all-breed show.  Usually specialty shows have judges who are experienced bulldog breeders in addition to being licensed AKC judges.  Many clubs hold sweepstakes along with their specialty shows.  Entries are usually higher at specialty shows, whether independent or part of an all breed show, than at all-breed shows without specialties.  The largest entries are found at cluster shows, where you have 2 or three days of specialties held by different clubs at the same location.  In the New York area, there are several weekends with entries of about 120 bulldogs at specialty shows.  Best of Breed is the highest level of competition at independent specialties; at specialties held as part of all-breed shows, the Bulldog Best of Breed competes in the Group.

There is one specialty show which is the premier specialty each year -- the National Show.  Once each year in the Fall, the Bulldog Club of America holds its specialty show, usually supported by two other specialties.  The entries at the national show run between 300 and 700, depending on the location and date.  Each year, on a set schedule, the show moves to a different part of the country.  In 2008, the show will be in Reading, PA and in 2009-- in the Mid-West.

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How are shows organized?

In order to be entered in a show, the dogs must be eligible to show under the AKC Regulations.  Dogs entered in these shows must be AKC registered and at least 6 months old.  Spayed bitches and neutered dogs may not be shown in regular classes in conformation (thus, they cannot become Champions), however, they may be shown in obedience.  Neutered dogs and spayed bitches may be shown in the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch class in shows and they may be shown in the Veterans Class at a specialty show held independently, but not in conjunction with an all breed show.  This is to prevent competition between altered and intact dogs of different breeds, harkening back to the origin of dog shows as proving grounds for breeding stock.

Each dog entered in the show must be entered in a class for which he is eligible.  The regular classes in shows are as follows, divided by sex:

      The Puppy Class is for dogs that are six months old, but under twelve months, that are not champions.  The age of a dog is calculated up to and including the first day of a show.  For example, a dog whelped on January 1st is eligible to compete in a puppy class at a show the first day of which is July 1st of the same year and may continue to compete in puppy classes at shows up to and including a show the first day of which is the 31st day of December of the same year, but is not eligible to compete in a puppy class at a show the first day of which is January 1st of the following year.  The first day of a show is considered to be the first day on which there is regular conformation judging.   For example, this means that if your dog turns nine months old the day the classes start at the Nationals and the sweepstakes are held the day before, the dog should be entered in the 9-12 month old class in the sweepstakes.  Even though he is eight months old at the time the sweepstakes take place, the show starts and the age is measured as of the date regular classes are held.  

Puppy classes may be divided into two separate classes (6-9 months and 9-12 months) at the option of the club holding the show. This is usually done at Specialty shows.

The Twelve-to-Eighteen Month Class is for dogs that are twelve months of age, but under eighteen months, that are not champions.  The age of a dog is calculated up to and including the first day of a show, as described above.

The Novice Class is for dogs six months of age and over, which have not, prior to the date of closing of entries, won three first prizes in the Novice Class, a first prize in Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-bred or Open Classes, nor one or more points toward their championships.

The Bred-by-Exhibitor Class is for dogs whelped in the United States of America (or if individually registered in The American Kennel Club 'Stud Book', for dogs whelped outside of the United States) that are six months of age and over, are not champions, and are owned wholly or in part by the person who is the breeder or one of the breeders of record.  Dogs entered in this class must be handled in the class by the breeder/owner of the dog.

The American-bred Class is for all dogs (except champions) six months of age and over, whelped in the United States of America, by reason of a mating which took place in the United States of America.
 

The Amateur Owner/Handler Class is for dogs handled by their registered owners, provided that they have never been AKC approved conformation judges, professional handlers, employed as an assistant to a professional handler.  In addition, members of the immediate family or household of a current professional handler are also ineligible for this class. .

The Open Class is for any dog six months of age or over, except in a member specialty club show held only for American-bred dogs, in which case the Open Class shall be only for American-bred dogs.

The Winners Class is divided by sex and is open only to undefeated dogs of the same sex which have won first prizes in the above classes.  There is no entry fee for competition in the Winners Class.  Winners Dog and Winners Bitch are the only dogs to earn points towards their championships.  After the Winners prize has been awarded in one of the sex divisions, the second prize winning dog, if undefeated except by the dog awarded Winners, shall compete with the other eligible dogs for Reserve Winners.  No eligible dog may be withheld from competition.  Winners Class shall be allowed only at shows where American-bred and Open Classes shall be given.

The dog and bitch who get Reserve Winners will be awarded the points for the show only if the Winners Dog or Bitch, respectively, is subsequently declared to have been ineligible to have been entered or to have been awarded points.  For example, if Winner's dog was entered in the wrong age class or was handled by someone who was not the breeder/owner in bred-by, the Reserve Winner would get the points.

A Club that provides Winners Classes shall also provide Competition for Best of Breed or Variety in those breeds for which varieties are provided. The awards in this competition shall be Best of Breed or Best of Variety of Breed.

The following categories of dogs may be entered for Best of Breed competition:

Dogs which are already Champions of Record.

Dogs which according to their owners' records have completed the requirements for a championship, but whose championships are unconfirmed may show in Best of Breed .  The showing of dogs whose championships are unconfirmed is limited to a period of 90 days from the date of show where a dog completed the requirements for a championship according to the owners' records.

In addition, the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch together with any undefeated dogs that have competed at the show only in additional non-regular classes shall compete for Best of Breed or Best of Variety of Breed.

In this competition, the judge selects for Best of Breed the dog who, in his or her opinion, comes closest to meeting the standard of the breed.  The dog of the other sex who the judge evaluates as the best example of the standard is awarded Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed.  Finally, the class dog or bitch which the judge believes best exemplifies the standard is awarded Best of Winners.

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How does a dog become an AKC Champion of Record?

To become a Champion, dogs must win points at an AKC approved point show.  Dogs are evaluated by judges who are licensed by the AKC to judge dogs in that breed.   The judge evaluates the dog against the Standard of Excellence for that breed.  The dog and bitch which, based on that judge's evaluation, come closest to the standard are awarded the points on that day.  Since judges' evaluations are not exactly alike, different dogs may get the points on different days under different judges. 

Points are usually earned in competition with other dogs of the same sex and dogs must be at least six months old to enter.  Points at each show are scaled in different regions of the country based on the number of dogs of the same sex competing, with from zero to 5 points awarded for a win.  If there is one other dog of the same sex defeated, the show is worth one point.  A win of three or more points is called a major.  A total of 15 points must be earned under three different judges to become a champion and at least two of the shows at which points are earned must majors won under different judges.

Thus a dog can finish his Championship in as few as three shows (five points each) or in 11 shows (two three-point majors and nine one-point shows) or may never finish if he can't win two majors or can only win under two judges.  Once a dog is a Champion of Record, he no longer competes for points, but may be entered in the Best of Breed competition.

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Each show catalogue prints the relevant rules in the front of the catalogue; the schedule of points for all breeds in the division in which the show is held are printed either in the front of the catalogue or under the class entries.  Even so, figuring out the points is an area which many, especially novices, find confusing.