Dog show

Last updated
Handlers set up their dogs for judging so that their stance is perfect when the judge views them; this is known as hand stacking English-Springer-Spaniel show.jpg
Handlers set up their dogs for judging so that their stance is perfect when the judge views them; this is known as hand stacking

A dog show is an animal show, an event where dogs are exhibited. A conformation show, also referred to as a breed show , is a kind of dog show in which a judge, familiar with a specific dog breed, evaluates individual purebred dogs for how well the dogs conform to the established breed type for their breed, as described in a breed's individual breed standard. [1]

Contents

Dog shows can be in the means of evaluating dogs for breeding purposes. A conformation championship from a recognised national kennel club is generally considered as an indication of merit. Many breeders consider championships a prerequisite for breeding. Some critics argue that the shows can encourage selective breeding of traits and lower genetic diversity.

The first modern conformation dog show was held in Newcastle Town Hall in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, in June 1859. [2]

Judging

A handler prepares a Silky Terrier to be presented Pinkdaniel200.jpg
A handler prepares a Silky Terrier to be presented

A conformation dog show is not a comparison of one dog to another but a comparison of each dog to a judge's mental image of the ideal breed type as outlined in the individual breed's breed standard. Dog show judges attempt to identify dogs who epitomise the published standards for each breed. Some judgments must be subjective. As an example, what exactly entails a "full coat" or a "cheerful attitude", descriptions found in breed standards, can be learned different.

Judges are generally certified to judge one or several breeds, usually in the same group, but a few "all-breed" judges can judge a large number of breeds.[ citation needed ]

Winning

Dogs compete at dog shows to earn points or certification towards championship titles.

The Kennel Club (UK) system, which is also used by the Australian National Kennel Council [3] and in other countries, is considered the most difficult to earn a title under.

Fédération Cynologique Internationale sponsors international shows that differ from other shows in that dogs first receive individual written descriptions of positive and negative qualities from the judge, and only dogs with high ratings go on to compete against other dogs in the class. A dog must receive four international Certificat d'Aptitude au Championnat International de Beauté (CACIB) to qualify for a championship; one must be won in the dog's own country, and at least two in other countries under at least three different judges. [4]

United Kingdom

The Kennel Club also operates a separate show open only to mixed-breeds, Scruffts, which judges its contestants on character, health, and temperament with people and other dogs.

United States

There are seven classes per breed in American Kennel Club dog shows: [5]

  1. Puppy (sometimes divided between 6–9 months and 9–12 months)
  2. Twelve-To-Eighteen Months (those that fall in this age range are eligible)
  3. Novice (dogs over six months old are eligible as long as they have not won any points yet, have not yet won three first place prizes in this class, and have not won first prizes in the Bred-By-Exhibitor, American-bred or Open classes)
  4. Amateur Owner Handler (where the owner is exhibiting the dog and has not received funds for showing any other dog)
  5. Bred-By-Exhibitor (where the person handling the dog is an owner and breeder of record.)
  6. American-Bred (This class is reserved for dogs conceived in the U.S.)
  7. Open (Any dog that is over six months old can enter into this class. Champions are not allowed in any of the other classes and are only permitted to enter this class, although in most cases they skip the class competition entirely and are entered directly in Best of Breed.)

The American-Bred and Open classes are mandatory for each show, while the others are optional. [6] In some cases, one or more of these classes may be divided by color, height, weight, or coat type. A dog can earn extra points during these awards, depending on the number of dogs of its sex and the Champions that were competing against it. [7]

In the American Kennel Club, a dog needs 15 points to become a Champion, with each win gaining anywhere from zero to five points depending on the number of dogs competing and the area where the show is held. [8] At least two wins must be a set of three or more points ("majors") under two different judges; at least one additional win under a third judge is also required.

The rules for the United Kennel Club (UKC) use a different points system. A championship requires a combination of points and competition wins. Points are awarded at breed level for each win; for example, winning the class earns 10 points in non-variety breeds and 5 in variety breeds, even if there are no other dogs to beat in the class. Competition Wins are wins over at least one other dog, whether in their own breed (such as going Best Fe/male or Best of Winners) or higher level (placing above at least one other dog in the group or Best/Reserve Best in Multi-Breed show). A championship requires a total of 100 points and three competition wins. [9]

Canada

Canadian Kennel Club shows are nearly identical to American Kennel Club dog shows, with the exception of a "Canadian-Bred" class replacing the AKC's "American-Bred". The main difference is the number of points required for a Championship, and the way those points are calculated.

Under the Canadian Kennel Club rules, 10 points are needed for a Championship, with wins awarded by at least three different judges and at least one "major" win of two or more points. Once a Championship is completed, dogs may earn points toward their Grand Championship.

As of January 1, 2013, to reach a Grand Championship, 20 points are needed with two "majors". Next is the Grand Excellent Championship which may be awarded to dogs who accumulate 100 points and have won at least one Best in the show. Region is not a factor in determining points for a win in Canada—the point schedule is the same across the country. [10]

Colombia

In Colombia, dog shows are maintained and organised by the Association Colombian Kennel Club (Asociacion Club Canino Colombiano). Their conformation shows follow the rules of the International Federation of Kennel Clubs. (Fédération Cynologique Internationale). According to the ACCC, only purebred dogs recognised by the FCI are allowed to participate. Purebreds of Colombian origin must be registered with the ACCC, and therefore they must hold an LOC number (Number in the Colombian Book of Origins). [11]

Notable dog shows

Judging at the 2019 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Crufts

In the United Kingdom, the international championship show Crufts was first held in 1891. Since its centenary year in 1991, the show has officially been recognised as the world's largest and most prestigious dog show by Guinness World Records , with a total of 22,991 dogs being exhibited that year. [12] 22,964 dogs were exhibited in 2008, 27 short of the previous record. [13]

World Dog Show

The World Dog Show is sponsored by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale for international championships in conformation and other dog sports. The location rotates between member countries. [14] The 2008 show was held in Stockholm, Sweden; the 2009 show in Bratislava, Slovakia; and the 2010 show in Herning, Denmark. [15]

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is an all-breed conformation show, historically held in the New York City area. It is one of a handful of benched shows in the United States.

It is often compared to the World Dog Show; the World Dog Show is considered a bit more valuable reputation-wise. [16]

Criticism

Some critics state that conformation shows lead to the selection of breeding dogs based solely upon appearance, which is seen by some as detrimental to working qualities and, at worst, as a promotion of eugenics. [17] The shows have been criticized for encouraging breeding of traits that are harmful to the dogs; for example, the Pekingese dog who won at Britain's most prestigious dog show in 2003 had to be photographed while lying on an icepack after winning the show because the dog could not breathe well enough to efficiently cool his own overheated body. [18] Breeding selective traits reduces genetic diversity, which can create some health problems in dogs. [18]

In the United States, some working dog breed organisations, such as the American Border Collie Association and the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America, have tried to fight to keep their breeds from being recognised by the AKC and some other kennel clubs, [19] as they thought that the introduction of their breeds to the show ring would lead to decreasing numbers of working dogs with adequate qualities.

In August 2008, BBC1 televised a documentary film titled Pedigree Dogs Exposed , which investigated the subject of health issues affecting pedigree dogs in the United Kingdom, with a particular emphasis on dogs bred for showing. The programme provoked criticisms of kennel clubs. Following the broadcast, the BBC withdrew its television coverage of the Crufts dog show from 2009, with other sponsors and partners also withdrawing support, including Pedigree Petfoods, the RSPCA, PDSA and the Dog's Trust. In response to the programme, the Kennel Club in the UK announced a review of all breed standards. They stated that they will impose a ban on breeding between dogs that are closely related and will impose greater monitoring to prevent unhealthy dogs from being entered.[ citation needed ]

Bench show

A bench show is a show which requires dogs to be on display in an assigned location (show bench) during the entirety of the show, except when being shown in the ring, groomed for showing, or taken outside to eliminate. The purpose is for spectators and breeders to have an opportunity to see all the entered dogs. In the more common unbenched shows, dogs are required to be present only at assigned ring times. [20]

In the United States, benched shows used to be the norm, but now there are only six left, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, [21] and the National Dog Show. [22]

Among field trial participants, where dogs are judged on their performance and not their looks, the term bench show refers to any conformation show. [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whippet</span> British breed of dog

The Whippet is a British breed of medium-sized dog of the sighthound type, related to the larger Greyhound and the smaller Italian Greyhound. Aside from size differences, the Whippet closely resembles these two breeds and is sometimes referred to as the "miniature Greyhound" or, colloquially, as "the poor man's racehorse." The breed is commonly kept as a companion dog, for competitive showing, and for amateur racing. Additionally, Whippets participate in various dog sports, including lure coursing, agility, and flyball. Known for its remarkable speed, the Whippet holds the title for the fastest running speed within its weight and size range, and is believed to have the fastest idle-to-running acceleration of any dog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dog breed</span> Group of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs

A dog breed is a particular type of dog that was purposefully bred by humans to perform specific tasks, such as herding, hunting, and guarding. Dogs are the most variable mammal on Earth, with artificial selection producing upward of 360 globally recognized breeds. These breeds possess distinct traits related to morphology, which include body size and shape, tail phenotype, fur type, etc, but are only one species of dog. Their behavioral traits include guarding, herding, and hunting, and personality traits such as hyper-social behavior, boldness, and aggression. Most breeds were derived from small numbers of founders within the last 200 years. As a result of their adaptability to many environments and breedability for human needs, today dogs are the most abundant carnivore species and are dispersed around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Kennel Club</span> American purebreed dog registry

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. In addition to maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official forming of the AKC, the National Dog Show and the AKC National Championship. The AKC is a non-member partner with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The AKC recognizes 200 dog breeds, as of 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staffordshire Bull Terrier</span> British breed of dog

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier, also called the Staffy or Stafford, is a purebred dog of small to medium size in the terrier group that originated in the northern parts of Birmingham and in the Black Country of Staffordshire, for which it is named. They descended from 19th-century bull terriers that were developed by crossing bulldogs with various terriers to create a generic type of dog generally known as bull and terriers. Staffords share the same ancestry with the modern Bull Terrier, although the two breeds developed along independent lines, and do not resemble each other. Modern Staffords more closely resemble the old type of bull terrier, and were first recognised as a purebred dog breed by The Kennel Club of Great Britain in 1935.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papillon dog</span> Dog breed

The Papillon, also called the Continental Toy Spaniel, is a breed of dog, of the spaniel type. One of the oldest of the toy spaniels, it derives its name from its characteristic butterfly-like look of the long and fringed hair on the ears. A Papillon with dropped ears is called a Phalene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fédération Cynologique Internationale</span> International federation of kennel clubs based in Thuin, Belgium.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale is the largest international federation of national kennel clubs and purebred registries. The FCI is based in Thuin, Belgium and has 98 members and contract partners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crufts</span> International canine event held annually in the United Kingdom

Crufts is an international dog show held annually in the United Kingdom, held since 1891, and organised by The Kennel Club. It is the largest show of its kind in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese Terrier</span> Dog breed

The Japanese Terrier is a small terrier native to Japan. It is believed to be descended from the progeny of fox terrier types, pointers and indigenous Japanese dogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Kennel Club</span> Kennel club in the United States

The United Kennel Club (UKC) is a kennel club founded in 1898 in the United States. In contrast with the American Kennel Club, which is non-profit and which only clubs can join, the United Kennel Club is a profit-making corporation, open to individuals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kennel club</span> Organization working with dog breeding

A kennel club is an organization for canine affairs that concerns itself with the breeding, showing and promotion of more than one breed of dog. Kennel clubs became popular in the mid 19th century. All-encompassing kennel clubs are also referred to as 'all-breed clubs', although "all" means only those breeds that they have decided to recognize, and "breed" means purebred dogs, not including dog hybrids and crossbreeds or mixed-breed dogs. A club that handles only one breed is known as a breed club.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is an all-breed conformation show, held annually in the New York metropolitan area.

A breed registry, also known as a herdbook, studbook or register, in animal husbandry, the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders while they are young. The terms studbook and register are also used to refer to lists of male animals "standing at stud", that is, those animals actively breeding, as opposed to every known specimen of that breed. Such registries usually issue certificates for each recorded animal, called a pedigree, pedigreed animal documentation, or most commonly, an animal's "papers". Registration papers may consist of a simple certificate or a listing of ancestors in the animal's background, sometimes with a chart showing the lineage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japan Kennel Club</span>

The Japan Kennel Club (ジャパンケネルクラブ) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Championship (dog)</span> Dog award

Championships are awarded to dogs who have passed through a process of selection at dog shows. Traditionally, a championship was received at a conformation show, but championships are now offered for dogs who have attained a high degree of perfection in other dog sports as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian Toy</span> Dog breed

The Russian Toy is a very small breed of dog originally bred in Russia from the English Toy Terrier. There are two types of coats in the breed: smooth coat and long coat. The smooth-coated variety was previously known as the Russian Toy Terrier and long-coated as the Moscow Long-Haired Toy Terrier. Both were brought together under the same Russian Toy Terrier name in 1988 and the "Terrier" was dropped from the name when the breed was added in 2006 to the official list of breeds registered with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The breed has been registered in the Foundation Stock Service of the American Kennel Club (AKC) since 2008, and has been allowed to compete in AKC companion events since 2010. The first official breed standard of the two varieties was written in 1966 in Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Société Centrale Canine</span>

The Société centrale canine, officially the Société Centrale Canine pour l'Amélioration des Races de Chiens en France and abbreviated SCC, is a French kennel club founded in 1881. It is made up of regional clubs and breed clubs, and coordinates and regulates activities and connections between governmental groups and dog clubs, as well as activities through the Fédération cynologique internationale, where it was one of the original five founding member organizations in 1911.

The Kennel Club of India is a registry of purebred dogs in India. As well as maintaining a registry of pedigrees, the club promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including annual dog shows and specialty shows. The Kennel Club of India is a member of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice</span> Canadian dog

Ch. Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, also known as Charmin, was a male Sealyham Terrier who was the Best in Show at the American Kennel Club National Championship in 2007, World Dog Show in 2008, and Crufts in 2009. He also won the Terrier Group at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in 2008.

Ch. Fiacre's First and Foremost, also known as Fiona, is a Dalmatian bred to have low levels of uric acid. She is registered to the United Kennel Club Dalmatian Breed Club in America and was registered with the American Kennel Club in 2011, when LUA Dalmatians were granted entry into the AKC. She became the first low uric acid Dalmatian to compete at Crufts in the United Kingdom in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miniature American Shepherd</span> Dog breed

The Miniature American Shepherd, frequently abbreviated MAS, is a small herding dog breed. The MAS is highly intelligent and biddable. The breed is often trained for dog sports such as herding, agility, obedience, canine freestyle, flyball, and others. The Miniature American Shepherd was recognised by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 2015 and is the club's 186th breed. In September 2019, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) officially accepted the breed.

References

  1. ↑ "Dog show | Description & History | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-01-03. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  2. ↑ "History of the Kennel Club". Kennel Club. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  3. ↑ "Regulations Part 5 Show" (PDF). Australian National Kennel Council. October 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Regulations". Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Rules, Regulations & Policies". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "A Beginner's Guide to Dog Shows". American Kennel Club. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  7. ↑ American Kennel Club. "Counting Points at Dog Shows".
  8. ↑ American Kennel Club. "Points Schedule".
  9. ↑ New FAQ Archived April 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Canadian Kennel Club. "Championship Points Earned at Canadian Dog Shows". Archived from the original on 2006-09-09. Retrieved 2006-09-22.
  11. ↑ "Reglamento de Exposiciones – ACCC" [Show Regulations – ACCC] (in Spanish). Asociación Club Canino Colombiano. March 2011. Archived from the original on 2003-08-12. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Crufts – Highest Entry For Three Years". Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  13. ↑ "Pooches parade for Crufts". 2008-05-03. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  14. ↑ "Championships". Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  15. ↑ "World Dog Show 2010". World Dog Show 2010. Archived from the original on September 1, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  16. ↑ Gingold, Alfred (8 February 2005). Dog World: And the Humans Who Live There. Harmony/Rodale. ISBN   9780767920216.
  17. ↑ Westminster Eugenics Show Archived 2009-07-31 at the Wayback Machine National Review Online
  18. 1 2 Keith, Christie (2009-02-03). "Are dog shows hurting dogs?". SFGATE. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  19. ↑ "Jack Russell Terrier Club of America – JRTCA". Jack Russell Terrier Club of America. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  20. ↑ "What is a Benched Show?". westminsterkc.tripod.com.
  21. ↑ Reznik, Allan (March 6, 2019). "Engaging Positively With the Public at Dog Shows". American Kennel Club.
  22. ↑ "Judging". The National Dog Show.
  23. ↑ "About Bench Shows – Show Format". AKC Coonhounds.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.