The Road To Best of Breed

HOW DOES THIS ALL WORK?
The judge selects a winner (blue ribbon) from each class, and also 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place winner.
The Blue Ribbon winner from each class then competes after Open and before Best of Breed. There is a winners class from the dogs, and from the bitches.
**** It is from this class that the points are awarded. ***

There will be a "WINNER'S DOG" and "WINNER'S BITCH" chosen. The SECOND PLACE winner from the class from which the Winners Dog, or Winners Bitch, was chosen from, then goes into the ring, and all remaining dogs in the winners class including this second place winner, are judged and a "Reserve Winner" is chosen. Do not underestimate the “Reserve Win”. If for some reason the Winner loses their points, due to ineligibility, the Reserve Winner will then get the points.

POINTS: Every dog must earn 15 points to be awarded an AKC Championship. These points are awarded according to the number of dogs or bitches entered, for example, if only two dogs are entered, the winner selected by the judge to become “Winner’s dog” (If the judge does select a Winner, remember, it is up to the judge to determine if the dog is worthy of the points), than that dog will earn ONE POINT. However, if it is a “MAJOR WIN” again, this depends on the number of dogs entered, a MAJOR WIN is anything from three to five points) then the Winner’s Dog and the Winner’s Bitch will receive that number of points respectively.

There can never be more than five points awarded, regardless of the number of entries. The points do not come in the Championship ring, they are awarded from the “Class dogs” , as Winner’s dog or Winner’s Bitch.

The American Kennel Club determines each year how many dogs or bitches must be entered into a show in order for the points to be “major points”. This will be decided differently in different regions of the country, for example, in Florida, there may never be as many Newfoundlands entered as there might be in Michigan, a colder climate. Or in Alaska there may be fewer dogs of any breed entered simply because it is so far and so many miles between shows!

NOTE: should you have the good luck to take Winner's Dog or Winner's Bitch, (even if it is only one point) you should get your picture taken. There is alwasy a photographer at every dog show. This will be the official "SHOW PHOTOGRAPHER". They take the photos of the winners. You will hae to pay for the photo, (they will send you the proof and you send it back to them if you don't like it and it is a bad photo,) but it is in your best interest to get a photo. It is YOUR record of the win, should there be any question down the road. When you get your photo taken, remember it is the DOG"S picture that is important. So make sure he looks good. For a Thank you, you should order an extra picture and send it to the judge who put you up. This will make certain that the Judge remembers you another time...down the road.)

 The WINNER'S DOG and WINNER'S BITCH compete in the BEST OF BREED competition along with any champions already entered. They already have earned their points and there are no points gained from the Best Of Breed competition . From these dogs a BEST OF BREED will be chosen, and a BEST OF WINNERS and a BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX TO BEST OF BREED.
If the Winners Dog has taken a five point major, and the Winner’s Bitch happens to take “Best of Breed” OVER the dog and any Champions in the ring, the Winner’s Bitch would then also take the five point major! Even if her win was only worth perhaps two points. She doesn’t take it FROM the dog, he still keeps his five points, but she also gets them!

THE WINNER OF THE BEST OF BREED THEN GOES ON INTO THE GROUP

AND THE WINNER OF THE GROUP THEN GOES ON INTO BEST IN SHOW.....

SAY THAT AGAIN??? (NEXT PAGE, A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE)