By Stephanie TarloweBlock B

What are Dog Shows?

A sport in which purebred dogs show off their abilities

Conformation shows judge dogs on how well they fit breed standards, to evaluate breeding stock

Obedience shows test ability to obey commands, testing the dog's training and usefulness as a companion

Agility demonstrates a dog's versatility and agility

Types of Dog Shows or Trials

1) All-Breed: have 150 or more breeds competing in the same show

2) Specialty: have one specific breed or varieties of the same breed (such as Toy, Miniature, and Standard Poodles)

3) Group: feature one of the 7 groups

Conformation Shows

Sport for the purpose of evaluating breeding stock

Entry Requirements

Registered with the AKC

Older than 6 months Fit into offered classes Meet breed standards Be intact (not

spayed/neutered)

Levels of Competition(Divided by Gender)

Puppy: 6 to 12 months; not yet a champion Twelve-to-Eighteen Months: 12-18 months; not yet a

champion Novice: older than 6 months; have not yet won 3 1st prizes

in the class, 1st prize Bred by Exhibitor, American-bred, or Open Classes, nor 1 or more points toward championship

Bred-by-Exhibitor: the exhibitor is the breeder and owner; not yet a champion

American-Bred: parents mated in America; born in America; not yet a champion

Open: any dog at least 6 months old

To Become a Champion...

Win 15 points, including 2 majors A major is a win worth 3-5 points

Must be awarded by 3 different judges Number of points awarded at each show varies

The more dogs entered, the more points won

Maximum number of points per show is 5

Who's Who

Breeders breed puppies to have ideal conformation Owners buy the puppy they believe will do best in

the show ring Handlers/Exhibitors show the dogs in the ring Groomers prepare the dogs before the show Judges select the winning dogs

Winning Criteria

Teeth, muscles, bones, and coat texture best fit the breed standard

Demonstrate overall balance when viewed from profile

Well gaited 1st to 4th place is

awarded

Obedience Shows

Sport testing a dog's ability to obey commands

Eligibility

• Registered with the AKC

• Enrolled in an Indefinite Listing Privilege program (if spayed or neutered)

• Member of a Foundation Stock Service recorded breed, meeting all breed standards

• 6 months or older

Competition: Level One

• Novice: dogs are just getting started– Heel on Leash and Figure 8: demonstrate response to

handler– Heel Free: off leash– Stand for Examination: cooperate for veterinarian– Recall: handler gets immediate response– Long Sit (1 minute): control for visitors– Long Down (3 minutes): remains laying down

Level Two

• Open: more complicated, using both voice and signal commands– Heel Free and Figure 8: same as Novice (off leash)– Drop on Recall: can be lifesaving, giving handler control in

difficult situations– Retrieve on Flat: bring object back on level ground– Retrieve over High Jump: bring object back over a jump– Long Sit (3 minutes): longer than novice, handler out of sight– Long Down (5 minutes): must remain down

Level Three

• Utility: highest level of competition– Signal Exercise: shows response to commands without vocal

cues– Scent Discrimination: ability to find handler’s scent in a pile

of items– Directed Retrieve: follows directions to get a glove for the

handler– Moving Stand and Examination: must heel, stand, and stay as

the handler moves away; must remain in position for judge examination

– Directed Jumping: clear a jump indicated by handler

Qualifying Score

• Earns more than 50% of points for each exercise• Total of at least 170 points

– Perfect score is 200

Judges

• Determine if the handler and their dog executed the required exercises satisfactorily

– Envisions a perfect performance and scores the dog and handler off of that

Awards

• First– Blue

• Second– Red

• Third– Yellow

• Fourth– White

• Highest Dog in the Regular Classes– Blue and Gold

• Highest Combined Score in Open B and Utility– Blue and Green

Agility Shows

Sport demonstrating skill of dogs and handlers

teamwork in navigating obstacles

How it Works

• Handlers lead their off-leash dogs through a series of obstacles

• Timed event• Faults determined by judge

Eligibility

• Registered with with either– AKC– Indefinite Listing Privilege program

• One year or older• Spayed and neutered dogs are allowed to compete

Level One

• Novice: dogs new to agility– 13-15 obstacles in each course

• Only 6 weave poles

– Goal: perform obstacles with minimal handling technique

– One point faults

Level Two

• Open: dogs who completed the Novice level– 16-18 obstacles in each course

• Up to 12 weave poles

– Goal: complete more difficult obstacles with more handling skill required

– Two point faults

Level Three

• Excellent: dogs that completed the Open level– 18-20 obstacles in each course

• Up to 12 weave poles

– Goal: provide opportunity to show off skills of both handler and dog

• Move quickly and efficiently with great teamwork

– Excellent B level allows competitors to win the title of Master Agility Champion

– Three point faults

Classes, Divided by Dog Height

• Standard– Includes contact obstacles

• Must place one paw in the yellow contact zone to avoid a fault

• Jumpers with Weaves– No contact obstacles

• Faster pace

Judges

• Meet with exhibitors to explain review rules

• Announce expected time for course

• Determine faults during competition

• Awards prizes

Faults

• Each second over Standard Course Time

• Taking an obstacle in the wrong order

• Missing a contact zone

• Displacing a bar/panel on a jump

• Jumping off the pause table before the judge is through counting

• Running around/refusing the next obstacle

• Touching either the dog or any obstacle by the handler while running the course

• Outside assistance

• Handler failure to control a dog

Jump Heights

• 8” Class: dogs up to 10” at the shoulder

• 12” Class: dogs 10-14” at the shoulder

• 16” Class: dogs 14-18” at the shoulder

• 20” Class: dogs 18-22” at the shoulder

• 24” Class: dogs over 22” at the shoulder

Jump Heights for Preferred Classes

• (With lower jump heights and longer course times)

• 4” Class: dogs up to 10” at the shoulder

• 8” Class: dogs 10-14” at the shoulder

• 12” Class: dogs 14-18” at the shoulder

• 16” Class: dogs 18-22” at the shoulder

• 20” Class: dogs over 22” at the shoulder

Obstacles• Dog Walk

• A-Frame

• Seesaw

• Pause Table

• Weave Poles

• Open Tunnel

• Closed Tunnel

• Bar, Double Bar, Panel, Tire, Broad, Triple Bar, and One Bar Jumps

Awards

• First Place

– Blue

• Second Place

– Red

• Third Place

– Yellow

• Fourth Place

– White

• Qualifying Score (“Leg”)

– Green