06/04/2025
Infographic for those of you thinking about dabbling in the show ring.
A lot of times I post show jargon that many don’t quite understand outside of that the dog(s) did well that day.
Here is a breakdown of how shows run.
When you enter a show, if your dog isn’t already a champion with the registry, you choose one of numerous classes to enter them in. There are additional classes for some breeds as well, dachshunds having additional classes for “open standard” and “open miniature”.
Dogs who are already champions (or higher) automatically go in to compete for best of breed (or in the case of dachshunds - best of variety, as dachshunds are a variety breed meaning though they are one breed, each coat type compete separate from each other. This also gives dachshunds three representations in the hound group)
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Dogs working toward their championship are referred to as “class” animals. So you have “class dogs” and “class b!tches”. (While it means female dog, Facebook is overly sensitive these days and spelling it correctly risks posts and comments being removed for name calling or something like that)
For a dog to earn its championship, they need to earn a total of 15 points and have at least 2 majors. A major is when a dog earns 3, 4 or 5 points. In AKC, 5 points is the max that can be earned in a day. How many points can be earned varies by “region”, determined by AKC and updated periodically to reflect the amount of competition each breed typically has within each region. You need X amount of dogs/b!tches present to win Y amount of points.
Dogs (males) show first. Starting with 6-9 month class and moving on from there. The winner of each of their classes then go back in together to compete for Winners. Winners is the first winning level which you can earn points from. Winners Dog (WD) earns points if there are enough other male dogs present and becomes the best of the class dogs. A reserve winner is also awarded, however they do not receive points (there are some breed specialties where they can earn points but for the most part they do not).
Repeat that process for class b!tches.
You now have the Winners Dog (WD) and the Winners B***h (WB).
Now that the class animals are out of the way, all of the champion and grand champion dogs enter the ring together (dogs first then b!tches), followed by the WD and WB.
At this level there are several wins up for grabs, all eligible for a variable number of points depending on the numbers of dogs entered:
Best of Breed/Variety (BOB/BOV) - winner above all in that breed or breed variety.
Best of Winners (BOW) - the best out of the WD and WB. (Depending on the number of points eligible in the one gender or other, going of BOW can provide a dog a “crossover” major, where they then earn additional points for essentially having also beaten all the dogs of the opposite gender)
Best of Opposite S*x (BOS) - the best dog of the opposite gender to the dog that went BOB/BOV.
Select (SEL) - an additional chance to win points/recognition for dogs who have already been championed/grand championed. One can be awarded for each gender.
*note that a judge can choose to withhold any ribbons if they feel there is a lack of merit.
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The BOB/BOV dog goes on to compete in groups. Groups and BIS do not earn points towards a dogs championship unless a class dog/b!tch goes BOB/BOV then goes on to receive a group 1st.
In groups, dogs compete to be placed 1st-4th. The Group 1st winners then go on to compete for Best in Show. The BIS dog being the winner overall, sometimes being the “last dog standing” of literally thousands of entries. Reserve Best in Show (RBIS) is the runner up.
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There are additional rankings for bragging rights that can be earned. Breed ranking, group ranking…
Akc also offers owner handlers another chance to win brags by offering National Owner Handled Series. A dog entered in the additional class of owner handled (when offered) gets chance to win Best of Breed/Variety Owner Handled. Winner of this award goes on to compete in owner handled groups. NOHS has its own rankings for bragging rights.
Diagram credit: https://www.onofrio.com/new_exhibitor.pdf
