Conformation Show Information
Conformation shows are the beauty pageants of the dog world. Some of the more well known
shows are Krufts held in the UK, Westminster held in New York and the Eukanuba Championship shows
that are held across the country.
AKC holds thousands of dog shows every year. There are all breed dog shows where all of the
breeds are present and then there are specialty shows held just for a particular breed
(Labrador Retrievers) or group (Sporting Group).
There are professional handlers who have committed their life to training and exhibiting dogs
in the AKC show ring. These people make a very good living by traveling show to show in often
very large busses, RV’s or tractor trailer rigs. Their charge is normally $12-$14 per day
boarding for a day that they are not showing your dog and for each show they earn around
$85 - $150 for exhibiting your dog depending on the show. The extra expenses such as hotel
stays and gas are split equally among clients and depending on the breed there can be other
additional charges for grooming and larger wins such as group placements, at $150 - $400
additional, and best in show wins at $500 - $1000.
Labrador Retrievers are the most difficult breed to finish in AKC competition. To gain the
Championship on a very worthy dog, the cost can range from as little as $4000 or be as much
as $14000. The average being $8000 - $12000. The dog is normally gone at least four months
and up to 8 months. In the long run it is usually more economical to send a dog out with a
handler than to attempt to finish the Championship on your own.
Points are the only thing earned at dog shows and it takes a total of 15 points, including
two larger wins called majors, to gain the title. The classes are divided by sex and age and
some times color. All males (dogs) are show first and then all females (Bitches). Below is a example of a typical
Labrador entry at an all breed dog show and an explanation.
| Show Class |
Class Entry |
| Puppy Dog 6-9 Months |
2 |
| Puppy Dog 9-12 Months |
3 |
| 12 - 18 Months Dog |
5 |
| Bred by Exhibitor Dog |
3 |
| Novice Dog |
2 |
| American Bred Dog |
1 |
| Open Black Dog |
6 |
| Open Chocolate Dog |
2 |
| Open Yellow Dog |
5 |
| Winners Dog |
9 |
| Reserve Winners Dog |
9 |
| Puppy Bitch 6-9 Months |
1 |
| Puppy Bitch 9-12 Months |
0 |
| 12 - 18 Months Bitchs |
3 |
| Bred by Exhibitor Bitch |
2 |
| Novice Bitch |
1 |
| American Bred Bitch |
2 |
| Open Black Bitch |
4 |
| Open Chocolate Bitch |
3 |
| Open Yellow Bitch |
5 |
| Winners Bitch |
8 |
| Reserve Winners Bitch |
8 |
| Best of Breed |
3/1 |
| Best of Winners |
2 |
| Best of Opposite Sex |
- |
Each dog (male) class is shown one at a time and they award 1st through 4th place. After all of the dog
classes are shown they bring the winners of each class back into the ring (totaling 9).
From those class winners they choose Winners Dog and he is the only male that receives
points towards his Championship. Once he is awarded Winners Dog he exit’s the ring and the
dog that came in 2nd out of his same class enters the ring (still 9 in the ring) and a Reserve
Winners Dog is selected (runner up).
They then go through this exact procedure for all of the bitch classes and they award a Winners Bitch
and Reserve Winners Bitch in the same way.
Then the Best of Breed competition begins. Notice for the number of entries for Best of Breed I have given the numbers 3/1. This means that there are 3 dog (male) Champions and 1 bitch (female) Champion entered. Also the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch enter the ring.
From these 6 they choose the best looking dog or bitch of the day which is awarded Best of Breed.
Then they select Best of Winners between the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch.
Then they select Best of Opposite Sex and this can get a bit tricky.
Best of Opposite Sex has to be the opposite sex of the Best of Breed. If the Best of Breed is a dog then the Best of Opposite sex must be bitch. Since the only two females entered are the Winners Bitch and the Bitch Champion it will be one of those. Winners Bitch can also be awarded Best of Opposite Sex .
Remember, the only Labradors awarded Championship Points are the Winners Dog and the Winners Bitch.
The current point schedule in my area (Virginia/Division 3) is 1-2/2, 2-11/12, 3-19/22, 4-32/50, 5-55/94.
To understand this you only have to remember that the number of dogs is always before the number of bitch’s.
To earn 2 points towards your Championship a male needs an entry of 11 total non-champion dogs and a bitch needs and entry of 12 total non-champion bitch‘s. In this particular show the total number of dogs entered and present was 29 and the total number of bitch’s entered and present was 21. According to the point schedule this would be a 3 point win for the dog (a major) and a 2 point win for the bitch.
NOW, if the Winners Bitch beats the Winners Dog and takes Best of Winners she has “beaten” all of the other
dogs (males) entered and so also gets a 3 point major (called a cross over). Two three point major wins
(under two different judges) must be awarded as well as other single and double points equaling 15 to earn a Championship.
the AKC now offers a Grand Championship. To earn a Grand Championship (GCh) the dog/bitch must already be
a Champion, Be competing in the Best of Breed class and must earn 25 points with 3 major wins (worth 3 points). The
Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex are awarded points towards their GCh but judge can
also choose a "Select" dog or bitch who also earns points according to the same sex numbers they have beaten.
Every breed is classified into groups. The Labrador is in the Sporting Group, the Beagle is in the Hound Group, the Chihuahua is in the Toy Group and so on. Once all of the breeds are done being judged the Best of Breed winners go back in the ring to compete against the other Best of Breed winners in their Group. They award a Group 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
Once all of the Groups are done being judged the winner from each Group goes back in to compete for Best in Show.
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