The Dogs and Dog Food Recall News Blog

Novice Class: The Novice Class shall be for dogs six months of age and over which have not won three first prizes in the Novice Class, a first prize in Bred By Exhibitor or American Bred or Open Class nor one or more points towards championships. Only dogs whelped in the United States or Canada shall be eligible.

The two things about this class that confuse the novice exhibitor are: (1) Even if you are alone in your class and you win it, the dog has won a first prize; and (2) If he wins a Puppy Class and goes on to win Winners with one point, he is no longer eligible to compete in this class.

Bred by Exhibitor Class: This class shall be for all dogs (except Champions) six months of age and over, which are owned by that identical person (or persons) who was the breeder of record. Dogs entered in this class may be shown in the ring in this class only by an owner or member of his immediate family. Read this rule carefully if you have any intentions of exhibiting in this class.

Dog Show Terms: American Bred Class, Open Class, Winners Class

American Bred Class: This class shall be for all dogs (except Champions) six months of age and over, whelped in the United States, by reason of a mating which took place in the United States. If you import from Canada a bitch in whelp who whelps her puppies here, the puppies are not eligible to compete in this class, since they were not the result of a mating which took place in the United States.

Open Class: The Open Class shall be for any dog six months of age or over. Some people are under the impression that because their dog is a puppy he may not be entered in this class. This is not so. A puppy may be entered in any class for which he is eligible, and it is not true that a puppy must advance through the other classes before he may compete in the Open Class.

Winners Class: There is no entry fee in this class, and if your dog wins any one of the five regular classes he is automatically eligible to compete in this class.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Sponsored Entry: Frequently a Specialty Club will wish to sponsor the entry of its breed at an all-breed show and will offer additional prize money and/or trophies. This is usually in addition to the one or two specialty shows it runs in a year.

Best of Variety: In any breed with more than one recognized variety, the winner of that variety is called Best of Variety instead of Best of Breed. The breeds divided by height, such as the Beagle, or color, such as the Cocker Spaniel, or by coat, such as the Dachshund or Collie, are the only ones concerned with this term.

Each variety is treated as a breed when being judged, having all the regular classes and sending its Best of Variety into the group judging. The American Cocker Spaniel has three varieties - Black, Any Solid Color Other Than Black, and Particolored - and all three go into the group. The Dachshund has three varieties - Smooth, Wire-haired and Long-haired - and all three go into the group. It would be incorrect to say that the winner of any variety or division was the winner of the breed, we say he is the winner of Best of Variety.

Registration Certificate: All dogs shown at dog shows should be registered, and the registration certificate is a piece of paper issued to the owner of a dog, by the organization with which the dog has been registered, when the dog has actually been registered. On the certificate is listed all the pertinent information regarding the dog, such as name, number, date whelped, sire, dam, breeder, owner.

Pedigree: A pedigree is that paper usually given to the owner of a dog by the breeder. It gives the names of the sire and dam, the grandparents, great grandparents, and usually the great, great grandparents. A four-generation pedigree is to be expected when purchasing a purebred dog; however, many breeders issue a five or six-generation pedigree.

Owner: The owner of a dog is the one whose name (or names) appears on the registration certificate as owner, not necessarily the one in possession of a dog. It is possible to have more than one owner, but the names of all owners should appear on the registration certificate.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Sanctioned Match: A sanctioned match is an informal meeting at which purebred dogs may compete but not for championship points.  A sanctioned match may be held by any club or association whether or not a member of the American Kennel Club by obtaining the sanction of the American Kennel Club.

Point Show: A term used to designate a show where championship points are awarded.  Actually the correct term is all-breed show.  Since a match is also for all breeds if you said, “My dog won at an all-breed show,” you might be asked, “Point show or sanctioned match?”

Puppy Match: The correct term should be sanctioned match, but since a sanctioned match (several different plans are acceptable) is not limited to puppies, a puppy match is usually more of a social event where puppies are exhibited.  For instance: I have invited my friends in my breed to come to my home with a picnic lunch and their puppies and asked a friend in the breed to act as judge. This would be called a puppy match.

For more information on dog breeds and dog shows go to DogBreedLove.com

Popularity: 10% [?]