Dog Shows (Continued)

A dog must win at least two majors under two different judges and collect a total of 15 points to earn a Championship. The 'point schedule' of how many entries are required to make up 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 points, varies in different regions of the country and is reviewed (and possibly revised) by AKC each year.

You can check the current point schedule in your area by clicking on this link.

At the next level of competition, any Champions of Record that are entered (sometimes referred to as "Specials") along with Winners Dog and Winners Bitch compete for Best of Breed (BOB), Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed (BOS), and Best of Winners (BOW). At this level of competition, both sexes compete together.

Only the Winners Dog and Bitch can earn the Best of Winners award, but any of the individuals in the Best of Breed Class may win the BOB or BOS. Under certain circumstances, extra points may be earned by one of the 'Winners' by going BOW, BOS, or BOB.

The winner of Best of Breed is then eligible to show in the Group.

For many, this is where the competition really begins. There are seven Groups at a dog show: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. The Brittany is a member of the Sporting Group. Each Best of Breed winner from the individual breeds which make up the Group competes for Group I, II, III, and IV.

The dogs winning first place in each of the seven Groups then compete for Best in Show. In essence, the Best in Show dog has defeated every other dog entered in that particular show.

Above description summarizes “All Breed” shows. These are the type usually shown on television.

Additionally, there are independent "Specialty" shows in which only a single breed is considered. A Brittany club might sponsor an independent Brittany Specialty which proceeds as above except that there is no Group judging and the Best of Breed winner is known as BISS (Best in Specialty Show.) Some Brittany clubs also sponsor designated specialty shows in conjunction with an all breed show. Best of Breed winners at designated specialties go on to compete in the Groups for Best in Show just as in the All Breed shows.


Dog Shows (The Long Course)

For more on dog shows, visit the AKC website for details on the classes, how dogs are judged, how to get started in shows, and other information. http://www.akc.org/events/conform/