AKC Conformation
The official term for “dog shows” is CONFORMATION — as in, the act of conforming or producing conformity. While a dog show may look like a beauty pageant, it’s not. Dogs are not being compared to each other; they’re being measured by how closely they conform to the standard of their particular breed. Why? Because the closer a dog’s appearance is to the breed’s standard, the better that dog’s ability will be to produce puppies that meet the standard. It’s also the reason why mixed breeds and spayed or neutered purebreds are ineligible to compete in conformation.
Eligibility:
Six months or older on the day of the show.
Recognized breed by the AKC.
Registered with the AKC.
NOT spayed or neutered.
No disqualifying faults, as stated by their breed’s parent organization.
In sound health and up-to-date on vaccinations.
The size of conformation events range from large All-Breed shows, to Group shows, to small local Specialty club shows that feature only one breed. Each dog is exhibited by its owner, breeder, or hired professional (handler). Most dogs compete for points toward their AKC championships. It takes 15 points to become an AKC “Champion of Record.” The maximum number of points awarded at an event is five. Males and females compete separately within their respective breeds.
Lastly, make sure to review the AKC Code of Sportsmanship to learn more about the core values of participants in AKC Sports and Events.
How Conformation Shows Work
All dogs that are competing for their Champion title are divided into Dogs (males) and Bitches (females) and then further entered into one of the following groups:
PUPPY 6 TO 9 MONTHS — For dogs between six and nine months of age, that are not yet champions.
PUPPY 9 TO 12 MONTHS — For dogs between nine to twelve months of age, that are not yet champions.
12 TO 18 MONTHS - For dogs between twelve to fifteen months of age, that are not yet champions.
AMERICAN BRED - For any dog of the breed, at least six months of age, whose parents were mated in America, and the dog was born in America.
AMATEUR-OWNER-HANDLER — For dogs that are at least six months of age that are not champions and are handled in the class by the registered owner. This class is restricted to exhibitors who have not, at any point in time, been a professional dog handler, AKC approved conformation judge, or employed as an assistant to a professional handler.
BRED BY EXHIBITOR - For dogs that are at least six months of age that not yet a champion, and the exhibitor is the breeder and the owner.
OPEN — For any dog of the breed, at least six months of age.
Dogs and bitches compete separately until the final Best of Breed competition.
Dogs competing in each class are judged and awarded 1st through 4th place ribbons. Each dog and bitch that is awarded a 1st place ribbon in their class then completes with the other first-in-class dogs. The dog and the bitch that defeats all the other dogs and bitches is awarded Winners Dog and Winners Bitch, respectively, and points toward their championship title (if points are available).
The Winners Dog and Winners Bitch then compete in the Best of Breed competition along with all the other Champions (regardless of sex at this point). The judge will then award the following prizes: Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog, Select Bitch, and Best of Winners. Grand Champion points (if available) are awarded to Champions earning Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog, and Select Bitch. Any crossover points may be awarded (if available) to the Best of Winners (of the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch).
The dog or bitch who received the Best of Breed ribbon moves on to one of the seven Group Shows. For Dalmatians, this is the Non-Sporting Group. The judge then awards 1st through 4th place ribbons.
The dog or bitch who receives the 1st place ribbon in each Group then moves to the final Best in Show competition. The judge then awards the Best in Show prize to the remaining undefeated dog or bitch and the Reserve Best in Show prize to the runner-up.
Points:
Points awarded toward a dog or bitch’s Championship title are awarded to the Winner Dog and Winner Bitch (if points are available).
Points awarded toward a dog or bitch’s Grand Championship title are awarded to titled Champions who received Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog, or Select Bitch (if points are available).
Championship points can be awarded to the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch (and the Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex, if won by a class dog/bitch) and points are determined by the number of dogs or bitches defeated per the AKC Conformation Schedule for the region in which the competition is held. Crossover points may then be available to the Best of Winners.
Grand Championship points are awarded to Champions who receive Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog, and Select Bitch and points are determined per the AKC Conformation Schedule for the region in which the competition is held. Points for Best of Breed are determined by total number of dogs and bitches defeated. Points for Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog, and Select Bitch are determined by total number of same-sex dog/bitch defeated.
No more than five points (and as few as zero) are awarded to any one dog per show. Reserve Winners Dog and Reserve Winners Bitch ribbons are chosen from all other class dogs and bitches - but no points are awarded. Any dog or bitch that was also competing in the Owner-Handler competition who receives the Owner-Handler-Best-of-Breed Ribbon (which may or may not be the Best of Breed winner) can move on to a Group Show and then potentially Best in Show for Owner-Handlers only. This is a separate competition and any dog/bitch winning both Best of Breed and Owner-Handler Best of Breed may participate in both competitions.
The Role of the Judge:
Judges examine the dogs, then give awards according to how closely each dog compares to the judge’s mental image of the “perfect” dog described in the breed’s official standard. The standard describes the characteristics that allow the breed to perform the function for which it was bred. These standards include specifications for structure, temperament and movement.
The judges are experts on the breeds they are judging. They examine each dog with their hands to see if the teeth, muscles, bones and coat texture conform to the breed’s standard. They view each dog in profile for overall balance, and watch each dog gait to see how all of those features fit together in action.
