What exactly is a "dog show"?
“Dog show” can actually refer to many different
canine events. Because of the propose of our club, this
page addresses AKC conformation shows, where
a dog is judged on how s/he conforms to their breed's
standard. This is the type of show like the Westminster
Dog Show, as seen on TV.
Other kinds of shows include obedience, agility, herding,
tracking, carting, lure coursing, weight pulling and
more. For more information on various types of canine
sporting events, visit AKC
dog events .
Conformation shows can be further divided by type -
some are all-breed, where any AKC recognized breed can
exhibit, and others are specialized by one breed or
a group of breeds.
The Central Iowa Kennel Club hosts two all-breed (conformation)
dog shows in January each year. They are back-to-back,
one on Saturday and a whole new show on Sunday. More
information about our show.
Can spectators attend?
Yes! Spectators are welcomed and encouraged. For the
vast majority of dog shows, there are no tickets to
order. Admission fees vary by show, the cost for spectators
at the CIKC show is $2/adult. For some shows, there
will be a charge for parking as well.
Please read about spectator
etiquette.
Will there be puppies for sale at the show?
No. However, a show is a great opportunity to learn
about and meet different breeds, as well as make connections
with breeders.
Not every breeder at a show is responsible and not
every dog there should be bred. Anyone can enter a dog
show and any AKC registered dog, 
without
a disqualifying fault, can be shown.
Note: The AKC cannot guarantee health or quality
of the dogs in its registry, so being "AKC registered"
does not denote quality.
Showing is one piece of the breeding puzzle, health
and temperament are as just as important as conformation.
Not all breeders are created equal. Buyers are
encouraged to do their research and take their time
making a decision. A great starting point is
this
article about finding a responsible breeder.
Can I bring my dog?
No, non-entered dogs should be left at home.
Can
I bring my camera? Are pictures allowed?
Yes. Most owners are happy to have their dog photographed,
even assisting by trying get the dog to cooperate. If
the situation allows, try to ask permission first.
You may take pictures of the dogs in the ring, however
flash should be avoided as to limit distractions for
the exhibitors, dogs and judge.
How can I find dates and locations of shows in my area?
Infodog
is a great resource for finding shows. Just click your
state and you'll find all sorts of dog sports listed.
To attend a conformation show, look for an All-Breed
show or a Specialty show of the breed in which you are
interested.
All-breed shows run all day and you can attend any
part you would like. If you have a specific breed you
wish to see, check the judging program
before you leave home so you don't miss them. Many things
are happening simultaneously at a show. There are multiple
rings, each with their own judge.
Most shows only last one day, although multiple shows
are often clustered at one location over a span of 2-4
days. Each day is a separate show.
Why do people show their dogs? What do they win?
Showing
is an expensive hobby, not a money-making venture. It’s
a fun way to meet people with similar interests, participate
in a sport with your dog and gain unbiased opinions
about a dog’s breeding potential (although not
all people that show breed their dogs).
Mostly, all that an exhibitor will win is a small ribbon.
For some wins, a trophy or dog related item is offered.
Cash prizes are occasionally offered for big wins, however
these cash prizes do not offset the money spent to show
a dog. In general, prizes won do not come close to the
expense of showing when one figures entry fees, traveling
& equipment expenses and all other expenses that
go along with showing a dog.
What goes on in the ring? What is the judge looking
for?
At a conformation show, judges are looking to see how
closely the dogs conform to their breed
standard. They examine ("go over") each
dog with their hands to see if the teeth, muscles, bones
and coat texture 
conform
to the breed standard. They view each dog in profile
for overall balance, and watch each dog gait (move)
to see how all of those features fit together in action.
Most show dogs are competing for points towards
their championship. Points are awarded based on the
number of dogs defeated at a show. The larger the entry,
the greater the number of points can be won.
The most points that can be won on one day is 5. Points
are based on a scale and it varies by breed, gender
and geographical location. For instance, in one breed,
it might take 20 dogs to make a 3-point win, while in
another breed it might only take 7 dogs to earn that
same three points. AKC reevaluates point scales every
year.
It takes 15 points to obtain a championship, including
two majors (wins of three, four or five points) awarded
by at least three different judges, to become an American
Kennel Club "Champion of Record."
For each breed, there is only one male (males
are called "Dogs") and one female
(females are called "Bitches") that can win
points towards their championship that day. Dogs and
bitches are judged separately in their classes.
There are various classes in which dogs/bitches can
entered. All the Dog classes for a particular breed
are judged, with the class winners all coming back into
the ring to compete for Winners Dog (WD) and Reserve
Winners Dog (RWD). After that, all the bitch classes
are judged and Winners Bitch (WB) and Reserve Winners
Bitch (RWB) are selected.
After WD/WB have been selected, there is a final competition
within the breed for the Best of Breed (BOB) Winner.
For BOB, both WD and WB come back into the ring. There
will also be dogs that are already champions (called
"Specials"). Specials do not enter the ring
until BOB judging, as they are not competing for points
towards their championship, rather they are competing
for a ranking style "point".
During the BOB judging, the judge will award one dog
the BOB ribbon. At the same time, the judge will select
"Best of Winners", which is solely a competition
between WD and WB. The judge also selects a "Best
of Opposite Sex" winner. If a female goes BOB,
the judge will select the best male; if a male goes
BOB, the judge will then select the best female.
All dogs within the breed are now done showing, with
the exception of the one Best of Breed winner. The BOB
for each breed will go on to compete in their respective
Group. In the AKC, there are seven different groups
- Sporting, Non-Sporting, Herding, Working, Terrier,
Toy and Hound.
The winner of each group then goes on to compete for
Best In Show. Shows are a process of elimination, that
whittles all the dogs entered down to one Best In Show
winner at the end of the day. Along the way, there is
one dog (male) and one bitch (female) in each breed
that had the opportunity to win points towards their
championship. 
Once a dog has been beaten, they are usually done for
the day. At the typical (unbenched) dog show, exhibitors
are not required to stay at the show once their dog
is done being shown. If you are hoping to watch a particular
breed, check out a judging
program before leaving for the show.
Read the AKC's "Beginners'
Guide to Dog Shows" for additional details of how
the show process works.
How can I get involved in showing?
A good first step is joining a club. Learn first hand
about dog 
shows,
gain valuable contacts and earn peer respect by assisting
with club needs. This may also help decide if this is
a hobby for you.
It is advantageous to join a club and become involved
before purchasing a show potential dog, as your experience
and contacts will lend to a more educated purchasing
decision.
Although there are various types of clubs, for someone
looking to start showing in conformation, a breed or
all-breed club would be a good choice. AKC’s website
has a club
search to help you find the right club.
Visit CIKC's
Newbie Page or AKC's
New Exhibitor corner for more details.
