BEST OF BREED CLASSES
HOW JUDGING WORKS
TERMINOLOGY
BEST OF BREED CLASSES
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a Champions-only competition. To become an AKC Champion, a dog must win a total of 15 points at AKC-sanctioned dog shows. Accumulating these points may require exhibiting at several dog shows. All Champions will be entered in the Best of Breed competition at Westminster in its corresponding breed or variety.
In the Best of Breed competition, the following awards are made by the judge:
Best of Breed( BOB) or Best of Variety( BOV): Awarded to the dog that best exemplifies the breed standard. The winner advances to the Group competition.
Best of Opposite Sex( BOS): Given to the best dog of the opposite sex of the Best of Breed winner.
Select Dog / Select Bitch( SEL): Additional honors that are awarded to outstanding dogs not chosen as Best of Breed or Best of Opposite.
Awards of Merit( AOM): At the judge’ s discretion, Awards of Merit may be given to recognize the quality of outstanding entries that are not judged to be either BOB / BOV, BOS, or SEL.
Grand Championship Points( GCH): Wins at Westminster awarded by the breed judge will earn points toward the AKC’ s Grand Championship title.
HOW JUDGING WORKS
Competition at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show consists of three levels: the Breed competition, the Group competition, and Best in Show. At each level, the judge selects winners based on how closely they think the dog meets the breed’ s written standard.
At Westminster, the first level of competition is in the Best of Breed or Best of Variety competition. There, one judge officiates over an entry that consists of dogs of only one breed or variety. The entry may be only one dog or more than 50 dogs. The judge selects their winners( BOB or BOV, BOS, SEL, and AOM), and the BOB( or BOV) winner advances to the next level of competition, the Group.
Currently, 214 breeds and varieties are recognized by the American Kennel Club, which are divided into seven groups: Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding, Sporting, Working, and Terrier. Each Group judge examines all the dogs and chooses four placements, first through fourth, with only the Group winner advancing. The seven group winners advance to the final round of the competition— Best in Show.
In the Best in Show competition, the judge examines all seven finalists, first naming the Reserve Best in Show winner and then revealing their selection for the ultimate prize, Best in Show.
TERMINOLOGY
All Rounder: Someone licensed by the AKC to judge every breed and variety, which numbers 214. Breed Type: The manifestation of those unique traits and characteristics of a dog that distinguish it as a particular breed. Breeder: The owner of the dam( mother) when she was bred to produce a dog. Breeder-Judge: Someone licensed by the AKC to judge dogs of their breed. Breeder-Owner-Handler: Someone who bred, owns, and handles a dog. Conformation: The structure and physical characteristics of a dog.
Gait: The action of movement of the dog. Generally speaking, a sound and balanced gait usually indicates proper conformation and structure.
Owner-Handler: Someone who handles a dog that they also own. Judge: Someone licensed by the AKC to judge dogs. Professional Handler: Someone who handles a dog for a fee. Stack: The pose itself in its natural stance or the posing of the dog by a handler.
Variety: A division of a breed based on coat, color, or size. For example, Poodles( size: Standard, Miniature, Toy), Cocker Spaniels( color: Black, Parti-Color, ASCOB), and Collies( coat: Rough, Smooth).
WESTMINSTER. There’ s only one ® 19