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Dog show guide
Getting ready for a show At dog shows a dog should know how to walk properly - without pulling or playing around. He or she will also need to be able to stand in place - both on the table and on the ground - while the judge is examining and evaluating him or her. You should practise every day with your puppy how to walk on lead and to stand still. Puppies also need to get used to being touched by other people. When practising, you should always use the show lead so as to make the dog used to wearing it and to make him or her connect the lead with particular show behaviour. The training committee of the Finnish Basenji Club organizes ring training sessions in different parts of Finland. Try to attend the club's own ringcraft classes, as there you have a good opportunity to get good advice and help. You should try to stick to the advice you get, as they have been proved correct several times before. How to enter a dog show? You can find information about all the dog shows organized in Finland in the monthly magazine Koiramme (Our Dogs) published by the Finnish Kennel Club. A copy of your receipt of payment should be attached to the registration form - the receipt should indicate the breed and the official name of your dog, as well as the owner's name. A registration form sent without the receipt of payment, or a receipt without the registration form is not valid. Before you register your dog to a show, you should make sure that your dog has his or her vaccinations valid. For more detailed information on vaccination requirements you can look up a copy of the magazine Koiramme. The organizers of the dog show always check the vaccination certificate of each dog. There is no medical examination of each dog as such, but a veterinary examination is carried out as random tests. You should enter well in advance before the actual evaluation to give ample time for the vet to check your dog. Nowadays nearly all dog shows are so-called drive-in shows, which means that you should arrive at least one hour before the evaluation of your dog's breed has begun. You can also then leave immediately when the evaluation of your dog's class has ended. What to take along to a dog show What takes place at dog shows The ring steward calls all dogs of the same class into the the ring, all at the same time. The dogs stand in numerical order and the judge tries to form a general overview of the participants. This means that it is of advantage if the dog behaves well and shows off his best qualities. Next the judge will want to see how the dogs move, so he or she will ask the whole class to move around the ring a few times. The dog should always stay on the left side of the handler, meaning closer to the judge. The distance to the dog in front and behind should be retained long enough so as not to have the dogs disturb each other. If the dog in front slows down and makes it difficult for you to move well, you can pass them by, despite of the original order. The judge does the evaluation, one dog at a time, in the same numerical order. Smaller breeds, like basenjis, are often examined on a table. The handler should not speak to the judge, unless he or she is asked a direct question. Most often judges tend to ask the age of the dog. After this the judge will once again want to see the movements of the dog straight from the front, from the side, and from behind, which means that you should move your dog in a triangle and then to and fro. After this the dog should be stacked in front of the judge's table while the judge is dictating the evaluation to the ring steward. Each dog gets a written evaluation and a plastic ribbon, the colour of which indicates the placement. The ribbon should be attatched to the dog's leash and kept there for the remainder of the show. Quality evaluation A dog that receives EXC (ERI = EXCELLENT), which is a first prize with certificate quality - a pink ribbon - is regarded as having an excellent general quality. Its conformation is so good and its defects so minor that it is an excellent representative of the breed. A dog that receives VG (EH = VERY GOOD) a first prize - a red ribbon - has a very good general outline. The dog does not have so grave structural defects that it would not be a very good representative of the breed. A second prize G (H = GOOD) - a blue ribbon - is given to a dog whom the judge regards as good, and whose structural defects are not so grave that it would not be a good representative of the breed. A third prize S (T = SATISFACTORY) - a yellow ribbon - is given to a dog whose general quality is satisfactory, and whose structural defects are not so grave to make the dog an inferior representative of the breed. A zero DISQ (HYL = DISQUALIFIED) - a gray ribbon - is a disqualifying prize. A zero is given to a dog with grave defects in its type, structure or temperament. The dog can, for example, be of a wrong size, a wrong colour, aggressive or too shy. A brown ribbon CNJ (EVA = COULD NOT JUDGE) means that the dog cannot be judged at that particular moment. This prize can be given to a dog that has temporary problems with its conformation, movements or behaviour to such an extent that it cannot be judged at this show. The dog can, for example, limp or be unaccustomed to moving on lead, but still the dog should not have grave faults. Competition evaluation All dogs that have been awarded a pink or a red ribbon, first prizes in quality evaluation compete against each other in the competition class. All the rest of the dogs can leave the ring and collect their evaluation slips from the ring steward and call it for the day. In the competition class the judge places four best dogs who then get ribbons showing their placements. All the four placed dogs in all the different competition classes continue to compete in the Best Dog (PU) or Best Bitch (PN) classes, provided that they have received the pink ribbon in quality evaluation. A certificate - a white and blue ribbon - is awarded to the best dog and bitch that are entitled to receive them. Otherwise the prize is given to the next best placed dog. A dog needs three CCs to gain the title of Fin Ch (FIN MVA), all from three different judges. At least one of the CCs should be awarded after the dog is 24 months. At international shows the Best Dog and Best Bitch can also receive a CACIB - a white ribbon - which is an international CC. The second best dog can receive a reserve-CACIB - an orange ribbon. However, a dog needs to be at least 15 months old, meaning that a dog competing as a junior cannot receive a CACIB. The FCI always checks any CACIBs awarded, and it is only when they have officially granted the CACIB that it comes into force. To gain the title of International Champion, a dog will need four CACIBs in at least three different countries, under at least three different judges. At least one CACIB has to be received in the homecountry of the owner of the dog, or in the country in which the breed originates. Between the first and the last CACIB there must be a minimum time gap of one year and one day. Best of breed The best dog and the best bitch of the breed compete against each other for the title of Best of Breed. The winner is a BOB (ROP) and is given a red and yellow ribbon, whereas the second best is awarded the title of BOS (VSP). The BOB dog goes on to compete at the end of the show against all the other winners of his own group (basenjis compete in group 5). The winners of all groups (RYP-1) then compete against each other for the title of Best In Show. At dog shows the four best dogs are placed in order of superiority. Breeder groups (in all kind of shows) and progeny groups (only in Breed Specialties) In the breeder groups a breeder competes with four dogs he or she has bred. The dogs need to be of the same breed. In the progeny group a breeder competes with a dog or a bitch and four of the dog's offspring. In both classes the dogs presented need to be from at least two different litters and to have received a first prize at the show. In these two classes the judge only awards first prizes (quality evaluation). If the judge considers the group to be even and of high class, he or she can also award them with a prize of honour (KP). The judge will place the groups in order of superiority and after this the group that has received a prize of honour will take part in the competition for the BIS breeder and progeny classes. The various classes at a dog show Puppy class (PEK) 7 - 9 months The puppy class is an unofficial class and it is only organized at such shows where the show committee so wish. There is no quality evaluation in puppy classses, but there is only a competition assessment to dogs that are between 7 - 9 months. The best puppies of both sexes can also be awarded a prize of honour (KP). Junior class (JUN) 9 - 15 months This is a quality evaluation for dogs between 9 - 15 months. The competition class for juniors (JUK) is a competition evaluation for dogs that have been awarded a first prize in the junior class. Intermediate class (NUO) 15 - 24 months This is a quality evaluation for dogs that are over 15 months but under 24 months. The competition class (NUK) is for those dogs that have been awarded a first prize in the intermediate class. Open class (AVO) 15 months - This is a quality evaluation for dogs over 15 months. The competition class (AVK) for the open class is for dogs that have been awarded a first prize in the open class. Champion Class (VAL) To the dogs that are champions in their own countries. The Finnish Champions take automatically part in this class. The competition class (VAK) for the champion class is for dogs who have been awarded a firs prize in the champion class. Veteran class (VET) This is a quality evaluation for dogs that at the time of the show are at least eight years old. The competition class for veterans (VEK) is a competition class for dogs that have been awarded a first prize in the veteran class. The best veteran dog and bitch then take part in the best of breed veteran class if they have been awarded a pink ribbon in the competition class for veterans. The BOB veteran then goes on to compete in the BIS veteran ring. |