Does anyone know the thinking behind the Special Puppy class which goes up to 14 months and the Special Junior class which goes up to the normal 18 months ie what makes the Spec Jnr class Special???

At normal shows Puppy would be 6 - 12 months and Junior 6 - 18 months.

As no dog can be qualified to be at Crufts under 9 months the classes have to be special.

They changed to the 14 months with the puppy so that it would have dogs of more than just a 3 months spread in age, giving 5 months age range.

Brainless has told you why but the reason it is called Special is to alert exhibitors that it is not the usual and expected qualification rules.

It is the same thing with Yearling you will sometimes see (particularly at Open Shows) Special Yearling this is because the Yearling class at Champ shows is 12 to 24 months and at Open shows it is 6 to 18 or 24 months it is therefore not the expected and as authorised and is labelled Special.