Hi All,

I am new in the UK dog showing world; has been reading the rules & regulations over & over again but the picture is still not clear so far + I don't have a breeder here to help. Would be most grateful for your help. :)

So far I've at least realized that you need 3 CC's under different judges to become a champion and in order to receive a CC you need to become BOB at a championship show, right? Or just winning you class would be sufficient?

In order to qualify for Crufts you just need to come 1st, 2nd or 3rd once at a championship show, right?

And what do you need to do to get yourself on the stud book registry (can bitches be added there?) and why is it good to be added to the stud book?

Also I am still missing the point of the Open shows and First Prizes, are they just for fun, like companion shows or what?

Thank you very much in advance! :)

So far I've at least realized that you need 3 CC's under different judges to become a champion and in order to receive a CC you need to become BOB at a championship show, right? Or just winning you class would be sufficient?

99.9% of the time, the best dog and the best bitch will each be awarded a CC at those championship shows that have them available -each breed has a set number of CCs available each year which means not all shows have them for all breeds. In rare cases only the BOB wins a CC  but normally 2 are available for each breed that has them at the show.

In order to qualify for Crufts you just need to come 1st, 2nd or 3rd once at a championship show, right?

No this depends on the breed. Only some classes count, popular breeds qualify in more classes. Also to qualify the breed has to have CCs available at that show, otherwise the placing does not count as a qualification.

And what do you need to do to get yourself on the stud book registry (can bitches be added there?) and why is it good to be added to the stud book?

Both sexes. You win a CC, a Reserve CC, a Junior Warrant or certain working qualifications, that gives you a stud book number. That then Crufts qualifies the dog for LIFE as opposed to just for the show the following year.

Also I am still missing the point of the Open shows and First Prizes, are they just for fun, like companion shows or what?

Not sure what you mean about first prizes? Companion shows aren't really real dog shows at all (anyone can judge them, any dog can take part) but an Open show is like a mini Championship show but with fewer classes and no CCs, otherwise judged the same. Wins at Open shows count towards the Junior Warrant and BOB wins count towards the Show certificate of Merit.

Clear as mud. :)

At a championship show to gain the CC is a bit like an unside down piramid. There are lots of classes for dogs and bitches, you need to win your class (Classes are defined by age or wins ie. Puppy for 6 - 12 months, Novice for dogs never having won a CC or 3 or more 1st prizes at open or champ shows, Limit, For dogs who are not Champions or won 7 or more 1st prizes at Champ shows in Limit and open classes) Once you have won your class and when all classes are complete for the sex all the unbeated dogs or bitches compete for the CC. So you would then have every winner from every class competing for the CC and Res CC (Unless a dog won a class then was beaten in another class, many people enter more than one class you would then be a beaten dog and unable to compete in the line up for the CC)
In most cases there is a CC for the best bitch and one for the best dog. If you won the CC then you would run of against the other CC winner of the oposite sex to become best of breed. If you go to a Champ show that only has 1 CC on offer then the dog and bitch would compete for BOB and the CC.
Open shows are less important in the fact that they have no CC's on offer but are very important for gaining points for Junior Warrants and Show certificates of Merit, both of which will give you a stud book number and a lifetime qualification to Crufts. you need a set number of points won at Open and Champ shows to win these awards.
Limit shows are usually limited to club members or an area and do not count for any higher awards.
Companion shows are for every dog be it KC reg or not and are pure fun, with classes for prettiest bitch, waggiest tail etc...
Hope that helps a bit!!
Aileen

Thank you very much!

And how to find out how many CC there are on offer for mini schnauzer each year? Is it considered to be a popular breed in the UK?

So stud book number just gives you qualification for Crufts for life and nothing else?

I know that Junior Warrant title gives you a stud book number. So the idea is that you start with a young dog at open shows and then move on to champion shows?

Also what's the difference (or which one is better) between Show certificate of Merit and Champion title then?

Does the Show certificate of Merit qualifies you for Crufts for example?

Last question :) what if (theoretically) you only qualified for Crufts by becoming 3rd at a championship show where CC's where on offer and that's your only achievement so far and then you become BOB at Crufts ;)))) do you get the Champion title straight away or does it just counts as another CC?

Thank you :)

Aileen, thank you! That helps a lot! :)

You can I believe find out from the KC website which shows have CC's on offer. If you ask for a shedule it will tell you in there and also give definitions of classes.
Stud book gives you lifetime qualification and a little prestige!!
JW needs a mix (As does ShCM) of wins and group wins at both open and champ shows. So you need to enter both.
ShCM proves your dogs is a consitant winner at all leveles, and lifetime qualification.
Champion is the top of the tree!!
And to answer your last question No you still need 3 CC's under 3 different judges and at least 1 won after the age of 12 months.
Where are you from?
Aileen

Thank you!

So Crufts is basically a normal Champ. Show just big and prestige :)

I live in Surrey now but originally from Russia, used to show my Giant Shnauzer there and the system was very different. All my dog had was Junior Country Champ and Country Champ (there were no other titles available, apart from club Champion but it doesn't mean much).  There were no Open shows, only Champ Shows, CC's were always on offer at more than 2 classes (but you were only aloud to enter one class) and you needed 4 CC's and a working/training certificate to become a champion.

And the only classes all the shows had were: baby(3-6m), puppy(6-12m), junior (12-18m I think, with JCC available), intermediate (with CC), open class (CC), champion (CC), working class(CC) and Veteran. But you could win the class but not get CC. it was the judges decision whether to give CC to every class winner or just to some. And then doesn't matter how many CC's you had, you needed to pass obedience and working test to become a champion.

I am now bringing my 10 m.o. mini schnauzer from Russia over here and want to show her but the differences in the Russian and UK show world have proven to be very confusing :)

Aileen, no the ShCM does not give you a stud book number so does not qualify for Crufts.

Has your mini Schnauzer had her tail docked? If so there are only some shows you can enter -Crufts for instance would not be allowed unfortunately.

Hmm, so what's the point of the ShCM then? :)

No my mini is not docked so should be ok, I hope :)

Sorry My mistake you are quite right...blame it on my age..
ShCM does NOT give crufts entry
Aileen

Hmm, so what's the point of the ShCM then? :-)

It's a title, showing you have a dog that can win a lot at open shows. :) Not necessarily easy to get either -in my breed there have only ever been two dogs gaining it, and my Champion at 11 still needs a fair few points to get it!

And it gives those of us in breeds where you have 250 or more at a Champ show, the chance to still collect points and gain a title of some sort, showing that your dog is of good quality even if he can't beat the top flyers. You also need to get points at group level to gain it, to ensure that you can't just be the only one in the breed in a small breed 25 times.

Thank you very much to you all. It is all much clearer to me now! :)

Not forgetting in this country existing champions also compete for the single CC available for them at that show, so it's much harder to gain a champion title than in some other countries; we don't have classes just for champions.