I've noticed that some Championship shows have these classes but never really understood how they are judged? Can anyone explain what make these classes different from the regular classes?

Nothing, otehr than the dogs have to ahve attained at least Bronze in the KC good citizen scheme.  so anything from, Puppy, to champion to Vetteran can enter.

So is the judge looking at conformation, breed type etc...or are they judging the dogs behaviour/temperament?

They should be judging the conformation, breed type, movement and temperament, just the same as any other breed class. Increasingly this is now the case, though I have heard stories of judges in the early days of the GC class either picking at random, or getting the dogs to do sits and picking the fastest one or something. Good thing Henry never encountered one of those in his GC classes, he never did learn to sit at heel!

I seem to remember that they used to do some sort of obedience in the early days but when I've queried it just lately no-one seems to remember that and say they are judged the same as any other class.

I can't find it on the website, but in October the KC sent out an announcement clarifying the GC breed classes, part of which said:

GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME BREED CLASSES

It has come to the notice of the Kennel Club that some judges at breed shows have misunderstood the purpose of the Good Citizen Dog Scheme Breed Class (GCDS), as scheduled at Open and Championship Shows. In some instances, judges have asked exhibitors to carry out basic obedience tasks with their dogs, or have not permitted the winner of the class to compete for Best of Sex.

While eligibility for these classes requires dogs to have achieved their GCDS Bronze award or above, the class should be judged in the same way as any other, with each dog being judged against the breed standard.  Unbeaten winners of the GCDS class have the same standing as all other unbeaten dogs, and a critique must be written for the first two placings in each class.

I've seen varying thoughts on these breed classes depending on what breed you are in. I have entered a few of them and have been told that they are a Mickey Mouse class and no one gets anywhere in the challenge from them. I have been short listed in the challenge from this class, however the judge did say he didnt know much about the class at all and wanted to know why I'd entered it.. I don't see it being any different to Graduate or Mid Limit, however I don't think many judges really know that essentially its an extra class for those who have passed the GC award..
I think that it needs to be further highlighted and all dogs need to be taken seriously otherwise we'll loose these classes!
It would be helpful if one or both of the dog papers wrote something on them.
On the flip aide I've seen some breeds where the class has been packed, so I guess breed dependent?

Thanks Marianne...I looked on the KC website and couldn't find anything either, but that helps to clear it up for me. In reply to Suejaw, in my breed it seems to be regarded as a bit of a joke to enter this class and that dogs that are entered in this class would not be seriously considered for top awards...I just wondered why anyone would go in this class if this was the case!

Ellie got a nice write up for her 2nd in Veteran and 1st in GC at WELKS this year, and Henry got a write up for his GC win at Crufts way back in 2004. But like you say, judges and competitors need to take the class more seriously - I was asked at Crufts 2 years ago what the class was all about, and that was 6 years after it started. Hopefully that clarification quoted earlier will help. It's certainly much more popular at Crufts in Cavaliers these days than when it started.

It's a useful class if you have more than one dog only eligible for open, or when there is no veteran class, means you can enter both.  Must get the award for my younger dogs as both that have it are veterans.

in my breed it seems to be regarded as a bit of a joke to enter this class and that dogs that are entered in this class would not be seriously considered for top awards...I just wondered why anyone would go in this class if this was the case!

Terrible -let's hope the KC directions help. I've won CC and BOB at Crufts when entered in the class -although granted the bitch was also in other classes. A friend of mine have won CCs from the GC class in Papillons several times though, when they have been in no other class.

Goes to show that it's breed and judge dependent. They shouldnt be seen as a joke class, they should be the same as any other really...

Can I check:  To enter the GC classes at Crufts, dogs also have to have qualified via another class, right?  I mean, you can't enter Crufts just because your dog has done the KC Good Citz scheme, is that right?

Yes you have to qualify in the normal way.

Ok, thanks.  Just wasn't sure, as the working gundog classes don't require that anymore - they have their own criteria, which are working criteria.  So I wondered if the KC Good Cits scheme was the same, but it seems not.

The idea of the GC class is to encourage owners of showdogs to also train them in basic obedience. :)

or to prove that they aren't brainless stuffed toys just because they are show dogs.

I have entered these classes but always as a second entry.

I,m very pleased that the kc have issued a statement on how these should be judged as at a show earlier this year my boy won a large class of 12 in post grad.He was also entered in gc with one other dog who beat him thus meaning he couldn't go in for the challenge.

I have no problem with being beaten but the judge apparently was judging the gc class on how cuddly the dogs were, which explains why she asked his pet name then got down on her knees and started to tickle him,she also did this to the other dog who to his credit responded to this better than my boy as he gave the judge a kiss.

when it came to the challenge the judge queried why we were absent, until the steward reminded her that we had been beaten.
Up until then I thought that the owner of the dog who won the gc class must have been mistaken when they told me why their dog had beaten mine,as I was sure all judges knew that they were to judge gc classes exactly the same as others,but now I,m not so sure.

must say that in my breed most people disregard this class and often run into the ring for the challenge before this class has even taken place.

I'm very proud that my boy has done his good citizen and did his silver at 11 months old,which isn't bad for a stubborn chin!

>I have no problem with being beaten but the judge apparently was judging the gc class on how cuddly the dogs were, which explains why she asked his pet name then got down on her knees and started to tickle him,she also did this to the other dog who to his credit responded to this better than my boy as he gave the judge a kiss.

Oh dear poor you - specially as she clearly liked your dog breed standard wise! I've entered Ellie in Veteran and GC at Crufts, hope we get a fair go. She isn't top quality enough to do anything at Crufts, but just to go is great and we want a fair showing!