I've been watching a series on the Animal Planet called 'Best in Show' which is all about dog showing in Canada.  However, I can't quite work out their system over there.  It seems like a dog is made up into a champion, or is it called a 'special' in a really quick amount of time, which then means it can progress further into showing.   I am intrigued how the system works, so if anyone can enlighten me I'd be really interested.

thanks - sarah

Hi, after a dog has gained it Ch title it is then entered in the "Specials" (Best of Variety/Breed) competition, so is said to be being "Specialed".  Dogs never meet champions in the ring on their way to gaining their title.  I think the Canadian system is almost identical to the USA one, and there you need 15 points (inclouding majors which are in excess of 3 points) to gain a title.  You gain the points from winning Winners dog/bitch, with extra points for Best of Winners..
bye
Gwen

Thanks Gwen.   So are these shows similar to our open shows - there didn't seem to many dogs in the breed rings competing against each other.  One dog got it's 10 points at 7 months of age, therefore got it's title - which wouldn't happen in this country.    After it's been 'specialed' do they then go on to a higher level of dog show?

sorry for all the questions - just curious.

thanks - sarah

Hi Sarah, I've been watching that programme too, for a while now. There isn't much competition at all, and shows how easy it is to make up a Champion over there and how little it stands for really. I think (not sure) but even to get a major, you only need 4 or 5 dogs present. All of the champions compete seperately, so the other dogs never compete against current champions. They have different classes for them. Over there, they appear to be more interested in what their dogs can achieve at group level, BIS etc. At this higher level, dogs are awarded points for how many dogs were present at the show.

Kay

Hi , the points  available for each show depend on how many are present, and the area the show is in.  there is a table of points per area on the AKC site.  I think it is pretty much the same in Canada.  they dont have a 2 tier show system, so kind of all shows are Ch shows.  Most of the people I know consider it almost a done deal that each pup they show will "finish"  - ie, all show quality pups should become Champions, so the title has a different value.  However, a "Specials" dog is a real high flyer, and they are chasing Groups and BIS, where the competition can be very hot indeed.  With the back to back show system, and "clusters", 3 or 4 different shows can be held on consecutive shows over a weekend.  Some of these may be breed shows, and it is very possibel to finish a dog in one weekend (Mikes poodle went over to the USA this year and finished his title over 4 days on his first weekiends showing)

bye
Gwen

Friends and I imported a puppy from the USA, the day he went to his first Championship show here at 9 months his litter sister became a US Champion (admittedly she had won all her points at breed Specialties, so good entries of the breed).  It normally takes us a couple of years to make up a dog, if it is going to be made up at all, whcih most aren't.

The people I corespond with in US almost look on the title champion as being prerequisite for being bred from.  If we used that as a measure here there would be no breeding stock, as few sogs attaain their titles here and it is a real achivement.  As Gwen says the dogs onl;y show agains non champions, often with very small entries (equating to BOB at an Open show here), and most of their shows carry points.

A dog can be made up to a Champion in one circuit/cluster of shows over a weeken or so if it is a lucky/good one.