This is kinda off the other topic I have started but really nothing to do with it...

At the last CDS I went to there were the normal pedigree classes. Now, usually, with my huskies I enter them in AV Non-Sporting and AV Open. Although last time there was a notice saying: Sporting Groups (Gundog, Terrier, Hound, Working and Pastoral); Non-Sporting (Utility, Toy). So I entered my dogs in Sporting and was up against many pointers, setters, spaniels and hounds.

A lady I know has a Dobermann (obviously Working Group) and she entered hers in Non-Sporting but was told to wait until the next class. It seemed a bit strange that Working and Pastoral should be counted as "Sporting" so we queried it and according to them the KC has changed it's categories that the different groups fall under.

So, we left it at that but recently I have been looking up on it on the internet and I can't find anything mentioning these changes and in my mind, the Working and Pastoral groups are still Non-Sporting. The only thing that may have happened is that they were looking at the AKC categories but other than that I have no idea.

So if anyone could shed some light on this situation I would be really grateful!

Think the organisers work working on their own definition not the KC one. Odd way of dividing into 2, 5 groups in 1 and 2 in the other.

What exactly is a sporting group? Leonbergers (working) don't do any sports that I know of? unless you count playing footie in the garden with the boys :) So what ''sports" do they mean?

Sporting has always meant some form of hunting, so the groups in that category are Hounds, Terriers and Gundogs.

The organisers have misunderstood/got it wrong.

Hi, just dug out the paperwork from KC from last years CD show, this states:-

Classification.
a. Classes for pedigree dogs may include any of the following:
1. Any Variety Sporting Dogs  2. Any Variety Hounds  3. Any Variety Gundogs  4. Any Variety Terriers  5. Any Variety Non-Sporting Dogs  6. Any Variety Utility  7. Any Variety Working  8. Any Variety Pastoral  9. Any Variety Toys  1 O.Any Variety Puppy (6-9 months)  11.Any Variety Puppy (6-12 months)  12.Any Variety Junior (12-18 months)  13.Any Variety Open  14.Any Variety Veteran (Over 7 years)  15.Any Combination of Groups  16.Junior Handlers Class (Under 18 years of age - Dog owned by
  exhibitor or the exhibitor's parents). 
b. The basis for the grouping of the breeds is defined in Kennel Club
  Regulations for Classification and Registration.
  c. A maximum of two breed classes per breed may, at the organiser's discretion, be scheduled on the day of the show for pedigree dogs whether registered or unregistered.
  d. Novelty Classes. Notwithstanding the above any number of novelty (fun) classes may be scheduled open to all entered dogs whether KC registered or not.
e.  Companion Dog Club Novelty Classes. Limited to those dogs that are members of the Companion Dog Club.

No 15 is the relevant item so you could have 1 group in first class and all the rest in second!!!. but they shouldn't have given the classes the titles they did.
Hope this makes things clear (as mud!!!).
Chris

Yeah thanks for that.

Like I said, we all thought it was a bit strange that suddenly Great Danes, Dobes, Mountain Dogs and Huskies were sporting.

If it happens again then I'm going to have to point out that they're wrong and the excuse of "the KC has changed the group definitions" is absolutely cr@p!

pastoral are usually classed as non sporting. well BCs are!

Exactly my point - so why on earth was both Working and Pastoral put into Sporting when they are both Non-Sporting?!