Can anyone give me a link to what age group classes go by? I know that I'll be entering MPB next year but not sure when and where I should enter after that!

Thanks in advance. xx

Minor Puppy is 6 - 9 months
Puppy is 6 -12 months
Junior is 6 -18 months
Yearling is 12-24 months
Special Yearling is 6-24 months

Excellent, thank you so much Lexy. xx

Waggamama, it is always in the schedule somewhere, the definition of classes that is. For instance some classes will be what the show society decides, most Sp. Yearling will be 6 to 24 months but it does not have to be it could be 6 to 18 or any thing else. Any special class should be looked up before entering.

Ohhh I see! I'm glad there's a stern copy somewhere; knowing me I'll forget. I just heard someone say something like you can't enter Open unless you've been placed at a lower class?

No, that is not true, open is the one class that is open - i.e. anyone can enter that as it is open to all.

So are the other classes not open? I mean, do I have to place at one class to get in to another?

The other classes are not open because they are restricted. Some by age (i.e. puppy, junior etc), some by number of wins (post graduate, limit etc). You can enter whatever class you want as long as the dog isn't too young or too old for it, or have won too MUCH for it. But logically speaking, unless there only are 2 classes (that's the case at some open shows for some breeds) it would be foolish to jump straight into open, the best is usually to go for the lowest class the dog is entitled to, to have a more level paying field so to speak. I.e. you'd be better off showing a 6 month old as a puppy rather than in open, or a 2 year old that's never won anything in Post Grad (or if available, in breeds with high entries only, Graduate.) Open is open to all as said so that means open to Champions as well.

Ahhh, I see. Thank you so much; I won't be leaping into Open any time soon, lol!

Minor Puppy is 6 - 9 months
Puppy is 6 -12 months
Junior is 6 -18 months
Yearling is 12-24 months
Special Yearling is 6-24 months

I didn't realise there were so many classes that a 6 month old puppy can be entered in - presumably some shows can run all these classes so you could enter puppy, junior and sp yearling all in one show?

I'm still really confused as to how you decide which one to enter with your 6mth pup.  Sp Yearling, for instance, must be a huge gamble in that you could be in the ring with a 2yr old.

It would be easier if minor pup was 6-9ms, puppy was 9-12ms, and junior was 12-18ms... presumably there's a good reason why this isn't the case!...

You may find them all at the one show but often the Special yearling is used when the breed only has 3 classes so there will be
Special Yearling
Post Graduate
Open
although they may declare best puppy in breed and because a puppy may enter any age class that is Puppy, Junior or Sp. yearling and also any other class they are not over qualified for which usually means all of them the puppy winning Best Puppy from Breed could be in any of the classes classified for that breed.

So as not to confuse the only age class you can't enter with a puppy would be the Yearling class because that is for 12 to 24 months other wise any class is available to a puppy.

presumably there's a good reason why this isn't the case!...

If you have more than one puppy you will enter the most mature in the next class up (age wise) When your pup is getting near 9 months you may wish to enter Minor Puppy and Puppy - when nearly 12 months you may wish to enter Puppy and Junior.

Entering the Special Yearling or the Yearling class is a gamble because you could meet a Champion who can only enter a yearling class or open, if under 2 years.

One problem we found was in entering a non-age restricted class alongside the puppy.  We were "lucky" to win a couple of Novice classes as a puppy BUT when he was too old for puppy but lacked maturity to be with the big boys, we were already too qualified to enter the Novice/maiden type classes which would of been good for experience whilst he matured.