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Championships Around the World
Are all championships created
equal?
Is one country's
championship system better than another? Often breeders from a country will
debate that their system is better and so their championships are more worthy.
However it is a bit like discussing apples and oranges. Championship systems
are designed to work for a particular country's circumstances such as
geographical size, numbers of dogs and focus. Understanding how the various
systems work help one see that each country's championship system can be of
equal value.
Dog show events are overseen by a country's official Kennel
Club. The kennel club would be responsible for licensing the event, training
and approving judges, keeping track of any accumulated points and awarding
Championship papers, among other things.
These are just some
examples of the different judging systems around the world.
Canada
Overview:
The main type of dog shows in Canada is the All Breed show with
the occasional Specialty show. Under this system dogs competing for their
championship status and those who already have their championships do not
compete in the same classes.
In order to get a
championship in Canada a dog must get 10 points under at least 3 separate
judges at 3 different shows by defeating other dogs. Points are given as
follows: 1 dog (in competition) - 0 points, 2 dogs - 1 point, 3-5 dogs - 2
points, 6-9 dogs - 3 points, 10-12 dogs - 4 points, 13 + - 5 points. A class
dog that wins the points and then the Breed may garner additional points if
they place in the Group to a maximum of 5 points per show. Also the Best of
Winners may garner additional points depending upon how many dogs competed in
the losing sex.
Classes:
Males and females compete
separately in the following classes:
Junior Puppy (6-9 months)
Senior Puppy (9-12 months)
Canadian Bred
Bred by Exhibitor
Open
Specials (Champions Only)
The winners of all
classes (with the exception of Specials) in each sex compete against each other
to determine the Winners for each sex. The two Winners are then brought in with
the Specials to compete for Best of Breed and one will be chosen Best of
Winners. Also awarded are Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex (to the Breed
winner) and Best Puppy in Breed.
United States of
America
Overview:
Similar to Canada in that the main type of show is that of All
Breed shows with the occasional Specialty show the main differences are the
point system and overall number of dogs entered.
In the US a dog requires
15 points towards its championship with a minimum of two majors. A major is
where 3, 4 or 5 points are accumulated at one show. Points are determined by
the number of dogs that are beaten. The calculation for points is different
depending upon breed and region and can change from year to year for a region.
They are calculated on the number of dogs which competed in the previous year
in that region. The dog must win under at least 3 different judges, 2 different
ones awarding the majors.
There are on average
approximately 1,400 All Breed Championship shows in the United States and
approximately 225 Cavaliers finish their Championships per year.
Classes:
The following classes are
separated by sex:
Puppy (frequently divided into 6-9 months and 9-12 months)
12 - 18 months
Novice
American Bred
Bred by Exhibitor
Open
Specials (Champions Only)
The winners of all
classes (with the exception of Specials) in each sex compete against each other
to determine the Winners for each sex. The two Winners are then brought in with
the Specials to compete for Best of Breed and one will be chosen Best of
Winners. Also awarded are Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex (to the Breed
winner).
United Kingdom
Overview:
There are two types of shows where a dog can compete for its
requirements towards a championship - General (All Breed) Championship Shows
and Specialty shows (shows specific to one breed or group of dogs, i.e. toy
dogs, working dogs, etc.) In Cavaliers specifically, there are 36 shows where
Challenge Certificates are on offer - 25 at General Championship Show, 10 at
Regional and National Specialties and 1 at the Toy Dog Specialty. Cavaliers are
a very popular UK breed and a General Championship show may have 250 Cavaliers
competing with more seen at the Specialties, even as many as 500 Cavaliers at
the National Specialty!
Because of the amounts of
dogs involved it is often required to have two separate judges to judge the
males and the females.
In order for a dog to get
its championship in the UK it must receive 3 Challenge Certificates (CC) (one
after the age of a year). At each Championship show there are two CC's given
out, one for the males and one for the bitches. Unlike some other countries,
where dogs who have obtained their championship status do not compete directly
against those without, Champions generally compete in the open class and if
they win their class are eligible to challenge for the Certificate.
Due to the number of shows and difficulty obtaining a CC only a
small number of champions are finished in the UK annually.
Classes:
Males and females compete
separately in the following classes:
Minor Puppy (6-9 months)
Puppy (6-12 months)
Junior (6-18 months)
(These next 3 classes are
restricted, depending upon the numbers of wins)
Novice
Post Graduate
Limit
Open (open to all)
In each class a judge
selects 5 dogs and places them in order of merit. Notes are taken on the first
two in the class and after the show, a critique is written on the first two
dogs in each class which is sent to the 2 national weekly dog papers.
Winners of the male classes will then compete against each other for
one of the Dog Challenge Certificate (DCC). The remaining class dogs and if
requested the 2nd place dog to the DCC then compete for the Reserve Dog
Challenge Certificate. The same procedure is repeated for the the Bitch
Challenge Certificate (BCC) and Reserve Bitch Challenge Certificate. The two
judges of the males and females then choose between the Dog and Bitch CC
winners for Best of Breed. If they can't decide a referee is called to make the
decision.
New Zealand
Overview:
Shows are
judged on an elimination system. Each breed is judged separately and Dogs are
judged separately from Bitches within the Breed. At a Championship Show the
Best Dog and the Best Bitch of each breed is awarded a Challenge Certificate.
Once a dog or bitch has gained 8 of these, one awarded over 12 mths of age, the
owner can apply for the title of Champion.
Major winners can qualify
for the title Grand Champion. The requirements are 50 Challenges and three Best
In Show awards at All Breed Championship shows under three different judges.
Classes:
The exhibits enter classes, which are mostly
age based but can have some other basis (e.g. NZ Bred or Novice (show
experience)). The winners of the classes are judged against each other for the
Best Dog. Bitches are then judged again in the same manner. The Best Dog is
judged against the Best Bitch for the Best of Breed. Age class winners are also
judged against each other eg: Junior Dog Class winner versus Junior Bitch Class
winner to find Best Junior of Breed.
Once all breeds in each Group have
been judged, the winners of every breed are judged against each other to find
Best of Group. So are the Best of the class winners eg: all Juniors of Breed
are judged against each other to find Junior of Group.
Once all groups
have been judged, the Group winners are judged against each other for Best in
Show. The age winners are also judged against each other eg: Best Junior in
Show.
Australia
Overview:
Similar in
procedure to New Zealand the difference is that championships are awarded on
the basis of accumulated points rather than numbers of Challenge Certificates.
To obtain a championship 100 points are required. A maximum of 25 points may be
won in the breed on a day and the minimum is 6 points. The points are
calculated on the number of dogs beaten in the breed up to the maximum 25
points. A dog gets 5 points for the CC and then additional points for each dog
entered in that sex. A single dog entry can receive 6 points as it would
receive the CC for 5 points and 1 extra for the single dog entered. If there
are 5 males and 5 bitches entered best dog and best bitch receive 10 points
each. The Best of Breed winner will also receive an extra 5 points for the
number of dogs beaten in the other sex amounting to 15 points. If the Best of
Breed dog then goes on to win the Group the points are upgraded to 25 points. A
single judge may not award more than 50 points towards a dog's championship.
There is also a Grand Champion title available requiring 1,000 points
with no Group or Best in Shows necessary.
Classes:
Baby
puppy (3-6 months)
Minor puppy (6-9 months)
Puppy (6-12 months)
Junior (9-18 months)
Intermediate (18 months to 3 years)
Limit
(dogs not champions)
Australian Bred (over 6 months whelped in Australia)
Open (over 6 months)
On an elimination basis each class and sex is
judged separately with the Best Dog and Best Bitch competing for the Challenge.
There is not a separate class for Champions and they generally compete in
Australian Bred or Open. In Australia if the quality is deemed insufficient
Challenges may be withheld by the judge. A dog must receive his final 25 points
after a year of age to qualify for its championship.
France
Overview:
France is a member of the FCI, the Federation
Cynologique Internationale. There are ten Groups under the FCI system and
Cavaliers are in group 9, Companion dogs. There are several types of dog shows
in France - National shows (about 52) which are all-breed and CAC's (Certifcat
d'aptitude et de conformite au standard) are on offer. The CAC is only awarded
to a dog of excellent quality and there is also a reserve CAC, also only
awarded to a dog of merit. International shows (about 36 annually) with the
awards of CACIB and reserve CACIB (Certificate d'Aptitude au Championnat
Internationale de Beaute) being on offer at these shows. The breed clubs own
shows (Nationale d'elevage) are generally held once a year. And the Championnat
de France which is held once a year.
The FCI has a grading system. Dogs
under a year old are given only an assessment of very promising, promising or
fairly promising. Dogs over a year may be graded excellent, tres bon (very
good), bon (good), assez bon (fairly good) or insuffice which means that the
judge thinks the dog of insufficient quality to be confirmed. If a judge does
not think any dog worthy of grading of excellent then no CAC, CACIB or reserves
are awarded.
Cavaliers are split into 3 colours in France: blenheim,
tricolour or wholecolour which means that there are CACs on offer for each
colour and sex but only one CACIB for best dog and bitch.
To become a
champion a dog must win 3 CACs awarded by 3 different judges. One of these must
be won at either the Championnat de France or the breed club's National
d'Elevage. Another must be won at an International show and one may be won at a
CAC show, however one of these shows must also be designated a Speciale de
Race. Because of these requirements no more than 12 Cavaliers may become a
champion each year.
To become an International Champion, a dog must win
4 CACIBs in 3 different countries under at least 3 different judges. One of
these CACIBs must be won in either the dog's owner's country of origin or the
country where the breed originated.
Classes:
Baby (3-6
months, only permitted at a Nationale d'Elevage
Pupille (6-9 months)
Debutant (9-12 months)
Jeune (12-18 months)
Ouverte (12 months at
CAC shows or the National d'Elevages, 15 months at International shows)
Champion (a champion of any of the FCI member countries)
Veteran (over
7 years)
The CAC may only be awarded to the winner of the Ouverte
class. A junior or champion may win the Best of Breed but not the CAC. At an
International show the CACIB may be awarded to the winner of the Ouverte or
Champion class.
Sweden
Overview:
In
Sweden a dog requires 3 CCs (Challenge Certificates) under 3 different judges
to qualify for its championship. A dog must be 9 month and older to qualify for
a CC and requires a final CC after 24 months of age to be confirmed, though a
dog may accumulate as many CCs as it can prior to 24 months. Champions are
shown in a separate class and do not receive CCs.
Classes:
Non-official classes
Puppy (4-6 months)
Puppy (6-9 months)
Official Classes
Junior (9-15 months)
Youngster (15-24 months)
Open (24 months and over, excluding Swedish champions)
Veterans (7
years and older)
Champions (Swedish or International only)
If
promising, dogs in Junior, Youngster and Veterans can be awarded an HP (honours
prize). A dog of excellent type can receive a ck (champion quality) which
qualifies them to compete in the Best Dog/Best Bitch class. Dogs/Bitches in the
open class of excellent type may be awarded a ck and compete in the Best
Dog/Best Bitch class. In the Champion class a ck is awarded to any dog that
according to the judge's opinion is worthy of its championship. These dogs also
compete in the Best Dog/Best Bitch class, however they are not eligible to win
CCs. The Best Dog and Best Bitch classes are then judged separately and then
the two winners compete for Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex.
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