Dog show of breeds of group 2 FCI rank CAC + SPECIALTY - Dogue de Bordeaux, Caucasian Shepherd, Moscow Watchdog, Central Asian Shepherd, Khotosho, Shar Pei

In this article I will try to talk about dog shows in general as concisely, accessiblely and to the point as possible.

We will look at what types of dog shows there are, why and who needs them, who can participate in them, and how best to prepare for them.

We’ll also briefly talk about what you need to pay attention to when purposefully choosing a puppy to participate in exhibitions and how to properly prepare a puppy for an exhibition.

• General provisions and terms.
• What are dog shows and what are they for?
• What dogs participate in exhibitions, what documents are needed.
• What kind of exhibitions are there?
• How are the exhibitions held? Dog show groups, classes, examination procedure: - Stages of the exhibition, - Show groups, - Show classes.
• Assessments and certificates at exhibitions: - Assessments, - Certificates, - Exhibition-certificate, - Explanation of certificates.
• What are the different titles?
• How to choose a puppy to participate in exhibitions?
• How to prepare a puppy for exhibitions?
• What you need to remember to take away from the exhibition so that your visit is not in vain.

General provisions (RKF and alternative clubs) and terms.

Let's begin our introduction to the world of exhibitions with the fact that our kennel Donik Style, and therefore our dogs and puppies, belong to the largest Russian Cynological Federation (hereinafter RKF), which in turn is part of the largest and most authoritative International Association of Cynological Federations ( hereinafter referred to as FCI). All other cynological organizations in Russia and the world are considered alternative, and the merits at their exhibitions are of no value to our dogs, so we will not talk about them in the future.

FCI was created with the aim of developing and protecting cynology and purebred dog breeding in the world. Based in the city of Thuen in Belgium, it unites about 100 national canine organizations (one from each country). There are also a number of countries that are not part of the international federation, including England, the USA and Canada, but the pedigrees issued by them are recognized by the FCI, because have special agreements.

Each breed recognized by the FCI has a single standard, which regulates the purebred of each dog, and an expert at exhibitions in any of the participating countries determines the dog’s compliance with the standard. FCI founded in 1911

What are dog shows and what are they for?

Dog shows are a breeding review of the breed's livestock, as a result of which the best dog in terms of exterior, temperament and other breed qualities is selected. This is a kind of beauty contest in which specially trained and certified experts select the best of the best high-breed animals, stimulating the owners of such animals to show their champions at major events as often as possible for visual comparison, and breeders to improve the breed.

The main goal of any exhibition is to determine the most beautiful and correctly built animals in each breed. The judge in the ring must describe the dog, note its main advantages and disadvantages, and give it a rating. The presence of a breeding assessment received from a licensed judge at an exhibition that has official status is a dog’s admission to breeding. You can count on receiving puppies from your dog with documents only by visiting the exhibition and receiving a good rating at it. This is an absolutely mandatory (although far from the only) condition.

Dogs that attend many exhibitions and have a magnificent exterior become owners of not only breeding ratings, but also various honorary titles and titles. This also has a direct bearing on breeding: puppies from titled producers are more expensive, because it is more likely to obtain high-quality offspring from them than from dogs that lose to them in the rings.

If you are the owner of a purebred dog and want “brides” to come to him, participation in exhibitions and victories in general is an urgent necessity for you. Because breeders usually strive to breed their bitches with the best male dogs - champions. And people most often come to the exhibition to look at potential manufacturers. After all, it is there that dogs are presented in all their splendor and open for viewing.

An important fact that speaks about the benefits of exhibitions is that while preparing the dog for this event, you establish contact with the dog, learn to understand and feel the dog’s mood. And the pet gets used to work, obedience, and learns to see you as a leader! This is the best socialization for a puppy!

A dog that is taken to exhibitions, and, therefore, prepared for them, works a lot and intensively together with the owner. For a dog, work is a necessary condition, even the meaning of life. Many dog ​​breeders note that dogs participating in exhibitions are much more disciplined and cheerful than those who “lie on the couch” and associate this fact with communication with the owner during preparations for exhibitions, with training and teaching it to be restrained, endurance and sociability.

By participating in exhibitions, a beginner learns to better understand the breed by comparing dogs and analyzing the comments of experts. If you know well the strengths and weaknesses of your pet, this will serve you well when selecting a mate for your dog in order to get high quality puppies.

And, in the end, you can consider exhibition as a sport, where you periodically experience the sweetness of victory and learn to accept defeat. In addition, there is such a thing as the “spirit of competition” and adrenaline. Also, this is a wonderful opportunity to meet and communicate with interesting, enthusiastic people, owners of the same breed and find new friends.

What types of exhibitions (ranks) are there?

In the FCI/RKF system, dog shows are divided into: all-breed, special-breed and exhibitions of certain groups.

• At all-breed (CACIB, CAC) exhibitions, as the name suggests, all breeds of dogs take part.
• Monobreed – a dog show for one specific breed. Such an exhibition is held within the framework of CAC/CACIB for breeds that have a National Breed Club. The calendar is compiled by the National Breed Club (NKB) and approved by the RKF. Certificates - KCHK, SS, PNKP, etc.
• Exhibitions of certain groups are held for one or several groups, respectively.

Exhibitions are also divided into ranks:

• CAC is an all-breed national show. Such exhibitions are held almost every weekend in large cities, and allow you to cumulatively receive the title of Champion or Junior Champion of the country, which is entered in the dog’s pedigree. The calendar of these exhibitions is compiled by the country's Cynological Federation - RKF.
• Ch.RKF - all-breed national. Allows you to receive the title Champion or Junior Champion of the Russian Canine Federation for one victory, which is also included in the pedigree of the manufacturer. Certificates awarded: CAC, Ch.RKF.
• Black Sea Fleet is an all-breed national team. Certificates awarded: CAC, Black Sea Fleet.
• ChRKF, Black Sea Fleet without CAC - all-breed national. Certificates - ChRKF and Black Sea Fleet.
• CACgr is a national dog show of a certain FCI group (I, II, III, etc.), awarded a CAC certificate.
• CACIB is an all-breed, international (international) show. These are more prestigious exhibitions that allow you to cumulatively win the serious title of International Beauty Champion! They are rare, participation in them usually costs more and the competition is higher. The calendar of these exhibitions is compiled by the International Cynological Federation - FCI. Certificates awarded at the exhibition - CAC, CACIB.
• Winner of the National Club Club [year] – a special breed exhibition held once a year, CCC and CC certificates at this exhibition are doubled.
• Candidate of Champions Club is a special breed exhibition, with certificates of CC and CC.

Within the framework of the CAC and CACIB exhibitions, Specialty rings can be organized for individual breeds, in which KCHK or KChP certificates are awarded (for breeds like ours that do not yet have an NCP). Thus, for breeds that have Specialty exhibitions on the same day, it is possible to receive CAC, CCC, and CACIB (if it is an international exhibition) in one exhibition.

SCHEDULE OF CAC RANK EXHIBITIONS for 2022 in Moscow

(from December 17, 2019, from the RKF website https://rkf.org.ru/vystavochnaja-dejatelnost/nacionalnye-cac/ )

Information from the RKF website: A preliminary calendar of CAC rank exhibitions for 2022 has been published on the website.

The calendar may be subject to additions and changes.

What are CAC groups? Read>>

Information from the RKF website

How are the exhibitions held? Dog show groups, classes, examination procedures.

So, we have come close to the exhibitions themselves and participation in them! How does this happen in general terms! What a beginner should know about exhibitions.

Exhibitions take place as follows:

1

First you need to select the desired rank of the exhibition held within the FCI (RKF) and enroll in a class that matches your age.

2

After that, come to the exhibition, go through registration, veterinary control and enter the ring of your breed to compare with all participants in your age class.

3

After examining each participant, the judge selects the best male and best female from this class.

4

Then they are compared with each other and the best representative of this class is selected. But both winners do not leave after this, but remain to wait for comparison with the best males and best females from all other classes, as a result of which the Best Bitch and Best Male of the Breed are selected.

5

Then they are compared by an expert with each other, and finally the best representative of the breed in the show is selected!

6

But that's not all! Best Junior, Best Veteran and Best Representative of Breed remain waiting for the BEST of their group! (there are 10 groups in total). And only the winners of the BESTs of their groups have the right to compete for the title of Best Dog in Show in the general BEST, which takes place at the very end of the exhibition.

And of course, participation in it itself is very prestigious. Well, the winner receives the most expensive and prestigious prize, unless of course the organizers were stingy!

But this victory is already a maximum task and mainly brings image and prestige to the dog, its owner and handler. As a rule, BEST winners are either already experienced champions with the best handlers, or dogs that have truly conquered the expert.

The minimum task at the exhibition is to win a certificate corresponding to the rank of the exhibition, which in a certain quantity brings their owner one or another prestigious title, which is subsequently included in the pedigree of the manufacturer. As a rule, the holders of such certificates are the Best Male and the Best Bitch of the Breed. At some shows, appropriate certificates are awarded to the Best Male and Best Bitch in each class.

But we’ll talk more about this and other nuances below!

1. 5.1.
   

   Exhibition groups.

   You can find it here

2. 5.2.
   

   Exhibition classes.

   At all shows, dogs are initially judged and compared within their age group.

   Class		Age	Note
   Baby	Baby	3-6 months
   Puppies	Puppy	6-9 months
   Juniors	Junior	9-18 months
   Intermediate	Intermediate	15-24 months
   Open	Open	from 15 months
   Worker	Working	from 15 months	For dogs with working diplomas in a specialized type of test (when registering for CACIB rank shows, only international certificates are taken into account)
   Champions	Champion	from 15 months	For dogs with: - National National Champion title (any) - FCI International Beauty Champion (CIB) or FCI International Show Champion (CIE)
   Winners	Winner	from 15 months	Only at specialized single-breed shows, with CAC, CCC, PC certificates, no class available from January 1, 2022
   National Club Champions	Champion Club	from 15 months	Only at specialized special breed exhibitions, with the CH Club title (NCP Champion)
   Veterans	Veteran	from 8 years old

   Winners are often awarded a rosette or trophy.

   The date for determining the dog's age is the day of the exhibition. If the dog's birthday coincides with the date of the exhibition, then the owner has the right to independently decide in which class to register the dog.

First time at a dog show - what to do?

So, you have trained and prepared your dog, gathered your willpower and are ready to go to the show for the first time. Then this article is just for you - general reference material from registration and preparation to entering the ring and bests.

Registration and preparation for the exhibition

First, you need to find exhibitions in your city. To do this, you can call your local kennel clubs and ask about upcoming shows. Or simply go to the RKF website and in the “exhibition calendar” section in the list, find the cities you need in the exhibition schedule for the current year. When you have chosen a suitable exhibition, you need to sign up for it. Registration for the exhibition is always preliminary only and usually ends 10-14 days before the exhibition. The price for an exhibition at the beginning of recording is always cheaper than in the last days, and most often costs from 1500 to 2500 rubles.

Be careful when choosing an exhibition.
In addition to the RKF (Russian Kynological Federation), there are other organizations (SKOR, Dobry Mir and others), they also hold dog shows. We are only interested in RKF exhibitions. Next, what we need to participate in the exhibition are veterinary documents. The dog must have a veterinary passport with a rabies vaccination and at least 30 days and no more than one calendar year must have passed from the date of vaccination. If at the exhibition the veterinary control sees a discrepancy in the date, then you will not be allowed to attend the exhibition, and the money for the exhibition will not be returned.

Organizers of some exhibitions require a F1 certificate (form No. 1). To do this, the day before the exhibition, you need to come with a veterinary passport and your dog to the state veterinary hospital in your city and get such a certificate from the veterinarian. It costs about 200 rubles and is valid for 5 days. Private clinics do not provide such certificates.

So, your vaccinations are normal, your certificate (if needed) is in hand and you are registered for the exhibition. Now we need to collect all the necessary things for the exhibition. We will need a treat bag and the treat itself. As treats, you can use chopped hard cheese, boiled chicken hearts, or special dried meat, which you can buy at a pet store. It is important that the dog receives this treat only at the show and never eats it at home.

We will also need a number holder. They come in various types - in the form of an arm band (on Velcro), in the form of a badge (on a clip), and even in the form of badges or silhouettes of breeds (on a pin or clothespin).

Preparing for the ring

The schedule by breed, breakdown by experts and timing of the rings most often become known 3-4 days before the exhibition. Arrive at the exhibition in advance, count on an extra hour before the ring - without taking into account roads and other time costs. It’s better not to go to the exhibition alone; take help with you (a relative or good friend).

Most often, the expert first asks to put the dog on the table - to examine the head, teeth, ears, and in males - the testes.
The dog should respond calmly to touch and palpation. The expert dictates aloud a description of the dog, and the ring worker writes it down in the diploma. Next, they ask you to run in a circle; if necessary, the expert may ask you to walk in a straight line from him (looks at the hind limbs) and back to him (assesses the front). When you have completed one or two laps, the expert will ask you to stop. Don't get confused - quickly put the dog in a stance.

If there are several dogs in a class, then the expert looks at each dog in turn, and then all the dogs come together to compare and select the class winner. The expert gives the command to move and all exhibitors run around the ring one after another. Keep your distance; you don’t need to “breathe in the back” of the participant in front of you and slow down the one running behind you.

The baby and puppy classes always go first, then the adult classes.
The first ones are always males, then the females. If you win your class, don't run away - you will be called into the ring again for comparison. Baby male and female are compared for Best Baby of Breed (BB), male and female puppies are compared for Best Puppy of Breed (PB), juniors are compared for Best Junior of Breed (BJ), males of adult classes (intermediate, open, champions, veterans) are compared for Best Male of Breed (BOB), females of adult classes (intermediate, open, champions, veterans) - to Best Bitch of Breed (BOS). The final comparison - the choice of Best Representative of Breed (BOB) is carried out between Best Junior, Best Male and Best Best.

The BB of the breed goes to Best Baby (BIS Baby). The best breed of the breed participates in the Best Puppy (BIS Puppy). Best Junior advances to Best Junior (BIS Junior). The winner among adult classes, holder of the BOB title, goes to Best of Group (BIG - Best In Group). BOBs of different breeds take part in the Best of the group. If you take 1st place in the group (BIG-1), then you become a participant in the Best In Show (BIS - Best In Show), where only 10 dogs participate (one from each group, and there are only 10 groups).

If you win the comparison, then you are nominated for Best. Group bests are held at the end of each group. The remaining bests go at the end of the entire exhibition in the following order: Best Veterans, Best Baby, Best Puppies, Best Juniors, Best In Show.

To prevent your dog from getting tired by the time of the main competitions, put it in a carrier. There the animal should rest peacefully for the rest of the day. By the way, a show dog simply must be trained to box or crate. Your pet should not scream and kill itself locked in a carrier.

So, while the dog is resting, you have a few more things to do. First, you need to pick up a diploma with a description (issued in the show ring or at registration). In the diploma, check whether there is a stamp, signature of the expert and whether the title is attached (JCAC, CAC, JUSS, SS, etc.).

It would be a lie to make out what is written on the diploma. Usually the description consists of strange symbols and abbreviations that are incomprehensible to the average person. Believe me, a month or two will pass and you will be well versed in phrases like “very po.gol.” or "hor.fr."

The second thing you need to do is finally take time for yourself. There are still a few hours before the bests, so you need to eat and relax. This is where a high chair comes in handy.

The entire judging process takes literally a few minutes, and in such a short time you must show your dog so that the expert falls in love with it and gives you a prize place (the ranking in bests is usually 3-4 places).
If you don't win, don't be upset under any circumstances, and especially don't blame the dog. All-breed bests are nothing more than a personal preference of the expert. Let's say the judge loves big and furry dogs, naturally, the Chinese Crested is not his taste.

I hope this article will at least somehow help beginning show-lovers. I always wish you spacious rings and well-deserved victories!

Evaluations and certificates at exhibitions.

1. 6.1.
   

   Ratings.

   In the junior, intermediate, open, working, champion and veteran classes, as well as in the National Club Champion class (at specialty shows), the following marks are awarded:

   excellent / excellent (red ribbon), can only be awarded to a dog very close to the ideal standard, presented in excellent condition, demonstrating a harmonious, balanced temperament, having a high class and excellent training; its excellent characteristics, fully consistent with the breed, allow us to ignore some imperfections, however, sexual dimorphism must be clearly expressed;

   very good / very good (blue ribbon), can only be awarded to a dog that has the typical characteristics of the breed, well-balanced proportions and is presented in correct condition; a few minor faults are allowed, but the dog must nevertheless demonstrate class;

   good / good (green ribbon), should be awarded to a dog that has the main characteristics of the breed; the advantages must outweigh the disadvantages, so that the dog can still be considered a good representative of its breed;

   satisfactory (yellow ribbon), should be awarded to a dog that can be undoubtedly classified as a particular breed without possessing its main advantages, as well as to a dog whose physical condition differs sharply from the desired one;

   disqualification / disqualification (white ribbon) should be given to the dog in the following cases: - the type does not correspond to the standard, unusual or aggressive behavior of the breed, cryptorchidism, - defects of the dental system, defects in the structure of the jaws, non-standard color or coat structure, - obvious signs of albinism, any a disqualifying defect provided for in the standard of a given breed, as well as defects that threaten health;

   The reason for disqualification must be reflected in the description and in the report; description sheets (original and copy) must be certified by the judge’s handwritten signature and the signature of the owner/handler of the disqualified dog, confirming that he was familiar with the fact and reason for the disqualification;

   impossible to judge (without evaluation), given to a dog if it continuously jumps or rushes out of the ring, making it impossible to evaluate movements and gait, or does not allow the judge to feel himself, examine his teeth and bite, anatomy and structure, tail or testes, or she shows signs of surgery or treatment intended to mislead the judge, disguise or correct defects in the exterior (for example, an eyelid, ear, tail has been corrected); the same decision must be made in case of double handling (attracting the dog's attention from outside the ring), which is strictly prohibited at all shows in the FCI system; the reason for leaving without assessment must be reflected in the description and in the report.

   In the baby and puppy classes the following ratings are awarded: very promising (red ribbon); promising / promising (blue ribbon); unpromising / not promising (white tape).

2. 6.2.
   

   Certificates.

   In the ring, at the discretion of the judge, certificates may be issued and titles awarded:

   Baby	Puppies	Juniors	Intermediate	Open	Worker	Champions	National Club Champions	Veterans
   CW
   JCAC
   R.J.C.A.C.
   CAC
   R.CAC
   CACIB
   R.CACIB
   VCAC
   R.VCAC
   YuChRKF
   CHRKF
   VChRKF
   YuChF
   Black Sea Fleet
   VChF
   PC
   YuPK
   Military-industrial complex
   KCHK
   YKCHK
   VKCHK
   SS
   USS
   VSS
   PP
   UPP
   runway
   KChP
   SKChP
   VKChP

3. 6.3.
   

   Exhibition-certificate.

   This table makes it possible to see at which rank exhibitions (CAC, ChRF, Black Sea Fleet, CACIB) you can get this or that certificate.

   Black Sea Fleet			CHRKF			CACIB
   BOS	CW	JBOB	BOS	CW	JBOB	BOS	CW	JBOB
   CACIB
   CAC
   Black Sea Fleet
   CHRKF
   JCAC
   YuChF
   YuChRKF

4. 6.4.
   

   Decryption of certificates.

   You can find it here

How to show a dog at an exhibition?

There are special regulations for displaying dogs at an exhibition.

The expert examines the dog and describes its characteristics. The dog must stand in a standing position in the ring. The show ring is a thin show ring. The dog should stand in a stance for 1-3 minutes. Then show the dog to move. Showing a dog is a real art. If this is your first time doing this, it is better to hire a handler. Handlers are people who show a dog at a dog show. The assessment largely depends on a competent display.

How to choose a puppy to participate in exhibitions?

The most important thing that a future owner who dreams of a champion should understand well is that the class of a puppy can only be determined after the puppy is 9 months old, when the teeth have completely changed and the opportunity has arisen to receive an expert assessment at the exhibition in the first junior certification class!
At this age, a puppy can be purchased extremely rarely, at a significantly higher cost, but even this does not guarantee the reproductive qualities of your chosen one! Therefore, no one, even the best kennel and experienced dog handler, can ever guarantee you a successful show career for a puppy purchased at a significantly early age.

But it can, with a high degree of probability, determine the prospects of a particular puppy in this very career. Therefore, of course, a puppy for participation in exhibitions must be purchased from nurseries with a good reputation, where they value their goodwill and approach breeding professionally, taking into account the genetics of several generations of ancestors and selecting the best of the best for breeding work!

In such nurseries, starting from the age of 45 days, all puppies of the litter undergo certification by an experienced dog handler, during which the puppy is assessed on its exterior, psyche and temperament and receives a metric marked promising if it is not left for review or is not rejected from breeding. And only with such an assessment the baby receives admission to exhibitions and has a chance to train in a real ring and receive an assessment from other experts who, before junior age, also evaluate only the puppy’s prospects, and only after 9 months can give a real adult assessment, which will determine the puppy’s class.

In addition to excellent exterior qualities, when evaluating a “promising” puppy, a puppy selected for exhibitions should in no case be timid, overly shy or withdrawn. By the age of one month, he should be actively interested in the world around him, willing to be held and in contact with people and fellow humans, not afraid of loud and sharp sounds, by one and a half months, show the makings of courage and stature in his movements and charm in the expression of his face and smile!

In professional nurseries, where proper socialization takes place from childhood, children are given special tests to identify their inclinations for such activities and certain sports with a high probability, their behavior in the process of development and various situations is analyzed, the timing of dyeing, the color of the coat, growth characteristics are assessed, development and movements in dynamics. Therefore, you are unlikely to be able to select the most suitable puppy from the litter on your own; even after thoroughly studying the breed standard, it is better to entrust this choice to a professional.