Showing Bulldogs

Showing dogs has become a fascination for thousands of dog owners throughout this country and overseas.

A Dog Show is like a "beauty contest" that takes into account the movement and general appearance of the breed. To be able to tell a good specimen from bad involves the "Breed Standard". The "Breed Standard" is the blueprints to the ideal specimen of each breed, by which they are judged by at shows. The standard describes the general appearance, characteristics, temperament and conformation. The purpose of this is so that the breed maintains a standard and does not gradually determinate to a different "type" of dog.

When entering a show you are paying for that particular persons (the Judge) understanding of the "Breed Standard", with their own personal experience applied to the dogs present at the show. A regular winner is meant to show that it is a good specimen of the breed and the nearest to the judges interpenetration in that category.

What's does the "Breed Standard" say?

Well many other sites have contained information on the standard and I don't want to be repetitive so I have linked to one of the good sites. However you must be aware that the breed standards can vary across the world so make sure you reading the correct version, e.g.. for England -> The Breed Standard

The two main types of shows are:
- Open Shows
- Championship Shows

All the shows run on the same system. First a dog is entered in a class, if it wins that class it has a chance to compete with all the other first class winners to gain a higher award. However different types of awards are won at different types of shows.

At an Open Show you can win;

All the shows run on the same system. First a dog is entered in a class, if it wins that class it has a chance to compete with all the other first class winners to gain a higher award. However different types of awards are won at different types of shows.
The BOB can then compete against other BOB's from the same group (Utility e.g. Dalmatian, Poodles, Shar Pei e.t.c) to challenge for Best In Group, then all Group winners (Hound, Pastoral, Working, Terrier, Gundog and Toy) compete for Best In Show (meaning exactly that!-BIS).
 

At Championship (Ch) the system is the same but the awards are different. As at these show it is possible to make a dog a breed CHAMPION (abbreviation CH). At Ch shows the classes are split in to either sex due to bigger entries. So the best dog and best bitch compete for BOB. However to compete for BOB they would have both won a CC (Challenge Certificate), which if they win three they become a Champion. The reserve dogs' to these win the RCC like RBOB. The BOB winner can then compete like in the Open show system in the group and finally for BIS.

At an Champion Show Awards;
 

So when you surfing the Net I hope that explains CC's, RCC's, BP etc on Web Pages and Sites.
 

However other Awards can be Won!!!

• Stud Book No. can be won in numerous ways and means that the dog has qualified for Crufts for life (Biggest Dog Show in The World), if a dog wins a CC, RCC or JW it will receive a stud book number. However they can also be won by being placed certain positions at Ch shows in qualifying classes.
   
• Junior Warrant (abbreviation JW) is a newer and popular award. A dog that plans to obtain this award has to have won at a combination of Ch shows (3 points for a 1st) and Open shows (1 point for a 1st) totalling 25 points by 18 months of age.
   
• SH CH titles (Show Champion) refer to Gundogs who, while qualified in the breed ring have not fulfilled the requirements under Field Trial competition rules to entitle them to bear the full title of CH.
   
• OB CH is Obedience Champion, Border Collies have to fulfil the requirements of the "Show Border Collie Working Test" held under the auspices of the International Sheepdog Society.
   
• Show Certificate of Merit (ShCM) is the newest award given my the Kennel Club. A dog that wished to obtain this merit has to have won a total of 25 points at open shows including a group placement.
   

At the end of the day it can get too CONFUSING!!! So I've try to provide you with the Bare Essentials!!!
Showing is not doubt a hobby that you learn as you go and with more experience the easier it gets, but if you've got determination and drive you'll love it! Other worth while reads is the Kennel Club website on "What is exhibiting?"
 

Our first show dog was called (Prince) Albert registered as Ambledown Dawn Crusader Of LaRoyal
(Pictured left)

He did reasonably well within the show ring qualifying for Crufts 1998. LaRoyal have done well in the ring making up our first Champion and we're looking forward to many years in the bulldog show scene.