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You have just won your first Winners Class at a dog show.
All your hard work has finally paid off, you’re
ecstatic...your dog is excited...but now comes the hard part.
How many points did Blaze actually earn??
Here is a
quick and easy guide to calculating points that doesn’t
require an advanced degree in mathematics.
The American
Kennel Club requires a dog to obtain a total of 15 points with
two major wins (a major win is worth three points or higher)
to become a champion. The majors must be won under different
judges and at least one other judge must award some of the
remaining points - so you need to win under at least three
different judges.
Class, Winners, and Breed
Competition
Class dogs are judged in classes
against other dogs of the same sex - open, puppy,
bred-by-exhibitor, American-bred, novice - are just a few.
Classes can also be divided by age (as in puppy) or color.
When the judge awards first place in a class that dog advances
to the Winners competition of its sex.
During the
Winners competition, the judge re-examines all the dogs that
have received first place in the classes and picks an overall
winner - Winners Dog for males and Winners Bitch for females.
Although you may have beaten several dogs in the classes,
championship points are only awarded to Winners Dog and
Winners Bitch. No points are awarded for class wins or Reserve
Winners.
Your Winners Dog or Winners Bitch can also win
points in the Best of Breed competition. Best of Breed
consists of dogs that have already received their
championship. Winners Dog and Winner Bitch also compete with
the champions in Best of Breed. There are three possible
awards a dog can win at this level:
Best of Breed - Awarded
to the best dog in the Best of Breed competition
Best of
Opposite Sex - Awarded to the best dog of the opposite sex to
the Best of Breed winner
Best of Winners - Awarded to the
best dog between Winners Dog and Winners
Bitch
Counting Points
Step One: Take
Attendance
Count the number of dogs or bitches
competing in the regular classes of your dog’s sex - novice,
puppy, bred-by-exhibitor, American Bred, and Open classes.
Remember to include your dog in the total! Don’t count any
dogs that are absent (no shows), disqualified, dismissed,
excused, or have awards withheld. These dogs do not count in
computing the number of dogs competing for that show. If you
did not keep up with the total number of dogs in the regular
classes, ask the ring steward or check the posted copies of
the judge's book for a count of total dogs before you leave
the show.
Tip: Check the posted copies of the
judges’ book before you leave the show to make certain your
dog was marked as the winner. Mistakes do happen! Also, verify
that your dog’s AKC registration number is correct in the
catalog. If it is not correct, let the superintendent know
before you leave the show. In both cases, it’s easier to make
the correction on the day of the show rather than later.
Step Two: Check the Schedule of Points
Compare the number of dogs competing that day to the
schedule of points for your dog’s breed and sex located in the
show catalog. The schedule is usually listed with the entries
for each breed or at the front of the catalog.
If the
number of dogs does not match exactly with those listed in the
catalog, choose the number of points assigned to the next
lowest number.
An example of a point schedule is listed
below:
Schedule of Points
| 1 Point |
2 Points |
3 Points |
4 Points |
5 Points |
| Dog |
Bitches |
Dog |
Bitches |
Dog |
Bitches |
Dog |
Bitches |
Dog |
Bitches
|
| 2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
15 |
19
|
Remember, point
schedules vary by show location. If you are not at the show,
make certain you get the points schedule for the event region
where your dog won. Refer to the Schedule of
Points.
Step 3: Calculating Points for Winners
Dog or Winners Bitch
Your dog receives the points
according to the number of dogs of your dog’s sex competing in
the regular classes.
Let’s say that Blaze is awarded
Winners Dog. After accounting for absent, disqualified, and
excused dogs, you determine that a total of 6 dogs competed in
the regular classes. Assuming the point schedule listed above,
he receives 2 points.
Now it’s your
turn...
Blaze’s sister, Bianca, wins Winners Bitch.
Nine bitches competed in the regular classes. How many points
did she earn as Winners Bitch?
Answer: 3 points
Winning More Points In the Breed Competition
Your dog can add to the points won in the Winners
Class during the Best of Breed competition. If your dog
wins:
Best of Breed
Count the total number of
dogs in its sex plus the total number of Champions of both
sexes entered in the Best of Breed competion to figure the
number of points earned.
Best of Opposite
Sex
Count the total number of dogs in its sex plus the
total number of Champions of its sex entered in the Best of
Breed competition to figure the number of points
earned.
Best of Winners
This one is a bit
different. If your dog is named Best of Winners, he is awarded
the highest point level awarded between Winners Dog and
Winners Bitch. Let’s say that Blaze beats out his sister,
Bianca, for Best of Winners. If you’ll remember Bianca
received three points for Winners Bitch and Blaze received
only two points for Winners Dog. Since Blaze took Best of
Winners, he is awarded three points instead of two and
receives one of the majors he needs for his
championship.
Now it’s your turn...
Using the
point schedule and results listed below, compute the point
totals for the Winners Dog and Winners
Bitch.
Winners Dog and Best of Winners: I’m A
Perfect Hound
Number of Dogs:
Open:
3
Bred-by-Exhibitor: 1
American Bred:
1
Winners Bitch and Best of Opposite Sex: Three
Times A Lady
Number of Bitches:
Open:
4
American Bred: 2
Number of
Champions:
Dogs: 2
Bitches: 2
Schedule of Points
| 1 Point |
2 Points |
3 Points |
4 Points |
5 Points |
| Dog |
Bitches |
Dog |
Bitches |
Dog |
Bitches |
Dog |
Bitches |
Dog |
Bitches
|
| 2 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
12 |
15 |
19
|
Points Awarded
To:
I’m A Perfect Hound (Answer: 3)
Three Times A Lady
(Answer: 3)
Here’s What Happened...
Prior to
the Best of Breed competition, I’m A Perfect Hound and Three
Times A Lady had racked up 2 points each. In the Breed
competition, Three Times A Lady won Best of Opposite Sex
beating two champion bitches in addition to the six bitches
competing in the regular classes. This win increased her
points to three. Since I’m A Perfect Hound was awarded Best of
Winners, he received three points as well (the highest point
value awarded between Winners Dog and Winners Bitch).
Verifying Points
It is important to
check on your dog’s point totals from time to time. The AKC
offers an online service to verify the number of points your
dog has accumulated toward a championship. Allow four to six
weeks for your dog’s win to be recorded in this system.
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