Conformation dog shows exist to promote the continued development of dogs that meet the standard for the golden retriever. Show dogs aren't just pretty faces, in fact, the standard dictates that they must be shown in hard working condition. They are required to meet the breed standard in all areas and have no disqualifying faults. These standards include qualifications for structure, temperament and movement. To become a Canadian champion, a dog must attain 10 points, under at least three different judges, and will have earned at least one 2 point win (major) over other dogs, at either the breed or the group level.
A good show dog will have received training in many areas, to prepare for competition. They have to be able to stand quietly for a judge's examination, have their bite shown, ignore other dogs and be able to move around the ring and show themselves to their best advantage.
Classes- Official
Every dog competing for points at a dog show is entered in at least one of these official classes for their breed and sex. The classes are:
Junior Puppy: Puppies that are at least six months old and under nine months old on the day of the show.
Senior Puppy: Puppies that are between nine and twelve months old on the day of the show.
12-18 Month Dog/Bitch: A dog that is between the age of twelve and eighteen months old on the day of the show.
Open Dog/Bitch: For all dogs.
Canadian Bred: For Canadian dogs who were born in Canada.
Bred by Exhibitor: dogs in this ring are handled by their owner/breeder. The handler must be the owner or co-owner of the dog as well as the breeder or co-breeder of the dog to compete in this class.
Classes- Non-Regular
Some shows also offer a Veterans Class for dogs over the age of 7 on the day of the show. Dogs in this class may be spayed or neutered.
There is also a class for Baby Puppy, for puppies between the ages of 3 to under 6 months
Winners Classes
Once the regular classes are done, the Winner’s Classes are now judged.
The first place (or blue ribbon) male winners in all the various classes come back in the ring and the judge then chooses their Winners Male. The Winners Male receives a purple ribbon. After the judge selects their Winners Male, they then look at the remaining dogs and select a Reserve Winners Male who gets a mauve ribbon. Following the selection of Reserve Winners Male, all the female blue ribbon winners enter the ring and the same procedure is followed.
Best of Breed
After the judging of Winners Male and Winners Female, dogs who are already Champions enter the ring with the Winners Male and Winners Female for Best of Breed. The Best of Breed winner has defeated all competition in their particular breed and receives a red, white and blue ribbon for this accomplishment.
After Best of Breed is awarded, the judge then chooses Best of Opposite Sex. The dogs of the opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner now compete for Best of Opposite Sex.
Best of Winners is judged at the same time as Best of Breed. This is where the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch are judged and a Best of Winners award is given. This ribbon is purple and gold. If a class dog wins Best of Breed, they are automatically Best of Winners. Best of Winners is only awarded if there is both a Winners Dog and a Winners Female competing at the Best of Breed level.
Select Dog and Select Bitch are awards that are then presented to dogs that were recognized as the top quality of their sex after Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex have been awarded. Select Dog and Select Bitch get a rainbow coloured ribbon.
The final breed award is Best Puppy in Breed. This is where all puppies that haven’t been defeated by another puppy in class competition enter the ring and the winner receives a light blue ribbon.
Group Judging
All of the Canadian Kennel Club’s recognized breeds belong to one of the club’s seven groups. They are: Sporting (in which the Golden Retriever resides), Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding. All Best of Breed winners are brought into the ring by group and the judge selects first, second, third, fourth in Group. The winners here receive blue, red, yellow and white rosettes respectively. The first place winner in the Group competition goes on to compete in the Best in Show ring.
Best in Show
All seven Best of Group winners are judged for the show’s top award, Best in Show. The winner of Best in Show gets a red, white and blue rosette. The judge also selects a Reserve Best in Show winner and they receive a light purple rosette.
Following the Best in Show competition, the seven puppies that won their Group enter the ring and the Best Puppy in Show receives a huge light blue rosette. If a puppy wins Best in Show, they are also the Best Puppy in Show winner.
Points Table
Champions and Championship Points
Dogs Competing 1 2 3 to 5 6 to 9 10 to 12 13 +
Points Awarded 0 1 2 3 4 5
*total includes dog awarded winners
The point system provides for additional points if a class dog awarded best of breed also places in the group as listed below.
Breeds Competing Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4
13 or more 5 4 3 2
10 to 12 4 3 2 1
6 to 9 3 2 1 1
5 2 1 1 1
4 2 1 1 0
3 2 1 0 0
2 1 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 0
Resources:
CKC guide to dog shows
www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Shows-Trials/Event-Rules-Regulations/Conformation-Show-Rules-and-Regulations
A good show dog will have received training in many areas, to prepare for competition. They have to be able to stand quietly for a judge's examination, have their bite shown, ignore other dogs and be able to move around the ring and show themselves to their best advantage.
Classes- Official
Every dog competing for points at a dog show is entered in at least one of these official classes for their breed and sex. The classes are:
Junior Puppy: Puppies that are at least six months old and under nine months old on the day of the show.
Senior Puppy: Puppies that are between nine and twelve months old on the day of the show.
12-18 Month Dog/Bitch: A dog that is between the age of twelve and eighteen months old on the day of the show.
Open Dog/Bitch: For all dogs.
Canadian Bred: For Canadian dogs who were born in Canada.
Bred by Exhibitor: dogs in this ring are handled by their owner/breeder. The handler must be the owner or co-owner of the dog as well as the breeder or co-breeder of the dog to compete in this class.
Classes- Non-Regular
Some shows also offer a Veterans Class for dogs over the age of 7 on the day of the show. Dogs in this class may be spayed or neutered.
There is also a class for Baby Puppy, for puppies between the ages of 3 to under 6 months
Winners Classes
Once the regular classes are done, the Winner’s Classes are now judged.
The first place (or blue ribbon) male winners in all the various classes come back in the ring and the judge then chooses their Winners Male. The Winners Male receives a purple ribbon. After the judge selects their Winners Male, they then look at the remaining dogs and select a Reserve Winners Male who gets a mauve ribbon. Following the selection of Reserve Winners Male, all the female blue ribbon winners enter the ring and the same procedure is followed.
Best of Breed
After the judging of Winners Male and Winners Female, dogs who are already Champions enter the ring with the Winners Male and Winners Female for Best of Breed. The Best of Breed winner has defeated all competition in their particular breed and receives a red, white and blue ribbon for this accomplishment.
After Best of Breed is awarded, the judge then chooses Best of Opposite Sex. The dogs of the opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner now compete for Best of Opposite Sex.
Best of Winners is judged at the same time as Best of Breed. This is where the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch are judged and a Best of Winners award is given. This ribbon is purple and gold. If a class dog wins Best of Breed, they are automatically Best of Winners. Best of Winners is only awarded if there is both a Winners Dog and a Winners Female competing at the Best of Breed level.
Select Dog and Select Bitch are awards that are then presented to dogs that were recognized as the top quality of their sex after Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex have been awarded. Select Dog and Select Bitch get a rainbow coloured ribbon.
The final breed award is Best Puppy in Breed. This is where all puppies that haven’t been defeated by another puppy in class competition enter the ring and the winner receives a light blue ribbon.
Group Judging
All of the Canadian Kennel Club’s recognized breeds belong to one of the club’s seven groups. They are: Sporting (in which the Golden Retriever resides), Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding. All Best of Breed winners are brought into the ring by group and the judge selects first, second, third, fourth in Group. The winners here receive blue, red, yellow and white rosettes respectively. The first place winner in the Group competition goes on to compete in the Best in Show ring.
Best in Show
All seven Best of Group winners are judged for the show’s top award, Best in Show. The winner of Best in Show gets a red, white and blue rosette. The judge also selects a Reserve Best in Show winner and they receive a light purple rosette.
Following the Best in Show competition, the seven puppies that won their Group enter the ring and the Best Puppy in Show receives a huge light blue rosette. If a puppy wins Best in Show, they are also the Best Puppy in Show winner.
Points Table
Champions and Championship Points
Dogs Competing 1 2 3 to 5 6 to 9 10 to 12 13 +
Points Awarded 0 1 2 3 4 5
*total includes dog awarded winners
The point system provides for additional points if a class dog awarded best of breed also places in the group as listed below.
Breeds Competing Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4
13 or more 5 4 3 2
10 to 12 4 3 2 1
6 to 9 3 2 1 1
5 2 1 1 1
4 2 1 1 0
3 2 1 0 0
2 1 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 0
Resources:
CKC guide to dog shows
www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Shows-Trials/Event-Rules-Regulations/Conformation-Show-Rules-and-Regulations