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Conformation Internationally at AthleticDogs.com

Conformation Around the World

Conformation competitions are popular throughout North America and Europe,and are growing in other areas of the world as well. Thousands of conformation events are held each year from the major all-breed shows to local breed club, informal shows. The majority of conformation events are sanctioned by the leading registries in those areas (either through member clubs or affiliate organizations).

The American Kennel Club (AKC) was established in 1884 and quickly became the primary dog registry in the US. Currently, the AKC sanctions and licenses over 15,000 events each year. They boast about 500 member clubs and over 4,000 affiliates. AKC registration is intended to verify that a dog, its parents, and ancestors are all purebred. Some AKC detractors argue that the AKC is not as strict in their standards as other organizations, in part because the registry does not in any way account for the health or quality of the dogs...as long as their parents and ancestors are registered purebreds, any dog can be AKC registered.

All dogs that compete in AKC conformation must be registered with the AKC, thus must be verified purebreds. The competitions provide an opportunity for the best quality dogs of each breed to earn titles. Generally, an AKC champion title indicates a well-bred dog who is also healthy with the right temperament for the breed.

The Kennel Club in the UK is widely considered the top conformation organization and the most difficult under which to earn a title. Certain KC shows are designated as Championship Shows, and only the top male and female dogs (one of each) at these shows is awarded a Challenge Certificate (CC). Three CCs are required to earn the champion title. As if this isn’t difficult enough, the KC also limits the number of CCs available for each breed.

There are several types of dog shows presented in the UK, from the smallest Companion Shows to the largest Champion Shows. Companion shows usually have a few conformation classes for pedigree dogs along with some novelty classes such as most handsome dog and waggiest tail. The novelty classes are often open to cross-breed dogs as well, and the companion shows are often run as fundraising events. The Open shows are available only to dogs registered with the Kennel Club (KC). Open shows are very common and are intended for dogs and handlers to gain experience and earn points toward Junior Warrant or Show Certificate of Merit awards.

Limited shows are a bit more serious and are open only to members of the dog club or society running the show. The Championship shows are the top level of conformation competition in the UK. At these shows, dogs earn points toward a Junior Warrant and compete for the difficult Challenge Certificate (CC). Most Championship shows award only one CC to the top dog, but the biggest shows award two – one Best Dog and one Best Bitch. Again, three of these CCs are required to earn a champion title.

The most prestigious of the UK championship shows is Crufts. Each dog entered at Crufts must qualify with certain wins at the Championship or Open show levels. The Kennel Club also hosts a mixed-breed show, Scruffts, which judges the dogs on character, health and temperament.

In both the US and Canada, dogs earn points toward the championship for wins at each level within a show. The number of points earned varies by level, number of dogs competing, and whether the show is major or minor. Each kennel club establishes its own point requirements for titles. The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) shows are nearly identical to the AKC programs. The primary difference is that 10 points are needed for a Championship, including at least one major.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale sponsors international conformation competitions. Here, the dogs first receive individual written descriptions of positive and negative qualities from the judge. Only the dogs with the highest ratings move on to compete against other dogs in the class. To qualify for a championship, a dog must receive four international Certificat d'Aptitude au Championnat International de Beauté awards. One of these must be earned in the dog’s own country and at least two in other countries.

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