Dog Showing in Australia
By Wilma Livingston - Updated 4 May 1994
Please note: All dogs (male & female) are referred to as "dogs" and all Exhibitors and Stewards as male. For variety the Judge is referred to as female. "You" may include your dog.Getting Started
Firstly, the dog must be registered with the controlling canine
body (in Victoria it is Dogs Victoria (also referred to as the
Victorian Canine Association or VCA) and the owner must be a
financial member of that Association. You get the Registration
papers from the Breeder, and you must transfer the dog into your
name.
You must have a supply of Entry Forms, which can be purchased from
Dogs
Victoria, and may also be available from the dog shops at some
dog shows.
Entering a Show
Dog shows are advertised in the Dogs
Victoria magazine, and if you
have any queries about any Show, you can phone the appropriate
Secretary.
Malamutes are eligible to enter for any Shows run
by the Alaskan Malamute Club, clubs relevant to the breed (such as
the Spitz Breed club or Utility Dog Club), or any All Breeds Club, such as
Lyndhurst Kennel Association, but not shows that are relevant only
to other breeds such as the the Hound Club, Doberman Club, Fox
Terrier Club etc.
Shows are usually of two types - Championship or Open - but
Sanctioned Competitions are also run.
The Classes each Club is
offering are advertised in the schedule for that Show. The
Ordinary Classes are numbered for each age group and sex, (e.g. 1
Baby Puppy Dog, 4A - Junior Bitch), and the age groups are defined
on the back of the entry forms. Special Classes (Sweepstakes,
Owner Handler Bred, or Local) always specify which dogs they are for
and allocate a Class number.
The closing date is published, and the entry must be in to the
Secretary by that date, which is usually about four weeks before the
date of the Show. If you send a stamped,
self-addressed envelope (SAE) you will get your exhibit number posted to
you, and you will know for certain that your entry has been
accepted.
If you included an SAE but have not received your
number at least two days before the Show, phone the Secretary to be
sure you are actually entered before you go to the trouble of
bathing and grooming your dog, and travelling to the Show.
Filling Out Entry Forms
Make sure that you enter in the correct age Class i.e. the age
that your dog is on the day of the Show. If you enter in the
wrong Class, the Secretary may put you in the Open Class, which is
not appropriate for dogs under three years of age who have their own
age groups.
Fill in all the relevant sections on the entry form, including
Breed, but not the height section which is not for Conformation
Shows. I recommend ordering a Catalogue, so that you can
follow what is going on at the Show.
Remember to enclose your cheque for the correct amount for the
Classes you want to enter, and a Catalogue. If the Show is to
be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds, or at KCC Park, a $1.00 Ground
Usage Levy will be incorporated in the charge for your first entry.
It is usual to enter in the youngest Class for which your dog is
eligible, i.e. Class 2, Minor Puppy Dog - which is for male dogs of
six and not exceeding nine months of age.
Preparing for the Show
Bath and groom your dog thoroughly. If possible bath him
two days before the Show, so that his coat has a chance to regain
its natural oils. When his coat is dry, groom him thoroughly,
from his head to his heels, and his tail. If you brush him
thoroughly before you bath him, it will be easier afterwards.
Collect all your gear together (store it in a special bag,
especially for Shows) and remember to put in your Exhibit Number.
Day of the Show
-
Try to get to the Show at least one hour before the advertised time for your Group. (Malamutes are in Group 6, but if the Group is split, may be 6A, 6B or 6C.) Remember to allow plenty of time to set your equipment up and groom your dog.
-
Find out which ring you are in, and collect your Catalogue.
-
Check that you are entered in the correct Class.
-
Take your dog for a walk to relieve himself, and clean up any mess he drops.
-
Give your dog a final grooming, put on the Show Lead (a not too heavy Choke Chain, and a lead about 25-40 cm long is recommended, and can be purchased from the Dog Shop, or from suppliers at Shows).
-
Pin or clip your Exhibit number on the left side of your chest, or slip into a holder on your left upper arm.
-
Take your dog to the Show Ring.
At the Ringside
Be at the ringside before the start of your Group, as you may be in
very quickly. You never know how many dogs ahead of you will
not turn up, or how fast the Judge will be in her judging.
Look for the people wearing the numbers before yours, and be ready
to move when they do. Watch the dogs being judged ahead of
you, so that you will know the Judge's style of judging before you
go into the ring. Watch what the Steward does with the dogs
when he sends them into the ring, where they stand, where the Judge
is placing them to be judged, where she is asking them to run, and
where she sends them when she is finished examining them for the
first time, etc.
All the male dogs are judged before the bitches, and the younger
dogs go in first.
Make sure that you are in a position which enables you to hear the
Assembly Steward call your number, and make sure that he knows that
you are there. When he calls you, approach him, ready to go
into the ring when he tells you. Try to see which dogs are
first and last in your Class. If you are near the front of
your class, you must be very alert, as the dogs in front may not
arrive. If it is your first Show, tell the Assembly Steward or
Ring Steward as you go in, and he will tell you exactly what to do.
If there is a dog in front of you, basically you do what his handler
does. Listen to what the Steward tells you, and then listen to
what the judge tells you to do.
In the Ring
Keep your dog on your left side at all times, and do not let your
body get between the Judge and your dog.
Usually, the dogs are run into the ring one behind the other.
Run your dog at a steady trot - it is not meant to be a race -
keeping at least six feet between your dog and the dogs in front and
behind.
You (or the handlers of the dogs up the front of the class) will be
told by the Ring Steward where to stop, and sometimes you will be
asked to go around twice. Gently pull up where requested,
again keeping a good distance between dogs, and put your dog into a
"Show Stance". The judge will usually then look down the line of
dogs. Do what you can to make your dog look alert and bring
his ears up, but always keep him under control.
The judge will then examine every dog individually, often moving him
away from the 1ine of dogs to do so. You may relax your dog
until your time approaches. The Judge usually starts by
looking at the head and examining the teeth first, and working down
the body to the rear. Hold your dog's head firmly between your
hands while she examines his mouth. Continue to hold him
firmly by his collar while the Judge is examining the rest of him,
but try to let her have a good view of the dog at all times.
Gaiting or Moving Your Dog
If you are asked to "Do a triangle" the Judge wants to see your dog
(not you) running STRAIGHT away from her (rear view), then across
(side view), then straight back to her (front view), pulling up
gently (do not adjust your dog at this time) about six feet in front
of the Judge. Line your dog, not yourself, up with the judge.
Hold that natural stance until the Judge dismisses you.
Usually she will say "Thank you" and may tell you to go to the end
of the line, or "Take him around to the end" in which case she wants
you to run your dog right around the ring to the end of the line
(and she will watch you). If you are not sure what she said,
or what she wants you to do, ask her again!
Sometimes she may just turn away to the next dog, or wave her hand
in a certain direction. Unless you are told anything
different, run your dog gently around to the end of the line (don't
cross immediately in front of the other dogs).
Sometimes a judge will say something like "Straight out and back" or
"Take him across" in which case she wants to see your dog running
straight away from her, turning and running straight back, again
pulling gently up into a natural stance about six feet from her.
Remember that she is trying to see how he gaits (moves), and how
balanced he is when he pulls up. If your dog breaks into a
gallop she cannot assess him, and it is probably because you are
running him too fast. It is very important for the Judge to be
able to assess your dog's gait, so if necessary, take him back and
start again. It is better to have a dog just loping along in a
slow trot than galloping. Moving off slowly helps.
Finishing
As the last dog steps up to be examined, you should start to get
your dog in position for the Judge to have her last look, and make
her decision. Make the best of your dog - stand him squarely,
with his front legs and the hocks of his back legs parallel and try
to make him look alert (sometimes gently clicking your fingers, or
using a small piece of food, or a small squeaky toy helps), but keep
him under control. Try to keep one eye on the Judge, and one
eye on your dog, and another eye on the other exhibitors, at all
times when you are in the ring.
If she selects your dog, the judge will call you out and tell you
your place. There are various ways of doing this - one judge
will say "Thank you" and point to each dog in turn, another will
just point, another will look at you and hold up one, two or three
fingers, while others will be very specific and say "Thank you, Sir,
I'll have your dog first".
Leaving the Ring
If you have been chosen as 1st, 2nd or 3rd, gently praise your dog for being good, and move to a position in front of the appropriate marker, and wait until the Ring Steward writes down your number, and dismisses you. The judge may give you a ribbon, and shake your hand. Remember to keep a good control on your dog - it is too soon to relax yet. Try to remember to congratulate the other placegetters. If you have not been chosen, praise your dog, and just move quietly out of the ring in your place behind the others when they go. Try to smile and be a good sport, no matter what, and don't get a swelled head if YOU won, because the roles may be reversed next week. You also congratulate the winners, even if you don't agree with the Judge's decision.
Best Dog
If you have won your Class you will be required to go back into the
ring again to compete for Best Dog or Bitch, so move into a position
near the Assembly Steward, and be ready when he calls you. If
you have got second place, do the same, as you may be required also.
The oldest dog leads into the ring with the youngest last.
Again, do exactly as you are told by the Judge, who will probably do
things differently, and faster, this time.
After Best Dog (at a Championship Show, he is Challenge Winning
Dog), is chosen, the second place winner in his Class enters the
ring to compete for Reserve Dog. That is the end of the
judging of the Males. All dogs should move away from the
assembly area to give the bitches room, but the Best Dog, Reserve
Dog, and all Class Winners should not go far as they will be
required again.
The bitches will then be judged in the same way, through to Best
Bitch and Reserve Bitch.
Best of Breed
The Best Dog and Best Bitch then enter the ring, with the male leading, so the judge can select her Best of Breed (BOB), and Runner-Up to Best of Breed (RUBOB). If the dog is chosen as BOB, then the Reserve Dog enters the ring and competes with the Best Bitch for Runner-Up. If the bitch is BOB, the Reserve Bitch competes with the Best Dog for Runner-Up.
Baby Puppies
The exception to the above is the Baby Puppy Class winners, who are too young to compete for Best Dog/Bitch, but will be required for the Run-off and if they win that, Group Specials.
Run-Off for Class Winners
After the RUBOB is chosen, all Class Winners who have not been eliminated are required back in the Ring for the Judge to choose the best of each age class. Only the winners of the Run-off go into the Group Specials.
End of Breed Judging
That is then the end of the Breed Class judging, and everyone can move away until all the rest of the breeds in Group 6 have been judged. If you have not won your Class, or got RUBOB, you may go home, if you wish. It is always a good idea to check with the Steward to make sure that you will not be required again that day. If you have won, you will be required to present your dog for Group Specials. Check your Catalogue, and keep an eye on what is going on in the Ring, so that you will be ready for the Specials, which usually follow straight after the Siberian Huskies, and St. Bernards.
Group Specials
All Best of Breed winners go into the ring in catalogue order
(Malamutes are second, behind Akitas) for judging of Best Exhibit in
Group, with the Runner-Up's standing by. If the group was
split, the judge will first examine the dogs she has not seen.
If the Alaskan Malamute is selected for Best Exhibit, then the
Runner Up Malamute goes in for judging of Runner-Up to Best Exhibit.
The Best Exhibit is automatically the Best In Group for the age
class in which he is entered, and if the Runner Up to Best Exhibit
is from a different class, he is also. This is where they hand
out the big sashes and the trophies.
Then the Best Baby Puppy in Group (if there is one) is judged next,
Best Minor Puppy in Group etc. is judged, and so on, up to Best
Open. Remember that one, and possibly two, Classes have
already been eliminated, so if you are a winner, be ready!
Best In Show
If you are fortunate enough to win an In Group award, you will be eligible to compete for an In Show award, where the procedure is the same as for In group, except the competitors are the winners from the other six groups.
Challenge Certificate
If your dog won the Challenge, remember to collect your Challenge
Certificate at the completion of Group Judging, or at the end of the
Show Specials. These certificates are not available until your
dog has finally been eliminated.
You are now free to go home, show off all your goodies (if you got
any), and send in your Show Results for publication in the Malamute
Mail.
Class Winners do not compete for Group Specials if:
-
They have been eliminated at Breed level, by being beaten in their Age Class Run-off, or by the dog or bitch who won BOB or RUBOB, i.e. if the Open Dog gets BOB and the Intermediate Bitch gets RUBOB, then both the Open Bitch (beaten by the Open Dog) and the Intermediate Dog (beaten by the Intermediate Bitch) have been eliminated, even if they are Reserve winners.
-
If BOB is Open Bitch, and RUBOB is Intermediate Bitch, there both Open and Intermediate Dog have been eliminated, even if one is Challenge Winner. If you do not understand this, get someone to explain it to you. A lot of exhibitors present for Group Specials when they have already been eliminated at Breed judging level, and could have left hours earlier.
-
The Best Exhibit In Group, or Runner Up in Group is from your Age Class, e.g. if a Newfoundland gets Best Exhibit, and she is from Junior Class, she eliminates all Juniors, because she is automatically Best Junior in Group. And if the Akita, who gets Runner Up is from the Puppy Class, he is automatically Best Puppy, and all puppies are eliminated.
-
If both the Group winners are from Intermediate Class, then only the Intermediates have been eliminated, and all other Classes are eligible to compete.
-
You fail to answer your call to the ring, and are marked absent.
Once the Ring Steward calls you absent, you cannot enter the ring.
If you are the Challenge Winner, you also lose your Championship
points.
PLEASE NOTE:
-
Be aware of the VCA Rule which states that Baby Puppies can only compete against other Baby Puppies, and are not eligible to compete for Best Dog or Bitch. They are also not eligible to compete for any Special Classes, except Baby Puppy Sweepstakes.
-
Also, do nothing to identify your dog while you are in the ring. Dogs are supposed to be anonymous while in the ring.
Please contact the AMCV Show Secretary or Dogs Victoria (Victorian Canine Association) if you have any queries about showing your dog. -
For a multiple day show, such as the Melbourne Royal, the dog’s age on the first day of the Show is used.