Champion in the Making: What It Takes to Earn the Title

To earn the coveted title of Champion, dogs need to accumulate points at AKC-approved shows. But how does a dog earn those points? Let’s break it down!

Judges and the Standard of Excellence

Each dog is evaluated by an AKC-licensed judge who has the expertise to assess dogs within a specific breed. The judge uses the Standard of Excellence for that breed to compare the dog’s qualities. Essentially, the dog that comes closest to meeting this standard — whether it’s for their build, movement, or overall appearance — earns the points for that day.

Why Do Points Vary?

Since judges have their own interpretations and preferences when evaluating dogs, different dogs may win points on different days, under different judges. It’s all about how well the dog meets the ideal standard at that moment.

Navigating Show Catalogs

Show catalogs are here to help if there is any confusion on how points work. At the front, is where one can find important rules, and the catalog can be referred to for the point schedule for each breed in the division where the show takes place. These details give you an idea of how points are assigned. There will also be the point breakdown listed with each class entry, so it is fairly easy know exactly what to expect.

However, it’s totally normal for novice exhibitors to find point calculation a little tricky at first. Don’t be discouraged – once you get the hang of it, it’ll make a lot more sense!

How Points Work

When you’re competing at a dog show, understanding how points work is key to tracking your progress toward a championship. The points awarded at each show depend on the region you're in and the number of dogs of the same sex competing. Here’s the breakdown:

• Points Scale: Points range from zero to five depending on the competition.

• One Point: If you defeat just one other dog of the same sex, you'll earn one point.

• Major Win: A major win happens when you accumulate three or more points in a single show.

• Champion Status: To become a champion, your dog needs to earn a total of 15 points under three different judges. Additionally, at least two of those wins must be majors earned under different judges.

Now, let’s talk about Winners Dog (WD) and Winners Bitch (WB):

• They earn points based on the actual number of dogs or bitches competing in their class—not just how many are entered.
  

• For example, if there are 10 dogs in the class, and your dog wins, the points will be determined by the competition in that class.

It’s also important to remember:

• Points are not awarded for dogs who are absent, disqualified, excused, or otherwise unable to compete.
  

• The competition counts toward points based on the number of dogs or bitches actually competing—not just the ones entered.

With this in mind, keeping track of a dog’s progress and understanding how points are awarded will help navigate the journey toward becoming a champion!

AKC Point Revisions

In the world of dog showing, achieving the title of Champion of Record is a journey with a few different paths. Some dogs can finish their Championship in as few as three shows, each earning five points. Others might take a bit longer, with 11 shows, including two three-point majors and nine one-point shows. And then, there are dogs that might never finish their Championship if they’re unable to win two majors or only manage to win under two judges.

It’s important to note that the AKC revises the point count each year, usually in mid-May. This revision reflects the number of dogs exhibited in each breed at previous shows. So, if more Bulldogs were shown in the previous year, more Bulldogs will be needed to earn the same number of points the following year. On the flip side, fewer dogs in a breed mean fewer competitors needed to rack up those points.

The point count can vary not just by breed but also by AKC division in the U.S., adding a little more complexity to the mix. To make things even trickier, the AKC Divisions and the BCA Divisions don’t always align!

To stay up-to-date on the current point count for a breed and region, it is important to check out the Dog Show Events calendar for all the latest details. Keeping track of these point counts will help you better understand the path to earning Championship or Grand Championship points! Once a dog earns the prestigious title of Champion of Record, they no longer compete for Championship points. However, they can still enter the Best of Breed competition and earn Grand Championship points! These points help further solidify their status as a top-tier competitor.

Double Check the Judge's Book

Before heading out from a show, it is important take a moment to double-check the posted judge’s book. Make sure your dog’s performance was marked correctly — errors do happen from time to time! Also, it is important no to forget to verify that the dog’s AKC registration number is listed correctly in the catalog. If there are any mistakes, letting the superintendent know before leaving is very important. It’s always easier to fix these things while still at the show rather than dealing with them later on.

One of the most common points of confusion occurs when a class dog goes on to win a major award. So, here’s how the AKC calculates the points in such cases:

• If adog (WD or WB) also wins Best of Breed (BOB), they’ll need to count the total number of class dogs of the same sex that were competing, plus any specials (of either sex) that were entered in the BOB competition and defeated. However, dogs entered in non-regular classes (like Veterans) don’t count towards this total since they were not part of the BOB entry.
  

• If your dog (WD or WB) wins Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed (BOS), the point calculation is a little different. They’ll still count all the class dogs of the same sex that were competing, but this time, you’ll only add the dogs of the same sex that were entered in BOB and defeated in the competition.
  

Taking a few moments to double-check everything can save from confusion later on — and help ensure that the dog’s points are accurately recorded!

Example of the Point System in Action

When the Best of Winners (BOW) is selected, the points awarded are based on the larger of two calculations: the points awarded as per the rules above, or the points given to the Winners Dog (WD) or Winners Bitch (WB).

Let’s break it down with an example. In a show with the following entries:

• 4 class dogs

• 22 class bitches

• 2 special dogs

• 5 special bitches

• 1 veteran dog

Here’s how it works:

1. Winners Dog (WD): In this case, there are 4 dogs in competition (the 4 class dogs, including WD). This means WD earns 1 point.
   

2. Winners Bitch (WB): There are 22 class bitches, so WB earns 4 points.
   

Next, let’s look at the Best of Breed (BOB) competition:

• If WD goes on to win Best of Breed (BOB), the points are calculated based on competition. Since there are 4 class dogs and 7 special dogs (class bitches and the veteran dog don’t count here), WD would earn 3 points for BOB.
  

• If the same dog goes Best of Opposite Sex (BOS) instead, there are 6 dogs in competition (4 class dogs and 2 special dogs), so WD would earn 2 points for BOS.
  

Now, if WD is Best of Winners (BOW), that automatically means this dog is the best in the breed. However, if a bitch wins BOS, the situation can be different. The Bitch might be a better example of the breed than the dog, and she might take BOW, earning 4 points instead of WD’s 1 point.

If WB were to take BOS over the 5 special bitches, she would earn the 5th point (since there were 27 bitches in total). As a result, WD would get the 5 points awarded to WB.

Finally, if the class dog (WD) moves on to Group 1 or Best in Show, the points awarded are based on the highest number of points earned by any class dog in that group, or the maximum points for any breed in the show.

How to Show for Best of Breed

When it comes to the Best of Breed competition, here are the dogs that can strut their stuff in the ring:

• Champions of Record: If your dog’s already earned their championship title, they’re ready to compete for Best of Breed.
  

• Unconfirmed Champions: If your dog has completed all the requirements for a championship but hasn’t had it confirmed yet, they can still show in the Best of Breed ring. However, there’s a catch! The window for showing these unconfirmed champions is limited to 90 days from the show date where they completed the championship requirements.
  

• Winners Dog and Winners Bitch: These dogs, along with any undefeated dogs in additional non-regular single-dog classes (like Veteran Dog or Veteran Bitch), also get their chance to compete for Best of Breed or Best of Variety of Breed.
  

How Does the Judge Choose?

In this competition, the judge’s task is to pick the dog (or bitch) that comes closest to the breed standard. The Best of Winners is awarded to the dog or bitch the judge feels represents the breed standard the best. Meanwhile, the Best of Opposite Sex title goes to the dog of the other sex that best exemplifies the breed.

Grand Champion Points

For dogs that have already achieved their championship status, they could be in the running for Grand Champion points. Judges can award points towards the Grand Champion title for the Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, and one additional dog of each sex (Select Dog and Select Bitch). But here’s an important note: if the Winners Dog or Winners Bitch takes Best of Breed or Best of Opposite Sex, they won’t earn Grand Champion points.

Grand Champion Status

Once a dog becomes a Champion, they can continue to earn additional titles in Conformation by winning Best of Breed (BOB) or Select awards in further competitions. These extra titles help that dog climb higher in the ranks of the show world!

To be eligible for Grand Championship (GCH) competition, a dog must either:

1. Be a Champion of Record (CH),

2. Or have met the requirements for a Championship title, as confirmed by the owner's records, and be transferred to BOB competition.
   

To earn a Grand Championship title, a dog needs to gather 25 points with at least three major wins. A major win is considered any victory that earns three or more points. These wins must be under three different judges, and at least one other judge should award points for some of the remaining total. In total, that dog needs to compete under at least four different judges. Plus, they must defeat at least one Champion of Record at three of these shows.

Here's a quick breakdown of the titles that may be given:

• Best of Breed (BOB)

• Best of Opposite Sex (BOS)

• Select Dog (SD)

• Select Bitch (SB)
  

Remember, point schedules can vary by location, so ensuring to get the point schedule specific to the event region where the dog won is important. The points awarded for Grand Championship (GCH) follow the same divisional point schedules used for Championship (CH) points.

Final Thoughts: Celebrating the Dog’s Championship Journey

Earning a Championship title is a monumental achievement for both the dog and its owner. It’s not just about the ribbons and trophies; it’s about the hard work, dedication, and the strong bond built along the way. Whether the dog is strutting confidently in the ring or giving its best performance, reaching this milestone reflects the training, commitment, and shared love for the sport of dog showing.

Each win, no matter the size, is a learning experience. There will be setbacks and triumphs, but with every show, the dog and handler grow stronger as a team. While earning a Championship title is a significant accomplishment, it is only the beginning of what could be a long and successful career in dog showing. From there, the path to Grand Championship and beyond offers new challenges and exciting opportunities.

Taking a moment to reflect on all the hard work that led to this point is essential. Celebrating the dog’s success—no matter how big or small—is important, and it’s vital to enjoy the journey ahead. Whether the next goal is adding more titles or simply continuing to have fun in the ring, it’s crucial to cherish the time spent together. After all, at the end of the day, it’s all about the joy of showing a beloved companion.