Dog shows

The Dog Show is a meeting between the dog-loving public and specialists in the field: judges, breeders, the breed clubs and dog lovers.
No prize money is won!!! Each breed is presented separately and is judged by an expert, called a judge, licensed by the National Board of Italian Cynophilia, who will evaluate the dog according to a parameter that is the breed standard, where all the morphological characteristics of the breed are detailed. All countries that are members of the FCI (an international organization to which Italy belongs) have a single standard for each breed. The events are recognized by the Italian Kennel Club (ENCI) and dogs of breeds recognized by the International Kennel Federation (FCI) after nine months of age may participate. The dog, which is presented well cleaned but not (should be) groomed with foams and various ammenities, enters the ring, where the judge is, together with the other subjects, with their handlers, of its class (juveniles, adults (free), champions; divided into males and females…).
After an initial round that is made, counterclockwise while holding the dog with the left hand, all the subjects around the judge, at a trot, for an initial overall assessment, we move on to individual judging.
The dog is held on station in front of the judge, and the judge observes the dog, in general construction, expression, head, and loins; he checks the texture of the coat, correct teeth, and begins to make an initial judgment. At this stage, the dog must have been accustomed to standing still in correct station (and if necessary having the handler put it there) and being handled. Then the dog is rotated, on a soft leash and at a trot, always counterclockwise, around the judge who evaluates its lateral movement.

The second evaluation is on front and rear movement, and to evaluate this the judge has the dog move in front of him, in a straight line, first forward and then backward.

In all this time the judge will have made a judgment that will report all his positive and negative evaluations, with reference to the Standard, of the dog. Summary will be a rating (quite good, good, very good, excellent). Then, after the individual judgments are over, we generally have all (or some) subjects re-enter the ring and have them do a few rounds in a circle as at the beginning. At this point the judge will draw up a ranking, which will hopefully be taken calmly by the presenters. The judge will also, if he or she deems it appropriate, issue the winner with the coveted certificate that will be used to achieve the score for proclamation as Italian champion. The CAC. In international events, the CACIB required for the international championship may also be issued. It can also release the reservation, always if deemed appropriate. As part of the expo then the best male, best female, and best of breed will be chosen. Later in the “ring of honor” the best in group will be proclaimed, among the winners of the breeds belonging to the same group, and, among all the best in group, the “best in show,” the dog that, with reference to its Standard will have been judged closest to the ideal dog “drawn” by the Standard of its breed. Not the most beautiful! Recall also that rallies (also valid for championships) and “specials” are organized by the breed club as part of dog shows.

The exhibits are divided into several categories:
– REGIONALS.
– NATIONAL
– INTERNATIONAL
– RALLIES OR BREED SPECIALS

REGIONALS
They are not used to attain the title of champion; however, they are divided into classes (Juniores, Juniors, Libera) and in order to participate, one must have a qualification booklet and the dogs are entered on the spot (usually dogs without pedigree and therefore without a qualification booklet are also allowed). They are useful for getting the dog used to exhibitions.

NATIONALS
They serve to achieve the title of Italian champion, as the CAC is awarded, are held on a single day. Registration must be done twenty days before the event. The dog must achieve the following qualifications:
– 2 CACs in national exhibition
– 2 CACs in International Exhibition
– 2 CACs in special shows or breed gatherings (breeds not part of a club need 2 CACs in national).

INTERNATIONAL
They serve to achieve the titles of both Italian (CAC) and international (CACIB) champion. Due to the large number of dogs entered these are divided into two days according to the group they belong to (e.g. 1st group Shepherds and Cattlemen up to the 10th group Greyhounds). Registrations must be made 30 days in advance. The dog must obtain 4 CACIBs in at least three different countries (awarded by at least three different judges)

Classes are divided into:
BABY/PUPPY (only in breed gatherings from 3 to 6 months)
JUNIORES (6 to 9 months old)
YOUNG PEOPLE (9 to 18 months)
FREE ( from 15 months onward and still compulsory class from 18 months)
CHAMPIONS (Subjects that have already been proclaimed Italian Champions and optionally subjects that are champions of another FCI country must be entered in this class. No CAC can be awarded in this class but only the CACIB valid for international championship purposes).

Possible qualifications are:
– EXCELLENT: very typical dog
– VERY GOOD: typical dog
– GOOD: typical dog with non-serious defects
– FAIRLY GOOD: fairly typical dog
What does CAC, CACIB, BOB, BOS mean?
CAC : means Certificate of Championship Aptitude and is issued by judges in National and International exhibitions, in Free class, provided they have obtained the First Excellent qualification.
RCAC: this is the Reserve of CAC and is awarded to the dog that, again with the qualification of Excellent ranked second
CACIB: means Certificate of Aptitude for the International Championship of Beauty, and is issued by judges in International exhibitions with the qualification of Excellent.
RCACIB: is the reserve of CACIB and is awarded to the dog qualified second always with the qualification of Excellent
BOB: Best Of Breed, is famous Best Of Breed.
BOS: Best Of Opposite Sex, is the Best Of Opposite Sex.

Unfolding of exhibits: advice from the text “The Chihuahua”
The task of examining the registered subjects is entrusted to experienced judges. One arrives at the qualification of a judge by starting with some mandatory prerequisites following a specific process of both theoretical and practical study and examinations.
On the day of the show, the experienced judge examines the dogs carefully, one by one, both stationary and moving, makes a written report, assigns a qualification and decides the ranking. Awards are given to those subjects that in overall appearance and in every morphological and temperamental detail best interpret the breed.
Exhibitions usually take place in large rooms (like exhibition halls) or outdoors. Catalogs and floor plans of the various rings are located at the entrance. Rings are spaces, generally bounded by barriers, where judging takes place.
In most cases, judgments begin in the morning, around 10 o’clock.

Visitors can enter at any time, but exhibitors usually arrive earlier than the judging start time because they have to take care of a number of small things first. To begin, numbered tags,two for each dog, are collected from the secretary’s office: one tag must be hung on the leash that will be used in the ring; the other must be worn by the exhibitor in a visible manner, usually pinned to the lapel of a jacket or tied to the left arm. The number shown on the tags will correspond to the number affixed to the cages, to the dog’s assigned place in the show pen, and to the number listed in the catalog. Exhibitors must then place around the ring or in the immediate vicinity the grooming table with all the specific tools: brushes, combs, gunzagli, scissors, etc.

Then you start taking care of your dog, and after providing a little walk for “pee” purposes, you make sure that the little one feels more relaxed and comfortable while waiting for the time for judgments. Dogs must be promptly brought into the ring when the ring steward or an assistant calls the class in which they are entered. Many exhibitors are providently preparing at ringside, in the immediate vicinity of the entrance, as early as a few minutes before the call. Following the numerical order, the dogs are placed inside the ring. Usually, when everyone is placed, the judge gives an initial general look, then invites everyone to go around the ring or two together to observe and compare movement. It then examines one subject at a time. At the end, after also comparing them with each other, he elects the winner of each class. The best overall male and best overall female are then chosen from the winners of the various classes. Of these two, the best will be the Best Of Breed.

The subject judged best of breed participates, in what is called the “ring of honor,” in a further selection: the best of the group to which its breed belongs, in the case of the Chihuahua it is group number nine, pet dogs. If he wins this selection as well, he can participate in the Best in Show, which is when the absolute best dog in each group is chosen from the best in the show.
Here are some important excerpts below, taken from the FCI (International Kennel Federation) regulations for dog shows: “Dogs that are sick, crippled or affected by testicular atrophy as well as bitches in heat or clearly in lactation or accompanied by their puppies are excluded from shows. Dogs not listed in the catalog cannot be judged unless authorized by the organizing committee (catalog printing problem, etc.)…

…It is forbidden to treat the coat, skin, and nose with anything that alters their structure, color and shape. It is forbidden to prepare the dog, in the exhibition space, with any substance or equipment. Brushing and grooming is allowed. It is also forbidden to leave the dog tied to the table beyond the time required for its preparation. Chips and tattoos are allowed. If there are no chip-reading scanners in the country where the exhibition is held, the exhibitor must bring his own.

(Photo: Crufts, other photos and text taken from: Candida Pialorsi Falsina and Antonella Tomaselli, “The Chihuahua,” De Vecchi Editore 2009 – Many thanks to Judge Falsina and De Vecchi Publishing House for granting permission to publish this text).