This document has been created for you by the American Kennel Club to help you understand the point schedule and how Championship points are counted. Learn more about conformation, here.
The American Kennel Club requires a dog to obtain a total of 15 points with two major wins (a major win is worth three points or higher) to become a champion. The majors must be won under different judges and at least one other judge must award some of the remaining points – so you need to win under at least three different judges. The judge who awarded a dog Winners will be the judge of record for the purposes of determining which judge awarded championship points.
You will see how to figure the points when your dog or bitch wins the Winners Class, Best of Winners, Best of Opposite Sex or Best of Breed.
Winners Dog — WD
Winners Bitch — WB
Best of Breed — BOB
Best of Opposite Sex — BOS
Best of Winners — BOW
How to Determine If a Class Dog That Finished Second, Third, or Fourth in a Group Will Receive Additional Points
A dog in its breed competition at a show which has placed Winners, and which also has finished second, third, or fourth in its group competition will receive the greatest number of points from these two scenarios:
- The number of points earned in its breed competition.
- The highest number of points earned by any dog or bitch in its group class, exclusive of any breed or variety that placed higher in the group class.
Scenario:
Sporting Group Results
Group 1 – Champion Bitch, Labrador Retriever
Group 2 – Champion, German Shorthaired Pointer
Group 3 – Winners Dog, Field Spaniel
Group 4 – Champion Dog, Brittany
The Field Spaniel that won Group 3 would receive the highest number of points awarded to any dog or bitch of the breeds or varieties in the Sporting Group other than the Labrador Retriever or German Shorthaired Pointer, if those points are more than the Field Spaniel earned in its breed competition.
Example 1:
- The Field Spaniel earned three points in its breed competition.
- The highest number of points earned by any other class dog or bitch in the group, exclusive of a Labrador Retriever or German Shorthaired Pointer, was two points.
- The Field Spaniel will be awarded three points based on its breed competition.
Example 2:
- The Field Spaniel earned three points in its breed competition.
- The highest number of points earned by any other class dog or bitch in the group, exclusive of a Labrador Retriever or German Shorthaired Pointer, was four points.
- The Field Spaniel will be awarded four points based on its placement in the group class.
How To Figure Points for Winners Dog and Winners Bitch
In the show catalog you will see a schedule of points for your breed that will look similar to this:
Remember, point schedules vary by show location. If you are not at the show, make certain you get the points schedule for the event region where your dog won. Refer to the Schedule of Points.
To figure your points, count dogs competing in the regular classes of your dog’s sex. Then compare that number to the point schedule in your catalog.
Winners Dog — WD (3 dogs = 2 pts)
Winners Bitch — WB (4 bitches = 3 pts)
TIPS: When counting dogs in competition, you only count dogs present that are judged. Dogs that are disqualified, dismissed, excused or have all awards withheld do not count. Also, any class dog that is moved up to Best of Breed is counted as Champion, not a class dog.
Check the posted copies of the judge’s book before you leave the show to make certain your dog was marked as the winner. Mistakes do happen! Also, verify that your dog’s AKC registration number is correct in the catalog. If it is not correct, let the superintendent know before you leave the show. In both cases, it’s easier to make the correction on the day of the show rather than later.
How To Figure Points If Your Class Dog or Bitch Goes Best of Breed
Count regular class dogs in your sex, plus all move ups & Champions of both sexes entered for Best of Breed competition. Absentees do not count.
WD goes BOB (3 class dogs + 3 champions = 6 dogs for 5 pts)
WB goes BOB (4 class bitches + 3 champions = 7 bitches for 5 pts)
TIPS: Veteran dogs or any other non-regular class dogs are not counted in determining points.
How To Figure Points If Your Class Dog or Bitch Goes Best of Opposite Sex
Count class dogs in your sex plus all Champions & move ups, only of the same sex, that competed for Best of Breed.
WD goes BOS (3 class dogs + 2 champion dogs = 5 dogs for 4 pts)
WB goes BOS (4 class bitches + 1 champion bitches = 5 bitches for 4 pts)
How To Figure Points for Best of Winners
Count points first for Winners Dog, then for Winners Bitch. Whichever is awarded Best of Winners will receive the highest number.
WD goes BOW over the WB (2 pts in dogs and 3 pts in bitches = 3 pts for BOW)
WB goes BOW over the WD (2 pts in dogs and 3 pts in bitches = 3 pts for BOW)
TIPS: You only get the highest point count – you can not combine dogs and bitches points together.
Example: WD gets 2 pts and BOW is 3 pts. The award is 3 pts, not 5 pts.
It is important if a class dog or bitch is awarded BOS to figure those points before figuring BOW.
How To Determine If Best of Winners Will Receive A Point
If neither sex had sufficient competitors to qualify for a point and the sum total of the sexes meets or exceeds the number required for a point in its sex, Best of Winners will receive 1 point.
WD or WB goes BOW (0 pts in dogs and 0 pts in bitches = 1 pt for BOW)
Tips: You can only obtain 1 point at a show using the above method.
Sample
Work through the following examples and see if your answers are correct. We have put together a sample judge’s sheet to help you understand some of the possibilities.
WD (3 pts)
WB (4 pts)
WD goes BOB (5 pts)
WB goes BOB (5 pts)
WD goes BOS (5 pts)
WB goes BOS (5 pts)
WD goes BOW over WB (4 pts)
WB goes BOW over WD (4 pts)
WD goes BOW, WB goes BOS — Points for WD are (5 pts)
We hope the foregoing has helped you understand the point system, thus adding to your enjoyment of dog shows.
Now go to the Schedule of Points and work the above scenarios for your breed.
Should you have additional questions please refer to Chapter 16, Section 1, Rules Applying to Dog Shows.