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A Guide to showing your Yorkshire terrier
So, you are thinking about showing your Yorkie? If you have never done it before, there is a lot to learn!
In this article, I will do my best to discuss showing your Yorkie. This article is intended for those who have never shown before, never been to a dog show, or those who are just interested in the whole process. This article goes over the very basics of showing in AKC conformation events.
At the end of the article, I will have links to examples of the various documents that I reference.
First, does your Yorkie qualify to compete in AKC conformation events? In order to enter an AKC show for conformation, your Yorkies MUST:
- be at least 6 months old (usually this is the lowest age class offered)
- be registered with the AKC
- have full registration with the AKC
- be intact (not spayed or neutered)
If your Yorkie meets these basic eligibility requirements, you will likely be able to enter your Yorkie in an AKC conformation event. There are a few things that may lead your Yorkie to be disqualified from the competition - the most important one is coloring. The YTCA has directed all judges to disqualify mature Yorkies that have coloring other than black/blue and tan as described in the Yorkshire terrier breed standard. The specifics are to disqualify Yorkies that are: solid color dogs such as a solid color gold or solid color chocolate, a chocolate and tan dog or other unusual combination of colors, or a white dog with black and tan markings (parti-color).
Okay, so, you qualify to enter - What's next? Well, if at all possible, you should go to a show to see what it is like. Dog show's are a totally different world, and if you don't have a clue what you are doing, the first time around may be a disaster.
To find a local show, you can visit the AKC's website. You can search for events by state, time of year, and more.
To find a local show, you can also visit the website of a dog show superintendent. Dog show superintendents provide resources for kennel clubs when they are putting on a show, such as taking entries, distributing information about the show, etc. Superintendents basically manage the show for the local club that is putting on the show. There is a list of superintendents located at the Members page of the Dog Show Superintendents Association. This is a great way to find out about local shows coming up in your area.
The superintendent that is most important for me is Jack Onofrio. So far, every show I have attended has been superintended by Onofrio. They have a great list of upcoming shows, shows that are closing soon (closing to entries), and results of past shows. Onofrio offers online dog show entries, which is great for those of us who tend to procrastinate. They also have a service where they will send you information about upcoming dog shows in the mail. In order to get on the list, send an email to mailroom@onofrio.com with your name and address and let them know that you would like to start receiving Premium lists.
What is a Premium list? A Premium list is a collection of information about a specific dog show (or set of shows). The premium list contains information like the location of the show, dates and times of the show, show entry forms, local hotel information, the judges, etc. The premium list is basically everything you need to know about a certain dog show.
Okay, so, you have found a show and you want to enter your dog in it. How do you do that? Well, first, you have to make sure that the show is open to entries and that it has not yet closed to entries. There is a window for entering shows that opens about 2 months before the date of the show and closes about 3 weeks before the show. So, you may have to wait to enter the show, or you may have missed it. If the show is open to entries, then you have to decide which class to enter your Yorkie in.
In AKC Conformation events, there are a number of classes that are usually offered for most breeds. These are:
Puppy - For dogs between six and twelve months of age, that are not yet champions (optional class - MAY be offered at a show, sometimes split into two classes, 6 -9 months and 9 - 12 months).
Twelve-To-Eighteen Months - For dogs twelve to eighteen months of age, that are not yet champions (optional class - MAY be offered at a show).
Novice - For dogs six months of age and over, which have not, prior to the date of closing of entries, won three first prizes in the Novice Class, a first prize in Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-bred, or Open Classes, nor one or more points toward their championship (optional class - MAY be offered at a show).
Amateur-Owner-Handler - For dogs that are at least six months of age that are not champions. Dogs must be handled in the class by the registered owner of the dog and is limited to exhibitors who have not, at any point in time, been a professional dog handler, AKC approved conformation judge, or employed as an assistant to a professional handler (optional class - MAY be offered at a show).
Bred By Exhibitor - For dogs that are exhibited by their owner and breeder, that are not yet champions (optional class - MAY be offered at a show).
American-Bred - For dogs born in the United States from a mating which took place in the United States, that are not yet champions (mandatory class - MUST be offered at a show).
Open - For any dog of the breed, at least 6 months of age (mandatory class - MUST be offered at a show).
In general, the most entries are in the Open class, followed by Bred-By, and then the Puppy classes. There are rarely entries in the American-Bred, Novice, or Amateur-Owner-Handler classes.
So, you basically select a class that your dog qualifies to enter. You will only enter one class, even if your dog qualifies for more than one class. So, pick the class that fits your dog best and enter in that class only.
After you have registered for the show, sometime before the show date, you will likely receive a Judging Program in the mail. If you do not, you can find the Judging Program for the show online through the show's superintendent. The Judging Program is extremely important. It tells you your ring number and ring time, as well as the judge for your breed. You will need this information in order to be at the right ring at the right time in order to compete in the show. The Judging Program also tells you how many dogs and bitches are entered in the show and how many are entered in your breed. For example, next to "Yorkshire terriers" in the judging program you will see a set of 4 numbers that looks like this: 4-6-1-2. The first number is the number of Yorkshire terrier regular class dogs (males) entered in the show. The second number is the number of regular class bitches entered. The third number is the number of Yorkshire terrier males that have already earned a championship title that are entered in the show, and the last number signifies the champion females that are entered in the show.
So, now you have a general idea of how to enter a dog show. Next, you need to know more about the show itself. The best way to learn most of this information is to go to a show and pay attention to what goes on. Walk around and check it out, talk to people (who aren't busy), and get a feel for how everything works.
Before the appointed ring time for their breeds, exhibitors must go to the ring to which they are assigned and "check in" with the outside ring steward. At most AKC shows, there is an outside ring steward, and an inside ring steward.
The outside ring steward's job is to "check in" the dogs for that ring and to distribute arms bands for exhibitors. Each dog and bitch entered into each show is assigned a number, even numbers for females and odd numbers for males.
The inside ring steward's job is to keep track of which dogs are present and absent, as well as awards given to each dog. The inside ring steward also calls the dogs in to the ring when it is their turn.
In order to check in, go to the outside ring steward at your appointed ring BEFORE your ring time. You will tell the steward your dog's name, and you will be given an arm band with a number that is to signify the specific dog you are exhibiting (different arm bands for different dogs).
At all AKC sanctioned conformation events, the hosting club(s) must make show catalogs available. The show catalog contains all the information about the show as well as every dog entered in the show. These catalogs are made available for purchase, generally at the hosting club's booth at the show. The catalog details every dog and bitch entered in the show - their arm band number, class, name, breeder, owner, birth date, sire and dam, and the address of the breeder. The catalog is what the outside ring steward references in order to "check in" dogs.
At the appointed time for your breed, in this case Yorkshire terriers, all entered dogs and bitches should be outside the ring, ready to go in. The inside ring steward will begin calling in the dogs for your breed, starting with the dogs, followed by the bitches, and grouped by class. If there are no entries in a class, that class is "skipped". This is the order in which dogs and bitches are judged:
Puppy, dogs
(6 - 9 months first, then 9 - 12 months if the puppy class is divided)
Twelve to Eighteen month, dogs
Novice, dogs
Amateur-Owner-Handler, dogs
Bred-by-Exhibitor, dogs
American-bred, dogs
Open, dogs
Winners, dogs
Puppy, bitches
(6 - 9 months first, then 9 - 12 months if the puppy class is divided)
Twelve to Eighteen month, bitches
Novice, bitches
Amateur-Owner-Handler, bitches
Bred-by-Exhibitor, bitches
American-bred, bitches
Open, bitches
Winners, bitch
Best of Breed Competition
The regular classes are judged first. Each class winner (first place in each class) is called back into the ring for the Winners dog and Winners bitch competitions. The first place in these competitions is called Winners dog and Winners bitch. The second place winner of the class from which the Winners dog and Winners bitch is chosen is eligible to compete for Reserve Winners. So, if you have entered in the Open bitch class and you were awarded second place, you may be called back into the ring if the winner of the Open bitch class takes Winners bitch. The second place in the Winners dog and Winners bitch competitions are awarded Reserve Winners.
The Winners dog and Winners bitch then go back in to the ring to compete against each other for Best of Winners. They also go into the ring again with the "specials." "Specials" are those dogs and bitches that have already earned their AKC conformation champion titles. These Yorkies cannot compete in the regular classes, but they can compete in the Best of Breed Competition. So, the best male and best female out of the regular classes compete against the champion Yorkies for the title "Best of Breed." Once the judge chooses the Best of Breed, he then chooses the best dog or bitch that is the opposite sex of the Best of Breed. So, if a male wins Best of Breed, the judge will choose the best female out of all entries, and this bitch will earn "Best of Opposite Sex."
Only those dogs and bitches earning Winners dog, Winners bitch, or higher earn points toward their championship title. Points are awarded based on the breed, region where the show takes place, and how many dogs or bitches the dog defeats. In order to earn a championship title, your dog must earn at least 15 points. There are a lot of rules regarding points that I won't get into in this basic tutorial. The best way to learn about points is to go to a show and talk to the experts.
In the breed competitions, ribbons are given to dogs and bitches as follows:
First, Blue Ribbon
Second, Red Ribbon
Third, Yellow Ribbon
Fourth, White Ribbon
Winners, Purple Ribbon
Reserve Winners, Purple and White Ribbon
Best of Winners, Blue and White Ribbon
Best of Breed, Purple and Gold Ribbon
Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed, Red and White Ribbon
Then, of course, the Best of Breed winners go on to compete in their groups in hopes of making it to the Best in Show competition. The groups are divided as follows:
Sporting
Hound
Working
Terrier
Toy
Non-Sporting
Herding
The winners of each group then compete against each other for Best in Show.
So, how will your dog be judged? When choosing the best dog, judges are looking for the dog that best represents the official standard of the breed. The judge looks at:
Physical structure - head, teeth, feet, bone structure, muscle tone, etc
Condition - proper weight, condition of coat, etc
Gait - how the dog walks, as seen from the front, side, and rear
Temperament - the behavior and attitude of the dog
If you are not familiar with the official standard for your breed, you can find it by visiting either the AKC online or your breed's parent club website. The parent club for Yorkshire terriers is the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America. Their website is www.ytca.org.
The judge evaluates each dog by watching you walk (or gait) the dog, and by examining the dog. For the toy breeds, the judge examines the dogs while they stand on a table (stacking). For larger breeds, the dogs are examined while standing on the ground.
I will be adding more information to this article as I have time. This is a long one!
Here are my notes on what I plan to add:
1. Your dog will be examined in 2 ways: while gaited and while stacked
a. What is "gait" - make sure to say the dog goes on the left side (so the judge sees the dog, not your legs)
b. What is "stacking"
2. the show photographer (you can always get your picture taken!)
3. Grooming for the show
a. Know what your breed requires / what everyone else does
b. Where to groom at the show
c. Ringside grooming, prep, etc
i. Basically explain the commonly accepted practices
4. special things at some shows
a. best puppy (what is that and etc)
b. best of bred by (same as puppy but for the bred by class)
Thank You for Visiting Yorkies of Walnut Hill, Yorkshire terrier breeder
