Dog Shows 101: How to read an AKC judging program

If you're planning to attend an American Kennel Club dog show, as an exhibitor or as a spectator, you'll want to become familiar with the judging program. This document contains everything you need to know about a show: date, times, fees, directions, area hotels, show site rules, special events, and health clinics held at the show.

Basic Information

The front cover of the judging program gives you the nuts-and-bolts informaton about a dog show. It lists the name of the club(s) holdng the show, the address of the show site, the date(s) of the show, and the overall show hours. Most AKC dog shows cover two or more days, with each day treated as a separate event. Associated or designated breed specialty shows, if any, are listed along with breed club-supported entries. (A supported entry means the breed club supplies the trophies for their breed.) Most judging programs also will include the show superintendent and any major sponsors on the front cover.

Within the judging program you will find additional useful information, such as a list of local hotels and motels organized by general location (freeway exits or main intersections); this list generally includes the phone number of the hotel, and some include their policy on dogs in the room. You'll also find general AKC show rules such as judge changes or refunds of entry fees, and the names and addresses of club officers, judges, the official show photographer, and the show veterinarian, who may be on call or on site.

Directions, Parking, and Fees

One of the most useful sections in a judging progam is the one that contains directions to the show site. Sometimes this section may be hidden among all the other notices, and different superintendents or secretaries put it on different pages of the judging program. If you're viewing the judging program electronically, a search for "directions" or "routes" should take you right to the section.

A judging program will also list the parking fees for the event. The fees will be posted at the gate when you get to the show site, of course, but with fewer and fewer people carrying cash it's good to know the fees ahead of time--most show sites do not accept credit or debit cards for parking. If you're planning on staying at the show site in a camper or motorhome, the judging program also lists fees for overnight parking and electrical hook-ups, if any.

Some shows, especially indoor shows, charge spectators an entrance fee. These too will be listed in the judging program, usually in the same section as the parking fees. (Look for a section titled "Additional Information" or "Attention Exhibitors" to find this information, or search for "parking".) Sometimes the catalog price will be listed, but often it is not. If you want to buy a catalog, figure on spending $8-15 at most shows.

Breed Index and Judging Schedule

These are arguably the most important sections in a judging program. The breed index is a basic alphabetical listing of all breeds entered in the show, the ring in which they'll be exhibited, and the time judging begins for that breed. Sometimes the breed index will include the total number of entries for that breed.

The judging schedule is broken down by ring number, with a chronological listing of all breeds judged in that ring on that day. This section also lists the judge for those breeds. Ring times are approximate, unless you're the very first breed judged that day. Usually more than one breed will be scheduled for the same time slot; in this case, the breeds are listed in the order they will be judged. Group judging rings and times are also included in the judging program, usually following the ring breakdown.

Judging time is figured at around 2.5 minutes er dog, so you can estimate the time you need to be ringside if there are several dogs before your breed. (Keep an eye on the ring, however; the judge may be fast, or there may be a lot of absentees in the other breeds, so judging for your breeding might start sooner than you anticipated.) The time slots are firm as far as being the earliest judging can start for any breed; if the judging progam says Boxers show at 9:15 a.m., Boxer judging cannot begin before that time. If the judge is running long, however, Boxer judging may start after 9:15 a.m.

The judging schedule also will tell you the total number of entries for the breed, and breaks that number down further into: class dogs; class bitches; Best of Breed dogs; Best of Breed bitches; non-regular class dogs; and non-regular class bitchs. Some superintendents place the Best of Breed numbers within parentheses, while others use letters for entries aside from the classes. For example, the breakdown of a Boxer entry with 78 dogs that includes competition for Veterans might look like this: 27-38-(6-4)-2-1 or like this: 27-38-6D-4B-3NR. Either way, what the numbers tell us is that there are 27 class dogs, 38 class bitches, 6 dog specials, 4 bitch specials, and 3 entries in the non-regular classes.

Special Attractions and Health Clinics

Finally, a judging program will list any additional events that are being held in conjunction with the show. Attractions may include additional competiton for dogs that win certain classes, such as Best Puppy in Show, Best Bred-By Exhibitor in Show, or Best Veteran in Show. Many clubs offer Canine Good Citizen tests at their shows, especially if the show also includes Obedience or Rally trials. Health clinics are held at dogs shows to allow breeders and owners access to specialists that they might not have near their home; fees are also often lower at show clinics than in a specialist's office. Eye testing for the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) and heart auscultation for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) are common show  clinics; many clubs also offer microchipping clinics.

Each show superintendent has their own format for a judging program, but they all include the same basic information. Learning to read an AKC judging program will help you know where to go, what time to be there, and what ring to find for the breed are showing or watching. The judging program is your road map to the show--until you can buy a show catalog, that is!

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