Dog Show Central UK

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Glossary of dog showing terminology

Being new to the dog showing arena can be very confusing as we well know. Below is our compilation of abbreviations and terminology used at dog shows in the UK. If you have others, or spot a mistake, please let us know. If you are new to dog showing you may wish to visit this page on the Kennel Club website. A list of the abbreviations we use on this website for show types is at the bottom of this page.

Term Explanation
Championship Show
Challenge Certificates are on offer for most breeds. These are normally large shows lasting a few days. Your dog does not have to have done any previous winning to attend these shows.
Open Show
Generally smaller than Championship Shows and open to all. Champions can be entered. Quite often dogs and bitches of one breed are judged together.
SHOW CATEGORIES
The following abbreviations can be appended with either D(dog) or B(bitch)
MP
Minor Puppy - For dogs of six and not exceeding nine calendar months of age on the first day of the show
P
Puppy - For dogs of six and not exceeding twelve calendar months of age on the first day of the show.
J
Junior - For dogs of six and not exceeding eighteen calendar months of age on the first day of the show.
Y
Yearling - For dogs of twelve and not exceeding twenty-four calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.
B
Beginner - For owner, handler or exhibit not having won a first prize at a Championship or Open Show.
M
Maiden - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or a First Prize at an Open or Championship Show (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
N
Novice - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or three or more First Prizes at Open or Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy Classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
UG
Under Graduate - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or three or more First Prizes at Championship Shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).
G
Graduate - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or four or more First Prizes at Championship Shows in Graduate, Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, whether restricted or not where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
PG
Post Graduate - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or five or more First Prizes at Championship Shows in Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, whether restricted or not where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
L
Limit - For dogs which have not become show Champions under the Kennel Club Regulations or under the rules of any governing body recognised by the Kennel Club or won 7 or more First Prizes in all at Championship Shows in Limit or Open Classes confined to the Breed, whether restricted or not at Shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
O
Open - For all dogs of the breeds for which the class is provided and eligible for entry at the show
V
Veteran - For dogs of not less than seven years of age on the first day of the show.
AV
Any Variety
AVNSC
Any Variety Not Separately Classified
IR
Import Register
JH
Junior Handler
NFC
Not For Competition
AWARDS
BIS
Best In Show
RBIS
Reserve Best In Show
BIG
Best In Group
BOB
Best Of Breed
RBOB
Reserve Best Of Breed
BPIB
Best Puppy In Breed
BOS
Best Opposite Sex
BB
Best Bitch
BD
Best Dog
BP
Best Puppy
G1,G2,G3,G4
Group 1, 2, 3 & 4 - placings in the group judging
CC
Challenge Certificate - This is a certificate which the judge signs stating that in his or her opinion the dog is worthy of becoming a Show Champion. These certificates are awarded by The Kennel Club. Your dog will need three of these awards, given by different judges, before he/she becomes a Champion. This status is also awarded by The Kennel Club. The judge has the right to withhold the CC (and RCC) if he does not think any dog entered in any class is worthy of being a Champion.
RCC
Reserve Challenge Certificate - All unbeaten winning dogs then challenge for this award. This certificate states that the dog given this award is worthy of being awarded the CC should the certificate winner be disqualified. This doesn’t happen very often! It is at the judge’s discretion to call into the ring the dog place second to the CC winner.
JW
Junior Warrant
CH
Champion
Ag CH
Agility Champion
FT CH
Field Trial Champion
Ob CH
Obedience Champion
Sh CH
Show Champion
Sh CM
Show Certificate of Merit
MISCELLANEOUS
Placing Physically placing your dogs legs when standing them for the judge
Stacking Placing the dogs feet and often holding the head and tail
Baiting Using food (bait) to get your dog to stand itself for the judge
Gait Name given to describe the most efficient movement (speed) of a particular breed
Crabbing A type of movement when a dog moves its body at an angle and not in a straightline in the direction of travel
Pacing When both the front and back legs on one side of the dog move in unison
 
 


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Show Type Abbreviations Used on this Website

Abbreviation
Description
CG
Championship General / Group / Sub-Group
CB
Championship Single Breed
OG
Open General / Group / Sub-Group
OB
Open Single Breed
OP
Open Premier
LT
Limited
FC
Fun / Companion
WR
WUSV Regional
WS
WUSV British Sieger
BS
Breed Seminar
GS
General Seminar

 

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