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 |
|
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. |
|
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 |
|
Champion |
Ag CH |
Agility Champion |
FT CH |
Field Trial Champion |
Ob CH |
Obedience Champion |
|
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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