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Dog Show Terminology 101: Know the Lingo

American Kennel Club Dog Show Terminology 101: Know the Lingo

Updated On November 4th, 2024

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Reviewed By Petco’s Animal Care, Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

Like all sporting events, dog shows have their own unique set of rules and terminology. The following is a helpful list of terms associated with the sport.

Angulation

Angulation refers to the angles created by bones meeting at their joints.

Bait

Bait is the food or object the handler uses to focus the dog's attention or to have it look alert in the ring.

Bench show

A bench show is a dog show at which the dogs are kept on assigned benches when not being shown in competition, so they can be viewed and discussed by attendees, exhibitors, and breeders.

Best of Breed

Best of Breed is the award for the dog judged as the best representative of the breed.

Best of Variety

Best of Variety is an award given in lieu of Best of Breed for those breeds divided by varieties. There are nine breeds divided by variety: Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Dachshunds, Bull Terriers, Manchester Terriers, Chihuahuas, English Toy Spaniels, Poodles, and Collies.

Best of Winners

The Best of Winners is the dog judged as best between the Winners Dog and the Winners Bitch. In the dog show world, the term "dog" refers to a male canine. The term "bitch" refers to a female canine.

Best of Opposite Sex

The Best of Opposite Sex is the best dog that is of the opposite gender to the Best of Breed Winner.

Breed Standard The breed standard is the official written description of the ideal dog of each American Kennel Club, or AKC, recognized breed, as specified by the breed's parent club. The breed standard includes characteristics that allow the breed to perform the function for which it was bred and outlines the structure, form, movement, coat, and temperament of the breed. Dog show judging is a comparison of dogs to this established standard.

Bred-by-Exhibitor Class

A regular class for dogs that are owned or co-owned by one of the breeders and shown by one of the breeders on record.

Breeder

A breeder of a particular dog is the person who owned the dam (mother) at the time she was bred to produce that dog.

Breeder-Owner-Handler

A breeder-owner-handler is someone who exhibits, owns, and handles the dog they bred.

Champion

A champion is an AKC title conferred upon a dog that has earned 15 points in competition as a result of defeating a specified number of dogs at a series of AKC dog shows.

Conformation

Conformation is the form, structure, shape, and arrangement of the parts of a dog, as they relate and conform to the written standard of the breed.

Conformation Dog Show

An event held under AKC rules where championship points are awarded is a conformation dog show. The purpose is to allow breeders to evaluate the success of their breeding program, with the goal of achieving structure and temperament necessary for the breed's function and to evaluate dogs for use as future breeding stock.

Exhibitor

Someone whose dog is entered and shown at a dog show is an exhibitor. 

Expression

The general appearance of all features of the head is known as the dog's expression.

Fancy

The group of people who are especially interested in purebred dogs or in a specific breed are a fancy. Fanciers usually are active in the sport of purebred dogs.

Feathering

Feathering is the longer fringe hair on ears, tail, or body.

Field Trial

A field trial is a competition for certain Hounds or Sporting breeds in which dogs are judged on their ability and style in finding or retrieving game or following a game trail.

Gait

Gait is the pattern of movement of the dog. The dog's gait can be described as gallop, trot, walk, or hackney. Gait is a good indicator of structure, temperament, and condition and almost always performed as a trot in the show ring.

Groups

All AKC-recognized breeds are a member of one of seven groups: **Sporting** (dogs developed for the hunting of feathered game); **Hound** (dogs commonly used for hunting by sight or scent); **Working** (dogs used to pull carts, guard property, and for search and rescue work); **Terrier** (dogs originally used to hunt vermin); **Toy** (dogs characterized by very small size); **Non-Sporting** (diverse group of multi-functional dogs not generally regarded to be game hunters); and **Herding** (group of dogs whose main duty is to drive livestock from one place to another).

Grooming

Grooming is the practice of making the dog's appearance adhere to the standard by bathing, brushing, combing, trimming, etc.

Handler

The handler is a person or agent who takes a dog into the show ring or who works the dog at a field trial or other performance.

Junior Handler

Junior handler is a person between the ages of 9 and 18 who competes in an AKC-sponsored class called Junior Showmanship. Junior handlers are judged on their ability to show and handle their dog, not on the quality of the dog.

Match show

A match show is usually an informal dog show at which no championship points are awarded.

Miscellaneous Class

Miscellaneous class is a transitional class for breeds attempting to advance in full AKC recognition.

Pedigree The pedigree is a written record of a dog's family tree of three or more generations.

Points Credits earned toward a championship are called points.

Purebred

A dog whose sire and dam belong to the same breed and are themselves of unmixed descent since the recognition of the breed is termed purebred.

Professional Handler

A professional handler is a person who shows dogs for a fee.

Register

Register means to record a dog's parentage with the AKC.

Soundness

Soundness refers to mental and physical well-being of the animal.

Stack

Stack means to position the dog in a natural standing position or pose, typically done for the judge to observe the conformation of the dog. 

Type

Type is the characteristic qualities distinguishing a breed.

Winners

An award given to the best dog (Winners Dog) and best bitch (Winners Bitch) competing in regular classes. The Winners are the only dogs of that breed who are awarded championship points on that day.

Next is the test...watch a dog show and listen for as many of the terms that you have learned.

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