United Kingdom Show Classes

We thought it would be useful for our overseas visitors if we tried to explain the British classification at Open and  Championship Shows. There are other classes, but they are never seen for Deerhounds.

NB.  The word 'dog' includes both sexes.

If an exhibitor makes an incorrect entry then the dog is moved to the Open class and no exceptions are made.

Where a dog is entered in two classes it will appear in its first class as normal but in the second will be added on in lighter type.

I believe visitors find it difficult to follow who is who as the exhibitors are allowed to stand wherever they like in the line up, so the numbers will not run in sequence. This makes it difficult for the observer to identify the dog. I personally think this is one area where the UK could improve it's system although I am not sure the exhibitors would agree with me.

OPEN/CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW CLASSIFICATION.

  • MINOR PUPPY  For dogs of 6 and not exceeding 9 months of age on the first day of the show

The class is never mixed dogs/bitches at championship shows but may be at open shows. If a puppy is entered incorrectly (and it happens) then the dog has to move to the OPEN class, the rules are very strict. This class usually appears through the summer when there are a few young puppies around but is not a popular class.

  • PUPPY  For dogs of 6 months and not exceeding 12 months on the first day of the show.

It often happens that a mature Minor puppy may also be entered in the puppy class and will be shown in the catalogue in lighter type as a seen dog.

  • JUNIOR For dogs of 6 months and not exceeding 18 months on the first day of the show.

This class often contains mature puppies entered previously and counts for the Junior Warrant (Kennel Club award to Juniors winning 25 points, half of which has to be gained at open shows) 1 point for open win. 3 points for championship win.

This has just recently been revised and makes it extremely difficult for a hound to gain his junior warrant as there not that many open shows with 5 or more classes, classifying Deerhounds. People generally will not travel far for an open show as there are no CC's

  • BEGINNERS For owner, handler or exhibit not having won a first prize at a championship or Open show. You only get to win this once in your life and it is good to see new people come and win this class.

This class is not often scheduled at Championship/Open shows but usually appears at the Breed Show.

  • MAIDEN For dogs that have never won a CC or First Prize at an Open or Championship show.  (Minor puppy or puppy classes do not count).

Another class that rarely appears for the Deerhounds.

  • SPECIAL YEARLING For dogs of 12 and not exceeding 24 months on the first day of the show.
  • TYRO For  dogs that have not won a CC or FIVE or more First Prizes at Open or Championship shows. (Puppy classes do not count).

Never personally come across this one in Deerhounds,

  • DEBUTANTE  For dogs which have not won a CC or a First Prize at a Championship Show. (Puppy classes are not counted).

Not a common class in our breed.

  • UNDERGRADUATE For dogs which have not won a CC or THREE or more First Prizes at Championship or Open Shows. (Puppy classes are not counted.)

Not a common class in our breed.

  • GRADUATE For dogs which have not won a CC or four or more First Prizes at Championship shows in Post Graduate,Minor Limit, Mid Limit and Open Classes,whether restricted or not.

Another class that does not appear often.

  • POST GRADUATE for dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or FIVE or more 1st prizes in Post Graduate, Limit and Open classes whether restricted or not.

This is usually a hotly contested class as it is usually the first class a dog competes in after it comes out of Junior. You may see a variety of dogs in this class from older hounds that have not won their way out of Post Graduate and younger dogs coming out of Junior. Because our breed is numerically small compared with other breeds the Kennel; Club usually only gives 5/6 classes each for bitches and dogs.

Puppy/Junior/Novice/Post Graduate/Limit/Open

Occasionally Minor Puppy and Veteran are added.

  • MINOR LIMIT For dogs that have not won THREE Challenge Certificates under three different judges or THREE or more first prizes in Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit or Open Classes at championship shows.

This class does not appear often for Deerhounds.

  • MID LIMIT For dogs that have not won THREE Challenge Certificates under three different judges or FIVE or more first prizes in Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes at championship shows.
  • LIMIT For dogs that have not won THREE Challenge Certificates under three different judges or SEVEN or more first prizes in Limit and Open Classes at championship shows.

It is often a class that will contain young contenders and it is usual, although not obligatory, that if the Open Class winner is given the CC the 2nd in the Open class will be called in to compete for the Reserve CC as a unbeaten dog (Being only beaten by the Open Class winner who has won the CC)

  • OPEN For all dogs of the breed for which the class is provided and are eligible for entry at the show.

This class and the Veteran class are the only classes a UK Champion can compete in.

  • VETERAN For dogs not less than seven years old on the first day of the show.

The following classes are only competed for at the speciality shows  i.e. Deerhound Club Show Hound Show etc. They are usually judged after the Best of breed. 

  • STUD DOG This is for stud dogs and at least two progeny of which only the progeny must be entered in a breed class at the Show.
  • BROOD BITCH As above, but for brood bitches
  • PROGENY For a dog or bitch, accompanied by at least three of its registered progeny.

The dog does not have to be entered in another class at the show, but the progeny ALL having been entered and exhibited in another class. The dog or bitch and progeny need not be registered to the same owner.The group are judged against other groups for best type and overall conformation.

  • BRACE For two exhibits of either sex or mixed, which belong to the same exhibitor each dog having been entered in some other class other than Brace or Team.

This is judged as the two dogs that are the most alike. A matched pair.

  • TEAM For three or more exhibits of either sex or mixed belonging to the same owner each dog having been entered in some other class other than Brace or team.
  • BREEDERS For dogs bred by the exhibitor. This is usually judged as a group.

CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE

This is awarded by the judge on the dog and states that in their opinion the dog or bitch is

" Worthy of the title of CHAMPION".

Three CC's from three different judges gives the dog the British Title CHAMPION.

The system is that all unbeaten dogs return to the ring to be judged together for the CC and this of course can mean that Open Dog winner is a CHAMPION. A new contender has to win over well established winning hounds and it can be difficult to gain his/her crown.

This system I believe is unique to the UK and although at times it has been impossible to 'get by' a winning hound it is very rewarding when you do. Many good hounds in the UK don't make their title but it  makes the title CHAMPION just a little more special.

Champions with 30 plus CC's have kept many good hounds away from their goal and it can get very frustrating and expensive for owners of up and coming hounds to continue but the system makes the UK champions unique, and most exhibitors would not want it any other way. Having been on the end of a multi reserve CC winner with two CC's I know the frustration but when you do get by it is far more satisfying.

NB

In theory the system is that a dog moves from Puppy to Junior then on to Novice, Post Graduate, Limit, and Open, as it progresses through it's show career, but there is nothing to stop a owner putting a unseen, never before shown, hound straight into open, or a puppy for that matter. The only thing that cannot be done is to enter the lower classes with a top winning hound. A champion can officially compete at a Open show but it is not usually 'the done thing' .

JUDGES (a few observations)

 The judges who award the CC's  have to be passed by the Kennel Club and have to prove their experience in judging the breed. Most judges do their 'training' at the open shows and the new criteria for judges to enable them to award CC's makes it more difficult. The earlier system meant that if a number of dogs were entered at the open shows they counted as experience even if they were absent on the day. The new system means that only present hounds are counted. Many shows get a good entry but with only a few dogs turning up so you can see it is hard to get the number of dogs there to go over if you are a up and coming prospective Championship show judge.

This experience is necessary to give new judges a good overall 'feel' for the breed and allow them to learn. The new criteria also asks for stewarding experience  and attendance of  breed seminars to be included as part of their application. New judges when asked to do CC's for the first time are sent a questionnaire by the Kennel Club and if the criteria are not met then they will not be allowed to give CC's. 

The Deerhound Club has a A and B list and only A and B list judges are allowed to judge 5 or more classes and therefore will be in great demand.

  Back to Home Page