From The CC Vault: Precious Points

By Peter Baynes

Orignally Published May 2009

To the uninitiated, explaining how a dog becomes an American champion is sometimes very di?cult, especially to those from another country, who regard our points system as being rather bizarre.

Unfortunately the AKC explanation contained in every show catalog does not coverevery situation. Even if it does cover normal situations, understanding it is sometimesbeyond the comprehension of many an exhibitor, who run to the AKC Rep to explain itto them. Ask any AKC Rep and they will tell you about the frustrating questions theyhave to answer about the awarding of points.

How the AKC comes up with the new allocation of points beginning in the middle of May every year is quite a mystery. I know they research the entries for the previous year for every breed or variety, quite a task but made easier these days with the help of computers. However as entries now appear to be receding, last year’s figures would appear to be too optimistic, and perhaps major points will be harder to attain this year when the new points become e?ective on May 13.

Another problem which exists is when a dog finishes, and is ether not shown or “moved up” the next day. His absence in the classes can break the major. Sometimes the other exhibitors will plead with the exhibitor to keep the dog in classes, but try not to win. Perhaps the handler of the finished dog could wear a button to help the judge that says, “NOT THIS ONE.” – Warning: don’t try it with me.

When I wrote for a British magazine several years ago, I tried to explain our system, and the replies I received made it clear that they thought the system was intended to make cheap champions. One correspondent, an exhibitor of a popular breed, even mentioned that in their breed, in Britain, it would be lucky if 10 champions were made up in one year, whereas in the States, over 100 champions of the same breed would reach their title. It made me think that there must be something wrong with both systems.

The common myth is that anything can become a champion in this country, if it is shown long enough (especially by a professional handler). Try telling that to owners of nice dogs that never make it.Maybe for this reason, instead of making it more di?cult to become a champion, the delegates voted against the proposal to eliminate the Best of Winners’ award. Another rule that changed was that you could move a dog up to the champion’s class the day after finishing.

Previously they had eliminated the stand-alone Best of Winners’ class which meant that both the dog and bitch could compete for Best of Breed, and Best of Opposite Sex. It is probably the latter award that causes the most confusion. If Winners Dog or Winners Bitch goes Best of Opposite, but does not go Best of Winners, the Best of Winners is credited with the highest number of points awarded for either of the two sexes.

Maybe the AKC got their ideas from the Irish Kennel Club whose Green Star system is almost as confusing. Maybe they had a leprechaun residing in their o?ces in New York when this system was developed. Other countries seem to have a more simplified system. I appreciate they would not work here, but our system can provide many di?cult situations and frustrations. As someone once said, “It is easy to make it di?cult but hard to make it simple.”

As a handler I became aware of many a situation where holding a major was the most talked about condition around the breed rings. As a matter of fact the first dog show I went to in this country, I was sitting at ringside and a handler inside the ring inquired of me, “Did the major hold in dogs?” I hadn’t a clue what he was talking about, although I was flattered that he thought I was one of them.

Later when I became one of them, I realized how the question of majors holding was of prime importance, and could cause all kind of problems with exhibitors. There have been numerous occasions when disturbances have been caused by trying to hold majors. One famous example is the case, several years ago, when it was claimed that a handler took a sick dog out of another handler’s’ vehicle in order to hold a major. This caused a major uproar, and epic repercussions.

When I reported on this case to my readers at the time I likened it to an urban legend where an old-time handler had a Chow which had died in the ring. When the judge came to examine the animal he commented that he thought the dog was dead, to which the handler replied. “I know sir, but please don’t excuse me it will break the major.”

There is also a story which was never confirmed by me, but that a lady in Florida would take one of her unentered dogs to the local show, and if she saw that an armband was not picked up, and it was for an appropriate class for her dog, she would pick it up and go in the ring. It is said that sometimes she won – this would mean that an absent dog would receive points. I know this is possible because I was showing a Saluki and won a major at one show. It was, however, discovered later that my assistant had picked up the wrong armband for someone who had the same name as my client. The lucky person received a major, on his dog, while he was sitting at home watching television. I had to prove to the AKC that it was my dog that won. They made a silly request; they wanted to see the ribbons I had won. It had been a lucky day for me at that show, and I did have more than one set I could have sent – I suppose they never imagined that a handler could go winners with one more than one dog at any show.

Another time, needing a major to finish a Boxer, I won, but the major was broken. The judge was, however, judging again a few weeks later and so I entered again, won the major and finished the dog. A couple of days later my client received the Championship Certificate in the mail. To say we were impressed, with the e?ciency of the show department, was an understatement. Then we had to take back our amazement when we realized that the bitch had finished at the first show as the judge had mistakenly not marked a couple of exhibits absent.

In another instance, the opposite was the case. We thought we had won a major on a Labrador to finish her. On checking the judge’s markings we discovered we may have counted wrong, because one of the bitches in a large class had been marked absent, breaking the major. We later watched a video of the classs and sure enough we had counted right but the missing exhibit came in late, and the judge had already marked her absent. It was one of the highly regarded personalities judging his first show, and I didn’t have to report the incident as she finished at the next show. The judge died several years later not knowing what a nice guy I was.

Some exhibitors become upset when a handler continues to show a dog that has “singled out,” in an entry where winning the breed or the group will provide a major. I know of some confident handlers who would do that on a regular basis. I only ever finished two dogs by winning a group, but they both needed single points in the breed, and everything just fell into place, providing the extra five points to finish by winning the group. Sometimes luck can play a big part.

When the tornado hit the Macon show in 1979 it caused havoc on the show grounds and surrounding area. The tent collapsed, and it was the first show ever to be canceled half way through the event. I had just won a major in Alaskan Malamutes dogs when we had to evacuate the tent. We were lucky, one judge was actually trapped under the tent, and Houston Clark bravely had to rescue him. I said we were lucky, but discovered later that we were doubly lucky. The judge of Malamutes had the presence of mind to take his judge’s book with him and, praise to the AKC, the major on my dog was o?cially awarded.

At one time if you picked up an armband you had to show. This caused several unfortunate incidents where dogs just needing majors were being shown when the major broke. This meant that several dogs finished with many more than the fifteen points. The rules were changed and now you see exhibitors handing back armbands.

In previous guidelines it did say judges should be aware of what the impact of withholding meant to the awarding of points. This has now changed, and it says you should not be aware. Nevertheless, some judges still worry about whether the major is in dogs or bitches. Unfortunately in most breeds it usually takes more bitches for a major, and the lopsided spread between dogs and bitches can mean that in a hypothetical breed where say it takes 15 dogs for a major as opposed to 30 bitches for a major, a judge can make the mistake of thinking that 29 bitches is a major and 15 dogs is not. Therefore the judge will try to be kind and award Best of Winners to the dog.

I know this is just a hypothetical case, but I’m sure it does happen. And if you don’t believe that the points needed for bitches can nearly double that for dogs, consider in Pennsylvania at the moment of writing, in Labradors, to acquire 5 points you will need 137 bitches and only 70 dogs.

One nice elderly judge (long deceased), had a wonderful procedure where he would, send all the specials and winners around together, and while they were still moving would make his picks, making sure that pointing for Best of Winners was not always decisive, and whoever needed the points most would dash into the BOW spot. Some observers claim that the main cause of cheap champions is the clause at the end of the points scheduled, “ALL OTHER BREEDS AND VARIETIES,” where only four entries are needed for a major. This loophole applies mainly to breeds with large litters, where it is possible for multiple littermates to finish, by competing only against their siblings.

Take for instance Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, where over 100 breeds or varieties fall into this category. For those who are considering heading for these far away destinations to gather cheap majors, remember that a judge can withhold the points, sometimes causing an expensive but agonizing trip.

The winning of precious points can also be very inspirational, as I learned at my last show as a handler before retiring. Without telling anyone that I was retiring, I took three dogs to a show and finished them all on that day, including one that was owned by a doctor who saved my life.

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