Reserve Best In Show – Is It Beneficial to Our Sport?

By Deb Cooper

I don’t think that I am alone in my skepticism about the Reserve Best In Show concept. Since its inception in July, it appears there are more individuals getting used to it, but is it serving the pur-pose that AKC intended?

I believe AKC’s intent was to give exhibitors another chance for recognition. As we know, they are still “fine tuning” the manner in which RBIS is awarded: currently two dogs are pulled out and BIS is awarded first and RBIS after. When the award began in July, BIS was awarded and RBIS was awarded from the remaining line-up. Bob Smith wrote recently that he feels that order should be reversed to award RBIS, then BIS. That may help the acceptance of the new award, but I believe if AKC really wants the RBIS concept to be accepted and respected, the real solu-tion is to award the points that go with the award. In my opinion, what the RBIS award has done is to reduce the coveted BIS award. Anyone that has worked hard to achieve BIS knows how significant it is to be the BEST dog on that day. What I feel RBIS has done is to reduce the sig-nificance of such an award.

The way RBIS is currently being handled has little significance in my opinion. What it does, however, is to dilute the achievement of BIS. Clubs are required to purchase an additional ro-sette, thereby adding expense to the club. Photographs are taken as to not insult the judge, thereby adding expense to the exhibitor. We then have the issue of handler fees. I will go back to that in a moment.

I do not understand why AKC would come up with such an award and not support it by backing it up with points; if their goal was to recognize an additional dog. I have heard from several that the concern is that, in theory, a dog could actually achieve #1 amongst all breeds status without ever winning a Best In Show. If that is the case, then aren’t we saying that the RBIS award is actually not appropriate for our sport? If they feel it was a good idea to establish the award to recognize as many exhibitors as possible, why is it not necessary to recognize such exhibitors with points? In my view, to offer an award that does not have the full benefit of other major awards reduces or nullifies the significance of said award. In my opinion, RBIS, if awarded, should be granted the number of points minus the group points of the BIS winner. We would then have an award with significance. How can AKC expect the fancy to take Reserve Best In Show seriously if it has no significance in ratings? While we sometimes do not want to admit it, most of the dogs that make it to the BIS lineup are competing for some type of ranking. Even if they are not, if the award really has significance, shouldn’t the RBIS winner be recognized with the attendant points and opportunity to advance their standing? If not, why have the award at all? The current policy, to me, represents a combination of non-regular and regular class regula-tions and the meaning of the award is compromised.

In my opinion, if AKC feels the RBIS award should maintain significance and respect from the fancy, then they should award points for it. If they do not feel that it is appropriate to award points, then the impression it gives is that the award is not important. Currently, what we have is an award that costs clubs and exhibitors more money with no benefit to either, and the added is-sue of diluting the BIS award.

Another issue that comes up is whether or not handlers should charge a bonus for this award. In my opinion, given that there are no points for the award, and the handler is already in the ring, and by this time is not missing any other ring, they should not charge a bonus. The added issue of being the bridesmaid with no reward further supports this concept. Either way, handlers and clients should discuss the issue rather than have it come up as a surprise.

If the AKC decides the RBIS really IS an important, significant award and grants points for it, I think that it is perfectly fair for handlers to charge a bonus for RBIS, perhaps 50% of the BIS bo-nus. This way everyone comes out ahead: the dog advances its ranking, the handler makes a bo-nus, and everyone feels warm and fuzzy about the RBIS award!

I’d be very curious as to how the RBIS award is actually being received by the fancy at large. In my opinion, I was perfectly happy with the way things were before we had two people standing out in the middle of the ring at the end of the show.

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Posted by admin on Sep 8 2012. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.