Dog Show Handling 101: Lesson Three - Entering a show
Handling 101:Lesson three - How do I enter a show? How do I read a judging program? There are several dog show superintendents that handle the running of AKC shows. In NorCal we have MB-F, Inc. Their website is infodog.com. In So. Cal it is usually Jack Bradshaw at jbradshaw.com. Other parts of the country use local superintendents. I use the infodog search because I am the most familiar with it. If it not a show for which they are the superintendent, you can click on the link and it will take you to the club's website and then on to the super who is in charge of that show.
Some shows (more likely Specialty Breed shows) will use a private secretary to handle their entries so you may have to watch for that as you will not be able to enter online at the last minute. You have several choices on how to enter any show. Either online (for an additional fee), fill out your entry found in the premium list or an a blank entry form found on the AKC website. Not only must the form be filled out completely on front and back and signed, it must have the show name and the number of the show on the entry form in the top left hand corner of the first page. Once you have entered a show with that Superintendent, you will likely be either e-mailed or US mailed premiums lists for other shows in area of the country you are most likely to attend. on it You can search by state and it will give you a list of all upcoming shows. If you click on the name of the show-giving club, you will get the premium list. (after you have entered a show with them, you will likely get on their mailing list and premiums for shows in your area will be snail mailed or e-mailed to you). The premium list will not only give you the names of the judges for your breed but it will also have pertinent information about the show grounds rules and the club rules. It must contain the AKC code of ethics. If you copy and entry form and send it in, it must contain BOTH sides of the entry form whether you think it applies to you or not. Some forms will have the price of the entry and discounts (puppy/bred by exhibitor) and some will direct to a page in the premium where these are listed. You can mail in your entry for the exact fee or you can enter online for a premium fee.Entries close two weeks ahead of time on Wednesdays at 12:00 pm - no exception. I'm a noodle so here is what I do (or used to do):Get your calendar out - electronic or paper. Write out the upcoming shows, who the judge is for the breed classes and who the judge for group classes. Then write in the closing date in big red pen on the Wed. that it closes. If you want to always snail mail, back up to the Thurs before and let yourself know that is the deadline to enter the show.After your entry has been accepted, you will receive a JUDGING PROGRAM. I go with paper but you could go with electronic delivery. I suggest printing it out…but I don't have a smart phone. You could put it all in notes on your phone. Whatever works for you. I'm old and analog. The program will give you the RING # - I write out SAT or SUN (or whatever day it is) and underline it, then the ring number and circle that and then the time at which my breed will show. If we are the first breed for that time slot, I underline the time. If there are breeds ahead of mine, I count them and put a "+" and x number of dogs. Figure a minute (though it is more) per dog. More about time slots: A judge is allowed so many dogs to judge before they must take a break. During this break they have to: Take win photos (and possibly wait for a photographer), go pee, have a cigarette, rest their feet that likely are hurting from standing around for hours, make a phone call or take a lunch break -- which lunch may be on the other side of the grounds. And they may just need a mental rest. After all they have flown in from somewhere, are staying a fairly inexpensive hotel in a strange bed and likely not sleeping well. So expect them to be grumpy and curt and if they are friendly and pleasant that's a bonus. Wasting a judges time because you are new and/or unprepared is rude. It will put everyone, not just that judge, behind. If you are showing more than one dog, have the next dog you are showing at ringside and ready to go. You may be allowed some leeway but don't expect much. You could blow everything by taking up too much time and of course you will stress yourself and your dogs out by taking up too much time to get into the ring. If you are showing two dogs of the same sex, be prepared that someone will need to bring the other dog in if they both win their classes (more about the classes later).The program will have an index page with all the breeds and obedience/rally classes (if offered) with the ring number and time that you will show. Turn to your ring number and time slot in the program. There may be other breeds listed at the same time as yours as I have previously stated. Under the ring number and time will be the judges name. Next to the breed will be numbers such as 4-3 (1-2) or 4-2 (0-1) 1-0. This formula translates to 4 dogs, 3 bitches, 1 dog champion, 2 bitch champions. The additional numbers are for veterans if there are any. There could be brace numbers as well if that competition is offered. (More about how those numbers will affect you later). If you are showing in Rally or Obedience, the numbers of the exhibitors will be written out - Novice A: 43, 44, 47, 51. So if you are 51, you will be the fourth dog to go. Check in with the steward to make sure that none of the other handlers has requested to go last as you will move up in the stream.For conformation classes you can check with the ring steward to see if all the dogs ahead of you and in your breed have checked in. This could also affect your timing. Be near ringside at your assigned time slot and listen for your breed and number to be called.
