Best of Breed brings together the special (champion) dogs and bitches along with Winners Dog and Winners Bitch to determine the best of that breed present there that day. This is the only class where dogs and bitches compete together.
Almost always, everyone is lined up in the ring in this order:
Again, not all these classes will have representatives.
The judge goes over the specials in the same way as he did the classes: gaiting them around the ring, standing examination, movement front and rear, and side movement. Since they've already been examined, he will not go over Winners Dog and Winners Bitch in the same way, but instead give them a last quick look-over by eye, perhaps picking up their head or running a hand down the back. Usually the judge will ask them to go around together.
The judge will now make his choices. Frequently, he will move his choice for Best of Breed to the front of the line, then the Best of Winners, choosing between the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. Last comes the Best of Opposite Sex to the Best of Breed winner. A last go around and the judge points to the winners. Best of Breed receives a purple and gold ribbon, Best of Winners a blue and white ribbon, and Best of Opposite Sex a red and white ribbon.
Because they are more mature and frequently of better quality, a special usually has the inside track on Best of Breed. Not infrequently, though, the judge may choose one of the Winners as Best of Breed, also known as "going Breed from the classes." This lucky one gets both the Best of Breed and Best of Winners ribbons. Our little Diva was Best of Breed from the classes three times on the way to her championship, twice defeating nationally-ranked Lacey and once defeating her champion father Titan.
And don't forget the old-timers! In 1994 and 1995, our Johnny (Ch. Soyara's Johnny B. Goode) was entered in Veterans class at the three-day Astro Series of dog shows in Houston. And one day each year he won Best of Breed over a large entry (1994, Cypress Creek KC under Donald Sandberg; 1995, Beaumont KC under Muriel Newhouser). True, he was an old man by then, but he simply outshowed and outhustled all the other Borzoi. It was probably the most moving thing I've seen at a show. I admit I cried.
The ribbons handed out are dependent on whether both sexes are represented. The Winners Dog (or Bitch) must defeat the Winners from the oppposite sex in order to get the Best of Winners ribbon. If dogs of only one sex are in the Best of Breed competition, there can be no Best of Winners or Best of Opposite Sex award.
By going Best of Breed, Best of Winners, or Best of Opposite Sex, the Winners Dog and/or Bitch can increase the number of points they receive towards their championship. The awarding of points and the point schedule is a long topic I'll treat with later.