Conformation dog shows come in three basic types:
1) All-Breed Shows. These are open to all breeds recognized by the AKC. The Westminster Kennel Club show on TV every February is an example of an all-breed show. Each club has its slot or slots during the year to hold shows, allowing you to predict the date of the next show (if approved by the AKC) with almost celestial certainty. For example, my kennel club has its shows on the 26th Thursday and Friday of the year. No two all-breed clubs can have simultaneous shows if they are closer than 200 miles from each other.
All-breed dog shows are one-day events, with one exception. Clubs may have their two annual shows back to back on consecutive days or hold the shows on different dates during the year. Usually these are in the winter and summer or spring and fall.
Two or more different all-breed clubs holding shows on consecutive days may share the same facility. Cluster shows are three or four clubs joining together to put on shows over a period of days. This allows each club to save money by coordinating judging panels. The largest of these is the Louisville cluster, held every March, with four shows attracting entries of some 4000 dogs each day. One of my favorites is the River City Cluster in San Antonio, Texas. Held at the Henry Gonzales Convention Center, it's a nice show site along the River Walk and it really caters to the exhibitor.
Westminster is sui generis. It is the only two-day all-breed show. It is limited as well to only 2,500 dogs, all of whom must be champions of record. That limit is reached about 40 minutes after entries are accepted. Showing and winning even Best of Breed there are quite prestigious. It is also held at one of the worst show sites (Madison Square Garden) in the country.
Another exception to the general rule is the Morris and Essex Kennel Club show. This show was put on from 1927 to 1957 by Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge on the grounds of St. Hubert's Giralda Farms in Madison, New Jersey and set the standard for excellence. Discontinued because it had grown too large and difficult to run, it was revived last year by a blue-ribbon show committee - attracting an entry of nearly 3000 and more than living up to its historic standards - and will now be held every four years.
2) Specialty Shows. These are restricted to one breed or to varieties of one breed. These may be held by the show-giving specialty club as a separate event, or as part of an all-breed show. In the latter case, the catalog will read for that breed, for example, "The Midwest Borzoi Club, Inc. will consider the Borzoi classes at this show as its specialty show." A specialty club may also support the entry at an all-breed show by providing trophies and encouraging entries. All-breed clubs love specialty shows and supported entries as part of their shows as it usually means a larger turnout of that breed and greater receipts for the club.
A cluster show may also have a day of combined specialties, with a number of specialty clubs giving shows on that day. Occasionally, specialty clubs will hold their specialty show after the all-breed show concludes. This is, unfortunately, becoming increasingly common. After a long day, everyone - dogs, handlers, and judges - is tired and yet another show is a strain. No one seems to like it, but more clubs seem to be doing it.
National clubs usually put on an annual specialty show. This is the showcase for the breed and many such shows last a week, with field events, obedience and agility trials, futurity, sweepstakes, and conformation shows. Conformation entries may be over a 1000 at national specialties. These provide fanciers with the best opportunity to see dogs from all over the country and even abroad.
3) Limited Breed Shows. As I said before, some clubs limit the breeds to one of the seven variety groups (Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding). Such limited breed shows are open only to dogs of that group.
Conformation shows may be benched or unbenched. Benched shows used to be the standard. At a benched show, the dogs are assigned a place where they must be on display during show hours unless they're actually in the show ring. There are some good points to benched shows. Dogs of a particular breed are benched together, so exhibitors of that breed have all day to sit and talk about their breed. It's good for the public as well, who have a better chance to see breeds they're interested in and talk to the owners.
The disadvantage of benched shows is they take up an incredible amount of space, usually far beyond the capacity of most show sites. It was one thing 40 years ago when entries at shows averaged 400-500 dogs, quite another nowadays when entries average 1000 or more. Enforcing benching hours is also beyond the manpower available to most show-giving clubs. The number of benched shows has dwindled to a handful: Westminster KC (where the benching space is hopelessly cramped), Detroit KC, Kennel Club of Philadelphia, the International KC in Chicago, and the Golden Gate KC in San Francisco.
Almost all shows nowadays are unbenched, or "show and go." Dogs can arrive at any time before they are judged and, if they are no longer needed after being judged, are free to go. This has the advantage of saving on grooming and set-up space and, on very hot or very cold days, is less stressful for the dogs. Something of the camaraderie is lost though.
A quick word about other kinds of conformation events. Matches are informal shows held by clubs to give young and/or inexperienced dogs some exposure to show routine. They carry no championship points and the judges need not be AKC licensed. They are not open to champions of record but puppies as young as 3 months old can be entered. Matches are enjoyable for their informality as well as for watching the bewilderment of puppies learning how to show. Entries are usually quite small (100-300 dogs).
Sweepstakes are another non-pointed event, commonly held alongside regular breed competition. They're a sort of showcase for up-and-coming youngsters and are limited to non-champion dogs between 6 months old and two years old. Exhibitors pay in advance and can get a cut of the purse if they win their class or the sweepstakes. Our Miss Lacey was Best in Sweepstakes at the 1999 Borzoi Club of America national specialty and won some $400. That just about payed for having the alternator on the van replaced. Again, judges need not be AKC licensed; indeed, judging sweepstakes is part of the process of becoming a judge.
Futurity events at national specialties are for breeders. Litters are nominated for futurity by paying a fee after breeding but before the puppies are whelped. Periodic payments keep the puppies eligible until the specialty, when, again, they can win part of the purse for placing in their classes.