Entering a Show
Well, now that we have all that out of the way, it's time for us to enter a show. The AKC publishes an events calendar well in advance of the show (here's an example for shows in September). It mentions the name of the show, the date on which its being held, the deadline for entering, the show superintendent, the fee for entering each dog, and the judging panel (the judges for Best in Show, each of the seven Variety Groups, and each breed). Superintendents mail premium lists to exhibitors on their distribution lists about six weeks ahead of time and usually have them posted on their web sites as well. Premium lists for future shows are always on hand at the superintendent's desk at any show.
The deadline for entering a show is called the closing date. For almost all shows, this is 12:00 noon sharp on the third Wednesday prior to the show. So for a show on Sunday, September 1st the closing date is Wednesday, August 14th. All dog-show exhibitors know the exact significance of Wednesday at noontime. Show entries can be sent to the show superintendent by mail, express mail, fax, or online if the superintendent has such a service. If the mail doesn't get through, the fax screws up, or the online service doesn't work, tough.
To be Clintonian, it depends on what you mean by "noon." Actually, it's the local time of the show superintendent. We live in the Eastern time zone, so we actually have until 1:00 PM for shows superintended by Jack Onofrio, since they're located in Oklahoma City. Moss-Bow Foley has a West Coast office, so laggards on the East Coast can fax their entries in as late as 3:00 PM.
For shows without a superintendent - usually stand-alone specialty shows - the entries are made to the show secretary, whose name and address are in the premium list. Shows with a pre-announced limit to the number of entries they accept, of course, close when that limit is reached. Westminster, whose is limited to 2500 champions of record, opens and closes in less than an hour
If not done online, entries must be made on an official form either by the owner of the dog or the owner's agent, usually a professional handler. The following information is required:
· The registered name of the dog.
· The breed or variety of the dog.
· The sex of the dog.
· The registration number of the dog, or its litter number, or the foreign registration number.
· The date of birth.
· The country of birth.
· The name of the breeder of record.
· The name of the owner of record.
· The sire and dam of the dog.
· The name of the show.
· The class and/or division the dog in which the dog is entered.
The dog is entered by sex in one of several classes:
Puppy. For dogs less than one year old on the day of the show. This class is frequently divided into 6-9 month puppies and 9-12 month puppies.
12-18 Month. Self-explanatory, again referring to the age on the day of the show.
Novice. For dogs that haven't yet won a first-place ribbon at a show. Putting your dog into this class says essentially, "I have no chance to win anything."
Bred-by-Exhibitor. For dogs whose breeder and owner will show the dog.
American-Bred. For dogs whose parents were mated in the U.S. and who were whelped in the U.S. At all-breed shows, dogs with a heavier concentration of foreign-bred and -born dogs - like Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherd Dogs - this can be a substantial class; otherwise few dogs are entered in this class.
Open. For any dog over six months old. On the whole, it's better to show age-differentiated dogs in an age-differentiated class. A puppy would have little chance to win in Open class against mature dogs, but would stand a much better chance in puppy class. Oddly enough, champion dogs could be entered in this class, though they already have a bye to Best of Breed. Showing a champion dog in Open class is considered very poor taste.
Depending
on
the
breed,
Open
classes
can
be
divided
by
color,
coat
type,
or
weight.
For
example:
Finally there's Best of Breed. For dogs which have already won their championships.
The show-giving club may offer non-regular classes as well. This usually means Veteran class, which is for dogs over 7 years of age on the date of the show.
The entry fee is set by the club and put in the premium list. Nowadays it's $25.00 per dog per show. Some clubs offer price breaks on certain classes to encourage entries in those classes. Thus it would be $25 to enter a dog in Open class, but only $18 to enter him in Bred-By-Exhibitor, if eligible. Payment is ahead of time, of course. If there's any problem with your check, why, they'll just hold your armband - without which you can't show - until you cough up the dough.