Page 15 - The Sloughi Review - Issue 2 - Final Copy
P. 15
T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 1 5
A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE
AMERICAN SHOW SYSTEM
FOR EUROPEAN AND NORTH AFRICAN AFICIONADOS
BY NANCY LOVELADY, USA
In the States, dogs are awarded points, The United States is divided up into 11
based on the numbers of dogs and bitches Divisions, and each has its own Point
defeated. In a rare breed such as the Schedule, which is adjusted each May,
Sloughi, the AKC Point Schedule looks like based on the numbers of dogs shown in
this: a particular area of the country. If there
are many championships given in any
1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5 Point breed, the numbers are adjusted upward
2M 2F 3M 3F 4M 4F 5M 5F 6M 6F to make it more difficult. If less dogs are
A dog must earn 15 total points to be entered/championships earned, the
awarded a championship, with at least 2 numbers go down, but never lower than
“major” wins, under different judges. A those listed above. At one point in my
“major” win is a 3, 4, or 5 point win. handling career, exhibitors would
So dogs compete against their own gender, actually travel to different divisions, to
but there are exceptions, such as when the get their dogs finished where the
male or female animal from the classes numbers of dogs needed was not as
great!
beats a champion, AFTER the animal has
been awarded the designation of Winners When showing Terriers, at one point, a
Dog or Winners Bitch. 5 point major in bitches topped out at
29. However, many years later, and with
Awards are Best of Breed (BOB), Best of Terriers today generally in decline, the
Winners (BOW) (selected from the Winners number has fallen to less than half that
Dog and Winners Bitch, whichever animal amount, so changes in points will
the judge feels is the better of the two happen when Sloughis become more
specimens) and Best of Opposite Sex popular in Conformation.
(BOS). There are other awards, but these
are the most important for obtaining a This is why it is extremely difficult in the
championship title. States to get a championship in Sloughis,
aside from the few (150?—I do not have
Critiques are not offered at AKC shows, an accurate count) dogs here.
and fully licensed judges are expected to
judge approximately 150-175 animals a day,
at a rate of about 2 minutes per dog.
