What Do All Those Ribbons Mean

One of the most perplexing things for a newcomer at a dog show is trying to figure out why some dogs keep going back in the ring, some several times, and why they keep getting various colours of ribbons each time.  I will attempt to explain this without going on and on.  It is actually easier to understand with a large entry, but the small entries various breeds have, including bassets, this makes it more difficult.  It is possible to get a fist full of ribbons and not get any points towards championship -- the key word is points.  The number of points depends on the number of dogs.

Dogs (males) compete first.  Classes are Junior Puppy, Senior Puppy, Canadian Bred, Bred By Exhibitor and Open, and ribbons are awarded;  first (blue), second (red), third (yellow) and fourth (white) in each class.  The first place males in each class compete for Winner's male who receives a purple ribbon - purple means points.   The dog who placed second in the class to Winner's male competes with the other first place class winners for Reserve winners male.  Reserve receives a pink ribbon in Canada (purple and white in the US).  Then the females all compete in exactly the same manner for winner's female.

Next the Specials (already champions) are called into the ring, as well as the Winner's male and female to compete further.  The Best of Breed Dog receives a red, white, and blue ribbon (purple and yellow in the US).  The dog who is the alternate sex to Best of Breed receives a green and white Best of Opposite Sex ribbon (red and white in the US).   The best animal between the Winner's Male and Winner's female is chosen and is awarded Best of Winners which is a purple and yellow ribbon (blue and white in the US).   All puppies who have not been defeated in their class, compete for Best Puppy in Breed and receive a pale blue ribbon (not an official win in the US, although some shows hold this class).

Sometimes, if you have no competition, you could receive a blue, purple, red white and blue ribbon and a pale blue ribbon and receive no points.  Or you could be the only remale and receive a blue, purple, and green and white ribbon and get no points if you didn't defeat anyone.  Alternately, if you were the only female and received Best of Winners and Best of Opposite Sex, and you beat several males, and/or a female special you would get points.  Best Puppy ribbons are honorary, and no points are received.   Competion or not, if you receive Best of Breed you go on to compete in the group (there are seven main groups of dogs - sporting, hounds, working, terriers,toys, non-sporting, and herding).  First through fourth is judged in the groups and more points can be earned in the group. No dog can earn more than 5 points at any show.

Confused and befuddled.  Come to a dog show and see it all happen.  If you purchase a catalogue, you will be able to follow the progression of wins.  Its great fun.

in addition of the ribbons being slightly different colours some of the rules differ in the US. For example you don't add up all the males and females for Best of Winners in the US, you just beat the sex with the most points and earn that number of points. Another difference is that only Group first in the US earns points.

In spite of the few differences in ribbon colour and points, the object of the dog show is the same in Canada and the US.  This is striving for the best of everything with your dog.

Its Not Just Conformation Shows

Even though a breeder should participate in conformation shows (for championship) because what they are breeding should conform to the breed standard, many purebred pet buyers do not want to do this, or cannot do this.

Obedience and tracking are examples of events that demonstrate a dog’s natural ability, and their ability to work as part of an animal-human team. In obedience and tracking, dogs and handlers compete against a standard of working perfection, rather than the dogs competing against each other. In these two events every dog entered can be a winner.

Any purebred (registered with the *American Kennel Club - AKC* or Canadian Kennel Club - CKC) dog can be entered in Obedience or Tracking events. This includes spayed females and neutered males. Also dogs that may not be "show quality" due to things that do not meet the breed standard can compete, enjoy and win in these events. (Examples of this for bassets - overheight, overshot, undershot or wry mouths, knuckled front legs, blue eyes, short ears, etc.). It cannot be stressed however, that dogs competing in any events, and being out in public, have to be a good temperament. Anyone can handle their dog in these events, including people of any age as well as individuals with disabilities. There has been some very good wheelchair obedience teams over the years.

Training must be stressed. There is no sense spending money to enter in a trial if your dog and you are not yet ready.

If you have a dog that has no registration papers, the animal must still be trained to be a good member of your household, and society in general. This is the absolute least any dog owner should do for his/her dog.

*The AKC offers an Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP number) for miscellaneous class breeds or for dogs that do not have registered parents or have not been registered themselves. ISP dogs can compete in obedience and tracking in the USA. Unfortunately the CKC does not offer this.*

Obedience

Obedience trials test a dog’s ability to perform a prescribed set of exercises on which it is scored. In each exercise, you must score more than 50% of the possible points (ranging from 20-45) and get a total score of at least 170/200 points. Each time you dog gets 170 or over, it has obtained a qualifying score ("leg") toward an obedience title. Three "legs" is an obedience title.

CD and CDX competition include "A" (beginners whose dog has never obtained a title in any country) and "B" (experienced handlers, trainers, and for those whose dogs have obtained previous titles). There is 3 levels of obedience, from Novice to Utility. Dogs competing in the Novice classes obtain an CD title, the Open class a CDX title, and finally the highest is Utility.

And yes, there are bassets that have obtained some or all of these obdience titles in both the US and Canada.

Tracking

Tracking training and competition allow dogs to demonstrate their natural ability to recognize and follow human scent. Unlike obedience where a dog must pass 3 times and obtain a score over 170, a dog has to pass a tracking trial only once and there is no score, it is pass or fail.

There are two tracking titles, TD and TDX. A dog earns a TD by following a track laid by a human from 30 minutes to 2 hours before. The rules describe certain turns in a 400 to 650 yard track. A dog earns a TDX by following an older track ( 3 to 5 hours old), which is 800 to 1000 yards. A cross track is laid by a different person, and the dog must ignore this second track.

Canada and the USA offer TD and TDX. There is some difference in the rules, with respect to number to turns and about 50 yards difference in criteria. However, the basic principles are exactly the same, and these tracks are done in grassy or dirt fields, and occasionally there is standing water the dog must go through, and they can do this. The USA offers variable surface tracking events as well (VST). A VST dog must demonstrate ability to follow a 3 - 5 hour old track down a street, through a building, and other areas that have no vegetation like in TD or TDX tracks (e.g., parking lots).

When you get a puppy, a puppy kindergarten class is a good idea for socialization with other dogs and people, and basic obedience. Many basic training classes start puppies anywhere from 4 - 6 months, as soon as final vaccinations are completed. Just like children, puppies pick up learning very quickly when learning is made into a fun game.

There are many local dog clubs that hold classes taught by people knowledgeable in the sport that can help you train for these exercises. There are obedience clubs, tracking clubs, all breed clubs (usually devoted to the entire breed experience), group and specialty clubs (the BHCBC is a specialty club). Getting involved with clubs can teach you many moe things about your dog that can be helpful. If you need to find one of these clubs where you live in BC, please contact the Canadian Kennel Club. All clubs have to be recognized by the CKC.

Check out the library, book stores, and pet supply stores for different books on dog care and training. Every author has different techniques and ideas, and no one has exactly the right method for your dog. You need to learn many techniques and appreciate the ideas given you, and then adapt them to your dog.

There are practice trials called matches. You can attend and eventually participate in these. By attending matches and trials, you’ll see skilled dogs and handlers (and some that have to go back to the drawing board). You will meet many people who have the same interests as you, and that can give you some tips or direct you to other classes and events in your area.

Make sure you are comfortable with your trainer as a person, and the trainer’s knowledge. There is no licensing program for trainers. Ask questions such as how much experience a person has in training dogs. Many "trainers" have only attended one or two sets of classes, and have never competed with a dog. There is a difference. There are also others that are very competent in one aspect of training such as obedience, but not in tracking.

As long as there is honesty, there is nothing wrong with this. It is your responsibility to check and make an informed choice, and no matter what the experience of the trainer, the situation needs to be right for you and your dog.

Expect to pay $50 and up for a session of 8 - 10 obedience classes. Tracking classes generally run a little higher than $100 for a series of 8 lessons, due to the necessity of running classes with low numbers (4 - 6 dogs). Books can teach you a lot, but at least one session of classes is recommended. Many times you can make handler errors that could cause you to fail a trial, and you don’t know you are doing these things if you are just learning from a book. For example, guiding your dog in any way in a tracking trial is automatic failure, even if the dog is on the track. In an obedience trial, double commands can cause a failure by the 3^rd time you do it, and a double command can be as simple as a bad habit of inadvertently moving your hand while giving a voice command.

Above all, pass or fail, or if you never compete that is fine, but train your dog, and have fun doing it.

(Adapted by Bonnie Tetlock from Getting Started in Obedience and Tracking - The AKC, and Play Training Your Dog).