All About Dogs by LowchensAustralia.com

United Kingdom Show Classes

NB. The word 'dog' includes both sexes. 

OPEN/CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW CLASSIFICATION. 

MINOR PUPPY For dogs of 6 and not exceeding 9 months of age on the first day of the show.
The class is never mixed dogs/bitches at championship shows but may be at open shows. If a puppy is entered incorrectly (and it happens) then the dog has to move to the OPEN class, the rules are very strict. This class usually appears through the summer when there are a few young puppies around but is not a popular class.

PUPPY For dogs of 6 months and not exceeding 12 months on the first day of the show. 
It often happens that a mature Minor puppy may also be entered in the puppy class and will be shown in the catalogue in lighter type as a seen dog. 

JUNIOR For dogs of 6 months and not exceeding 18 months on the first day of the show.
This class often contains mature puppies entered previously and counts for the Junior Warrant (Kennel Club award to Juniors winning 25 points, half of which has to be gained at open shows) 1 point for open win. 3 points for championship win. 

BEGINNERS For owner, handler or exhibit not having won a first prize at a championship or Open show. You only get to win this once in your life and it is good to see new people come and win this class. 
This class is not often scheduled at Championship/Open shows but usually appears at the Breed Show. 

MAIDEN For dogs that have never won a CC or First Prize at an Open or Championship show. (Minor puppy or puppy classes do not count).

SPECIAL YEARLING For dogs of 12 and not exceeding 24 months on the first day of the show.

TYRO For dogs that have not won a CC or FIVE or more First Prizes at Open or Championship shows. (Puppy classes are not counted).

DEBUTANTE For dogs which have not won a CC or a First Prize at a Championship Show. (Puppy classes are not counted).

UNDERGRADUATE For dogs which have not won a CC or THREE or more First Prizes at Championship or Open Shows. (Puppy classes are not counted.)

GRADUATE For dogs which have not won a CC or four or more First Prizes at Championship shows in Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit and Open Classes, whether restricted or not. 

POST GRADUATE for dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or FIVE or more 1st prizes in Post Graduate, Limit and Open classes whether restricted or not.
This is usually a hotly contested class as it is usually the first class a dog competes in after it comes out of Junior. You may see a variety of dogs in this class from older dogs that have not won their way out of Post Graduate and younger dogs coming out of Junior.

Puppy/Junior/Novice/Post Graduate/Limit/Open

Occasionally Minor Puppy and Veteran are added. 

MINOR LIMIT For dogs that have not won THREE Challenge Certificates under three different judges or THREE or more first prizes in Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit or Open Classes at championship shows.

MID LIMIT For dogs that have not won THREE Challenge Certificates under three different judges or FIVE or more first prizes in Mid Limit, Limit and Open Classes at championship shows.

LIMIT For dogs that have not won THREE Challenge Certificates under three different judges or SEVEN or more first prizes in Limit and Open Classes at championship shows.
It is often a class that will contain young contenders and it is usual, although not obligatory, that if the Open Class winner is given the CC the 2nd in the Open class will be called in to compete for the Reserve CC as a unbeaten dog (Being only beaten by the Open Class winner who has won the CC) 

OPEN For all dogs of the breed for which the class is provided and are eligible for entry at the show.
This class and the Veteran class are the only classes a UK Champion can compete in.

VETERAN For dogs not less than seven years old on the first day of the show.


CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE

This is awarded by the judge on the dog and states that in their opinion the dog or bitch is 

" Worthy of the title of CHAMPION". 

Three CC's from three different judges gives the dog the British Title CHAMPION.

The system is that all unbeaten dogs return to the ring to be judged together for the CC and this of course can mean that Open Dog winner is a CHAMPION. A new contender has to win over well established winning dogs and it can be difficult to gain his/her crown.

This system is unique to the UK and although at times it is impossible to 'get by' a winning dog it is very rewarding when you do. Many good dogs in the UK don't make their title but it makes the title CHAMPION just a little more special.

NB

In theory the system is that a dog moves from Puppy to Junior then on to Novice, Post Graduate, Limit, and Open, as it progresses through it's show career, but there is nothing to stop a owner putting a unseen, never before shown, hound straight into open, or a puppy for that matter. The only thing that cannot be done is to enter the lower classes with a top winning dog. A champion can officially compete at a Open show but it is not usually 'the done thing' .



The Kennel Club (KC) operates under a Challenge Certificate system . . . Challenge Certificates (CC's) are the qualifications that lead to the title of Champion being conferred upon a dog. The following criteria must be met before the title of "Champion" may be awarded:

Winning at least 3 CC's under three different judges, provided at least one of the CCs was awarded when the dog was more than twelve months of age.