Champion, Eh!!!
We have some great dogs in Canada. Excellent specimens of their breed, they carry the title “Champion” and well deserving of it. Unfortunately, there are far more mediocre dogs, and some outright poor dogs, also called champions.
In the mid 1980s the Dog Show Council, with Flora Mackenzie (then the Director for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland) in the chair, looked into our show system, and did an in-depth study of the systems of other countries. They found we have a far greater proportion of champions than any other country, and in 1987 recommended changes based on the AKC system. The membership didn’t accept the recommendations and no changes were made.
Fifteen years later, we are still wrestling with the problem. Before we can make changes to the system we must decide what we want to achieve. Do we want the amount of champions based on entries, or registrations? What percentage do we want as champions? Do we want to change at all? At present, if we persist in showing a dog, sooner or later – sooner if we use a top handler – it will “Finish”, irrespective of its quality.
Trying to base our championships on the AKC system doesn’t work. When majors are suggested there are howls of anguish from people that have numerically small breeds, or from those that live in the far corners of the country. We don’t need to copy the Americans; the world doesn’t end at the shores of North America.
The Australians, who are probably the most similar to us in terms of size of country and population density, have adapted the British system to suit their needs.
The British have a very tough system, some say too tough. Challenge Certificates (CCs) are issued each year based on breed registrations the previous year. The maximum per breed for any given year is 48 sets, a set being one for dogs and one for bitches. They are awarded to the best of breed and best opposite sex. Reserve CCs are issued to the runners up and are highly prized. To be able to put, “Reserve CC”, behind a dog’s name indicates to the world this is a high quality animal. There is no special class, champions are entered in open.
There are breeds where there are not enough registrations to warrant the issue of CCs and other breeds where only one or two sets are awarded. To become a champion a dog is required to win three CCs under three different judges, with at least one CC being won after the dog is a year old. To make things even more difficult, to become a champion some sporting breeds must qualify to a minimum level in the field. Those that don’t qualify are known as “Show Champions.” A “Junior Warrant”, based on wins in the Junior Class (12 –1 8 months), honors outstanding young dogs. Much of the world, and all-English speaking countries except Canada and the US follow the same format.
In Europe dogs are placed in class and rated against the breed standard. The highest rating is V (Excellent), next is SG (Very Good), G (Good), and so on down. The exhibitor is far more interested in the rating the dog gets then his placing. An SG 1 is nice (First in class, rated Very Good), a V2 or 3 is better (Second or third in class, rated Excellent). Puppies are not shown.
This system works well, but it requires specialty judges. Mrs. Mackenzie’s council found Canadians were emphatic they didn’t want judges evaluating the dogs.
Some countries require certain breeds to have a working degree to be eligible for championship competition. For Dobermans, Rottweilers, Shepherds and several other breeds, a minimum of Schutzhund 1 is required.
If we incorporate some of these ideas into our present system we can reduce our ratio of champions without copying anyone – a made in Canada system.
The late Colonel Lamb (as Director for BC Interior), suggested we adopt the title, “Show Champion” for those dogs that had completed the requirements of champion in conformation. The title of “Champion”, being reserved for dogs that also had a working degree. I don’t believe the idea was ever published for comment.
Mrs. Mackenzie, when seeking input from our membership, found the majority of people were in favor of a dog needing to get points after it was 12 months old. How many points seems to be a matter for further debate.
During their study of the championship requirements of other countries, the Show Council found that Canada and the US were the only countries in the world to have a Specials Class. Council members were surprised by the amount of exhibitors wanting deletion of Specials. Champions would compete in Open.
Dropping the specials class would prevent most of the mediocre and poor dogs from winning points, and by extension, championships. The points system can remain exactly as it is. Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex would get points, with reserves awarded just as we award reserve winners now. Winners Male and Winners Female would go in together for the judge to decide Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex. Points ought not to be awarded beyond the breed level, that compares apples to oranges.
To fill the gap left by deleting the specials class, we would add a class, for dogs 12-18 months. A junior warrant (or some other title, eg. Maple Leaf) could be awarded based on wins in the age-limited classes. This would not only honor our top youngsters, it would encourage people to continue to show them.
Finally we must stop limited shows giving points. It is ludicrous to award championships at shows where all eligible dogs are not allowed to enter.
If any one of these measures were introduced it would help to adjust the ratio of champions to the also-ran. If they were all introduced it would be tougher to make a dog a champion, but easier than in most other countries. Our excellent dogs would still become champions; most of the mediocre and poor dogs would fall by the wayside.
Championships would – and should – honor our best dogs, not be a reward for good attendance.
