PLEASE READ: 

AKC has made many changes and updates to AKC Rules Applying To Dog Shows. To read/download a copy, go to http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RREGS3.pdf.

Some of the changes affecting your show entries are listed below:

ENTRIES AKC Rules Applying to Dog Shows, Effective January 1, 2010, CHAPTER 11, SECTION 4. To be acceptable, an entry must: • Be submitted with required entry fee • Be on an Official American Kennel Club entry form (for those of you who photocopy the    forms, you MUST include the reverse of the form for the entry to be valid. You can download    extra forms HERE.) • Be signed by the owner or his duly authorized agent • Include all of the following information: • Name of show-giving club • Date of Show • Breed • Variety, if any • Sex • Name of class or classes entered (Classes must be entered in accordance with Chapter 3) • Full/Registered Name of Dog • Name of Owner(s) / co-owner(s) • Name of Owner(s) agent, if any • Address of Owner • Date of Birth • Place of Birth • Name of Breeder(s) • Name of Sire • Name of Dam • One of the following: • AKC registration number or PAL number or foreign registration number and country for an    unregistered imported dog or identification number issued by AKC No entry may be accepted unless the Superintendent or Show Secretary, named in the premium list to receive entries, receives such entry: • prior to the closing date and hour as published in the premium list • and in the case of a limited entry, prior to the time the limit is reached. All the requirements of the foregoing paragraph and all other specific requirements printed in the premium list must be met before an entry can be considered acceptable. Failure to meet these requirements may result in the loss of all awards earned at the event.

BRED BY EXHIBITOR CLASS AKC Rules Applying to Dog Shows, Effective January 1, 2010. Replace the existing Chapter 3, Section 8 with the following: CHAPTER 3, SECTION 8. The Bred-by-Exhibitor Class shall be for dogs that are: • Six months of age or older as of the first day of the show; • Not Champions of record on the date of closing of entries for the show; • Owned or co-owned by any of the breeders of record as of the date of the show. The person handling the dog in this class must be a breeder of record and an owner of record of this dog. In any subsequent classes for which a dog from the Bred-by-Exhibitor class becomes eligible, there are no restrictions as to who may handle.

TWELVE TO EIGHTEENS MONTHS CLASS AKC Rules Applying to Dog Shows, Effective July 1, 2010 CHAPTER 3, SECTION 5. The Twelve-to-Eighteen Month Class shall be for dogs that are twelve months of age and over, but under eighteen months, that are not champions. Clubs may further divide the Twelve-to-Eighteen Month Class into two age groups consisting of twelve months of age and under fifteen months, and fifteen months of age but under eighteen months. The age of a dog shall be calculated up to and inclusive of the first day of a show. For example, a dog whelped on January 1st is eligible to compete in the class at a show the first day of which January 1st of the following year and may continue to compete in this class at shows up to and including a show the first day of which is the 30th day of June of that year, but is not eligible to compete in this class at a show the first day of which is July 1st of that year.

WINNERS CLASS AKC Rules Applying to Dog Shows, Effective July 1, 2010 CHAPTER 3, SECTION 11. The Winners Class shall be divided by sex and each division shall be open only to undefeated dogs of the same sex which have won first prizes in either the Puppy, Twelve-to-Fifteen Month, Fifteen-to-Eighteen Month, Twelve-to-Eighteen Month, Novice, Amateur Owner-Handler, Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-bred or Open Classes. There shall be no entry fee for competition in the Winners Class. After the Winners prize has been awarded in one of the sex divisions, the second prize winning dog, if undefeated except by the dog awarded Winners, shall compete with the other eligible dogs for Reserve Winners. No eligible dog may be withheld from competition. Winners Class shall be allowed only at shows where American-bred and Open Classes shall be given. A member specialty club holding a show for American-bred dogs only may include Winners Classes, provided the necessary regular classes are included in the classification. A member club holding a show with restricted entries may include Winners Classes, provided the necessary regular classes are included in he classification.

American Kennel Club Announces New Grand Champion Title Thursday, April 15, 2010 -- AKC® Champions Can Compete for Grand Champion Title at AKC Conformation Events -- The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce that it will begin offering the Grand Champion title at AKC Conformation events. This new title will be available to AKC Champions of Record, giving the opportunity for Champion dog owners to return to the show ring with their dogs and further showcase the quality of their breeding stock. Competition for this new title will begin at AKC all-breed, group and specialty shows on May 12, 2010, concurrent with the implementation of the 2010-2011 AKC Point Schedule. "AKC Conformation is meant to be an evaluation and showcase for breeding stock. Many Champions are retired after earning their titles and this creates a dilemma for breeders. We are excited to offer the Grand Champion title as a way to encourage these quality dogs to return to the ring," said Robin Stansell, AKC Vice President of Event Operations. "AKC Companion and Performance events offer multiple titles to celebrate achievement in competition at various levels in the sport. It is only natural to offer a Grand Champion title to Conformation exhibitors so that they too can compete and excel with their dogs at a whole new level." Competition for this new title will be judged during the Best of Breed/Variety competition at all-breed, group and specialty shows. All Champions of Record entered in the Best of Breed/Variety competition will be eligible to compete for Grand Championship points. There is no additional entry fee. Grand Championship points are awarded, at the judge’s discretion, to the following placements: Best of Breed/Variety, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog and Select Bitch. Select Dog and Select Bitch are Champions that were recognized as the top quality of their sex after BOB and BOS have been awarded. Grand Championship points are calculated using the same AKC Point Schedule as is used for Championship points. (Dogs entered in non-regular classes are not counted in the computation of Championship or Grand Championship points.) Champions of Record including champions that are non-regular class winners (i.e. Veterans Class Winners) or dogs that have been "moved up" to Best of Breed competition for the show are the only dogs eligible for Grand Championship points. Although Winners Dog or Winners Bitch can win Best of Breed or Best of Opposite Sex, in no case will they be eligible for Grand Champion competition. Grand Championship points may be awarded to eligible dogs as follows: * Best of Breed – All dogs of both sexes in the breed or variety exhibited in the regular classes and Best of Breed competition will be counted * Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed – All dogs of the same sex in the breed or variety exhibited in the regular classes and Best of Breed competition will be counted * Select Dog or Select Bitch – The total number of dogs of the same sex in the breed/variety defeated in the regular classes and BOB competition will be counted. (i.e. 2 dogs less than the total number of the same sex) Completion of the title requires all of the following: * Twenty five Grand Championship points * Three "majors" (three or more points earned at a single show) won under three different judges * At least one or more of these points won under a fourth judge * Must have defeated at least one other AKC Champion of Record at three shows Starting in 2010, dogs who earn their Grand Champion title will receive an invitation to the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. For more information about the AKC Grand Champion title please see the AKC Rules Applying to Dog Shows and to submit questions and comments about the new AKC Grand Champion title contact: eventplans@akc.org.

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