On this page you will find a list of the various classes & abbreviations used in the show ring regarding classes & awards received:

There is also a page on Showing Terminology that can be seen by clicking HERE:

At Championship shows Dogs are always shown before bitches, in the case of open shows it is usual to find that dogs & bitches are in the same class & sometimes there maybe only a few classes scheduled.

Not all shows shedule all the classes listed below at any one show. Not all shows have a Best Puppy in show competition

If a show is judged on the 'Group System' it means that ALL the dogs declared Best Of Breed or Best Puppy in Breed compete in their respective 'group' i.e Working, Pastoral, Terrier, Hound, Toy, Utility, Gundog. Each Group winner then goes on to compete for Best In Show or Best Puppy In Show!!

Where there is NO group system, ALL Best of Breed & Best Puppy winners compete in one BIG 'class' for Best In Show or Best Puppy in Show

Abbreviations:

BOB - Best Of Breed - Awarded to the Best Dog or Bitch of any breed whether there are CC's on offer or not.

RBOB - Reserve Best of Breed - Usually awarded to the dog that did not get BOB

BOS - Best Opposite Sex - Awarded to the opposite sexed dog of the Best of Breed winner (i.e if the Male was awarded BOB then the bitch is automatically awarded BOS)

BOSP - Best Opposite Sex Puppy - Awarded to the opposite sexed dog of the Best Puppy in breed winner (i.e if the Male was awarded Best Puppy then the bitch is automatically awarded BOSP - or Reserve Best Puppy in Breed) Not all shows have these awards.

BP - Best Puppy Dog/Bitch- An award given to both the Best Puppy dog and Best Puppy Bitch who then challenge each other after Best of Breed is declared for Best Puppy in Breed.

BPIB - Best Puppy in Breed - Awarded to the Best Puppy of the breed. Both Best Puppy Bitch & Best Puppy Dog compete after Best Of Breed has been declared to win Best Puppy in Breed.

CC - Challenge Certificate - An award given, in the Judges Opinion, to the Best Dog or Bitch out of all the class winners. The judge declares by signing the card that the CC winner "is of such outstanding merit as to be worthy of the title of Champion" of its breed. Any dog must gain 3 CC's under 3 different judges to become an English Champion. There is usually a CC for each sex of dog. The 2 CC winners (i.e Dog CC & Bitch CC winner) go on to compete for BOB who then goes on to compete in the respective Group(Best Of Breed - See above)

Res CC - An an award given in the Judges opinion to the 2nd Best Dog or Bitch in their respective line ups. The judge declares by signing the card that the Res CC winner "is of such outstanding merit as to be worthy of being awarded the Challenge Certificate should the Challenge Certificate winner be disqualified" .

Best Dog/Bitch - Where Championship shows are scheduled WITHOUT CC's for a breed, or an Open show, an award for Best Dog & Best Bitch must be given, these then go on to compete for 

Best of Breed, and the Group.

Res Best Dog/Bitch - As above, but awarded to the 2nd best dog & Bitch in the respective breed.

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Class Definitions & Abbreviations:

MINOR PUPPY Dog/Bitch (MPD/MPB) - For dogs of six and not exceeding nine calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.

PUPPY Dog/Bitch (PD/PB) - For dogs of six and not exceeding twelve calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.

JUNIOR Dog/Bitch (JD/JB) - For dogs of six and not exceeding eighteen calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.

YEARLING Dog/Bitch (YD/YB) - For dogs of twelve and not exceeding twenty-four calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.

BEGINNERS Dog/Bitch - For owner, handler or exhibit not having won a first prize at a Championship or Open Show.

MAIDEN Dog/Bitch (MD/MB) - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or a First Prize at an Open or Championship show (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

NOVICE Dog/Bitch (ND/NB) - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or three or more First Prizes at Open and Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

TYRO Dog/Bitch (TD/TB) - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or five or more First Prizes at Open and Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

DEBUTANT Dog/Bitch (DD/DB) - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or a First Prize at a Championship Show (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

UNDERGRADUATE Dog/Bitch (UGD/UGB) - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or three or more First Prizes at Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

GRADUATE Dog/Bitch (GD/GB) - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or four or more First Prizes at Championship Shows in Graduate, Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, whether restricted or not.

POSTGRADUATE Dog/Bitch (PGD/PGB) - For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or five or more First Prizes at Championship Shows in Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, whether restricted or not.

MID LIMIT Dog/Bitch (MLD/MLB) - For dogs which have not won three Challenge Certificates or Five or more First Prizes in all at Championship Shows in Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not, at shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.

LIMIT Dog/Bitch (MLD/MLB) - For dogs which have not won three Challenge Certificates under three different judges or seven or more First Prizes in all, at Championship Shows in Limit and Open classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not, at Shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.

OPEN Dog/Bitch (OD/OB) - For all dogs of the breeds for which the class is provided and eligible for entry at the Show.

VETERAN Dog/Bitch (VD/VB) - For dogs of not less than seven years of age on the first day of the Show.

CHAMPION Dog/Bitch (CHD/CHB) - For dogs which have been confirmed a Champion, show Champion or Field Trial Champion. Champion classes may not be scheduled for individual breeds or varieties of breeds.

PROGENY For a dog or bitch, accompanied by at least three of its registered progeny. The dog or bitch not necessarily entered in another class however, all progeny having been entered and exhibited in another class. The dog or bitch and the progeny need not be registered in the same ownership.

BRACE For two exhibits (either sex or mixed) of one breed belonging to the same exhibitor, each exhibit having been entered in some class other than Brace or Team.

TEAM For three or more exhibits (either sex or mixed) of one breed belonging to the same exhibitor, each exhibit having been entered in some class other than Brace or Team.

BREEDERS For dogs bred by the exhibitor.

BRACE For two exhibits (either sex or mixed) of one breed belonging to the same exhibitor, each exhibit having been entered in some class other than Brace or Team.

RARE BREEDS Confined to those breeds not granted Challenge Certificates in the current year, with the exception of those breeds whose registration is confined to the Imported Register.

IMPORTED REGISTER For breeds confined to the Imported Breeds Register and only when an Interim Breed Standard has been published by The Kennel Club. Such breeds may be exhibited in this class only, and are ineligible for any other competition whatsoever.

ANY VARIETY NOT SEPARATELY CLASSIFIED - For breeds of dog for which no separate breed classes are scheduled.

NOT FOR COMPETITION - Societies may at their discretion, accept Not for Competition entries. Societies may accept such entries from breeds of dog not included within the title of the Society and at Shows held over more than one day, such entries may be accepted on any day from any breed.

Y.K.C. STAKES - For dogs exhibited and handled by a fully paid-up member of the Young Kennel Club, registered either solely or jointly in the member's name or in the name of a member of the family and under these circumstances the dog must be resident at the Young Kennel Club member's address. This is NOT a handling competition.

Y.K.C. HANDLING CLASSES: Exhibitors may handle any dog provided it is fully registered on the Kennel Club Breed Register and is eligible to be exhibited at Kennel Club licensed events. The 1st placed exhibitor from each handling (including J.H.A. if scheduled) class will be invited to take part in a Y.K.C. Handling Competition at Crufts , provided as from the 1st December xxxx they are fully paid-up members of the Y.K.C. Please Note: Handlers do not need to be Y.K.C. members to enter the handling classes, but must become a Y.K.C. member to take part in the Y.K.C. Handling Competition at Crufts xxxx

SPECIAL LIMIT Similar to an Limit class except that it is restricted as to weight, colour, height, etc. as appropriate.

SPECIAL OPEN Similar to an Open class except that it is restricted as to weight, COAT TYPE, colour, height, etc. as appropriate.

SPECIAL VETERAN STAKES For dogs of not less than seven years of age on the day of the Show, except that a dog will not be eligible for entry if it has already won a similar class for the same event during 20XX

SPECIAL CHAMPION STAKES For dogs which have been confirmed a Champion or a Show Champion, except that a dog will not be eligible for entry if it has already won a similar class for the same event during 20XX.

PUPPY STAKES Open to all puppies of six and not exceeding twelve calendar months of age on the first day of the Show. Dogs which have already qualified for the Purina Pro Plan/Dog World Pup of the Year final are not eligible to compete.

JUNIOR STAKES 20xx For dogs of 6 months and not exceeding 18 calendar months of age on 

the first day of the show.

GOOD CITIZEN DOG - For dogs that have achieved their GCDS Bronze SCHEME CLASS Award Certificate or above.

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