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Find an event near you on our Regional Events Calendar
Up-to-date listing of all events in your area are listed at the AKC website.
February 2022
2022 NGDC Premium
2022 VCA NSCE is updated
2022 NSCE Reservations/Orders Store (open Feb 04)
there will be no mail in form, all orders will be via the on-line store
December 2021
2021 NFT Results
October 2021
Info for 2022 NSCE
September 2021
2021 NSCE Eye Clinic Opportunity
August 2021
2021 NFT Merchandise
July 2021
2021 NSCE Updated Premiums
2021 NFT Premium, etc
2021 NSCE Updates, Premiums, Reservations/Store
April 2021
VCA Host Hotel Reservation Update
March 2021
NGDC Running Order, etc
February 2021
2020 VCA Hall of Fame Inductees
Update on 2021 NSCE
January 2021
2021 National Gun Dog Championships
October 2020
2021 NSCE Information
2020 NFT Results
September 2020
2020 NSCE & Photo Contest Results Posted
2020 NFT Judge Update, Plus
August 2020
Latest News for NSCE
Live Streaming of the 2020 NSCE is a go!
The 2020 NFT updates
July 2020
Buy your 2020 NSCE Merchandise
April 2020
Updated information on 2020 NSCE
March 2020
Due to COVID-19, the NGD Championship has been Cancelled
Due to COVID-19 The NSCE have been delayed. New dates will be announced.
February 2020
2020 NSCE reservations and Store are open
NGDC Store open
January 2020
Premium and reservations for NGDC are posted
December 2019
NFT Results
RV Reservations for 2020 NSCE
September 2019
New ROM Schedule
August 2019
Hotel information for 2020 NSCE
July 2019
Premium posted for 2019 NFT
June 2019
Check 2019 NFT New Information
April 2019
NSCE 2019 Judging Program
March 2019
2019 NFT Information
NSCE Newest Information
NGDC Newest Information
February 2019
2019 HOF Nominations Open
January 2019
2019 NGDC Information
National Specialty Premium
Sponsor a Trophy
**New** VCA WF Vizsla Population Survey 2019 is live!
Ask the FAC
2019 National Specialty Agility Premium posted
November 2018
2018 VCA NFT Results
September 2018
Results for the 2018 NFT
August 2018
Newest information on the 2018 National Field Trial
Conformation is a competitive dog sport that involves presenting purebred dogs to be judged against the respective breed standards in appearance, temperament, and movement. These judging events are called dog shows. Dog shows measure purebred dogs against the ideal characteristics of the breed, as determined by the purebred dog association.
The real goal of conformation shows is to maintain and improve each breed so that the breed's future is maintained with the highest quality with regard to the breed standards, temperament and type.
At the events, the dogs are judged by knowledgeable and experienced purebred experts. These judges look at the dogs' physical characteristics, movement/gait, and temperament to determine which dogs measure up most closely to the breed standard.
(source: www.AKC.org)
Each dog presented to a judge is exhibited ("handled") by its owner, breeder or a hired professional. The role of a handler is similar to that of a jockey who rides a horse around the track and, hopefully, into the winner's circle.
Most dogs in competition at conformation shows are competing for points toward their AKC championships. It takes fifteen points, including two majors (wins of three, four or five points) awarded by at least three different judges, to become an American Kennel Club "Champion of Record."
The number of championship points awarded at a show depends on the number of males ("dogs") and females ("bitches") of the breed actually in competition. The larger the entry, the greater the number of points a male or a female can win. The maximum number of points awarded to a dog at any show is 5 points.
Males and females compete separately within their respective breeds, in seven regular classes. The following classes are offered, and are divided by sex:
After these classes are judged, all the dogs that won first place in a class compete again to see who is the best of the winning dogs. Males and females are judged separately. Only the best male (Winners Dog) and the best female (Winners Bitch) receive championship points. The Winners Dog and Winners Bitch then compete with the champions for the Best of Breed award. At the end of the Best of Breed Competition, three awards are usually given:
Dog shows are a process of elimination, with one dog being named "Best in Show" at the end of the show.
Only the Best of Breed winners advance to compete in the "Group" competitions. Each AKC-recognized breed falls into one of seven group classifications. The seven groups are Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding. Four placements are awarded in each group, but only the first-place winner advances to the Best In Show competition.
Most breeders feel that champion dogs (CH) are considered more appropriate for breeding than non-champion dogs. The advanced title is Grand Champion (GCH).
More information about conformation competition (dog shows):