|
Glossary
Canine Terminology can be very confusing and is further complicated by the fact that the show-going community use jargon to describe their happiness or disappoint. Sayings such as ‘thrown out’, ‘Big Green One’ and ‘put through’ can quite easily be taking out of context. Here in the first of two glossaries terms and phrases found around the show ring will, hopefully, dispel some of the mystique of the language you may encounter.
Showspeak (and other often used colloquialisms from the show scene)
|
|
|
|
A
|
Action
The gait or movement of a dog.
Affix
A name granted to breeders by the Kennel Club upon payment of a fee.
|
|
B
|
Balance
A well-proportioned blend of a dog's overall attributes creating pleasing outline.
Big Green One
Challenge Certificate.
Brace
Two dogs of the same breed, of either sex or missed, belonging to the same exhibitor.
Breed characteristics
The features of the breed which distinguish a dog as being typical of its breed.
Breed Standard
The individual attributes of each breed, as approved by the Kennel Club and recorded in their written Breed Standards.
Breeder (abbr. Br.)
The owner of the bitch at the time of whelping.
Bridesmaid
Typically a bitch which always seems to be awarded Reserve Challenge Certificates rather than Challenge Certificates, but it can also be used to describe one which frequently comes second but rarely wins.
Brood bitch
A bitch, whose show career is normally over, but kept primarily for breeding purposes.
|
|
C
|
Can't get past
Used to describe being constantly placed behind the same dog, show after show.
Catalogue
A booklet, collected at the show, listing details of each exhibit and the class or classes they have entered in. The catalogue can either purchased when making the entry or at the show.
Critiques
Reports written by judges, following their judging appointment. Published in the canine press these critiques detail the judges views on both the breed and individual exhibits, as presented to them.
Challenge Certificate (abbr. CC)
A Kennel Club award, made at a Championship Show, to the best dog and bitch (of each breed) entered at the show. Note: Challenge Certificates are not automatically available for every breed at every show.
Champion (abbr. Ch.)
A dog or bitch which has won three Challenge Certificates under three different judges, with at least one of the CC’s being awarded after the age of twelve months.
Championship show
A show where the Kennel Club grants the award of Challenge Certificate.
Cobby
Of compact conformation, short in the back and well ribbed up. Relates to the overall body shape.
Compact
The various parts of the body being firmly joined together.
Conformation
The make-up of the dog as a balanced entity. A dog typical of its breed is said to conform to breed type or to have good conformation.
|
|
D
|
Double handling
Communication or attraction, by any means, other than that between the handler and the exhibit, i.e. a person external to the show ring. A practice strictly against Kennel Club rules.
Down the line
Not placed first or second. Specifically refers to Reserve or VHC.
|
|
E
|
Entry Form
The form found in the schedule and used by the exhibitor to make an entry. Strict rules govern completion and receipt of these forms.
|
|
F
|
Facey (Judging)
Used to describe a judge who appears to be judging the exhibitor rather than the exhibit, i.e. placing those with well-known faces. Note: Do always keep in mind that often the well-known faces have very good dogs!
Faking
Disguising of undesirable features, of the exhibit by the exhibitor, by a method contrary to Kennel Club rules.
Faults
Any departure from the Breed standard should be considered a fault. Its seriousness being regarded in proportion to its degree.
|
|
G
|
Gained his crown or title
Awarded his third CC and so becomes a Champion.
Gait – see Action
Go over
A judge 'goes over' a dog to assess his structure and quality; the act of placing the hands on the dog's body for the purpose of assessment.
|
|
I
|
In the cards
Awarded any one of the prizes in a class, as opposed to not being placed.
In good company
An admission that although your dog was not placed there were also other good dogs, in the class, who were also not placed.
|
|
J
|
Judging the other end of the lead
Judging the handler rather than the dog (as in face judging).
Junior Warrant (abbr. JW)
A dog having won a total of 25 Junior Warrant points between the ages of six and eighteen months will, upon application to the Kennel Club, be awarded a Junior Warrant. Points can only be earned in breed classes for a first place, where there are 3 or more exhibits in the class. Three Junior Warrant points are awarded at a Championship show, where CC’s are on offer, and one point at an Open show, or a Championship show without CC’s.
|
|
K
|
Knocked
Placed lower in the class than might have been expected.
|
|
L
|
Litter brother (sister)
Dogs born in the same litter.
Looking for his third
Describes a dog hoping to win a third Challenge Certificate, and therefore being made a Champion.
|
|
M
|
Made up
Describes a dog who has just received his third CC, therefore becoming a Champion.
Maiden bitch
A bitch which has not been mated.
Note: The show classification ‘Maiden’ shares no connection with the term.
Movement – see Action
|
|
N
|
NAF (abbr.)
Name Applied For, an abbreviation alongside the dogs’ entry in the Show Catalogue indicating that an application has been made to The Kennel Club for the name. Note: This declaration is made when the show Entry Form is completed.
New dog
A dog which has not been entered in a previous class and therefore has not been seen by the judge.
NFC (abbr.)
Not For Competition, an abbreviation alongside the dogs’ entry in the Show Catalogue indicating that although the dog will be present at the show it will not be exhibited. Note: This declaration is made when the show Entry Form is completed.
|
|
O
|
Out of coat
A term used to describe a dog which has for some, usually of temporary, reason dropped or shed its coat.
|
|
P
|
Pacing
Movement in which the two right feet move forward together followed by the two left ones, usually induced by walking at a slow speed.
Prefix – see Affix.
Pulled out
The act of being selected from class prior to being placed. 'Pulled out but not placed' is commonly used to suggest that the judge did consider the dog (but then did not place him).
Put through
Used mainly at Championship shows to indicate the dog which has been declared Best of Breed and as such has been 'put through' to the Group.
Put up
Placed first, in either a class or group, denoting that the days competition will continue. Also used to describe the winner of a Challenge Certificate.
|
|
R
|
Reserve
Fourth place ( in a class).
Reserve Challenge Certificate (abbr. Res CC, RCC)
Reserve to the winner of the Challenge Certificate.
Reserve Ticket
Reserve Challenge Certificate.
|
|
S
|
Schedule
A free booklet provided by the show organisers, and available on request, containing an entry form and detailing the date and venue of the show, as well as listing which breeds (and their classes) are to be judged and the judges appointed to officiate.
Seen dog
A dog which has been entered in a second or subsequent class and therefore has been seen by the judge. Note: This includes the occasions when a judge is officiating both breed and Any Variety classes.
Setup
To prepare and present an exhibit, in a standing position, ready for the judge to ‘go over’ or view.
Suffix
An affix used at the end of a dog's name.
|
|
T
|
TAF (abbr.)
Transfer Applied For, an abbreviation alongside the dogs’ entry in the Show Catalogue indicating that an application has been made to The Kennel Club for transfer of ownership of the dog. Note: This declaration is made when the show Entry Form is completed.
Table dog
A dog, not like the Keeshond, which is examined by a judge on the table rather than on the floor.
Tail carriage
The manner in which the tail is carried.
Team
Three or more dogs of the same breed, of either sex or missed, belonging to the same exhibitor.
Ticket
Challenge Certificate.
Thrown out
Not placed, therefore 'Thrown out with the rubbish' is also frequently heard.
Type
Has the quality so conforming to the Breed standard.
|
|
V
|
Very Highly Commended (abbr. VHC)
Fifth place (in a class).
|
|
|
Page Last Updated: July 2007
|
