Specialties are
shows given by breed clubs, for that breed only. There are
different types of Specialties, from a "regular" Specialty
show to once-yearly Regional and National
Specialties.
Regular Specialty shows are given by
individual member clubs of the National Breed Club (for
example, the Boxer Club of Louisiana). Often Specialty shows
are held in conjunction with all-breed shows, on the Friday
preceding or Monday following (or, as mentioned earlier,
sometimes a club will consider the entry at an all-breed show
to be their Specialty show).
Along with regular
classes that are held at all-breed shows, Specialties may
include additional non-regular classes such as Veterans 6-8
years and 8 years+ (divided by sex - this is the only class
where neutered or spayed dogs may be shown), Stud Dog (dog
with offspring - only the offspring are judged), Brood Bitch
(bitch with offspring - only the offspring are judged), and
occasionally Brace (two Boxers who are similar in appearance,
movement, size, and are shown together). The winners of the
Veterans classes are eligible to compete for Best of
Breed.
Specialties also usually include
Sweepstakes, which are special competitions for 6 to 18 month
old puppies and young adults. Sweepstakes are typically
divided into 6-9 month puppy, 9-12 month puppy, and 12-18
month junior. Winners of the classes compete for Best in
Sweepstakes. There are no points awarded for Sweepstakes wins,
but usually a portion of the entry fees are divided among the
winners and dogs that place in the classes.
Often
Specialties will include Obedience and Agility competition,
depending on the club and the location.
THE
REGIONAL The Regional Specialty is a scaled-down
version of a National Specialty, hosted by a local club. The
Regional is held in different regions of the country each year
(hence the name, Regional). The Boxer Regional is a four-day
event, with Specialty shows for different clubs held each day.
(For example, the Boxer Club of Louisiana Specialty Show on
Friday, the Mississippi Boxer Club on Saturday, and so
forth.)
THE NATIONAL The National
Specialty is the biggest and most prestigious show of the
year. The ABC National Specialty typically draws entries of
over 600 Boxers from across the country, and visitors from
around the world. The National Specialty includes regular
classes, Veterans, Stud Dog, Brood Bitch, Obedience and
Agility. At the National, just "making the cut" (being
considered for a class placement) is an honor, and a class
placement is a thrill. (Taking Winners Dog or Bitch, or the
Breed, is of course the ultimate!) There is no Sweepstakes at
the National, instead there is a Futurity (which I will get to
momentarily).
TOP TWENTY The
National also includes the prestigious Top Twenty competition.
Dogs are entered in the Top Twenty by invitation only, based
on the points they accumulate the previous year (points are
based on the number of dogs defeated in Best of Breed wins
only - Group and Best in Show wins are not counted). The Top
Twenty is a formal affair, with handlers and spectators in
tuxedos and evening gowns. Often dogs that have won the Top
Twenty in the past are eligible for the Top Twenty again -
these dogs are included in the Top Twenty as exhibition
only.
Judges for the Top Twenty are kept a secret
until the night of the competition. There are three judges - a
AKC-licensed judge eligible to judge Boxers and at least four
other breeds in any Group, a breeder or breeder-judge, and a
handler. Judges are selected by the Top Twenty Committee. Dogs
are scored individually by each judge, using a scale of points
from the standard. Judges also give an Average Placement (on a
scale of 1-10) to use in the event of a tie in scores. Only
one dog is in the ring for judging during the Top Twenty.
Score sheets are handing to an impartial tabulation committee,
and the winner is announced at the end of the evening. Score
sheets are made available to spectators after the winner is
announced.
FUTURITY Another big
attraction at the National is the Futurity Stakes. The
Futurity is truly a breeders' showcase. Like a Sweepstakes,
the Futurity is for puppies and young adults from 6-18 months
of age. However, puppies must be nominated before they are
even born to be eligible to compete (in other words, the
"future" puppies are nominated), and the breeder must be a
member of the American Boxer Club or a member club. The bitch
is nominated any time between her breeding and due dates,
during the six month periods preceding and following the date
of the National Specialties. Nominations must be postmarked
before the date the puppies are whelped. This will nominate
the entire litter. Once the puppies are born, a second
nomination must be sent and received on or before the date the
puppy reaches four months of age. This will nominate
individual puppies from the nominated litter. Dogs must be six
months of age and under 18 months of age on the first day of
the National to be eligible to compete in the Futurity. There
are no points given in the Futurity, but again a portion of
the nomination and entry fees are awarded.
The
Futurity is further divided into Puppy and Junior. The Puppy
Futurity includes classes for 6-9 months puppy and 9-12 months
puppy (divided by sex and color). The class winners of 6-9
months classes compete for Best 6-9 Months Puppy and Reserve
6-9 Months Puppy, the class winners of the 9-12 months classes
compete for Best 9-12 Months Puppy and Reserve 9-12 Months
Puppy. The Best 6-9 Months Puppy and the Best 9-12 Months
Puppy compete for First Prize Futurity Winner Puppy. The
Junior Futurity includes classes for 12-15 months junior and
15-18 months junior (divided by sex and color). Winners are
chosen as above to determine First Prize Futurity Winner
Junior. First Prize Futurity Winner Puppy and First Prize
Futurity Winner Junior compete for Grand Prize Futurity
Winner.
JulieM