When many people think about dog shows, they are thinking about "Conformation" dog shows. Those shows, like the famous Westminster Kennel Club Show, are sometimes televised. In an American Kennel Club (AKC) conformation show a trained judge examines dogs entered in a specific breed to see how well they conform to a written breed standard. Each breed has a written standard telling breeders for that specific breed, like Icelandic Sheepdogs, what traits a "perfect" dog for a particular breed should have. Of course knowledgeable breeders know that there is no such actual perfect animal. There are always differences in dogs and no one dog will ever be perfect. The dog is judged evaluated by how well it conforms, note the spelling, to or matches the written standard. Perhaps the tail isn't to a judge's liking. Or the ears are too big or too small or sit imperfectly on the head, or the topline (the back) isn't straight, or the toes, or teeth, or eyes don't conform (match) the written standard. Maybe the legs are not quite "right", or some teeth are missing, et cetera. Not all judges agree on the most important traits a particular breed should have. Virtually all judges are experienced breeders and showers of dogs. Often the traits that they had trouble achieving in their own breeding efforts are the first things they look for in the breeds they judge. The conformation ring is often called the show ring or the breed ring. Clicking on photos will enlarge them.
Nevertheless, the judge will chose the dog (dog or bitch) from the dogs of each breed entered that day that comes the closest to the breed standard. That dog "wins" the trial, the show that day. If only a few examples of the breed are present, there may be only a point or a few points awarded. If many dogs are entered, more points will be awarded. Minor points might be one or two, major shows, where more dogs are entered, have more points. In order to become a "champion" a conformation show champion, a dog must have two majors (earned in a show with more dogs entered). and enough minors to have earned (is it 15?) points. (I am not an expert on conformation shows. I get too nervous to show in the breed ring, the conformation ring.)
Once a dog has become a conformation show champion, the initials CH, will be attached in front of its name in the AKC records. (There are other well respected kennel clubs here in North America: the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), the United Kennel Club (UKC), etc.
Once a dog has earned its conformation championship, some owners go on to even more shows and their dogs become Grand Champions (GCH) Gold Grand Champions, etc. By the time a dog has worked its way up to the Westminster Conformation Show it has advanced show titles and is a stunning example of the breed - but arguably not "perfect". of course. (By the way, confirmation - note the spelling - is often used to denote a person who has become confirmed in their faith, it is a religious term. The person confirms that they believe in the tenets of their chosen faith. Conformation means how well a dog conforms to or matches a breed standard.)
Dogs can also become champions in performance events. Performance events test/judge how well the handler and dog can do (perform) certain tasks.
Many people are familiar with Agility Events - many kennel clubs (AKC, UKC, CKC, etc.) hold agility trials where dogs and handlers have to perform or run obstacles. Dogs can become Agility Champions. Ditto Obedience Trails. Obedience events show how well dog and handler can do specific tasks; they can become Obedience Champions. There are many, perhaps too many to list here, events that dogs and handlers can train for and enter to earn titles. Often at the top of each event, the very best handlers and dogs can earn performance championships. However, before getting to the "top" there are many titles that devoted couples can earn. The initial for those titles follow the official registered name of the dog on its official papers. Only the most committed handlers/dogs ever get to the summits. The fun is, or should be in my opinion, working together as a team.
I try (tried) to keep a list of the titles from the show ring and the performance rings that my own dogs, the ones that live with me, and the dogs I have bred have earned. I honestly had to finally give up. Above interspersed with the texts are a few of "my" dogs. I believe I have (had) permission to post those photos. I am not going to list their titles. (The titles on the pedigrees are abbreviated and only the most rabid fans know what all the letters stand for. I've lost track of the newer titles.)
It's really, really important, to me anyway, that each of my dogs ends up in a loving home where they each become a valued member of the family. The titles are nice of course; finding a good home is more important. The most important "title" is BFF - Best Furry Friend - in my own opinion.
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