Conformation exhibitors, the following changes have been published by AKC Event Operations, July 2015.

• National Owner Handler series changes to ribbon colors and BIS judges eligibilty requirements.
• Apprentice Judge Training
• Conformation Judges Books
• 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition Professional Handler Definition
• Practice Rings at Conformation Events

Event Operations

Event Operation is committed to providing clubs and exhibitors regular communication regarding new, changed, and clarified rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Several items at the July 2015 Board meeting were approved that have an impact on clubs and we wanted to take this opportunity to notify and explain them to you.

AKC National Owner-Handled Series updates (effective October 8, 2015)

Ribbon Colors
In order to bring consistency to this program, the following required ribbon colors have been adopted for NOHS events:
NOHS Best of Breed/Variety – Maroon
NOHS Group 1 – Neon Pink
NOHS Group 2 – Neon Green
NOHS Group 3 – Teal
NOHS Group 4 – Cream
NOHS Best in Show – Turquoise
NOHS Reserve Best in Show – Light Green

Judges Guidelines

A single judge should not be used to do all the NOHS Groups & Best in Show
A judge should not be assigned the NOHS Group prior to judging that same group for the all-breed show.

Limited Status Junior Judges Eligible to Judge Group Shows (effective October 1, 2015)
Junior Showmanship Judges with Limited Status that are approved to judge at single breed specialties for every breed in a group will now be eligible to judge Junior Showmanship classes at a Group Show of those breeds.

Junior Showmanship Master Class Criteria (effective October 7, 2015)
The eligibility criteria for the Masters Class will be earning 10 Best Junior Handler awards with competition. The calendar for this class remains consistent with the eligibility dates for the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. As a reminder, all clubs offering Junior Showmanship competition must offer the Master Class.

Apprentice Judge Training
The Board of Directors at its June 2015 meeting adopted a new Conformation Judging Approval Process to be effective September 1, 2015. Included in the Board’s new policy is the ability for prospective breed judges to gain education by completing Apprentice Training experiences in that breed. Apprentice Trainings involve the prospective breed judge observing the judging from inside of the ring. The Mentor and Apprentice may discretely discuss the entry during the judging.

Prospective judges who wish to complete Apprentice Training experiences are required to schedule and receive consent from the Show Chairman and Mentor Judge prior to the opening of the show. There are additional requirements before an experience may be completed or who may serve as a mentor judge which are not the responsibility of the Chair to confirm have been met. AKC Judging Operations will confirm all requirements have been met before educational credit is assigned for a completed experience. No Apprentice Trainings may be scheduled prior to September 1, 2015.

Conformation Judges Books (effective January 1, 2016)
In order to reduce confusion regarding the purpose of check boxes for judges and exhibitors, the following changes have been made to the Conformation Judges’ Book format:

Remove the check box for withholding Winners & Reserve
Remove the check box next to Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex
Change the wording of Grand Championship points to: If withholding Grand Championship points from Best of Breed or Best of Opposite Sex please note GCH points withheld by the appropriate number.

4-6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition Professional Handler Definition (effective October 1, 2015)
In order to make the definition of professional handler consistent with the AKC NOHS definition the following change was approved:

Professional handlers are defined as any person who belongs or has belonged to a professional handlers’ organization, distributed rate cards, or otherwise advertised or represented themselves as handling dogs for pay within the last five years. Dogs may not be exhibited by current assistants and household members of a professional handler.

4-6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition Show Report (reminder)
We have situations where a Report of Open Show or 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy form is not submitted when there are no entries for the competition. This causes a delay in results processing as we have to contact the club to determine the status of the report. When a club schedules a 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy competition, a Report of Open Show or 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy form must be submitted as part of results processing even when there were no entries in the competition.

Practice Rings at Conformation Events
Clubs are encouraged to set-up show-and-go practice rings at their events. There are a number of benefits to this including providing stress-free mentoring to interested new exhibitors and allowing new exhibitors and younger dogs the opportunity to have a positive experience at an event. You can read an article written by AKC Executive Field Representative Sandra D’Andrea on the benefits of offering practice rings at an event here.