By Stephanie Kress   

A dog show is an encyclopedia come alive. Even the very small shows feature dozens of breeds, culminating in Best of Show. Spectators can marvel at the shapes, sizes and colors of man's best friend and incidentally learn something about dog fanciers, that loose-knit group of people whose lives literally and passionately revolve around dogs and dog shows. Behind the pomp and circumstances of every show is the serious purpose of preserving the integrity of breeds and providing companions to work and play with human families. Canine confirmation shows are often scornfully and mistakenly dismissed as beauty contests and are easily misunderstood. Spectators see dogs that are bathed, dried and brushed and then paraded around a ring in front of a judge who hands out ribbons without a word of explanation, a process guaranteed to leave them wondering why one breed of canine won over another. Breed confirmation, a combination of skeleton muscle structure, body shape and coat type unique to each breed, is spelled out in a document known as the breed standard. The standard is written by the breed club and submitted to the American Kennel Club (AKC) for approval. When an observer is ringside, he can pick and choose the type of dog he likes, and no one cares. When the judge is the observer, he or she must know the standard, be adept at selecting the dog that best meets the standards in that class, and make a decision in a matter of minutes. Confirmation shows are divided into classes for puppies and adult dogs, males first, then females. The final class in a breed determines the best of breed. Male dogs compete in up to six classes: (1.) puppies 3-6 months old, (2.) puppies 9-12 months, (3.) adults 12-18 months old, (4.) American breed dogs, (5.) bred by exhibitor dogs and (6.) all open (all other adult dogs). After each class is judged, the first place winners return to the ring for selection of the best male known as "Winner's Dog." This is the only male who earns points toward a championship. A reserve dog is also chosen and will get the winner's points if the winner is disqualified. Female dogs then compete in the same classes, and the judge chooses the winner and reserve. The final class in a breed includes the winners dog (male) the winner's dog (female) and dogs that have already achieved a championship. Dogs become champions by amassing 15 points, a feat that takes at least three shows but is more likely to take 10 or more shows. The handlers urge the dogs to move counterclockwise around the ring so the judge can stand in the center and check the dogs for smoothness of gait, balance and soundness. The stack is a pose used to show the dog to its best advantage. In most breeds the dogs are stacked with their legs straight under their bodies, but some breeds pose with their legs stretched out. The judge notes the dog from a distance. He then moves closer to examine the bite, feel the skull, check the facial expression, and use his or her hands to determine the depth of the chest, the spring of the ribs, the shoulder angulation, and coat and body condition. On males, the judge checks for two testicles. Depending on the breed, the judge may also check the length of ears or tail and, if the dog appears to be too big or small to fit the standard, he or she may ask for a measuring wicket to check the shoulder height. The judge then wants to observe the dog running around the ring in order to assess movement going away, coming back and from the side. The judge watches the dog closely for movement faults. All of this takes about two minutes per dog for an experienced judge. The judge then compares the dogs side by side to reconfirm the decision before the ribbons are handed out. A championship is one criterion for a good breeding dog. Others include good health, appropriate temperament and working ability, the intelligence and the physical attributes to become a treasured companion. Many breeders go beyond the basics of showing their own dogs and hire a handler to travel with the dog to various events to earn championship points or compete for Best in Breed and Best in Show. Dog shows abound in spring, summer, and fall, giving pet owners an abundance of opportunities to revel in the company of hundreds of dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes. What a lovely way to spend your days, in the company of hundreds of dogs, all of them man's best and treasured friends. It's like being in heaven. -Stephanie Kress Kress is the director of marketing and public relations at Theiss, Lipner & Co., LLP, with whom she has worked since 1995. Kress can be contacted in New York at (718) 225-7325 or in Miami Beach at (305) 535-0950, c/o Marshall Lipner, CPA.

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