Canadian Championship

There is a difference in the process, AND there are usually fewer dogs per show. As Murreydobe mentioned, a recent CKC national had only a few more dogs than a large all breed show or local speciality here.

In Canada, as I recall, a dog only needs 10 points to finish, versus needing 15 in the US. In the past, in Canada, no majors were required. I think that might have changed to require one major, but I'm not sure. In the US two majors are required. Majors are given in large entries. So theoretically at least if they still don't require any majors, in Canada, you could finish a dog one point at a time in very small shows, with very few dogs in competition.

Whereas in the U.S., if the entries drop below a certain number depending on region, a dog can be Winners Dog or Winners Bitch and still not receive any points.

Both the lower number of points required, and the lack of requiring major/s are fundamental differences in the process. The usual lower number of dogs in competition is not a difference in the process, but simply a fact of dog shows in Canada.

We do require something they call a major, but here it is 2 points and we only need one. A dog can earn 2 points here with 3-5 dogs in competition so theoretically, it's not too difficult to do usually in this breed but it actually is a nightmare for some breeds where entries are *really* low.

The original poster's question is really not that easy to answer in some ways. In some areas, the competition is tough. In others, it's easier. Entries ebb and flow - there might be 20 entered, there might be 2. You never know. Those 2 entries might be specials so there are no points available for the class dogs and in that respect, it may take a while to find some points. I had that problem when we were showing Rory - entries were poor that summer and we were often the only class entry.

There may be less entries but they may be quality entries. I happen to live in an area where the top breeder in Canada lives along with a couple of others that usually do extremely well. Defeating them isn't easy.

Then there are times that there are entries and the quality isn't so good and it's easy to finish. You really see it all here.

One of the differences between AKC and CKC shows and the point systems other than "major" requirements and total points is the CKC awards point for group placements as well as group wins. Often that's how some of the rarer breeds with very low entries finish Canadian champions.

The points are based on the number of breeds shown in the particular group--generally 1st place in a group will win 5 points, 2nd place 4 points etc.

Another place there is a difference is that in Canada you are REQUIRED to go on to complete in every class/group you are eligible for or you loose the points that you might have gotten for lower wins. For instance if the dog goes BOB and gets two points it must go one to compete in the group or it will loose the 2 points from the breed.

AKC tries to balance the point systems from area to area--recently they added an area for some states that typically don't have many kennel clubs, specialty clubs or dog shows because the states included in the new area had not had majors in years. And yes, it dragged dogs, owners and professional handlers in by the record numbers to the circuits for "cheap" majors. As a result the competition looked like California (notorious for years for shows with big entries and the largest number of dogs and/or bitches needed to get majors) shows with entries in the 60 and 70 dogs and class entries in the 30's or more for each sex.

There are shows in various locations that nearly always have small entries and never make majors--but you need to have 15 points total and there have been dogs who actually got two 3 point majors but never managed to finish their championships. And the AKC majors have to be under different judges (I can think of at least one dog in recent memory who had three majors and about 22 points and remained unfinished because the same judge gave him all three majors (and some of the minor points) but no other judge would give him that second major.

<VBG> I've shown in Canada when all of the class competition was all AKC champions and I've shown in Canada when the only other dog was a weedy puppy--and I show in an area that usually has decent entries.

Canadian championships may look "easier" and sometimes they are--but don't count on it. There have been Canadian dogs and breeders who have, over the years, contributed significantly to the AKC Doberman and it's pedigree.