I've been asked by many people, how a dog becomes an English Champion in conformation, so I have put together this page in the form of a question and answer section. I hope I have covered everything, if I haven't please e-mail me, and I'll put your question and the answer on this page.
  1. What is a Championship Show?
  2. What is a CC?
  3. How do you win the CC?
  4. What is an English Champion?
  5. What classes are there at Championship Shows?
  6. What is the Stud Book?
  7. What are the Bands?
  8. What is a Junior Warrant?
  9. The English K.C. Standard of Points for the Pug
What is a Championship Show?

A Championship show is the only Show where a dog can gain awards towards the title of "Champion".
There are three different types of Championship shows, the General Championship Show, the Group Championship Show and the Breed Championship Show.
There are 25 General Championship shows, of which Crufts is one. A General Championship show is usually held over 2-3 days with different Groups on each day. Most of the Kennel Club recognised breeds are scheduled at these shows, although only Crufts (in March), the Scottish Kennel Club (in May) and the Welsh Kennel Club (in August) schedule all the breeds, these are called the "representative" shows.
Crufts is the only show which has C.C.s (Challenge Certificates) available for all breeds which qualify. The other shows may have some breeds scheduled "without CCs".
There are 11 Group Championship Shows, devoted, as the title denotes to all the breeds within a certain Group - e.g. the Toy Group. There is one other show which is strictly not a Group Show, it is the Scottish Breeds Canine Club, which is self-explanatory.
Then there are the Breed Championship Shows devoted to one breed or varieties of a breed (i.e. Dachshunds and Chihuahuas). These are run by Breed Clubs, and each breed has a different number of these - Pugs have 4.


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What is a CC?

A C.C. is a Kennel Club Challenge Certificate, and at shows where C.C.s are offered for a breed there is one for each sex - the Dog C.C. and the Bitch C.C.
The wording on the C.C. is "I am clearly of the opinion that (name of dog) owned by (name of owner) is of such outstanding merit as to be worthy of the title of Champion" This is then signed by the Judge.
There are also the Reserve C.C.s (one for each sex) and these state "I am clearly of the opinion that (name of dog) owned by (name of owner) is of such outstanding merit as to be worthy of being awarded the Challenge Certificate should the Challenge Certificate winner be disqualified". This is then signed by the Judge.


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How do you win the CC?

In each breed the dogs are judged first, and the winners of the breed's dog classes come together to challenge for the CC. The overall winner in this challenge is awarded the CC. Then (at the Judges discretion) the dog which was second in it's class to the CC winner, and only beaten by the CC winner, joins the other unbeaten dogs for the award of Reserve CC. The same procedure is then followed for the bitches.
The CC winner in Dogs then meets the CC winner in Bitches for the title of B.O.B (Best of Breed). This breed representative then goes forward to the Group.
The awarding of the CC and the RCC is not automatic, if in the opinion of the Judge there are no dogs present which would be worthy of the title of Champion, then the CC can be withheld along with the Reserve CC, and any or all class awards.

Unlike in the USA, the Champions and non-Champions compete together for the CCs, so to win a CC your dog has to beat all the Champions entered, which is how we are able to have record-breaking CC winners in this Country. It makes it quite difficult if you have a record breaking Champion being campaigned at every show, and he/she has maybe 30 or more CCs, to get past him/her! (There are only 26 sets of CCs for Pugs per annum). But even though this may seem to be a disadvantage, it does ensure the quality of Champions is kept high.


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What is an English Champion?

An English Champion has to win 3 C.Cs under three different Judges to become a Champion. At least one of these must be won when the dog is over 12 months old.
In Gundogs and Border Collies there is also the title of Show Champion, (Sh.Ch.) these are dogs which have won their 3 CCs, but to become a full Champion (Ch.) they must win a "qualifier" in whichever field their breed works.


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What classes are there at Championship Shows?

These are the classes (and their definitions) which may be scheduled for a breed at a Championship Show. The classes are the same for both Dogs and Bitches, so if there is a Novice class for Dogs, there is also a Novice Class for Bitches etc. Those which are underlined are the usual ones to be found at General Championship Shows, some shows schedule Veteran and Brace classes for each breed, but it is the Breed and Group Championship shows which generally schedule some of the others.

Minor Puppy For dogs of 6 and not exceeding 9 calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.

Puppy For dogs of 6 and not exceeding 12 calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.

Junior For dogs of 6 and not exceeding 18 calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.

Beginners For owner, handler or exhibit not having won a First Prize at any Show.

Maiden For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or a First Prize at an Open or Championship Show (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

Novice For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or 3 or more First Prizes at Open and Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

Tyro For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or 5 or more First Prizes at Open and Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

Debutant For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or a First Prize at a Championship Show (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

Undergraduate For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or 3 or more First Prizes at Championship Shows (Minor Puppy, Special Minor Puppy, Puppy and Special Puppy classes excepted, whether restricted or not).

Graduate For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or 4 or more First Prizes at Championship Shows in Graduate, Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, whether restricted or not.

Post Graduate For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or 5 or more First Prizes at Championship Shows in Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, whether restricted or not.

Minor Limit For dogs which have not won 2 Challenge Certificates or 3 or more First Prizes in all at Championship Shows in Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not at Shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.

Mid Limit For dogs which have not won 3 Challenge Certificates or 5 or more First Prizes in all at Championship Shows in Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not at Shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.

Limit For dogs which have not won 3 Challenge Certificates under 3 different Judges or 7 or more First Prizes in all, at Championship Shows in Limit and Open classes confined to the breed, whether restricted or not at Shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.

Open For all dogs of the breed for which the class is provided and eligible for entry at the Show.

So a typical General Championship Show classification for breed classes would look something like this:

Minor Puppy DogMinor Puppy Bitch
Puppy Dog Puppy Bitch
Junior DogJunior Bitch
Post Graduate DogPost Graduate Bitch
Limit DogLimit Bitch
Open DogOpen Bitch





To continue with the other classes you may find at a Championship Show:

Veteran For dogs of not less than 7 years of age on the first day of the Show.

Champion For dogs which have been confirmed a Champion, Show Champion or Field Trial Champion. Champion classes may not be scheduled for individual breeds or varieties of breeds.

Rare Breeds Confined to those breeds not granted Challenge Certificates in the current year, with the exception of those breeds whose registration is confined to the Imported Register.

Field Trial For dogs which have won prizes, Diplomas of Merit or Certificates of Merit in actual competition at a Field Trial held under Kennel Club or Irish Kennel Club Field Trial Regulations.

Working Trial For dogs which have won prizes in competition at a Bloodhound Working Trial and Kennel Club licensed Working Trials, held under Kennel Club Regulations.

Stud Dog For stud dogs and a least two progeny of which only the progeny must be entered and exhibited in a breed class at the Show.

Brood Bitch For brood bitches and at least 2 progeny of which only the progeny must be entered and exhibited in a breed class at the Show.

Progeny For a dog or bitch, accompanied by at least three of its registered progeny. The dog or bitch not necessarily entered in another class however, all progeny having been entered and exhibited in another class. The dog or bitch and the progeny need not be registered in the same ownership.

Brace For 2 exhibits (either sex or mixed) of one breed belonging to the same exhibitor, each exhibit having been entered in some class other than Brace or Team.

Team For 3 or more exhibits (either sex or mixed) of one breed belonging to the same exhibitor, each exhibit having been entered in some class other than Brace or Team.

Breeders For dogs bred by exhibitor.

Imported Register When an interim Breed Standard has been approved by The Kennel Club, breeds whose registration is confined to the Imported Register may be exhibited in this class only, and are ineligible for any other competition whatsoever.

A.V.N.S.C. (Any Variety Not Separately Classified) For breeds of dog for which no separate breed classes are scheduled.

KCJO (Kennel Club Junior Organisation Stakes) For Any Variety dog or bitch exhibited and handled by a fully paid up member of the Kennel Club Junior Organisation. The dog should be registered either: (a) Solely or jointly in the member's name, or (b) In the name of a member of the family and under these circumstances the dog must be resident at the KCJO member's address.

Not For Competition Societies may at their discretion, accept Not for Competition entries. Societies may accept such entries from breeds of dog not included within the title of the Society and at Shows held over more than one day, such entries may be accepted on any day from any breed.


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What is the Stud Book?

The Stud Book is the Kennel Club publication which comes out annually, and lists all the dogs which have qualified for entry into this book. The Stud Book is basically a Roll of Honour, and indicates that the dog is of excellent quality. Each dog qualifying for the Stud Book is allocated a Stud Book number, and this number is used instead of the Registration No. The dog's breeder, owner, d.o.b., colour and sire and dam are shown, and pedigrees can be traced through the Stud Book.
It indicates which shows they qualified at, and the results of those Championships Shows, with the Judges.
It also lists the Junior Warrant winners in each breed. Each breed has different qualifications for the Stud Book, these are divided into "bands". Pugs are in Band C.



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What are the Bands?

BAND A Qualifications for entry into Stud Book: Challenge Certificate or Reserve Challenge Certificate or 1st in Open Class.

BAND B Qualifications for entry into Stud Book: Challenge Certificate or Reserve Challenge Certificate or 1st or 2nd in Open Class.

BAND C Qualifications for entry into Stud Book: Challenge Certificate or Reserve Challenge Certificate or 1st or 2nd in Open Class and 1st in Limit class.

BAND D Qualifications for entry into Stud Book: Challenge Certificate or Reserve Challenge Certificate or 1st, 2nd or 3rd in Open Class or 1st Limit Class.

BAND E Qualifications for entry into Stud Book: Challenge Certificate or Reserve Challenge Certificate or 1st, 2nd or 3rd in Open Class, or 1st, 2nd or 3rd in Limit Class.

Entry to the Stud Book can also be gained by various wins at Field Trials, Working Trials, Championship Class "C" Obedience Classes, Bloodhound Working Trials, and winners of the Junior Warrant.


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What is a Junior Warrant?

The qualifications for the title of Junior Warrant have changed many times over the years. The Junior Warrant is an indication of the quality of a Junior dog (6 - 18 months). The new qualifications for the Junior Warrant are:

A dog has to obtain 25 points whilst between the ages of 6 months and 18 months. A minimum of 12 points must be won at Championship Shows where Challenge Certificates for the breed are on offer, and a minimum of 12 points won at Open Shows or Championship Shows where Challenge Certificates are not offered for the breed. The scale of points is as follows:

1) Three points for each First Prize awarded in a Breed Class at a Championship Show where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
2) One point for each First Prize awarded in a Breed Class at a Championship Show where Challenge Certificates were not offered for the breed, or at an Open Show.
3) Junior Warrant points can only be claimed from one Show per day with 3 clear days between qualifying Shows.
4) Junior Warrant points cannot be claimed from classes with less than 3 dogs present.
5) Junior Warrant holders will be awarded a Stud Book Number.
6) The title 'JW' may be used after the name of the dog on Show entries and in catalogues.

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The English K.C. Standard of Points for the Pug

GENERAL APPEARANCE Decidedly square and cobby, it is "multum in parvo" shown in compactness of form, well knit proportions and hardness of muscle.

CHARACTERISTICS Great charm, dignity and intelligence.

TEMPERAMENT Even tempered, happy and lively disposition.

HEAD AND SKULL Head large, round, not appleheaded, with no indentations of skull. Muzzle short, blunt, square, not upfaced. Wrinkles clearly defined.

EYES Dark, very large, globular in shape, soft and solicitous in expression, very lustrous, and when excited, full of fire.

EARS Thin, small, soft like black velvet. Two kinds - 'Rose ear' - small drop ear which folds over and back to reveal the burr. 'Button ear' - ear flap folding forward, tip lying close to skull to cover opening. Preference given to latter.

MOUTH Slightly undershot. Wry mouth, teeth or tongue showing all highly undesirable. Wide lower jaw with incisors almost in a straight line.

NECK Slightly arched to resemble a crest, strong, thick with enough length to carry head proudly.

FOREQUARTERS Legs very strong, straight, of moderate length, and well under body. Shoulders well sloped.

BODY Short and cobby, wide in chest and well ribbed. Topline level neither roached nor dipping.

HINDQUARTERS Legs very strong, of moderate length, with good turn of stifle, well under body, straight and parallel when viewed from rear.

FEET Neither so long as the foot of the hare, nor so round as that of the cat; well split-up toes; the nails black.

TAIL (Twist) High set, curled as tightly as possible over hip. Double curl highly desirable.

GAIT/MOVEMENT Viewed from in front should rise and fall with legs well under shoulder, feet keeping directly to front, not turning in or out. From behind, action just as true. Using forelegs strongly putting them well forward with hindlegs moving freely and using stifles well. A slight roll of hindquarter typifies gait.

COAT Fine, smooth, soft, short and glossy, neither harsh nor woolly.

COLOUR Silver, apricot, fawn or black. Each clearly defined, to make contrast complete between colour, trace (black line extending from occiput to twist) and mask. Markings clearly defined. Muzzle or mask, ears, moles on cheeks, thumb mark or diamond on forehead and trace as black as possible.

SIZE Ideal weight 6.3 - 8.1 kgs. (14 - 18 lbs.)

FAULTS Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

NOTE Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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If you have any questions on the above, or perhaps would like to know which Band your Breed falls into, please feel free to email me, and I will do my best to give you an answer!




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