Level 3Experienced
CACIB: the international certificate explained simply
The answer
The judge hands you a card with the letters CACIB: a result to savour! This acronym stands for Certificat d’Aptitude au Championnat International de Beauté (Certificate of Aptitude for the International Beauty Championship) of the FCI, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.
Who can win it?
At an international show awarding the CACIB, dogs that have obtained 1st Excellent in these classes can compete:
| Class | Access to the CACIB |
|---|---|
| Intermediate | Yes |
| Open | Yes |
| Working | Yes |
| Champion | Yes |
Junior and veteran dogs have separate certificates: CACIB-J and CACIB-V.
The CACIB is not automatic: the judge must consider the dog to be of superior quality.
A ring scene to understand it
Imagine three males of the same breed:
- Oslo — 1st Excellent in intermediate class.
- Tao — 1st Excellent in open class.
- Milo — 1st Excellent in champion class.
All three have won their class. In the comparison for the CACIB, the judge picks Tao.
Oslo and Milo keep their 1st Excellent, even though they do not receive the certificate. Winning your class and obtaining the CACIB are two different stages.
And the RCACIB?
The Reserve CACIB rewards the second-best eligible dog that has obtained Excellent. It requires a specific comparison: being second in your class is not enough to receive it.
CACIB won: am I a champion?
A single CACIB does not give an international champion title. The title aimed for has its own conditions.
The card handed over in the ring certifies a CACIB proposal. The FCI then checks the conditions and carries out the final validation.
Best of Breed, or BOB, is also a different distinction from the CACIB.
Three tips for progressing
Beginner — Stay available after your placing. If your dog gets 1st Excellent, ask the ring secretary whether they need to come back. Between two rounds, give them a quiet break.
Intermediate — Keep the complete result. Photograph the card and note the date, country, show, class and judge. This information will be valuable for tracking their record.
Advanced — Prepare your championship with the right regulations. Before planning your travel, check the requirements of the international title you are aiming for in your breed. Build your calendar from those conditions.