Level 1Beginner
Intermediate class: first steps among the adults
The answer
Your dog is growing up, gaining confidence… and sometimes still clowning around at the end of its lead! The intermediate class lets it compete with dogs of a similar age range, while giving access to the awards of the adult classes.
The word “intermediate” describes an age class, not your level of handling. So you can choose it for your very first show.
What age can you enter?
The intermediate class takes dogs from 15 months up to under 24 months. Age is calculated on the day the dog is shown, not on the day you enter.
Take Oslo, who will be 20 months old on the day of the show: Oslo falls within this age range, even if you fill in the entry several weeks beforehand.
Between 15 and under 18 months, the age ranges of the junior and intermediate classes overlap. The open class is also available from 15 months. You choose a single individual class for this show.
Why choose this class?
It can be a good option for a dog that is still filling out: its first competitors are also under two years old.
But beware of the shortcut “younger dogs = an easier win”! The judge assesses the dog's quality against its breed standard. The age of the competitors guarantees neither a better grade nor a first place.
What awards can it win?
In France, the intermediate class can compete for the CACS, alongside the open and working classes. This is the Certificat d’aptitude de conformité au standard (certificate of aptitude for conformity to the standard). It is not automatically awarded to the class winner.
At an international show, it also gives access to the CACIB, the Certificat d’aptitude au championnat international de beauté (certificate of aptitude for the international beauty championship), when the dog meets the required conditions. A “1st Excellent” lets you enter the contest, but does not guarantee this certificate.
In other words: winning your class is one step; earning a certificate is another.
Three tips to improve
Beginner — Check the age before you click. Note the date of birth and the exact date of judging. For a show lasting several days, find the day scheduled for your breed.
Intermediate — Prepare a simple, steady presentation. Work for a few minutes at a time: standing still, trotting at a comfortable pace and accepting a gentle examination. Finish on a success so that your dog keeps enjoying taking part.
Advanced — Choose with a specific goal in mind. Between the junior and intermediate classes, ask yourself which awards you want to aim for. Between intermediate and open, rely on your dog's maturity and its previous judge's reports. Both can compete for the CACS; the intermediate class offers no regulatory shortcut.