Preparing a championship campaign: planning the route to a title

Preparing a campaign therefore means linking three things: the rules for the title, what the calendar allows and your dog's needs.

Here are nine tips for moving forward with a clear roadmap.

Beginner — Understanding the title you are aiming for

1. Name your goal precisely

"Becoming a champion" is not enough to choose the right shows.

National Champion, International Beauty Champion — C.I.B. — or International Show Champion — C.I.E. — are different titles with different conditions.

Your exercise: write down the full name of the title you are aiming for and keep the link to its official rules.

For a national title, check the rules of the kennel organisation of the country concerned. Don't automatically carry over the conditions of another championship.

2. Check the conditions that apply to your dog

Before counting certificates, check eligibility: breed, registration in the stud book, pedigree, age and any working requirements.

The rules of the FCI International Championship set general conditions for access to titles. For the C.I.B., they then distinguish between breeds subject to a working test and those that are not. [1, introduction and section I]

Your exercise: prepare a list "condition checked / document available / point to clarify". Resolve any uncertainties before booking travel.

3. Tell a certificate won apart from a confirmed title

A certificate is one step. The title requires meeting all the conditions and completing the procedure laid down.

Your exercise: create two files: "Results and certificates" and "Title application".

Right from the start, find the applicable form and the application route given by the competent body. [1, sections I and II]

Intermediate — Building the calendar

1. Turn the rules into a list of conditions

For each requirement, state what has been achieved and what is missing.

Example: for the C.I.B. of a breed not subject to a working test, the general rule provides for four CACIBs, in three countries, under three different judges, with a minimum time between the first and the last. Approved exceptions may exist. [1, section I.1]

Your exercise: make one line per condition. Several certificates are not enough if a requirement for country, judge or time limit remains incomplete.

2. Choose shows according to how useful they are

Before entering, ask yourself: "Which condition could this entry help to fulfil?"

Your exercise: for each show you are considering, note:

The date and country.
The announced judge.
The certificate up for competition.
The class available.
The condition of the title it could contribute to.

Also check entry deadlines and any changes announced by the organiser.

3. Plan a complete budget

The cost of a campaign goes beyond entry fees: transport, accommodation, meals, preparation and any administrative costs also have to be counted.

Your exercise: set a budget and a limit on travel. Plan rest periods between events.

An additional show must be useful enough to justify the journey and the tiredness it involves.

Advanced — Steering the campaign

1. Check each result before updating your review

Keep the supporting documents and distinguish the result announced at the show from its official confirmation.

The FCI offers a search of the confirmed results of international shows and lets you retrieve the corresponding CACIB certificates there.

Your exercise: give each result a status: "won at the show", "confirmation to check" or "confirmed".

Check the dog's name, the date, the country and the judge: this information will be used for the application.

2. Recalculate the route after each show

A certificate won, an entry cancelled or a change of judge can change the plan.

Your exercise: update the remaining conditions, then reassess the upcoming shows. Keep a reasonable back-up option, without entering more shows out of habit.

The CACIB is not automatically awarded with a "first Excellent". Your calendar must therefore stay flexible. [2, section 7]

3. Prepare the confirmation before the last step

As the goal gets closer, gather the documents and check the rules that still apply.

Your exercise: check the certificates, the dates, the variety of countries and judges, any working test results and the form required.

For the time limit, follow the interpretation given in the official rules: don't rely solely on a calculation from memory.

Keep assessing your dog's fitness, too. Health and welfare are the priority in the FCI show rules. [2, section 4]

Your campaign sheet

Title aimed for:
Link and version of the rules:
Eligibility conditions checked:
Certificates required:
Countries and judges required:
Time limit to respect:
Any working requirement:
Other national or breed-specific conditions:
Results won and confirmed:
Conditions remaining:
Next useful shows:
Budget available:
Rest periods planned:
Confirmation form:
Receiving body:
Documents still missing:
Date of next review:

The reflex to keep

Start from the rules, choose the useful stages and update the route after each result.

A well-prepared campaign keeps a direction while remaining flexible. The title is the goal; each trip must find its place in a programme that is compatible with your dog and your everyday life.