Level 1Beginner
Which class should I choose for my dog?
The answer
Faced with the entry form, the names all look alike: junior, intermediate, open… The right class depends on your dog’s age on the day of judging, on any titles or qualifications he holds, and then on your goal.
Your own experience does not determine the class: you can start out with an adult dog!
First reflex: look at the right date
Work out your dog’s age on the day he will be shown, not when you enter. For an event lasting several days, find the date his breed is judged.
Guidelines for French shows
These classes remain subject to the general conditions of admission and to the regulations of the event.
| Class | Age on the day of judging | Special condition |
|---|---|---|
| Baby | From 4 to under 6 months | Check that it is offered |
| Puppy | From 6 to under 9 months | — |
| Junior | From 9 to under 18 months | — |
| Intermediate | From 15 to under 24 months | — |
| Open | From 15 months | No upper age limit |
| Working | From 15 months | Eligible breed and official certificate |
| Champion | From 15 months | Eligible title already confirmed |
| Veteran | From 8 years | No prior title required |
The conditions for the working and champion classes must be met within the deadlines set before entries close.
Several classes are possible: how do you decide?
Your dog is 16 months old. He can be entered in junior, intermediate or open, subject to any restrictions linked to his status. You choose a single individual class for this show.
The junior class lets you aim for the junior certificates. The intermediate and open classes give access to the CACS (the French certificate) and, at an international show, to the CACIB, depending on the applicable conditions.
Your dog is 20 months old. With no particular qualification, the choice is between intermediate and open. Intermediate first pits him against dogs under two years old; open brings together adults of more varied ages. Neither guarantees an easier competition.
Your dog is 3 years old and has neither an eligible title nor a working certificate. The open class is the usual choice.
Your dog is 9 years old. The veteran class lets him compete with the seniors and aim for their specific certificates. His age alone does not oblige him to leave the open class.
And if he already has a title or qualification?
For the working class, check that his breed is eligible and that he has the certificate: doing an activity is not enough. The rules may differ between national and international shows.
For the champion class, check the exact name of the title and that it has been confirmed. Watch out for the case of the French Champion of Conformity to the Standard — CHCS: French regulations provide for entering it in champion or veteran, if age allows. So not all classes should be considered freely interchangeable.
Three tips for improving
Beginner — Start with age and supporting documents. Before thinking about awards, rule out the classes your dog is not eligible for. The choice quickly becomes simpler.
Intermediate — Give your outing a goal. Discovering the ring, a junior certificate, adult competition or showing in veteran: from the permitted classes, choose the one that matches your plan.
Advanced — Re-read your entry before the closing date. Check the class, the judging date and the attached documents. At an FCI international show, changes of class after closing are prohibited, except for an administrative error by the organiser.