How to Win Best In Show?
Winning 'Best' anything at an open show or at a championship show is a great achievement.
To win Best In Show, is a dream for most of us.
The first step is to win a 1st in your breed class.
(Picture of Lucy Dixon and her Standard Schnauzer Ch Andix Mr Brightside (Sonny), winning Best In Show at the Scottish Kennel Club Champ Show. Thank you Lucy for the use of this picture).
The Path to Best In Show
In your Breed Classes
At a Champ show, if you win your class, you will then wait until the other Dog or Bitch classes have been judged and then challenge for Best Dog or Bitch.
The Best Dog and the Best Bitch then compete against each other to win Best of Breed.
At an Open show Dog and Bitch classes are not usually split (unless there are lots of entries like Golden Retrievers), and so if you win your class, you then challenge for Best of Breed straight away.
Group Stage
Having won Best of Breed you will then compete against all the other Best of Breeds in your Group. ei Gundog, Working, Pastoral, Hound, Utility, Toy and Terrier.
Best In Show
If you win your group, you will compete for Best In Show against all the other Group winners.
Other Bests
Depending on the show, there may be other 'Bests' that you can compete for. Check the schedule of the show you have entered. The above process still applies to the following 'Bests'
Best Puppy In Show
Best Special Beginner In Show
Best Junior In Show
Best Veteran In Show