Aardehond Border Terriers have many opportunities to strut their stuff. Borders are very versatile dogs and enjoy working with their owners in a variety of venues. Reggie is no exception, although he does love some activities more than others, especially Earthdog! And from all indications, Halo is going to follow closely in her kennel mate’s pawprints.

Below is a primer on some of the most popular performance events in and around Ohio in which Border Terriers compete. For links to more detailed information about these events, please visit our Resources page.

Conformation

Earthdog

Agility

Obedience

Rally

CGC

Versatility

Conformation shows are the beauty pageants of the dog world. The famous Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is one of the most well-known of these. In the breed ring, dogs are compared to other dogs of the same breed and gender, and measured against their specific breed standards, such as size, color, structure, and temperament. Breed winners at this level go on to compete against other dogs in their group (Sporting, Non-Sporting, Hounds, Working, Terrier, Toy, and Herding), and ultimately against the winners from each group. The first place dog from each group then competes for the coveted “Best in Show” title.

At AKC shows, dogs entered in a particular breed are divided into three categories:

The Class Dogs compete first, and after the various classes, the judge picks the Winners Dog (WD). The judge then judges all the Class Bitches and picks a Winners Bitch (WB). The WD and WB go back into the ring and compete with the Champions for Best of Breed (BOB), Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed (BOS), and Best of Winners (BOW), or the better between the WD and WB.

The WD and WB win “points” toward their championships. The number of points earned is based on the area of the country where the show is held and the number of dogs in competition. To complete an AKC Championship, a dog must earn 15 points. These must include two major wins (consisting of 3, 4, or 5 points) under two different judges, and at least one point under a third judge. The BOB breed dog then competes in the Group Judging.

Reggie achieved his AKC Championship in October 2003, and his Canadian Kennel Club Championship in September 2004; thus his registered name is now Am/Can Ch. Meadowlake No Regrets.

Note: Conformation is not technically a “performance event,” since the judging is subjective, unlike the other events, which are judged on specific behaviors. But because it also involves competition, we are including it as a courtesy to our readers.