Martha Anderson, PhD
For some years now, many of us have been familiar with the Hunting Retriever program run under the auspices of the UKC. Some of us have attended HR events and some of us even have those coveted initials for titles that stand for things like Seasoned Retriever or Started Retriever before the names of our Labradors. We may even have registered our dog with UKC, just so we could get that HR Certificate we earned.
What most of don't know or have chosen to ignore through the years is the Conformation Program offered by the United Kennel Club. And the Obedience program. And the Agility program. And the Weight Pull program. There are ALL SORTS of programs and events you and your dog can enjoy in the UKC, and titles you and your dog can earn together.
"Conformation? Did you say Conformation with UKC?"
"Are you kidding ?"
And that's been the attitude many of us have had IF we paid any attention to the fact there WAS a UKC Conformation program.
Well, we are here to tell you, "Yes, Virginia, there is a UKC Conformation Program." Contrary to what you may think if you are reading this with your 'AKC blinders' on, it is an active, viable, well-established, professionally run and rewarding program. It is growing in numbers throughout the country, and no surprise here, as the UKC celebrated its 100th Birthday in 1998. This is no 'johnny come lately' or ‘title mill.’ The judges are knowledgeable, informed on field aspects of our breed, cordial in the ring (a pleasant change from some judges in other registries), take their time and complete a thorough evaluation of each dog, often commenting to exhibitors about various aspects of their dog, and are looking for typey and sound dogs.
There are some things that are unique about the UKC Philosophy and UKC Conformation:
1) UKC believes in the Total Dog concept. Our dogs should be able to perform the jobs for which the breed was originated. Imagine that! Labradors that are truly expected to be in working condition when shown in conformation. Not lip service to this 'ideal', but adherence to this principle. Total Dog pertains to all breeds, not just ours.
2) UKC believes in Owner Handling. Anyone who accepts any form of remuneration for handling assistance is barred from showing. Refreshing! to know your dog is being evaluated on the basis of its merits, NOT on the basis of who is handling it. The judges can be forgiving with Novice handlers and are very patient with the owner-handler. It doesn't matter if the judge has never seen you in the ring before and doesn't know who you are. If they like your dog they will put you up because its the dog they are rewarding, not the handler.
3) UKC believes in Natural Presentation of the dog. That means minimal grooming. When they say 'natural' presentation that really does mean NO FOREIGN SUBSTANCES. No more 'back blowing with mousse' and no more 'trimming of dogs' and 'no more darkening pigment' before rushing into the ring. Judges care if your dog has clean teeth. And they want to see whiskers on a dog. And they want the coat brushed out, and clean is helpful BUT ONLY IF it doesn't strip the natural texture out of the coat.
4) UKC believes in training for as Natural a Presentation as possible, and that means many judges do NOT allow bait or noise-makers or fuzzy-tail-toys in their rings. The judge is not looking for the hunger-crazed, food-driven show fool. The judge is looking for a relationship between the dog and handler, for the dog to be trained for the requirements of the show ring.
"O.K." I hear you think, "what's the catch?" There is no catch. Just good sportsmanship and good fun exhibiting your dog yourself.
"O.K. What About The Standard?" The UKC publishes its standards which are available via the UKC Web Site or by ordering them from UKC. We would invite you to read the UKC standard and compare it to the FCI Standard, the The Kennel Club Standard, the Canadian Kennel Club standard, and the AKC standard. We think you will find it refreshingly similar to The Kennel Club and The FCI Standards in many aspects and similar to The American Kennel Club standard in other minor ways. Certainly dogs who are competitive in one venue are competitive in another.
"O.K. What about the Show Champion title?" It is earned differently, yes. Points are awarded for winning your class ! What a nice thing, at least you often have something to show for that entry fee even if you are not The Winner on the day. You still must have 'major wins' over competition with different judges -- 3 of them to be exact. That's 3 wins with competition under 3 different judges at least at the Best Male/Female level. BUT, your competition can be within or outside of your breed (should you happen to be a single entry in your breed at any given show). That's a real change in thinking for most of us. Points are the same throughout the country and in other countries (shows are also held in Canada, Japan and Britain). And you need 100 points and your major wins to earn the Show Champion title. Points are also awarded for Best Male/Female and Best of Winners besides winning your class. Think it's easy? Try it. It’s competitive and tough, and you have a sense of accomplishment when you earn that Show Champion title.
Here is a big difference for many of us -- a title level beyond Champion -- the Grand Champion title. Working toward that Grand Show Champion title provides you an opportunity to continue to show your dog and have a reward for it, EVEN IF you are not trying to 'campaign' a dog for a national ranking. Gee, that's nice. You earn the Grand Champion title by winning the special class just for Champions only held prior to Best of Breed competition.
The Top Ten in a breed, or National Rankings come from winning Best of Breed awards. And there is a minimal level of competition on the day needed for a BOB win to count as a Top Ten win for those ranking points. Best of Breed is chosen from among the Best of Winners, the winner of the Champions class, and from the winner of the Grand Champions class, a special class open only to Grand Show Champions held after the class for Champions and before BOB. So there are only a maximum of 3 dogs competing for BOB, only 3 dogs for the judge to focus on for that BOB win -- the BOW, the CH class winner, & the GRCH class winner. And contrary to what you may see in other registry shows, all 3 BOB class participants are considered equally for the BOB award. Anything can and does often happen! Exciting to the very end.
"Yes, Virginia, there is a UKC Conformation Program." Readers are invited to register their Labradors with the UKC -- either temporarily or permanently -- and try a show near you OR visit a show near you.
ULRA is the only Labrador Retriever association (club) in the UKC. ULRA’s mission statement: to preserve the Labrador Retriever as a working gun dog who is a delightful and obedient family companion and a beautiful and sound physical example of its breed.
New members and visitors are always welcome at our events and in our on-line group. We are a DEMOCRATICALLY run dog club (we're always voting on something!) Contact the membership chair, Jim Scott, jim@twinhollylabradors.com for more info.
Groups are encouraged to form new clubs and can be licensed to hold conformation shows in other countries. As mentioned above, UKC conformation shows are already held in Canada, Japan and Britain besides the USA. For information about how to form a UKC club and become licensed to hold shows, see the UKC web site under Dog Events, Clubs at http:www.ukcdogs.com.