Quote Originally Posted by borzoimom
It is mandatory at any show you have the shot record of any dog. Also I have the vet my chip numbers on the papers incase they check it. Westminster requires chips to verify the dog in the ring is the dog listed.
Several of our big shows do scan shows. Zubins last Best Of Winners they scanned him as well as the breed winner ( Poseidon) that took Westminster Best of Breed the 2006. Westminster is done by the top 25 of each breed as an invitational. However- if a puppy has gotten alot of points and fast and top honors, they are invited.
Westminster is WILD! I usually stay out of town and just drive in for my class as my dogs never did well in a " concrete jungle." Its a benched show, which means the judge comes through as the dogs at a bench alias like wood etc cubicle, picks out the best, then those selected go into the breed ring to compete for Best of Breed. They have 25 slots for the top 25 in the breed, and if one declines they take the next highest winning puppy. But by then, like my guys, they are older.
We are out this year- although Zubin has enough points to go, it takes up to 3 years to get a good coat in a Borzoi. And.. it is a serious amount of money to compete.
Zubins dad took AOM ( Award of Merit) at the Eukenuba championships last year. Award of Merit is like - you have a BOB ( Best of Breed) then Best of Opposite Sex ( the opposite sex of the BOB) then Best of Winners is the top of either male or female ( bitch) - meaning that the winners of the classes like Open Dog/Bitch and Bred by Exhibitor, and of course the puppy class winner ( if n/a) - ( these are usually adult dogs that could win against the Best of Breed comp class them), Then - AWARD OF MERIT MEANS= the dog/bitch was a Champion so they could not take Best of Winners but deserved ( by the judge) to be Recognizes.
Technically speaking- if the BOB could not show in the group ( in my case hounds) the BOW's is to go into the ring. They had a case with bealges at Westminster last year that sprained his leg. THE BOW went in for him. Opposite sex means its the best of that sex of the breed in the ring- and they can call for a judge against BOW and the BOW and that winner could take the ring..
I know my dog show lingo is alot- but I have been showing dogs since I was a junior handler and a child.. Second nature to me.. I think I included all the possiblities here..
I can't believe what I'm reading!
For your information; Westminster is America's First and Only Champions Only Dog Show Entry limited to 2,500 dogs. Dogs who have not completed their championship cannot be entered under any circumstances other than in Junior Handling competition.

From the Westminster website:
BENCHING

"The benching of dogs is an integral part of the dog show, the importance of which cannot be overstated. Dogs are received only at the exhibitors' entrance at 33rd St. & Pennsylvania Plaza between 7th and 8th Avenues, beginning at 6 AM each day. Dogs must arrive by 11:30 AM on the day they are judged. Dogs arriving after that time will not be admitted. All dogs must be removed from the benches by 11:30 PM. Tuesday evening to the designated holding area. Breeds to be judged on Tuesday will not be admitted until 9 p.m. Monday evening.

Dogs and equipment cannot be removed from the show either day before 8 p.m. All dogs must be removed from Madison Square Garden by midnight Tuesday. There will be separate areas for grooming or crates. Stacking of crates on breed benching will not be permitted, except in the case of Toy Breeds. Crates will not be permitted in any aisle, at any ring or on any floor space. All crates must be on the benching or in grooming area. Tack units must be on the bench.

No judging of any sort is done in the benching area. Ever! Every dog that is entered and is present gets it's chance in the ring to be judged.

If the BOB winner doesn't show up for group no one replaces him/her! The breed is simply not represented in the group that day.

Shot records are not required at dog shows, though a health certificate is required at Westminster. The exception to shot records would only be if there is a rabies outbreak in the state the show is in. Then a proof of Rabies vaccination would be required when you cross the state line. Not at the show itself.

All of this probably doesn't mean a darned thing to those that aren't interested in showing. But for those that are; let's get the facts straight.