Free Going for the Blue by Roger A. Caras Page B

briefly examine each winner again and often move each
     winner individually. Finally, the judge points to a Winners Dog. This is the dog that receives the coveted points toward its
     championship. The number of points is based on the actual number of dogs defeated that day. Excused or absent dogs do not
     count in the point calculations. Points are awarded differently on a regional basis and change from year to year based on
     the AKC schedule and the dogs competing the year prior to your show date. You can always ask the steward following judging
     how many points you received for winning the blue.
    The steward calls out the second-place dog (if any) from the class the Winners Dog just left. This dog now competes with the
     other class winners for Reserve Winner. The Reserve Winner is considered the next-best dog competing that day in the classes
     but does not get points.
    The bitch classes now follow the dog entries until the judge points to the Winners Bitch (WB), which is the only other entry
     to receive points at the show. Now the steward calls out the Specials (champion dogs and bitches) to compete along with the
     Winners Dog and Winners Bitch for Best of Breed. Each champion of record is examined in the same manner as the class dogs
     and bitches. All of this is carried out for each breed individually.
    All Best of Winners will compete later in the day (or perhaps the next day if the show is a large, multiday event) with the
     other Best of Breed winners within their group for one of four placements in the group ring. Here the competition is very
     stiff, as the Breed winner is often up against top contenders. The entries can come from all over the United States, Puerto
     Rico, and Canada.
    The AKC Recognized Breeds
    No one knows how many pure breeds there are still left in the world. A great many breeds have become extinct over the centuries.
     I have seen the top figure for survivors given as both 450 and 850. No doubt before the final count is made, many of the breeds
     here today will be gone, exterminated by lack of interest on our part. (When a breed vanishes, a distressing amount of our
     own history and culture goes with it.) Some others will have come into being during this time, although why we need more is
     beyond my understanding. There are certainly breeds enough now on this planet for every season, for every task, and for love.
    The breeds and varieties now recognized by the AKC are fewer than 170 in number. The AKC breeds with their probable or known
     lands of origin are listed here in their proper groups.
Group 1: Sporting Dogs—24 Breeds, 3 Varieties
Brittany (formerly known as Brittany Spaniel)
   
France
Pointer
   
Europe/Britain
Pointer, German Shorthaired
   
Germany
Pointer, German Wirehaired
   
Germany
Retriever, Chesapeake Bay
   
United States
Retriever, Curly-Coated
   
?
Retriever, Flat-Coated
   
Britain/Canada
Retriever, Golden
   
Britain
Retriever, Labrador
   
Newfoundland
Setter, English
   
British Isles
Setter, Gordon
   
Scotland
Setter, Irish
   
Ireland
Spaniel, American Water
   
United States
Spaniel, Clumber
   
British Isles
Spaniel, Cocker (three varieties)
   
United States
   ASCOB
   
   
   Black
   
   
   Parti-color
   
   
Spaniel, English Cocker
   
British Isles
Spaniel, English Springer
   
British Isles
Spaniel, Field
   
British Isles
Spaniel, Irish Water
   
Ireland
Spaniel, Sussex
   
British Isles
Spaniel, Welsh Springer
   
Wales
Vizsla
   
Hungary
Weimaraner
   
Germany
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
   
Holland
Group 2: Hounds—23 Breeds, 5 Varieties
Afghan Hound
   
Afghanistan
Basenji
   
Africa
Basset Hound
   
France/Belgium
Beagle (two varieties)
   
British Isles
   Up to 13 inches
   
   
   13 to 15 inches
   
   
Black-and-Tan Coonhound
   
British Isles/United States
Bloodhound
   
Mediterranean
Borzoi