ANNOUNCING THE DOG SHOW POOP RANKINGS

All of our readers know that we are fans of dog show rankings. We wouldn’t have dog shows if we weren’t interested in competition. It appeals to our sense of order and fairness. It is that latter characteristic that prompts us to announce the Dog Show Poop Rankings.



Starting in 2009 we will post our own rankings based on performance at AKC dog shows. We do this for a number of reasons. We want to recognize some of those dogs owned by the average dog show exhibitor, the exhibitor who doesn’t have a trust fund, the exhibitor who has a regular job and can’t make it to 150 shows a year, the exhibitor who doesn’t have access to a corporate jet to show in four cities in four days. Bottom line, we think if you give the average exhibitor (our version of Plumber Joe) some recognition, we might encourage more people to enter an AKC dog show.

We have developed a ranking system that tries to correct some of the inequities inherent in the current system.

1. We will count only all breed shows. 
2. We will score each group win equal to the win in the other groups. Said another way, a Group One in the Working Group will count the same as the Group One In the Herding Group at the same show. The current rankings count all the dogs that competed in the breeds that day. Therefore, a dog, unopposed in a breed, can go forward to the group and get credit for defeating dogs he/she never faced. To illustrate the inequity, consider this; the average Working Group winner gets 21 percent of the points at a show, while the average Terrier Group Winner gets eight percent, even though the former has faced 25 opponents in the group and the latter has faced 26. Group winners will be awarded four points. Group Two gets three points, Group Three two, and Group Four one. BIS will get the sum of the group wins, 28 points (Seven Groups at four points each) because a Best In Show is really, really special.
3. We will give extra points for big shows. Shows up to 1,000 dogs will score as out lined above. One additional point will be added to each win for every additional 250 dogs showing, i.e., BIS at a show with 1,000 dogs is worth 28, 1,250 is worth 35, 1,500 42, etc.

Now, we will still track and report the traditional rankings. We are not populist extremists wishing to overthrow the dog world elite nor do we harbor any delusions about who we are. The traditional rankings are important and we respect that. However, remember, these lists, like dog shows, are recreation. So don’t take them too seriously. Have fun with them. Our intent is to encourage you out there to get enthusiastic about dog shows.

REAL TIME RANKINGS

Technically, it’s not the end of the month until midnight, but since there are no AKC dog shows being held today, I thought I would get a jump on the better known dog show magazine rankings and publish the first almost real time rankings. That’s right, you can come here after an AKC show and check to see if there has been a change in our top ten dog rankings. After all, in the age of 24 hour news coverage, why should we wait six weeks for show dog rankings? So take a look at the sidebar on the left of this post and take note.

CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry

The top two positions remain unchanged. We had previously predicted that the number one dog, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, would end the year as Top Dog. At the end of July Spirit led the number two dog, the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, by over 12,000 points. However, Holly cut that lead to 10,000 points by the end of July and, by my calculations, Holly has pulled within 4,500 points of the leader as of today.

CH Tamarin Tug

We have a new number three dog. The supercharged Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, has catapulted all the way from number six to the number three slot, While the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, fell all the way to number six. The Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, and the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, remain at numbers four and five respectively.

The Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, remains at number seven, if just barely. The Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv Ouija, is breathing down Sadie’s wee highlands’ neck, a scant 500 points behind in the number eight spot. The Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition, remains at number nine thanks to a big win at the Douglasville (GA) show. Slipping two spots to number ten is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair. Carly skipped this past weekend’s show and it cost her.


So what do we have to look forward to the rest of the year? Less than 4,500 points separate the numbers one and two. We have a 2,000 points spread from numbers three to six. Finally, there’s a bare 1,800 points between number seven and number ten. Will we have a new addition to the top ten? I’m not sure….but if we do, you will read it here first.