Conformation Class Definitions
CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB, USA, DEFINITION OF CLASSES
The term "Dog" applies to both sexes unless otherwise specified.
As of 3/4/24
CONFORMATION
As of 3/4/24
OFFICIAL CONFORMATION CLASSES
(Championship Points awarded if entry justifies.)
Junior Puppy: Puppies 5 months but not yet 9 months.
Senior Puppy: Puppies 9 months but not yet 12 months.
Graduate Puppy: Dogs 12 months but not yet 18 months and not holding a CKCSC, USA championship title.
Novice: Dogs 5 months and older, never to have won any points at a CKCSC, USA, or CKCSC Regional Championship Show, nor a major win, nor a championship in any Registry in which the Breed is recognized.
Bred By Exhibitor: Dogs 5 months and older, owned by the breeder and handled in the ring by the breeder or his/her spouse or domestic partner. The breeder is the registered owner of the dam at the time of mating.
Junior American Bred: Dogs 5 months but not yet 18 months, whelped in the USA of a mating that took place in the USA, and not holding a CKCSC, USA championship if over 12 months of age.
American Bred: Dogs 18 months and older, whelped in the USA of a mating that took place in the USA and not holding a CKCSC, USA championship title.
Second Generation American Bred: Dogs 5 months and older which are American Bred and of which both sire and dam are American Bred, and not holding a CKCSC, USA championship title. (Offered at the National Specialty, Members Club Show, and Trudy Brown Albrecht Memorial Rally only.)
Health & Conformation: Dogs 5 years of age and older with an OFA certificate that shows and OFA registry number and states that the dog has no evidence of hip displaysia after 2 years of age and is certified clear within 1 year of the postmark closing date for that show of the following diseases: 1) Heart – by a board certified cardiologist; 2) Patellar Luxation – by a licensed veterinarian or via an OFA patella certificate; 3) Eyes – by CERF or by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist’s exam sheet indicating that eyes are “normal”. Copies of the 4 certificates must accompany the entry form for any dog entering this class.
Special Limit Blenheim: Blenheim dogs 5 months and older and not holding a CKCSC, USA championship title if over 12 months of age.
Special Limit Tricolor: Tricolor dogs 5 months and older and not holding a CKCSC, USA championship title if over 12 months of age.
Special Limit Ruby: Ruby dogs 5 months and older and not holding a CKCSC, USA championship title if over 12 months of age.
Special Limit Black & Tan: Black & Tan dogs 5 months and older and not holding a CKCSC, USA championship title if over 12 months of age.
Open: Dogs 5 months and older.
Senior Open: Dogs 7 years and older.
UNOFFICIAL CONFORMATION CLASSES
(No championship points awarded.)
Veteran: Dogs 7 years and older. Class to be judged on overall quality and conformation of the dogs, regardless of their age. (Offered at Regional Club shows only.)
Bronze Veteran: Dogs 7 years but not yet 9 years. Class to be judged on overall quality and conformation of the dogs, regardless of their age. (Offered at the National Specialty, Elizabeth I. Spalding Memorial Show, and Trudy Brown Albrecht Memorial Rally only.)
Silver Veteran: Dogs 9 years but not yet 11 years. Class to be judged on overall quality and conformation of the dogs, regardless of their age. (Offered at the National Specialty, Elizabeth I. Spalding Memorial Show, and Trudy Brown Albrecht Memorial Rally only.)
Gold Veteran: Dogs 11 years and over. Class to be judged on overall quality and conformation of the dogs, regardless of their age. (Offered at the National Specialty, Elizabeth I. Spalding Memorial Show, and Trudy Brown Albrecht Memorial Rally only.)
Stud Dog: Stud dogs to parade with 2 or more of their get from at least 2 different litters, not necessarily in the same ownership. Get must be entered in an Official or Unofficial Conformation Class at this Show. Class to be judged on quality and consistency of get only.
Brood Bitch: Brood bitches to parade with two or more of their produce from at least two different litters, not necessarily in the same ownership. Produce must be entered in an Official or Unofficial Conformation Class at this Show. Class to be judged on quality and consistency of produce only.
Brace: Two dogs 5 months or older, of the same color and in the same ownership but not necessarily of the same sex. Class to be judged on similarity and quality.
AWARDS
All official conformation classes are judged for dogs, then bitches. Winners/Reserve Winners/Best Puppy competitions take place after judging concludes for that sex. Initial competition for Special Awards Best American Bred, Bred By Exhibitor, Blenheim, Tricolor, Ruby, and Black-and-Tan In Show is held after Best Puppy for that sex is awarded. Unofficial conformation classes, including Best Veteran In Show, are judged after the competition for Winners/Reserve Winners/Best Puppy Bitch. The remaining Final and Special Awards follow the unofficial conformation classes.
FINAL AWARDS (Championship points awarded if entry justifies.)
Winners (WD, WB) is awarded from the Class Winners.
Reserve Winners (RWD, RWB) is awarded from the remaining Class Winners and the second place dog to Winners.
Best Puppy (BPD, BPB) is awarded from the winners of the Junior and Senior Puppy Classes after Reserve Winners and AOM’s are awarded.
Best In Show (BIS) is awarded from Winners Dog and Winners Bitch.
Reserved Best In Show (RBIS) is awarded from the Opposite Sex Winners and the Reserve Winners to Best In Show.
Best Puppy In Show (BPIS) is awarded from the winners of Best Puppy Dog and Best Puppy Bitch after Best In Show is awarded.
Award of Merit (AOM) is awarded after Reserve Winners from the remaining Class Winners and next placing dog to Reserve Winners or the first AOM winner. (Up to two AOM’s are awarded to each sex at all National shows and each Regional Annual General Meeting (AGM) weekend.)
SPECIAL AWARDS (No championship points awarded.)
Best Veteran In Show (Regional Shows) is awarded from the winners of the Veteran Classes immediately following the Veteran Class competition.
Best Veteran Dog In Show (National Shows) is awarded from the winners of the Veteran Dog Class Winners immediately following the Veteran Dog Class Competition.
Best Veteran Bitch In Show (National Shows) is awarded from the winners of the Veteran Bitch Class Winners immediately following the Veteran Bitch Class Competition.
Best Veteran Dog In Show (National Shows) is awarded from the winners of the Best Veteran Dog and Best Veteran Bitch competition.
Best Health and Conformation In Show is awarded from the winners of the Health and Conformation Classes immediately following the Best Black-and-Tan In Show competition.
Special Awards: Awarded from eligible dogs from all of the classes. The definition for the Special Award is the same as the associated class definition. They must include:
- Best American Bred in Show
- Best Bred By Exhibitor In Show
- Best Blenheim In Show
- Best Tricolor In Show
- Best Ruby In Show
- Best Black-and-Tan In Show
PUPPY SWEEPSTAKES
(No Championship Points awarded.)
Junior Puppy: Puppies 5 months but not yet 9 months and not holding a CKCSC, USA, championship title.
Senior Puppy: Puppies 9 months but not yet 12 months and not holding a CKCSC, USA, championship title.
Graduate Puppy: Dogs 12 months but not yet 18 months and not holding a CKCSC, USA, championship title.
ADULT SWEEPSTAKES
As of 2/21/19
(No Championship Points awarded.)
Adult: Dogs 18 months but not yet 7 years and not holding a CKCSC, USA, championship title.
VETERAN SWEEPSTAKES
As of 2/21/19
(No Championship Points awarded.)
Bronze Veteran: Dogs 7 Years, but not yet 9 years
Silver Veteran: Dogs 9 years, but not yet 11 years
Gold Veteran: Dogs 11 years and older
JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP
(To be judged on how well the dogs are handled, NOT on the dogs themselves.)
Judged immediately prior to Winner's Dog
As of 8/1/22
Pee Wee Class: Handlers 5 years but not yet 11 years. Dogs not to be placed upon the examining table. Handler is allowed to have an adult accompany them in the ring. All participants are awarded first place ribbons. Wins are not eligible for year end awards.
Junior Class: Handlers 6 years but not yet 10 years. Dogs not to be placed upon the examining table.
Intermediate Class: Handlers 10 years but not yet 14 years. Dogs to be placed upon examining table.
Senior Class: Handlers 14 years but not yet 18 years. Dogs to be placed upon examining table.
