Bench Shows and Field Trials isi 



This has always been true of greyhound men and 

 has lately become equally characteristic of field 

 dog and hound owners. Meanwhile, the interest 

 in fancy breeds has rapidly developed, and it is now 

 the collies, Boston terriers, pet spaniels, and fox- 

 terriers which are the large entries and which 

 attract attention. 



For a long time the classes of bench shows 

 were under A. K. C. jurisdiction made up in each 

 breed of pupp}^ open, and challenge classes. A 

 dog got into the challenge class after a certain 

 number of wins in the open class, and became a 

 champion after a certain number of wins in the 

 challenge class. This classification fell into dis- 

 favor because, by taking a moderate specimen 

 around to the smaller shows where there was 

 little competition, it was easy to create a cham- 

 pion and mislead those who trusted the bench 

 shows for records of excellence. The present 

 system is puppy, novice, limit, open, and winners 

 classes. The limit class is for those which have 

 only done a certain amount of winning; the 

 open class is for any dog without regard to win- 

 nings ; the award of winner is made to the best dog 

 taken from the open, limit, and novice classes. In 

 other words, the winner in each of these classes 

 is put into the ring and the best dog is picked. 

 The championship is achieved after a certain num- 

 ber of wins in the winners class. When the winners 



