Showing your Basenji can be alot of fun and quite a challenge! Showing goes hand in hand with breeding and plays an important role in the preservation of this ancient breed. It is an enjoyable sport or hobby as long as you always remember that whatever
the results, you are taking the best dog home.
In Australia we do not have many Professional Handlers, the majority of dogs are owner handled.
What happens at a show ?
Champions and non champions compete together in the classes. A dog once titled still continues to compete from the same classes against other champion and/or non champion dogs.
Baby Puppy (3-6 months)
Minor Puppy (6-9 months)
Puppy (6-12 months)
Junior (9-18 months)
Intermediate (18 months - 3 years)
Australian Bred (over 6 months and bred in Australia)
Open (described as 6 months and over, but is usually made up of those over 3 years)
To start with dogs compete against dogs of the same breed, age, and sex. The winners
of all the different age groups (still against the same sex) compete against each other for the Challenge Certificate.
These Challenge Certificates are awarded to the Best Dog and the Best Bitch provided that the judge considers them to be of such outstanding quality as to be worthy of the Champion title.
Reserve Challenges are then awarded to the 2nd best dog and bitch. ie: (Best Dog-2 or Best Bitch-2).
The dog and bitch Challenge winners then compete against each other for 'BEST OF BREED'
(BOB). The Reserve CC winner of the same sex as the BOB winner then re-enters the ring to compete against the opposite sex Challenge winner for Runner Up Best Of Breed.
This is followed by the respective "run-offs" between the class winners in dogs and bitches for Best Baby Puppy of Breed, Best Puppy of Breed etc.
Once all the breeds are judged in the Group then the Group Specials commence.
Best of Breed winners compete for Best Exhibit in Group (the equivalent of Group 1st)and the Runner Up to Best of Breed winner to that dog then enters the ring to compete for Runner Up to Best in Group (an equivalent of Group 2nd). These are the only Group placements - there is no 3rd or 4th Group placements. These awards are then followed by Best Baby Puppy in Group, Best Minor Puppy in Group etc.
A certificate is awarded for Best in Group indicating the points won for that particular show (usually 25).
Then all the 7 Best In Group winners compete for Best in Show (BIS);the Runner Up In Group winners standing by in case the BIG winner from their group wins Best In Show, in which case they would re-enter the ring to also compete for Runner Up In Show. There are also competitions for all the different age groups in the show;
How does the judge make his decision?
Each breed has a written breed standard. The judge evaluates each dog against this standard and selects the dog or bitch which he/she feels most closely matches the standard.
How does a dog become an Australian Champion?
A dog must accumulate 100 points to become an Australian Champion. In Australia a dog cannot become a Champion until it is over 12 months old & wins a further 25 points.
To earn the title of Australian Grand Champion a dog must win 1000 Challenge points.
At the beginning of 1998 the Australian Grand Champion title was introduced. The criteria for this title is that a dog must have accumulated 1000 points, and at least one Challenge Certificate had to be obtained on or after the 1st January 1998. There have been several Basenjis attain this lofty title thus far.
Points are allocated to the Challenge Dog and Bitch. The Challenge Certificate (CC) indicates the number of points that have been awarded.
The points are calculated on the number of exhibits shown. This is the formula: 5 points for the CC plus 1 point for each animal of that breed and sex shown. A dog must be over the age of 6 months to qualify for a CC. The Best of Breed winner also collects 1 extra point
for each dog of the opposite sex defeated up to a maximum of 25 points in any single show.
In Which Group does the Basenji belong?
In Australia the Basenji is in the Hound Group. There
are 7 Groups in Australia;
Dogs are grouped together with "similar type" dogs.
