SHIH TZU FANCIERS OF SOUTHERN CA

BRED BY EXHIBITOR - the Exhibitor is also the breeder.

AMERICAN BRED - dog's parents mated in America and the dog was born in America.

OPEN - any Shih Tzu.

After these classes are judged, all the dogs that won first place in the classes now compete to see which is the best of the winning dogs. Again, this is done separately for the males and females. Only the best male (WINNERS DOG) 

and the best female (WINNERS BITCH) receive championship points. First runner up in each sex is given a Reserve Winner award but no points towards a champion title. 

Photo: Ch Shen Wah's Turn It Loose, 

owner/Breeder: Joe & Roberta Walton

The WINNERS DOG and WINNERS BITCH  then compete with Shih Tzu that have already earned their  champion title,  for the title of BEST OF BREED.  At the end of the Best of Breed Competition, three awards are usually given:

BEST OF BREED - the Shih Tzu judged as the best example of its breed in the show.

BEST OF WINNERS - the dog judged as best between the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch.

BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX - the best dog that is the opposite sex of the Best of Breed winner. Only the BEST OF BREED winners advance to compete in  GROUP competition. Each AKC recognized breed falls into one of seven group classifications. Four placements are awarded in each GROUP, but only first place winner advances to BEST IN SHOW competition. 

Photo: Ch Show Off's Minute Waltz (grandmother of the great Huey); Owner/Breeder: Ena Lane

Confused? If you have watched the Westminster Dog Show on TV, everything before the GROUP competition happens before Westminster is televised.  What you are watching are the BEST OF BREED winners in their respective GROUP competing against others in their group, e.g. toys against toys, terriers against terriers, etc. one winner is chosen from each GROUP to compete for BEST IN SHOW.

Photo: Ch Show Off's Humor Me: Owner/Breeder:  Ena Lane

There are seven GROUPS in an All Breed Show: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terriers, Toy (Shih Tzu are in this group), Non-sporting and Herding. Finally, the seven GROUP winners are brought into the ring where they compete for BEST IN SHOW, the highest award at a dog show. 

To put the steps to Best in Show, simply - a dog show competition begins with the  Best of Class, to Best of Winners (Champion points awarded here), moves to Best of Breed, then to Best of Group, to finish with Best in Show.--Editor's note

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