HomeNKC Bench Show Guidelines

NKC Bench Show Guidelines

NKC Bench Show Guidelines
updated 8/2017

Female Bench Show (Done for each breed)

Winners of each age division moves up to the Best of breed Female

Puppy age division (6 months up to under1 year) 15 points

Junior age division (1 to under 2 year) 15 points

Senior age division (2 years old & up) 15 points

Male Bench Show (Done for each breed)

Winners of each age division moves up to the Best of breed Male

Puppy age division (6 months up to under 1 year) 15 points

Junior age division (1 to under 2 year) 15 points

Senior age division (2 years old & up) 15 points

Go through each breed until you have the best of breed female for every breed of dog registered an additional 10 points. Go through each breed until you have the best of breed male for every breed of dog registered an additional 10 points. Bring back every best of breed females to be shown against each other for the overall Best of Show female an additional 10 points.
Bring back every best of breed males to be shown against each other for the overall Best of Show male and additional 10 points.

The most points that can be awarded at an NKC sanction bench show is 35 points.

All male & female Champion dogs are shown together for the Best Champion of Show and win.
All male & female Grand Champion dogs are shown together for the Best Grand Champion of Show and win
All male & female Super Grand Champion dogs are shown together for the Best Grand Super Champion of Show and win.

For State and Specialty Bench Shows when an over all Best of show is given bring back the Best Female, Best Male, Champion, Grand Champion, and Super Grand Champion of the Show to be shown together. One winner is chosen as the over all Best of Show. No points are given for this win, but an award may be given by the club.

Please plan to hold your NKC bench show as follows:

First take entries for EACH BREED and EACH AGE division
Examples: Treeing Curs – You could have 6 entry sheets for Treeing Curs
One set of three age divisions for the females
And one set of three age divisions for the males

Mt Feist – You could have 6 entry sheets for Mt Feist
One set of three age division for the females
And one set of three age divisions for the males

  • A dog must be NKC registered to be shown at an NKC sanctioned bench show.
  • Any dog that has been spayed or neutered can not be shown in the bench show.
  • Any Female dog in estrous (heat cycle) can not be show in the bench show.

Each breed is to show on the bench separately – Let’s do the Mountain Curs as an example: 6 months to under 1 year old Female pups, then 1 to under 2 year old Junior Females, then 2 years and up Senior Females show. A winner is picked from each age category. They have received Best of Class plaque if you are giving them. Then go thru the 6 months to under 1 year old Male pups, 1 to under 2 years old Junior Males, and 2 years and up Males. A winner is picked from each age category and received a Best of Class plaque if you are giving them. Then you bring back the all the Females that won and show for Best Female of Breed. One female will have two plaques– Best of Class and Best of Breed-Female. Then you bring back the winning Male from each class to pick the Best Male of Breed and he could have two plaques.

This is done for EACH BREED.

Points awarded:
Best of Age – 15 points
Best of Breed – 10 points for a total of 25 points
Best of Show – 10 points for a total of 35 points

To become a Bench Champion a dog must earn 100 points and 1 Best Male or Female of Show.
To become a Grand Bench Champion a dog must have 5 wins as a Bench Champion.
To become a Super Bench Champion a dog must have 5 wins as a Grand Bench Champion.