South Africa

Reported by Mandy Brooks (Denova)
Photo for this section of: BIS & Specialty BIS, SA Ch. Quasar's Ringside Gossip
#1 American Cocker Spaniel, All Systems(in South Africa)
Ranked at #20 on KUSA Show Dog of the Year System for 1999/2000
Ranked at #29 on Animal Talk Sysem for the year 2000
Winner of the Olympic/S.A.L.K.A Junior Dog of the Year

The Governing body of "Dogdom" in South Africa is the Kennel Union of Southern Africa(KUSA). In South Africa we have 2 different types of dog shows, Championship shows and Non Championship shows. It is at the Championship shows that points are awarded in order to make up a champion while Non Championship shows are considered a good practice ground for the babies and youngsters.

There are 7 groups, Gundog, Herding, Hound, Terrier, Toy, Utility & Working. We have 41 All Breed Championship Shows, 3 Gundog Specialist shows and 1 FCI show a year. We did have an American Cocker Spaniel Club show, but the club is now defunct. Unfortunately we have not had the numbers in the breed to support a specialist club in the last few years. In the 'glory days' of the breed, we most probably had in the region of 20 - 25 dogs entered at any given show.

All colours are shown together, therefore there is only one set of C.C.'s (Challenge Certificate) each for dogs and bitches and only one representative at group level. 5C.C.'s are needed to obtain Championship status. Of these as least one C.C. has to be awarded after the age of 18 months and at least one has to be obtained in a 'different' centre. Any C.C.'s won by puppies under the age of 9 months do not count towards the title of Champion. Once the last C.C. is obtained, the onus is on you, the owner of the dog to apply to KUSA for your title. Only once KUSA has verified the C.C.'s and issued the Championship Certificate may you then move your dog up to the champions class.

As with most countries, the breed is divided into two groups, dogs and bitches. The classes which may be entered are as follows, Minor Puppy(6-9 months), Puppy(9-12 months), Junior(12-18 months), Graduate(18-24months), S.A. Bred, Open and Champions class. The winner of the Champions class does not compete for the C.C. The winner of each of the other classes compete for the C.C. Once the Dog C.C. has been awarded, should there be a 2nd place to the C.C. winner, that dog is called in to compete for the Reserve C.C. After the dog C.C. has been awarded the Dog Champions class is judged. This process is then repeated for the Bitches. The dog & bitch C.C. winners plus the winners of both the dog & bitch Champions class then compete for Best of Breed. If either of the C.C. winners is awarded the Best of Breed, the R.C.C. winner is then called back into the ring to compete for Reserve Best of Breed. Should either of the Champions class winners be awarded Best of Breed and there was a 2nd place winner, that dog is then called back into the ring to compete for Reserve Best of Breed.

Each Best of Breed winner then competes for a Group placement in their respective groups. 4 dogs are usually placed. The winner of each Group then goes forward to Best in Show where Best in Show and Reserve Best in show are awarded. We also have a Best Puppy in Show which is awarded in the same way as Best in Show. ie the best puppy in each breed is selected to go to the respective group and then on to Best Puppy in Show.

A few things to note: Once a dog has received it's title, there is no rule in our constitution that states that the dog must be moved up to the Champions class. If you are awarded Best of Breed, you have to compete in the group. There are exceptions and in these instances, permission has to be granted by the show manager. C.C.'s as well as CACIBS are awarded at our FCI show. It is difficult to make up a FCI Champion here as Europe is the closest place we could go to in order to get the final CACIB. And with our breed having docked tails here, it is getting to be even more difficult! So next best bet would be South America, but then we have to subject our dogs to quarantine! It is therefore expensive!

There are a number of Special events held each year. These are hosted by various clubs around the country. Supreme Puppy is for any puppy that has won a Best Puppy in Show at Championship shows.

Champion of Champions is for any dog that has been gazetted during the period January 1 - December 31 of the previous year. 3 dogs from each Group are chosen to go through to the final.

Pretoria Kennel Club Premium Puppy is for any puppy that has won a Best Puppy in Group at a Championship show.

Golden Paws Challenge is for dogs that have won a group 1st at Championship shows.

Between certain dates Goldfields Dogmor Dog of the Year is for the dog in each breed that has won the most Best of Breeds. 6 dogs from each group are selected by the judge to go forward to the next round. From here, there is another elimination down to 16 and from these final 16 dogs 8 are placed.

This is date specific Supreme Champion is for any dog that has won an All Breeds Best in Show at a Championship show. This is judged by one judge, all dogs together on an elimination basis down to Supreme and reserve Champion. This is date specific.

Junior Dog of the Year is for the top puppies in each breed. Judged on an elimination basis and is also date specific.

KUSA National Awards is judged as a normal show, but there are no C.C.s It is open to champions plus the dog that has won B.O.B. at the KUSA Championship show earlier in the day. The Eventual BIS winner is crowned KUSA National Dog for the year!