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My first dog show was at a UKC show showing other peoples dogs. In juniors I did pretty bad (although the second show the judge actually had to think real hard, though I still lost), but in breed I won BOB, dispite having the dog constantly sitting down in the BOB competition (her mom was behind me).

I really like the UKC because I think it gives novice handlers and kids a fair chance. With the UKC the judge usually will place the dogs how he likes them, not how he likes the handler. Also, there's usually two shows in one day.

However, my mom doesn't like it. She thinks it's too unorganized and untrustworthy. She also didn't like the location it was at last time (dirty, cheap). There's at least two shows in our area every year, and I would love to register my dog, it's just a matter of convincing my mom.

So what are your thoughts on the UKC? Positive and negative are welcome, as I want to keep my dog safe and healthy.

All in All, it's at least good practice for you both. I have heard both Pros and Cons.

~BRK

To me,

UKC is nothing but a practice show. Even AKC fun matches are more organized/better run that a real UKC show.

The judges in UKC have NO idea what they are doing, and often times I wonder if they have even read the standard. I once heard of a inncident of a judge judging the Australian Shep. by the Australian Cattle Dog standard.

Not to mention the fact that you can go in and acutally get group placements in jeans and a t shirt.

This was discussed at great lengths just a few weeks ago. Try doing a search and you may find it.

Personally I like UKC. I stressed more reasons in the other board...

However some of their judges may or may not be qualified. I had two judges, both were judges for my breed in AKC and one was for my breed in ASCA, so I think I kind of trusted that judge's opinion... Not to say all judges are like that, but personally, if I see a judge in AKC that ALSO judges (or judged thanks to the new AKC rule) UKC, I am more likely to show to that judge because in UKC you CANNOT look at the handler... But this is me...

Anyway here is the other board, if you want to check it out.

www.showdog.com/login/philboard_read.aspx?id=104791&recordnum=20

I register my dogs with UKC and I show in UKC because it is more relaxing and it is a good start before AKC. In UKC you will have a judge that looks at the DOG and NOT the handler. In AKC, almost 50% have been said to put up handlers over what may or may not have been the correct dog... It all comes down to politics. However I like AKC, I think it is easier to start a dog in UKC and have fun there before you go into AKC.

Also on the jeans in t-shirt comment... Yes you can show in those things and yes you can finish a dog faster. BUT back when conformation started, there was NO dress code and for UKC's reasoning (they use to have this on their old site): They are looking at the DOG not the handler, and to dress up can draw more attention to you. Also it limits the count on politics. And there are not suppose to be professional handlers in UKC. They do go by old rules, where back when it was started, no one HAD a set dress code. They also promote that a handler can come out of the performance ring and into the conformation ring.

Now I HAVE to ask. Did any of you try to run agility in your show clothes? Personally that is NOT something you will see me doing... heh.

Well I said my piece. I am NOT saying anyone is wrong or right or anything along those lines. I am saying that this is what I like and this is what I know. NO ONE is wrong here. So what if people dont like UKC, I am not trying to change their mind, but I wanted to clean up some loose ends.

Take care

Shadow

Maybe its because I have a strong AKC background, but showing in jeans and a t shirt just felt unnatural and unprofessional.

Back when UKC allowed mixed breeds to enter, I was all for it.

I have not shown in UKC in some time, other than handling a friends dog in the altered class, but I have to say, I believe the judging over the last 10-15 yrs in UKC has deteriorated badly.

Personally, if I register with a registry, I expect to participate in their shows, hunt tests, obedience etc. With the limited amount of UKC activities, and the abundance of AKC, which has a much more reliable judging protocol, I think I will just stick to AKC.

I loved the obedience in UKC, thought there were far more difficult items included, the honoring, the glove excercise in Utility, the dual recalls, but, I can always teach those myself, I don't really need a title from them to prove if the dog is trained. But even back then, UKC was very liberal in their scoring versus AKC scoring. (BTW, I had planned on getting my UKC obedience judges license, I have the qualifications to do so, but I have made no moves towards it, I am however reconsidering my position on possibly applying for my AKC license.)

Mandy

I also tend to agree with Sunnierhawk on the professionalism of dress.

Oh, and, recently, a APBT puppy was put up in the groups, her first time out, with a bad bite...Now I could understand a puppy getting a Group placement, if there were 3 dogs in the group, the dog gets a third, since most judges seem to have issues over witholding ribbones, but, in a pit? A breed that has no shortage of entries? Sorry, UKC has become a joke here as of late, and it is no wonder AKC does not want their judges associated with it by being dual.

Mandy

I had no idea what the UKC was before joining this game, it sound pointless and means absolutely nothing to me. Like one of the above posters said, maybe good for practice or kids to play in but the titles don't do anyone any good really as most people do not recognize them. I am from "up north" and have never heard anyone talk about this kennel club.

Trident, there were a couple of UKC clubs up north, in CT and NH, but rarely held trials. Seems the average, if a club is lucky, is one or 2 a year. I was with TOBI when they went from being a rare breed club to a UKC club, and they were done in less than 2 yrs.

I think thats the main issue with UKC, there just aren't enough shows, and because professional handling is not allowed, it's not going to draw the entries. What I particularly despise is the fact that many people will take inferior dogs to UKC and get their championships and even build enough with their dogs to make grand champs out of them.

The fact remains, while they were good in the past, they seem to have slipped an awful lot. I do love their walking field trial program, just not enough to try finding a club to actually finish my dogs at.
As for conformation, I will stick with AKC, politics or not, it is the way to go for the most uniform in judging.

Mandy

Ok here are my two cents about UKC. I have shown in both AKC & UKC for about a year & a half now. I found people alot nicer at UKC shows. People were more willing to help each other out. All different breed owners came up & talked to me. At AKC I found not very many friendly people. I have a nice Std Poodle bitch. She is not an outstanding show dog, she doesn't have the hair that most of the poodles have. But she is a nice girl & I have got compliments from judges from both shows.

Yes it is alot more laid back. And yes you can go into the ring in jeans & tshirt. I don't because even though some people this as a practice for them I treat it like a show because it is a show.

I suggest everybody show UKC. At AKC shows I have never had anybody come up to me & help me with my poodles topknot. Or after sitting with them & just talking ask me to help them take one of their dogs in the ring(they had two make it into the winners ring).

So I say show UKC!

Shelly

Above four posts were by me. It timed out once so I have no idea why it posted four times!! Guess I am just too excited about UKC shows!

Shelly

Once I get access to a printer (lol) I'm going to print out the registration forms for UKC

www.showdog.com/login/philboard_read.aspx?id=104791


I started another forum post about this a couple weeks back.

Jennifer
Velvet Rose

I agree with some things. I note that the quality of some dogs in UKC is not the greatest and I dont even think highly of a dog having an UKC championship or anything like that because it is easier. Also there are not many shows, that much is true.

But I still like it. Plus their obedience program is wonderful and the weightpull is amazing. Also, it is the only place I can find a grandchampion american pit bull terrier that is both sound for conformation and has weightpull titles... And may even do some dog sport training. Sorry I think that is the most wonderful thing. (I dont even have pitties)

IDK, I like how laid back it is. That is just me. But all of us have many different opinions. Let us just keep it clean and not bash others.

Take care!

Shadow

I enjoy UKC a great deal. Yes, it is easier to get a champion degree, but in my opinion it is very difficult for most dogs to attain a grand champion degree, perhaps moreso than it is for the AKC champion title. I think it's more fair to compare registries by their terminal degrees, don't you?

As far as the locations in which shows are held, it's important to compare the relative size and wealth of the show-giving clubs. I belonged to one UKC club. It had 10 core members with a total roster of about 30 and a bank account of about $2500, and yet it went ahead and held a multi-breed show (think of it as AKC combined specialties). The club members must select a place that is close to them, since there is no superintendent to set up or break down for them. They must order their own ribbons, provide their own concessions, police their own grounds, steward their own rings . . . Everything that must be done, they do on their own.

Compare that with the AKC club I belong to. There are about 20 core members, with a total roster in the hundreds. The bank account stands at roughly $30,000. That's not a misprint. The club can afford to pay a superintendent. They can afford to put down a larger deposit on a better building. They can hire a stewards' club and a local scout troop to police the grounds. There is really very little left for them to do once the show day rolls around.

In part, the disparity comes from recognition. The UKC is not that much younger than the AKC, but it had a different appeal when it was first developed. Rich people with conformation dogs populated the AKC in its beginnings, whereas average people with working or hunting dogs populated UKC shows. The differences in the registries' missions might have something to do with the UKC not being as popular in the Northeast and on the West Coast as it is in the South and Midwest. It doesn't take much to set up a UKC club and I would love to see more people who have shown UKC in the past and enjoyed it to set up a club in their area. Even better, it might be interesting to see how people who have shown UKC in the past and criticized it would handle their own UKC clubs and shows.

To some UKC shows might seem like "practice shows or that the casual dress seems disrespectful. Personally, I like the smaller shows, which seem less stressful on my dogs. I like being comfortable, too. I don't wear jeans and a t-shirt, but I don't have to dress like I'm going to a wedding either. When I have to spend more time picking out and preparing show clothes than I do on grooming and preparing my dogs, to me, that's a problem--and that's just what I did this morning. What I wear or how I dress shouldn't matter. Yet, on one email list that I belong to someone was saying how she wears Prada to shows--and sees nothing wrong with saying that if an exhibitor can't afford to buy designer clothes then he or she should not consider going into the show ring. Scary that. I thought we paid the judge to notice our dogs, not our clothing labels.

Anyway, I've run on too long. We all enjoy different things for different reasons. I show AKC because I have to now. Since the TFT people made the misguided move of getting the breed recognized by AKC, those of us who want to be able to sell puppies must register with AKC. IMO, AKC breeders are already making negative marks on our breed and in a decade the AKC dogs and UKC dogs will actually be two different breeds. The way that AKC is going now, with its conflict of interest rules, I might end up not showing AKC at all, if I can avoid it. But hey, to each his or her own--if we all liked the same things, this world would be a mighty boring place.

Well said!!!!!