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over the dog’s back. Not docked.

       Legs.

      The front legs should be straight, with large or round bones, and the pasterns should be upright. There should be no evidence of bend in front. The hindquarters should be well-muscled, let down at hocks, and turn neither in nor out. The feet should be of moderate size, well-arched, and compact. The dog’s gait must be springy, but the dog should not roll or pace.

       Coat.

      Should be short, close, glossy, and stiff to the touch.

       Color.

      May be of any color. A solid, parti-colored, or patchwork coat is permissible, but an all-white (more than 80 percent white), black and tan, or liver-colored coat is not encouraged.

       Size.

      The dog’s height and weight should be in proportion with each other. A height of about 18 to 19 inches at the shoulders for males and 17 to 18 inches for females is preferable.

       Faults.

      In a competition, faults are characteristics that are penalized. They include the following:

       A Dudley nose

       Light or pink eyes

       A tail that is too long or badly carried

       An undershot or overshot mouth

      

A Dudley nose means a light pink nose.

Strutting His Stuff

      Although many of the traits that make a good fighting dog are intangible, some physical traits are associated with fighting skill. Conformation shows provide a venue in which the physical characteristics that have been correlated with fighting ability can be evaluated. The idea is that the dog who is built the best — that is, most conforms to the standard of perfection — should be able to function the best.

      Conformation shows provide one means of preserving the breed when the original job of the breed is no longer available. They do have a drawback, however. The truth is, that no matter how good the standard, you can’t absolutely predict function from form. You can’t evaluate the gameness, strength, endurance, or intelligence of a dog from his appearance. Some breeders fear that if Pit Bulls are bred to be show dogs, they will become caricatures of the breed. Others believe that if Pit Bulls are to survive in today’s society, they must give up at least the temperament aspects that made them relentless fighting dogs. Responsible breeders use conformation shows as only one of several means of evaluating their dogs; they also test their dogs in obedience, weight pulling, and other functional competitions, while selecting for a less aggressive nature.

      Both the UKC and the ADBA offer conformation competition for APBTs; the AKC offers classes for American Staffordshire Terriers. Because AmStaffs have had a big head start in breeding for conformation, AmStaffs tend to win over APBTs when entered against each other in conformation shows. Remember, your dog needs to be registered with the particular organization that sponsors the shows you wish to enter. See Chapter 4 to check whether your dog is eligible for AKC, UKC, or ADBA registration.

The Pit Bull’s build reflects his athletic heritage (see Figure 2-2). At conformation shows, judges evaluate how well each dog conforms to the physical standard of perfection, both while standing and moving. They provide a means for preserving the breed without resorting to fighting. But you can’t just show up and expect to start lugging home silver trophies, no matter how sterling your Pit Bull is.

      FIGURE 2-2: A natural athlete.

Most local kennel clubs offer handling classes, in which you can learn the fundamentals of showing. Many also have occasional match shows — basically practice shows (even the judges are just practicing). Many AKC shows offer introductory classes for puppies between the ages of 4 and 6 months. Informal match shows are sometimes held, but they’re much less common these days than in the past. When available, they’re a great chance to try showing in a stress-free arena. Don’t take a win or loss too seriously, and at any competition, no matter how obviously feebleminded you think the judge is, keep your opinion to yourself!

      UKC conformation shows

      Shows sponsored by the UKC offer the following classes:

       Puppy: For dogs 6 months to under 1 year of age.

       Junior: For dogs 1 year to under 2 years of age.

       Senior: For dogs 2 years to under 3 years of age.

       Veteran: For dogs 3 years of age and over.

       Breeder-Handler: For dogs over 6 months handled in the ring by that dog’s breeder or a member of the breeder’s immediate family

      All the males are shown first. Class winners are awarded 10 points toward their Championship and then compete within their sex for Best Male of Show (worth another 15 points). Then all the females are shown, and a Best Female of Show is awarded. Best Male and Female of Show then compete for Best of Winners (worth another 10 points). This is followed by the Champion of Champions class, in which male and female Pit Bulls who have already earned a UKC Champion title compete, and then by the Grand Champion class, in which only male and female Pit Bulls who have already earned a UKC Grand Champion title compete. Finally, the Best of Winners, the Champion of Champions winner, and the Grand Champion winner compete for the Best of Breed.

      It’s all about the points. To become a UKC Show Champion, your Pit Bull must win 100 UKC championship points, awarded by three different judges, and win either a Best Male or Best Female of Show. Because it’s possible to win points even if a dog is the only one in his class, a further requirement is that at least two of the wins must be over competition. A Grand Championship is earned by beating other Pit Bull champions (in the Champion of Champions class) in at least five shows under at least three different judges. Grand Champions compete against each other in the Grand Champion class.

      The official UKC breed club, the National American Pit Bull Terrier Association, can hold a special National Grand Champion class at their fall National show, in which Grand Champions compete. The winner of this competition is declared the National Grand Champion and awarded the NTL GR CH title as part of his name.

      

What if you want to enter a UKC show but you haven’t had a chance to register your dog? You can get a Temporary Listing from the UKC if your dog is not registered by calling the UKC at 616-343-9020 (and paying by credit card).

      If you’ve spent any time around other dog breeds, you probably know that the AKC is the breed registry that governs most conformation dog shows in the United States. American Staffordshire Terriers are one of almost 200 breeds seen at a typical AKC show. Only a few UKC shows are for all UKC breeds, however; most UKC shows are for one or perhaps a handful of the most popular UKC breeds. Pit Bulls are one of the UKC’s most popular breeds, and a large percentage of UKC shows have classes for American Pit Bull Terriers. Due to the unique history of the Pit Bull, the UKC governs most shows in which Pit Bulls compete.

Some ways in which UKC shows differ from AKC shows include

       No grooming in the ring. Grooming is not allowed in the ring. This means no brushes, cloths, or spray bottles.

       No using gizmos to get your dog’s attention. You can’t use squeakers,

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