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About IABCA | IABCA Orlando Show Statistics

Several times a year I receive a premium list in the mail for non-AKC dog shows. Some of these shows are marketed as a cruise with an opportunity for your dog to earn a foreign title. Certainly intriguing – but it wouldn't count towards an AKC title, so what was the point? In October 2000, a friend with Bullmastiffs encouraged me to make an entry at a show given by the International All Breed Canine Association of America, Inc. (IABCA) being held in Orlando, Florida. I picked up the premium list again, and this time, thoroughly read through the information. Earning an international title seemed simple. If your dog receives 3 V-1 ratings (simply translated, V-1 is Very Good) from 3 different judges that represent at least 2 different countries you will own an International Champion. I checked the dates and found I wasn't planning to attend a show that weekend anyway, so I decided to be adventurous and make an entry.

I entered my 3-year-old retired AKC champion bitch for the 3 days and rediscovered what it was to be the newbie at a dog show. Not every exhibitor was a total stranger to me though. Several top winning professional handlers were in attendance showing their own dogs. In fact, most of the exhibitors were "owner handlers."

Unlike most AKC shows, the IABCA show felt more like a match with a large entry. The rings were outside at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, a site where I have attended many AKC shows. First question – "Where do I pick up my armband?" There didn't seem to be a steward's table at the ring gate. There was one table for exhibitors to check in. There we were given a folder with judge's cards for all the days entered, and one armband. The instructions to me were, "Hand the folder to the ring steward when your class is called, keep the paperwork from each day together in the folder, and don't lose the armband." Simple enough. I also picked up a 3-day catalog, which was paid for when the entries were mailed in.

The judging schedule I received in the mail a few days prior to judging was my first opportunity to learn who I would be showing to. Although ring times were published, I found them to be approximate at best. Judges would judge each class as a whole and then give an oral critique of each dog with the steward as the scribe. Once the critique was written down, a medallion and a placement ribbon, if awarded, was fastened to a Certificate of Participation. The judge's score card, the critique and the certificate were placed into the folder which was handed back back to you as you exited the ring. Conversation with the judge is encouraged and most exhibitors took advantage of the opportunity. This was the really time consuming part of the class.

The dogs that placed first in each class would return to the ring for Best of Breed judging – not Winners. This is the biggest difference between IABCA and AKC shows. Each and every dog in a class may be awarded a V-1 rating. Other ratings, V-2 through V-4, could be given, but only a V-1 rating would count towards the International title. Puppies never compete against adults.

Adults do not compete against Veterans. For an additional fee, Bred-by-Exhibitor entries go on to compete for Bred-by Best of Breed, Group, and ultimately their own Best in Show competition.

There was no requirement for a certain number of any breed to be defeated to earn a certificate towards a title. I found that I had to really try to relax on this concept. It didn't matter who else was entered, if the judge found my entry to be deserving of a V-1 rating then that's what he/she gave.

I found it very hard to shake that dog-eat-dog mentality of competing. I had to remind myself that my dog did not have to beat any other entries to earn a qualifying certificate. My bitch did earn an International Championship in 3 shows, but accustomed as I was to AKC competition, I had to ask myself how much is any title worth that could be earned in 3 shows?

Following the IABCA shows, I e-mailed a few questions to Alice Bixler, one of the Canadian judges in attendance that weekend (but not one of the Boxer judges). Ms. Bixler was kind enough to share her thoughts with me:

Q. In general, what was your impression of the dogs presented to you for judging, and of this event?
A. For the most part I found the dogs presented at the IABCA event to be of good quality. Many were truly outstanding and would be formidable in competition anywhere. Of course there are bound to be a few "underachievers," but maybe exhibitors are more reluctant to enter dogs of lesser quality when they know they will be critiqued and judged against the standard of perfection instead of against other dogs.

Q. Did the relaxed atmosphere that is encouraged by IABCA add to the dog show experience in a positive way for the judges? For exhibitors?
A. Judging at this type of show is more relaxed and interactive than at AKC events. The idea of two or more judges conferring at the group level and beyond gives a broader outlook. It's interesting that so often we agreed on the same dogs and simply discussed the relative placings. I'm sure the relaxed atmosphere is a positive experience for the judges - I know it is for me. For one thing, there's more camaraderie between the judges. You get to be friends. On an AKC panel, you might never talk to the person in the next ring. Personally, I like the idea of telling exhibitors what I liked (or faulted) in their dog and why I placed the dogs as I did. As you know, chatting with the exhibitors is frowned upon in AKC competition, and most judges place dogs and hand out ribbons without comment. I believe the exhibitors appreciate knowing what the judge did and didn't like about their dogs. More for your money.

Q. How does the IABCA method of rating an entry change how you might evaluate that entry in another type of event?
A. I don't believe the IABCA method of rating an entry would necessarily change how I might evaluate that entry in another type of event. Judging under different circumstances often means looking at an entry from a different point of view. And don't forget that in any judging assignment, the direction is to "judge the dog on the day." So you're talking about another day.

Q. What value do you think an International Championship by itself adds to a dog's resume?
A. As for the value of an International Championship, I believe ALL championships are relative. Is a championship in Shelties or Goldens, where competition is so heavy, worth more than a championship in, say, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons? We tend to believe British championships may be worth more because there are fewer of them awarded but there have been many British champions who really couldn't stand up to competition in the U.S. Is a championship earned in one section of the country more valuable than one earned in another area where the breed is stronger or weaker? I'm sure we all know of dogs who don't really deserve the title of champion and others who are excellent animals who couldn't find that second major. In other words, there's really no way to rate the value of any championship.

Q. Would it be beneficial for IABCA to require adult entries to have at least earned points, if not a title, through other registries before competing for an international championship?
A. Under the IABCA's current set-up, I don't believe it would be beneficial for adult entries to have earned points or a title through other registries before competing for an international title. I don't see the relevance. The IABCA's reference to "international" is based on their use of judges from different countries rather than titles from different registries as in FCI.

For additional information about IABCA shows: email bridegum@aol.com or check out their web site at http://www.internationaldogshow.com