The Ultimate Dog Show Quiz

The American Kennel Club runs the top show, the Westminster. Did you know that the Empire State Building celebrates the Westminster by projecting yellow and purple lights on the building?

It's called Crufts and it's the biggest dog show in the U.K. The show got its start in the late 1800s and it is still being held annually today.

The "conformation" refers to the dog's physical features, including appearance and body structure. These are the features that the animals are judged on.

Dogs are never judged against each other as no two breeds are the same. Each dog is compared to the ideal dog in its breed, i.e. according to a written standard for that breed.

All these features are assessed, and more. The dog that lives up to the standard in their breed according to all of these features becomes the best in show.

The attitude is the dog's manner, which should conform to a prescribed standard for the breed. So, for instance, the beagle should have a cheerful attitude and the poodle, a proud one.

It has been going since 1877. In 1884, the American Kennel Club took over from the Westminster Kennel Club as the event organizer and it has carried on ever since.

It is designated a champion and it earns the right to add the prefix "ch." to its name, somewhat like a human title. The requirements sometimes vary depending on the location of the show.

The dogs are first divided into male and female categories, then they're classified according to six classes. Specialty shows are meant to focus on one specific breed.

Interestingly enough, the number of points is determined by the number of dogs it defeated. Did you know that "Winners Dog" is the equivalent of "Best in Breed"?

An all rounder refers to a judge who is qualified to judge any breed of dog. Not all judges carry this qualification.

Hounds are known for their excellent sense of smell and amazing endurance. This is what makes them good hunting dogs.

Dogs from the miscellaneous group are not allowed to compete in the All-Breed show. These dogs aren't recognized as official breeds by the American Kennel Club.

There are seven finalists, one winner for each of the seven competing groups. The winners move on to compete for Best in Show where one of the dogs emerges as the overall winner.

They claim that the high stakes causes breeders to narrow the gene pool through inbreeding, which leads to unhealthier dogs. Their concerns come from the value of a purebred dog in the dog show world.

Tail-docking is amputation of the tail due to aesthetic considerations of breed standards. This was once thought to be beneficial for the dog, but has since been considered to be painful for the animal.

It's a family dog show catered for anyone who wants to enter and it hasn't got any of the rigidity, formality and breed standards of the other shows. Everyone and their pooch is welcome at the Scruffts conformation show!

They must complete some athletic tasks, much like a dog Olympics. In these shows, the dogs tackle obstacles such as jumps and tunnels.

No verbal cues are allowed, only hand signaling. Both the dog and the trainer have to know what they're doing and understand each other to do well in these shows!

The Wire-haired Fox Terrier has won the Westminster Dog Show 14 times. The next closest breed is the Scottish Terrier which has won the title 8 times.

The first dog shows in the 1870's were a place where men gathered to tell tales of their dogs. Did you know that the first dog show was held in 1859?

At conformation shows, the males are judged first, followed by the females. This is the first division, which is followed by the division into groups.

There are seven groups that the dogs are classified in. Some of these groups include the herding group, working group and terrier group.

This is false. The first Westminster Dog Show took place on May 8th, 1877, which was two years after the Kentucky Derby. That event took place on May 15, 1875.

In order to enter into a dog show, the dog must be a pedigree dog. This means that its parents are of the same breed of dog, making it a purebred.

Best of Opposite Sex is an award given to a dog in the winners selection. This award is given to the dog of a different gender in the same breed that won Best in Breed.

A tracking trial is where dogs demonstrate their ability to pick up scents. The dog's trainer follows along but does not interfere.

Before entering your dog in a dog show, it is common to groom it. Grooming your dog in preparation for the show involves bathing, brushing and cutting the fur and nails.

A specialty show is a show for just one breed. These shows are for purebred breeds that are recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The Best of Winners is determined from the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. The best of those dogs recieves the title.

This is true. The muscles are just one of the aspects of the dogs that are judged. Other features include balance, weight and shape.

A different country hosts the show each time. In the past, both Poland and Mexico have hosted it. Did you know that it got its start in Budapest in 1971?

The oldest dog to win the Westminster Dog Show was ten years old. Stump was a champion Sussex Spaniel that won in 2009.

There are three placements in a dog show which are: Best in Show, Best in Group and Best in Breed. Best in Show is the placement that wins the entire show.

A sheepdog trial involves dogs proving their skills in herding. Their trainers are there with the dogs as they maneuver the herd, testing their skills.