Claire's Name

When a dog earns kennel club titles, the titles officially become part of the dog's name. Claire is a Canadian and United Kennel Club champion in the conformation ring. In fact, she made history with both of these titles!

Currently, Barbet cannot be shown in the breed ring of AKC shows. They are listed in the AKC's Foundation Stock Service (FSS), which allows them to be shown in companion events like obedience, agility, and rally, but not my true interest, conformation. Both the Canadian Kennel Club and the UKC fully recognize the Barbet and award championships to dogs who have earned the required points.

I entered Claire in two UKC shows last August to prepare her for her Canadian debut. As the only Barbet entered, she automatically won Best of Breed, but she also placed in the Gun Dog Group, competing with Labradors, Goldens, Poodles, and other Sporting breeds. UKC gives points for these "competition wins" over other dogs, so after two shows we were almost half way to her title.

Her next three shows were over the Labor Day weekend. Claire had an amazing weekend, winning the Gun Dog Group at all three shows and finishing her championship. She made history by winning Best In Show at the final show. Claire became the first Barbet to ever win a UKC championship and the first Barbet to win a UKC Best In Show. Claire's UKC career was short and sweet and showed me that she was ready to go to Canada to pursue her Canadian title.