est. 2015

Conformation

Rules for AMA conformation shows


An established club or association that desires to sponsor an AMA sanctioned conformation show must make a request to the AMA. Once approved a banner with dates, location, events and other relevant particulars must be submitted for publication on the American Molosser Association website.


A show license and show report form will be mailed/emailed to the sponsoring club or association prior to the show date, which must be returned, completed and signed by the show judge within one week after the show. Judges for AMA events need to be licensed and approved by the AMA in order to Judge an AMA show.


Apprentice judges must be approved by the AMA. Applicants will apprentice under three experienced judges, have had shown or produced two champions, and pass a written test to obtain their licenses. Persons sponsored to apprentice for their judges license should have a commitment to and an active background with the breeds, and be a respected member of the Molosser community. Judges can be grandfathered in if they are judges with other recognized registries and approved by the AMA committee. Approved Judges list link below:



 

Rules Governing AMA Shows

1. No dogs to be staked out. All dogs will be crated while not being shown or exercised.

2. No dogs to be crated or walked near the show ring, minimum distance to be determined by club officials.

3. Dogs may not be entered which are owned or bred by the judge or the judge's immediate family.

4. If for any reason the assigned judge is unable to officiate, the club officers will select a competent replacement judge. Rule #3 is applicable.

5. The judge's placement at the end of each class is final.

6. A handler may talk to the judge concerning his dog's placement at the end of the class or at the end of the show, at the judge's discretion.

7. The judge may excuse any dog and handler if he or she feels the dog in not under control or exhibits any vicious propensities.

8. The choice of judges lies entirely with the officers of the hosting club.

9. All dogs entered must be AMA registered and show proof when registering. Absolutely no exceptions.

10. No muzzles.

11. Dogs must be shown on a 4 foot (or less) leash.

12. Collars may be a flat, choke, fur-saver or Pinch type.

11. The ring announcer when calling a dog to the ring or otherwise referring to an entered dog within hearing of the judge shall use the dog’s entry number only. The dog, owner, handler or breeders’ name may not be announced to the spectators or to the judge.

12. No Baiting. This is to include any food items such as hot dogs, liver, etc; or toys, clickers or other objects. The judge is allowed to use keys, clickers, or toys other than food items to get a dogs attention. Exhibitor will be given a warning if attempted again the exhibitor will be excused.

13. If an exhibitor is making excessive noise or distraction in the ring they will be given a warning if done again the exhibitor will be excused.

14. No “double handling,” which is defined by the owner or one of the owners or someone the dog knows or agent of the owner distracting or making noise to draw the dogs attention or the dog’s competition’s attention from outside the ring. Dogs will be dismissed for double handling.

Order of Classes

3 to 6 month, 6 to 9 month, and 9 to 12 month puppy classes and best of sex puppy classes will be shown first. The male adult classes will be held next culminating with best male. The female adult classes are then shown culminating with best Female, after which the best male competes with the best female for best of breed.

To ease the load on the assigned judges, the puppy classes may be judged by another AMA licensed judge if one is available.

The adult classes through best of sex and best in breed will be judged by one judge through best in show with the exception of a medical emergency, in which case the sponsoring club’s officers shall assign an alternate AMA licensed judge. If an AMA licensed judge is not available the sponsoring club’s officers will choose a qualified emergency judge.

Point Breakdowns
 
Age Group:      1st place 10pts.
                         2nd Place 8pts.
                         3rd Place 5pts.
Best of Sex:      10pts.
Best of Breed:  10Pts.
Best in Show:   10Pts.


*In order to earn the points at each division there must be competition (Competition is 2 or more dogs in a division).
**There must be 3 breeds in order to earn the additional 10pts. for Best in Show.
Examples: If a dog wins the 1-2 year old male class and is the only dog in the class then zero points are awarded. If the same dog goes on to win best male against another male then the dog wins 10 points for best of sex.

Puppy Classes: 3 to 6 months, 6 to 9 months, 9 to 12 months 1st place =10 pts., 2nd place = 8 pts., 3rd place = 5 pts.
The 1st place winners of the puppy classes compete against each other for best male puppy or best female puppy. The winners of each receive 10 additional points. The best male puppy will compete against the best female puppy for best puppy of breed. The winner will receive 10 additional points. The best puppy of each breed represented will compete against each other for best in show puppy. The winner will receive 10 additional points.


A Best Male Puppy or Best Female Puppy win does not count as a major win towards the Adult champion title.

Requirements for a JR. Champion-
A total of 75 points.

*No more than 75pts. will transfer towards the Adule Champion Title.

Adult Classes: JUNIOR 1 to 2 years, SENIOR 2 to 3 years, VETERAN 3 years and over 1st place = 10 pts., 2nd place = 8 pts., 3rd place = 5 pts.
The 1st place winners of the adult classes compete with each other for best male or best female and each receives an additional 10 points. The Best Male and Best Female then compete for best of breed. The winner receives 10 additional points. The best of each breed represented will compete against each other for best in show. The winner will receive 10 additional points.


Requirements for a Champion-
A total of 150 points and two best of sex or higher wins against competition is required.


*Upon compiling 150 points which is to include two wins of Best of Sex or higher against competition from sanctioned AMA conformation shows, the dog's owner will receive a AMA Championship Certificate and instructions to mail in $5.00 and their old registration certificate which will be replaced with a new registration certificate with Championship status indicated. The dog will therefore be designated as a conformation champion in all official records. The dog then becomes eligible to compete in the Champion of Champion class. A dog is not allowed to show in the champion class on the weekend they finish because the dog is not an official champion until the report with the final win is received and recorded by the AMA.

Requirements for a Grand Champion-
A Champion class can be held in conjunction with each conformation show if 3 champions are entered to compete. A Champion must accumulate three championship wins under three separate judges in order to be awarded the title of Grand Champion.


Notes:

A scheduled AMA show, weight pull, or WST & BST certifications should not be delayed by a non-sanctioned event.

Promotion of non-AMA/ABA sanctioned clubs, associations, or registries (information booths, tables and/or passing out literature) is prohibited at all AMA/ABA sanctioned events without written permission of the American Molosser Association/American Bulldog Association.