What is a Specialty?

A specialty show is an AKC-approved exhibition dedicated to a single breed and hosted by a breed-specific club such as the GPOESC. The specialty may have both obedience and conformation events.

Puppies from 6 to 18 months of age compete in the Sweepstakes, with classes divided by sex and age (6 to under 9, 9 to under 12, and 12 to under 18 months). Class winners then compete for “Best in Sweepstakes.”

Regular conformation competition starts after the Sweepstakes. Regular conformation consists of male dogs divided by age, then females (bitches) by age. Winners in various classes compete for titles of Winners Dog. Reserve Winners Dog. Winners Bitch and Reserve Winners Bitch.

Then on to Best of Breed. Winners Dog and Winners Bitch take the ring along with the winners of the Veteran Dog and Veteran Bitch classes, as well as any champions who enter. The judge selects Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex and a Best of Winners. Winning OES earn AKC points toward their championships.

GPOESC 35th Anniversary Specialty Shows 2010

specialtyart The 35th Anniversary GPOESC Specialty Shows will be held Friday, July 23, at the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center, in conjuction with the Stumptown Classic Cluster. The two Specialties will be held back to back, beginning at 11:30 a.m. The events are open to all AKC-registered Old English Sheepdogs. Both events include Puppy, Veteran and Bred-by Sweepstakes, and full Conformation shows.

The specialty events generally draw over 60 entries divided among the two sweepstakes and conformation shows. Entries come from throughout the Northwest, California, Colorado and Canada.

AM event Judges: Conformation - Karin B. Ashe (Florida), Sweeps - Joan Savage (Oregon), Obedience - Pamela A. Weaver (Oregon)

PM event Judges: Conformation - Sandy Wheat (Arizona), Sweeps - Barbara Vanword-Thompson (Ontario, Canada).

Premium available for download Download PDF. Entries close July 7, 6:oo p.m.

After the shows, we invite all attendees to join us for a no-host anniversary dinner at the Stanfords restaurant located about 5 minutes from the Expo center. See map to Stanfords >>

Please support your club specialty with a donation to the trophy fund : Sheepherders $25.00 and over, One Of The Flock under $25.00. Please email gpoesc@gpoesc.com for details on sending in your contribution.

You may also show your support with an ad in the Judging Program. Full page ad $30, Half page ad $15. Your ad must be hi-res jpg or pdf. If you need help with your ad, just email the photo(s) you wish to use along with the text in your email and we would be happy to put together an attractive ad for you. Please email gpoesc@gpoesc.com for details on sending in your ad information. See Ad samples >>