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 (6–9, 10–12 and 13–18 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 Specialty Show July 2008

The GPOESC Specialty Shows were held Friday, July 18, 2008, at the Portland Metropolitan Exhibition Center, in conjuction with the Stumptown Classic Cluster. These were two Specialties held back to back, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The event was open to all AKC-registered Old English Sheepdogs and drew 31 entries from 26 competitors from all over the Pacific Northwest and California. Below are the photos of the winners and several photos of the event. Thank you to all those who participated in the event, and a job-well-done to specialty co-chairs Sandy Wood and Dee Dee Jenkins and all those who helped with our specialty event!

Morning Specialty -

am BOB

Morning: Best of Breed: Ch. Love'n Stuff Mak'n a Difference - Owners Marilyn & Kristi Marshall

am best of winners

Morning: Best of Winners, Best of Opposite: Wullyweather's Fur Izzin - Owners Glen & Marlene Larson

am winners dog

Morning: Winners Dog: SnowDowne Sweet Success - Owners Vladiniris Martin, Colleen Allen Grady & Dea Freiheit

am jr winner

Morning: Best Junior Handler: Hanna Menzel with Sophia - SnowDowne Happily Ever After - Owners Jeff & Priscilla Menzel, Colleen Allen Grady & Dea Freiheit

Afternoon Specialty -

Afternoon: Best of Breed: Ch. Love'n Stuff Mak'n a Difference - Owners Marilyn & Kristi Marshall

pm best of winners and opposite

Afternoon: Best of Winners, Best of Opposite: SnowDowne Platinum Promise - Owners Renee Smith, Colleen Allen Grady & Dea Freiheit

Afternoon: Winners Dog: SnowDowne Sweet Success - Owners Vladiniris Martin, Colleen Allen Grady & Dea Freiheit

Afternoon: Reserve Winners Bitch: Blue Panda Masked Angel - Owner Elise McCreary, Breeder/handler Lita Long

Afternoon: Best Junior Handler: Hanna Menzel with Sophia - SnowDowne Happily Ever After - Owners Jeff & Priscilla Menzel, Colleen Allen Grady & Dea Freiheit - No photo available.

Please enjoy some random photos from the specialties: