I'm new and learning (not showing or breeding yet) and I have a question. A Reserve winner is always chosen for both dogs and bitches. How often (if ever) does the Reserve winner get points if something causes the WD or WB not to get the points. Does is ever happen? Or is it very rare? Thanks for your help.

It happens, more often than you'd think.

Thanks for your help. Just to be clear, I don't want any dog or breeder names or specifics mentioned in answers. I only wanted to know if it ever happens. Thanks for helping a newbie learn!

It happens when a dog is shown in the wrong class than it was entered in. The dog that won winners does not get the points, because it was shown from the wrong class. The reserve winners dog is awarded the points in its place being that it was runner up. So reserve winners did not actually win the points, but because of human error the points go to the next dog in line.

THANK YOU!!! That's a big help and it's very clear now. Much appreciated!

It can and has happened that points are taken away from winners and awarded to the reserve (happened fairly recently at a specialty) if the dog isn't properly registered with the AKC, for example a foreign import. Or if a dog is shown in Bred-By and doesn't qualify, or something like that.

It happens, just not all that often. I actually picked up a 3 pt major with a reserve when the winners bitch was disqualified......sorry Dana.

I got a very sweet 5 pt major last year on one of my Cavaliers for this very reason. WB was a bitch from France, and she didn't get her AKC number within the time allowed. So, she forfeited all points earned to date (10 or 12). I was RWB at a supported entry where she took WB, and so I ended up being awarded the 5pt major. :)

To be fair, in 29 years of showing dogs, this was the only occasion where this happened, but it sure felt good!!

Best,

Leslee Pope
Huntcrest

Thanks for your replies. I always wondered how often (if ever) it happens. You've all been very helpful.

It happened to me too!

Hi,
I can't tell you how often it happens,but it happened because of me.
I had a cute bitch that I thought was too imature for open so I entered her in Am bred. She won majors both days that weekend. Trouble was she was born in Canada.
I had sold her mother to a friend in Canada and got mom back as well as a pup of hers. Since they were both here I forgot where they came from
AKC wrote to me and told me the very bad news. If you look at my wrists you will see faint scars(just kidding

Sheila7ag9