Official procedure for awarding the BOB title (Best of Breed)

The BOB title represents „The best specimen of the breed”, being one of the most important titles of a WDF show.

1. The classes eligible for BOB

Unlike JBOB, the BOB title involves the adult and champion classes.

Pursuant to Art. 11, BOB is awarded following two direct comparisons:

✔ Category A: Adults

• Intermediate
• Open
• Working

✔ Category B: Champions

• Winner
• Champions
• Foreign Champions

⚠ Very Young / Young dogs do NOT compete for the „adult” BOB, but only for JBOB.

2. The minimum conditions to be able to compete for BOB

To enter the comparison for BOB, a dog must:

✔ have won its class and obtained Excellent 1

✔ be eligible in its category (A or B)

✔ have no penalties or ineligibilities

✔ be considered by the judge worthy of entering the comparison

3. The technical procedure in the ring for determining BOB

The procedure is divided into three phases:

STAGE 1 — Individual judging of the classes

The judge evaluates all eligible classes (Intermediate, Open, Working, Winner, Champion, Foreign Champions) and determines:

• the winner of the male class (Excellent 1)
• the winner of the female class (Excellent 1)

Thus, class winners result for the 6 classes.

STAGE 2 — Play-off by category (two separate comparisons)

Pursuant to Art. 11:

„BOB is awarded in the direct comparison between the Intermediate, Open and Working classes
and another comparison between Winner, Champions and Foreign Champions.”

Therefore, judging is carried out as follows:

▶ PLAY-OFF 1 — Adults Category (A)

The judge compares:

• the Intermediate winner
• the Open winner
• the Working winner

Among males → the best adult is chosen
Among females → the best adult female is chosen

▶ PLAY-OFF 2 — Champions Category (B)

The judge compares:

• the Winner winner
• the Champion winner
• the Foreign Champions winner

Among males → the best champion is chosen
Among females → the best champion female is chosen

STAGE 3 — The final BOB decision

According to the regulation, the two previous stages produce:

• 1 male winner of category A
• 1 male winner of category B
• 1 female winner of category A
• 1 female winner of category B

Then BOB is designated as follows:

✔ BOB Male = the judge decides between:

• the best adult male
• the best champion male

✔ BOB Female = the judge decides between:

• the best adult female
• the best champion female

Finally, the titles are awarded:

• BOB Male
• BOB Female

These are two separate titles.

4. The rights of BOB dogs

Pursuant to Art. 11:

✔ BOB Male → enters the BIS category intended for adults

✔ BOB Female → also enters BIS

The BOB title automatically secures qualification for the Best in Show competition of the category.

5. The judge’s discretion

As with CAJC, CAC and CACIB:

✔ The judge is NOT obliged to award BOB

✔ If the judge considers that no specimen is good enough, the title may be withheld

✔ The decision is final and cannot be contested in the ring

6. The qualification booklet

The BOB title:

✔ is recorded in the WDF Qualification Booklet

✔ is approved by the secretariat on the same day

If the winner has no booklet:

• then the title cannot be claimed, and the right passes to the next dog in the ranking (if the local regulation allows, exactly as with CAJC/CAC).

7. Practical summary (BOB CHECKLIST)

✔ Classes involved: Intermediate – Open – Working / Winner – Champion – Foreign Champion

✔ The class winners are chosen → then the category winners

✔ Play-off 1: Adults

✔ Play-off 2: Champions

✔ The judge chooses BOB Male and BOB Female

✔ Both titles go to BIS

✔ The secretariat validates

✔ The title is discretionary