UKC is NOT lower quality
 

I get REALLY tired of hearing people dis UKC championships and the UKC show ring competition.

Personally, I put MORE value on a UKC CH than an AKC CH. There are NO professional handlers allowed in UKC. To me this means the judging takes place at the CORRECT end of the leash.

If you have enough $$$ you could take a crappy dog, buy a top name handler and get an AKC title on it. That wouldn't happen in UKC.

I personally love showing UKC. The people there are so friendly and helpful, and I always have a good time during a show-weekend. I haven't shown in more than a year because of finances, but I'm looking forward to getting back into it this season. It's great for someone like me who is a novice handler, and who just does it because I like spending time with my friends and my dog, as opposed to someone who might be putting a lot more stake behind it.

True. You can finish a crappy dog yourself in UKC for a lot less money

I have seen some GREAT examples of GSDs finish in UKC that wouldn't get a look in AKC (and wrongly so). I've also seen some absolutely horrid examples that are obviously "Just pets".

It happens in both rings, but it seems to happen a lot more in UKC, IMO.

:toasting:

Would like to add that UKC seems to be better for some breeds than others. I personally find the quality of UKC White Shepherd champions to be higher overall than the GSDs

From what I've read, it's so easy to get a UKC CH. People have put UKC CH on their dogs without ever seeing/beating another dog of their breed. The general consensus is that it's great practice for inexperienced handlers or owners that just want to have fun in a more relaxed atmosphere, but more value is placed on an AKC CH title and with most breeds, a puppy buyer in the US should really question a breeder who only has UKC ch titles on their dogs, and that some people take it very personal when UKC is compared to AKC for the reasons mentioned.

Yup.

The UKC GrCh is harder to obtain (and rather well respected), but then I think, why not just put those rules in place in the first place for a championship?

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thum bup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I have friends that refuse to show AKC anymore because it was all about who owned the dog and who was handling it.

Jonas's breeder does ukc and loves it. He keeps trying to get me to show Jonas there.

it , once again , depends on who your competition was for the show event .