The Reading Room • Explainers
Your dog finished its championship. Now what? The Grand Championship is the next mountain — and the points work differently up here.
Planning your show season? Create your free ThePetAdvisor account — track your dogs and never miss a closing date.
The 30-second version
Only champions can earn Grand Champion points, and only in Best of Breed competition. Your dog needs:
- 25 points total
- At least three “majors” — wins worth 3, 4, or 5 points
- Those three majors under three different judges
- Remaining points under at least a fourth judge
- A Champion of Record defeated at three of the shows where points were earned
Four judges minimum. And unlike the regular championship, you’re competing against finished champions — not class dogs.
New here? Start with How Dog Show Points and Majors Actually Work — the regular championship is the prerequisite.
Step 1: Who can earn GCH points
Only Champions of Record — dogs who have already finished their AKC championship. If your dog finishes its championship with a Winners Dog win today, it becomes GCH-eligible starting at its next show, not today.
Class dogs earn zero GCH points. This is a champions-only game.
Who can earn what: the title ladder
Non-champion (class dog): Earns regular championship points as Winners Dog or Winners Bitch. Cannot earn GCH points.
Champion (CH): Finished the regular championship. Now earns GCH points in Best of Breed competition (BOB, BOS, Select Dog, Select Bitch). Cannot earn more regular CH points — already has the title.
Grand Champion (GCH): Earned 25 GCH points. Keeps earning toward Bronze (100), Silver (200), Gold (400), Platinum (800). Every point is cumulative.
The ladder only goes one direction — you can’t go back and earn points for a title you already hold.
Step 2: The four awards that earn points
After Best of Breed judging, the judge may award up to four placements. Each earns GCH points — all at the judge’s discretion (they can withhold any award):
The four point-earning awards
Best of Breed (BOB): Count every dog competing — class dogs, class bitches, and all champions. The winner gets the greater of the BOB or BOS point value for their sex.
Best of Opposite Sex (BOS): Count all dogs of the winner’s sex — class entries plus champions of that sex.
Select Dog / Select Bitch: Awarded after BOB and BOS. Count all competing dogs of that sex, minus one (subtract the BOB or BOS winner). AKC’s rule of thumb: “count all dogs competing of the same sex, then subtract 1.”
Awards of Merit earn no GCH points — they’re recognition only.
Step 3: A worked example
Same schedule, different counting. Here’s AKC’s own example:
Entry: 7 class dogs + 5 class bitches + 6 champions (3 dogs, 3 bitches)
Best of Breed (dog or bitch): 7 + 5 + 6 = 18 dogs → 5 GCH points
Best of Opposite, dog: 7 class dogs + 3 champion dogs = 10 dogs → 4 points
Best of Opposite, bitch: 5 class bitches + 3 champion bitches = 8 bitches → 3 points
Select Dog (BOB was male): 10 − 1 = 9 dogs → 4 points
Select Bitch (BOB was male): 8 − 1 = 7 bitches → 2 points
The point values above use a representative schedule — look up your breed and division on the AKC point schedule, the same one used for regular championship points.
Step 4: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum
The Grand Championship is just the beginning. Every GCH point your dog earns is cumulative — the 25 that earned the title count toward the next level:
Grand Champion achievement levels
Each level adds a prefix to the title: GCHB CH Fandom Frankly, My Dear, GCHS, GCHG, GCHP. AKC mails a medallion and certificate at every level.
Glossary
- Grand Champion (GCH) — 25 GCH points, 3 majors under 3 judges, champion defeated at 3 shows.
- Select Dog / Select Bitch — the best champion dog/bitch after BOB and BOS. Earns GCH points.
- Award of Merit — judge’s recognition. No points.
- Champion of Record — a dog whose championship AKC has officially recorded.
- Major — a win worth 3, 4, or 5 points. Same definition as the regular championship.
Sources: AKC Counting Grand Champion Points, AKC Chairman’s Report May 2011, Rules Applying to Dog Shows Ch. 16 Sec. 1.
Frequently asked questions
What does it take to become a Grand Champion?
25 points total, at least three majors (wins worth 3–5 points) under three different judges, remaining points under at least a fourth judge, and a Champion of Record defeated at three of the shows where points were earned.
Who can earn Grand Champion points?
Only Champions of Record — dogs who have already finished their AKC championship — and only in Best of Breed competition. Class dogs earn zero GCH points.
What are Select Dog and Select Bitch?
Awards given after Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex to the best champion dog and best champion bitch. Count all competing dogs of that sex, minus one (subtract the BOB or BOS winner).
What are the Grand Champion Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels?
Cumulative GCH point milestones: Bronze at 100 points (GCHB), Silver at 200 (GCHS), Gold at 400 (GCHG), and Platinum at 800 (GCHP).
Do Awards of Merit earn Grand Champion points?
No. Awards of Merit are recognition only. Only Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog, and Select Bitch earn GCH points.
Can a judge withhold the Select awards?
Yes. Select Dog and Select Bitch are awarded at the judge's discretion — a judge can withhold either if no dog is worthy.
Chasing Grand Champion points?
Track your specials career on ThePetAdvisor — plan your weekends, follow your judges, and never miss a closing date.