Top Twenty Invitational 

Top 20 Qualifiers

PURPOSE

The National Shiba Club of America offers a Top Twenty Invitational to showcase excellence in Shibas. This event is a part of the NSCA National Specialty and serves many purposes. It educates judges, exhibitors, breeders and fanciers. The event offers all who attend a chance to view the top dogs in competitive standing for the previous year. Using a scale of points, each dog is evaluated according to how closely it conforms to the breed standard. This procedure is not available at any point show and allows the spectators an opportunity to evaluate the dogs while scoring them at the same time they are being judged. The event is educational and promotes discussions of the standard and provides spectators with an opportunity to see how individual views can produce a consensus decision which can then be compared to their own impressions. This event provides special recognition to those Shibas with the most outstanding records as well as their breeders, trainers, and owners. The Top Twenty Invitational provides an incentive to strive for Shibas excelling in structure, movement, temperament, and conformation.

During the previous year, points are awarded equal to the number of dogs defeated by winning Best of Breed at an AKC licensed All-Breed or Specialty show. These points are tallied and a list of the Top Twenty Shibas is formed.

Owners of these dogs receive an invitation to the Top Twenty Invitational at the National Specialty.

The Invitational is comprised of a formal evening prior to Breed judging at the National Specialty and may include cocktails and/or dinner before the showcase!

Using a scale of points, each dog is evaluated by 3 different judges according to how closely it conforms to the breed standard. At the end of the event the score sheets are gathered and tallied – that year’s Top Twenty winner is announced at the annual National Specialty banquet.

Being invited to, participating in and winning the Top Twenty Invitational are all high honors in the National Shiba Club of America.

JUDGING PROCEDURE

1. Each dog will be scored by each judge individually, using a Scale of Points based on the AKC Standard.
   
   
2. The winner will be determined on the basis of the highest average score. The scores of each dog, from each of the three judges, are tabulated, added together, then divided by three (3) to determine the dog’s average score.
   
   
3. In the event of a tie, it shall be broken by using the “Initial Impression” (on a scale of 1-10) marked by each judge as the determining factor. The Initial Impression score shall be given by the judge before judging any of the scoring categories for each individual dog. This initial impression score means that the dog is taken as a whole and placed on the scale of 1 to 10, with 10 meaning the dog is in perfect harmony with the judge’s picture of the ideal Shiba Inu. The Initial Impression score is not considered as part of the dog’s total score.

Above are simple ground rules that will be followed in the judging of this exciting event. The rationale for this system is as follows:

Whenever the judge examines an individual dog and compares him, mentally, to the judge’s picture of the ideal, the judge is going through the work of judging by scoring. The scoring system adds the assigning of numerical values to the main factors of the judging, and it demands that the judge indicate where he/she penalizes for less than the ideal characteristics. The judge must go on the record when scoring. And more, must go on the record part-by-part and indicate the degree of deviation in the part from the ideal. The Initial Impression score must be done before actually judging the dog. In other words, the dogs must be taken as a whole and placed on the scale of 1-10 with 10 meaning that the dog is in perfect harmony with the judge’s picture of the ideal Shiba Inu.

Scoring is much more time consuming than the comparison judging we are accustomed to in the show ring, where dogs are judged at 25 or more dogs an hour. When scoring dogs a judge can do not more than 6-10 an hour. But when scoring is complete, it provides a written critique of the dog as seen by the judge.

Scoring has another virtue. It is a strong discipline on the judge. A fault can seem to stand out and the judge can become sensitized to one difficulty or even one virtue. Scoring checks this to a marked degree. It reduces the idiosyncrasies of an individual judge.

After all Top 20 competitors are viewed in the ring as a group, each dog will be judged individually. The first dog, as determined by the Draw Order, will enter the ring and pose for "First Impression." The dog will then be moved down and back, and in a circle while all three judges watch, and the judges will score the dog for movement. The dog will then be examined and scored completely by the three judges, each judge touching and examining the dog as he/she sees fit. The dog will then circle the ring and exit. This process will be repeated until all dogs have been scored.

While in the ring, judges will limit their conversation to their stewards and then they will only be discussing the procedure.

RULES

This event will be held in the evening prior to the Breed judging of the National Specialty, as knowledge of the results of the National Specialty competition could influence the outcome of the Top Twenty judging.

The 20 Shiba Inus eligible for the Top Twenty Invitational are based on the following: (the term dog herein shall refer to either dogs or bitches with no preference given):

1. One point for each Shiba Inu defeated by going Best of Breed or at any AKC All Breed Show or any Independent Specialty Show where AKC points are awarded. Tabulation of points are based on Breed point wins as published in the AKC Awards publication for the period beginning January 1st and ending December 31st. Standings from AKC will be published monthly by the Top Twenty Committee in the Newsletter and on the Website. All past winners who qualify for the current Top Twenty are eligible to compete.
   
   
2. All owners and co-owners of the finalists must be in good standing with the AKC and NSCA, if a member of NSCA, at the time the invitations are extended and at the time of the event. Dogs owned or co-owned by the Top Twenty Chairperson or members of his/her family may show at this event. Committee members who have qualifying dogs may not vote on judges.
   
   
3. All agree to abide by any and all rules as they may become effective through authorization of the Top Twenty Chair or National Show Chairman as they concern the finalists' participation in the event. Failure to do so may revoke the privilege of future participation, regardless of eligibility.
   
   
4. A finalist will only be allowed to compete if the owner or agent attends the briefing held at least one half hour prior to the event for the purpose of assigning arm band number and explanation of procedures.
   
   
5. Spayed bitches or neutered dogs that have been named among the final Top Twenty Shibas may compete in the event.
   
   
6. Each dog that competes in the Top Twenty Invitational will receive a rosette, three (3) feet in length, having the entrant’s name, the date and place of the event and the name NSCA Top Twenty Invitational imprinted. The NSCA Logo will be imprinted on the rosette button. The rosette may be any color other than that of Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex or Winners Dog/Bitch.
   
   
7. The owner of a Top Twenty dog, based on the final standings, will be sent an invitation to participate. The invitation will be addressed to the dog and to the dog’s first registered listed owner.
   
   
8. A response card will be supplied with the invitation and the owner must respond by the date indicated. Entry fees will be determined by the Top Twenty Committee and/or Show Committee and may allow for entry fees to be discounted for NSCA members.
   
   
9. A panel of three (3) judges will conduct the judging of the event. Each judge will represent a different category as follows:
   
   
   1. Breeder: An established Shiba Inu breeder who has been breeding for a minimum of five (5) years and has produced at least five (5) conformation champions as published in the AKC Awards. Breeder judges must be NSCA members in good standing. NSCA members of the same household may be placed on the ballot, but there shall be only one breeder judge from the same household for this event. The first name selected from the member household shall result in the disqualification of other members from the same household who may be on the ballot. Breeders who own or co-own or who have campaigned or handled a Shiba special who is currently in the Top Twenty or who has first generation offspring (dog or bitch) in the Top Twenty within the past year are not eligible to accept this assignment.
      
      
   2. Professional Handler (past or present): a professional handler, meeting the requirements for membership in a Professional Handler's organization, such as PHA or AKC, (though not necessarily a member). Must have a minimum of five (5) years of handling experience. Handlers who have campaigned or handled a Shiba special who is currently in the Top Twenty or who has first generation offspring (dog or bitch) in the Top Twenty within the past year are not eligible to accept this assignment.
      
      
   3. Multi-breed judge: An AKC approved judge for Shiba Inus and at least four (4) other breeds.
      
      Each invited entrant may nominate up to five (5) judges in each category who reside within a 400 mile radius of the event location and forward the names, upon call, to the Committee Chairman. The Committee Chairman, after reviewing the nominated judges for eligibility, will prepare and mail the ballot to the participating Committee members. The participating Committee members will return the ballot to the Committee Chairman or designated member, who will tally the ballots. The Committee Chairman or designated member will secure the acceptance of the winning nominees, based on availability. The name of the winners in each category will be revealed only to those Committee members who must know (e.g. Catalog Chairman). The name of those selected to judge shall be kept CONFIDENTIAL until the day of the event. The Committee Chairman will select a Steward for each of the judges.
      
      
10. A catalog will be printed for this Event. No advertising will be allowed in the Event catalog. The catalog must include, but is not limited to the following:
    
    1. The cover shall consist of the NSCA logo, the words TOP TWENTY INVITATIONAL, the event date and city where the event is to be held.
       
       
    2. A list of the final Top Twenty dogs in descending order.
       
       
    3. A two-facing page spread of each entrant in the final Top Twenty standings who has paid the required fee. There will be no further charge to entrants for these pages.
       
       
       1. The left-hand page shall have the name of the entrant, a brief story, owner(s), breeder(s) and a write-up about that dog furnished by the owner (odd-numbered page).
          
          
       2. The right-hand page shall have a full body photo of the entrant and a three (3) generation pedigree, including the dog’s date of birth (even-numbered page).
          
          
    4. Judging Procedures and score sheets
       
       
    5. A profile of each judge.
       
       
    6. A page listing the previous winners, the judges, and the year in which they won.
       
       
11. Each dog will be issued an armband number that will correspond with the even page number of the entrant in the Event catalog. A drawing will be conducted prior to the start of the Event to determine the order in which the dogs enter the ring, defined as the Draw Order. The ring will be set up with one (1) judging station. The station will include a table and three (3) chairs. A separate trophy table will be set up.
    
    
12. There will be a PA system with a moderator. The moderator shall announce the dog in the ring as being the entrant on page number ____ in the catalog. He shall instruct the handler as to where to position and gait his/her dog. The entrant shall be brought into the ring one at a time and adhere to the following procedure:
    
    
    1. At the commencement of the event, all the entrants shall be brought in together for two complete revolutions around the ring as an initial introduction and welcome from spectators and judges and then proceed to the holding area outside the ring.
       
       
    2. The first dog, as determined by the Draw Order, will enter the ring and pose for "Initial Impression." The dog will then be moved down and back, and in a circle while all three judges watch, and the judges will score the dog for movement. The dog will then be examined and scored completely by the three judges, each judge touching and examining the dog as he/she sees fit. Judges may ask the Steward to hold their score sheet while they physically examine the dog. The dog will then circle the ring, pose, and exit. This process will be repeated until all dogs have been scored.
       
       
    3. Each entrant shall be evaluated individually in his/her relationship to the breed standard using a scale of points as stated in the event catalog. The judge’s book will contain a score sheet for each individual entrant. Points may be scored in whole or half points.
       
       
    4. When all entrants have been evaluated, all dogs will be called back into the ring one at a time and identified by name, owner, and breeder and will receive their rosettes.
       
       
13. When a judge has completed his/her scoring of an entrant, he/she may choose to sign the score sheet and immediately turn the score sheet into the ring steward. No score sheets shall be tabulated by the judges or stewards. Each score sheet will be placed in an envelope marked with that entrant’s number and sealed. No sooner than two (2) hours before the banquet following Best of Breed judging of the National Specialty, each score sheet shall be tabulated by an independent committee. The entrant’s number of the score sheet will be covered so that the person tabulating the score will not have knowledge of which dog’s score is being tabulated. The cover on the number shall not be removed until it is presented for announcement at the banquet. The dog with the highest score will be declared the winner.
    
    
14. In the event of a tie, the winner is determined by consulting the First Impression total. The dog with the highest First Impression total is declared the winner. The First Impression score is used ONLY to break a tie, and is not included in tabulating the average score. If there is still a tied score, there will be two (2) winners who shall share the title of Top 20 Winner.
    
    
15. The Committee Chairman or designated Committee Member announces the winner at the NSCA National Specialty Banquet.
    
    
16. The Committee Chairman or designated Committee Member will present the winner with a Winner’s Ribbon and a trophy exclusively chosen for this event at the NSCA National Specialty Banquet.
    

Following the conclusion of the event, each entrant in the Top Twenty Invitational will receive each judge’s score sheet for their entry. The score sheets will be given or sent only to the first registered listed owner of each dog or their designated agent. The scores will not be made public by anyone involved with this event. If the owner wishes to publish the score, it will be at his or her own discretion.

Sample Score Sheet