Top Twenty
The Top Twenty Award is available to everyone whose dog has met the criteria described in Statistics and Eligibility.
2019 Judges and Stewards
2019 People's Choice Award: CHCS Bret D N Adventureland Star Coach
2019 Top Twenty Winner: GCHS Saint Florian's She's Got Game
2019 Top Twenty Winner: GCHS Saint Florian's She's Got Game
2019 Judges and Stewards
2019 People's Choice Award: CHCS Bret D N Adventureland Star Coach
2019 Top Twenty Winner: GCHS Saint Florian's She's Got Game
2019 Top Twenty Winner: GCHS Saint Florian's She's Got Game
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The DCA sponsors a Top 20 event each year to showcase excellence in Dalmatians. This event is a part of the DCA National Specialty Show and is intended to educate and entertain judges, exhibitors, breeders and fanciers. This event provides special recognition to those Dalmatians with the most outstanding record in the show ring during the previous calendar year, together with their breeders, agents and owners. The event provides a continuing incentive to strive for Dalmatians to excel in structure, movement, temperament and conformation according to our written Standard.
The event offers all who attend a chance to view the Top 20 Dalmatians in the Country based upon their competitive standings for the previous year. Using a scale of points, each dog is evaluated according to how closely it conforms to the Breed Standard. This event is not available at any AKC show and allows the spectators an opportunity to evaluate the dogs, scoring them at the same time as the three selected judges to see how individual views can produce a consensus decision, which can then be compared to their own impressions. -
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Each owner of a Top 20 qualifier will be sent an invitation to participate in this event. There is an entry fee of $50.00 to be returned with the entry form.
Invitations to appear for Exhibition Only will be sent to previous winners of the event.
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A catalog is prepared exclusively for the Top 20 event each year. The catalogs are available only through the order forms for the DCA National Specialty Show and may be picked up at the show the night of the event, or mailed after the show.
The catalog contains a double page of advertising for each qualifier, with a photograph, a pedigree and text supplied by the dog’s owner or agent. The catalog also contains score sheets and judging procedures, a profile of each judge, and a page listing all of the previous winners, the judges, and the year in which they won.
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The owner of the winner of the event, if a DCA member, will receive an official DCA Bronze Medallion.
Qualifiers will receive a formal rosette. Additionally, the owner of a deceased qualifier will also receive a rosette.
Co-owners and breeders of qualifiers can purchase additional rosettes by ordering on the order form at the time the entry is made. The total number of additional rosettes ordered may not exceed the number of listed breeders and co-owners of the qualifier. Previous winners may purchase a rosette by ordering on the order form at the time the entry is made.
All Top 20 qualifiers will receive a Certificate of Eligibility for their accomplishment. These Certificates will be made out with the dogs’ name and year eligible and will either be mailed or distributed to the dogs’ owner at the Top 20 Event.
Qualifiers responding “No” to the invitation and not in attendance at the event will be noted in the catalog.
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The Top 20 event will be held prior to Intersex Competition at the DCA National Specialty Show.
The draw for armband numbers and the order of competition will be held the day prior to the event as announced by the Top 20 Chairperson.
The winner of the Top 20 event will be announced at the DCA Annual Awards Banquet by the Top 20 Chairperson.
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There will be three judges of the Top 20 event. There will be one judge from each of the following three categories:
Breeder Judge
An established Dalmatian breeder who has bred Dalmatians for at least ten years, having produced or shown at least four Champions of Record as published by the American Kennel Club; or is approved by the American Kennel Club to judge Dalmatians. The Breeder Judge must not own or co-own either a dog in the Top 20 competition or its sire or its dam. The Breeder Judge may not exhibit Dalmatians in any class (including Intersex) at the DCA National Specialty Show and any associated All-breed or Dalmatian Regional Specialty Shows in conjunction with the DCA National Specialty Show.
Multi-Breed Judge
A person approved by the American Kennel Club to judge Dalmatians and, at least, one complete Group. If the Multi-Breed judge is a Dalmatian breeder, this judge must not own or co-own either a dog in the Top 20 competition or its sire or its dam. The judge may not exhibit a Dalmatian in any class (including Intersex) at the DCA National Specialty Show and any associated All-breed or Dalmatian Regional Specialty Shows in conjunction with the DCA National Specialty Show.
Handler Judge
A professional handler, either active or retired, meeting the requirements for membership in a Professional Handlers’ Association (though not necessarily a member). The Handler Judge must have at least five years’ experience. The Handler Judge must not have shown a Dalmatian for an owner of a dog in the Top 20 competition for two years preceding the event. In addition, the Handler Judge may not handle any dog at the DCA National Specialty Show or an associated Regional Dalmatian Specialty Shows that is owned or co-owned by an owner of a Top 20 entrant.Excluded from judging the event will be the following:
Any person actively serving on the Top 20 Committee.
Any person that has previously judged a DCA Top 20 event in any of the three judging categories.The Top 20 Committee will select the judges in each of the three judging categories.
Each participating Committee member nominates one or two (1-2) judges in each category and forwards the names to the Top 20 Chairperson. The Top 20 Chairperson, after reviewing the nominated judges for eligibility, will forward the names of the eligible nominees to the Top 20 Committee members. The participating members will respond to the ballot, marked in priority order, to the Top 20 Committee Chairperson who will tally the votes.
The Top 20 Chairperson will secure the acceptance of the winning nominees, based upon availability. The names of the winners in each category will be revealed only to Committee members.
It will be the Top 20 Chairperson’s responsibility to ensure that the judges understand that their election must remain totally confidential.
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Handlers and/or owners will draw for exhibition order prior to the event. Conformation (“hands on”) judging will be held in a separate room away from the audience. Each dog will be judged by three different judges. Each judge will first record his First Impression Score, to be used only in case of a tie. After examination, each judge will record the scores for each dog on the dog’s individual score sheet. After all the dogs complete the conformation portion of judging, they will then be presented to the audience in the main ring. The judges will begin judging each dog’s movement in a circle and a down and back pattern. The judges will record the scores for each dog on the dog’s individual score sheet. Each dog will then be presented to the audience for the “People’s Choice Award”, which will be awarded the same evening of the event.
All dogs will be scored by each judge using the scale of points as provided in the American Kennel Club’s Approved Standard for the Dalmatian.
Immediately following the completion of judging, the judges’ marked sheets (but not tallied for total scores) will be submitted to an independent and impartial person to be tabulated.
The scores for each dog, from each of the three judges, are added together, then divided by three to determine each dog’s average score.
The winner will be determined on the basis of the average score of each dog. The score sheets and the identity of the winning dog will be given to the Top 20 Chairperson on the evening of the DCA Awards Banquet.In the event of a tie, the winner is determined by the First Impression score. The dog with the highest First Impression score is declared the winner. The First Impression score is used ONLY to break a tie, and is not included in the tabulation of the average score. If there is still a tied score, there will be two winners who shall share the title of Top 20 Winner.
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TOP TWENTY SCORE SHEET DOG NO.________ FIRST IMPRESSION(1-10)_______
SCALE OF POINTS
For Evaluation Of Individual Specimen
On The Basis Of The StandardCategory Maximum Points Points Assigned General Appearance
Size, proportion and substance
Head
Neck, topline, body
Forequarters
Hindquarters
Feet
Coat
Color and markings
Gait
Temperament5
10
10
10
5
5
5
5
25
10
10Total: 100
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_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________FINAL SCORE: _____________ PLEASE NOTE: Final Score is NOT to be tabulated by judges or stewards
- Purpose
- Statistics and Eligibility
- Invitations
- Catalogs
- Trophies, Rosettes and Certificates of Eligibility
- Event Scheduling
- Judges
- Judging Procedure
- Top Twenty Score Sheet
The DCA sponsors a Top 20 event each year to showcase excellence in Dalmatians. This event is a part of the DCA National Specialty Show and is intended to educate and entertain judges, exhibitors, breeders and fanciers. This event provides special recognition to those Dalmatians with the most outstanding record in the show ring during the previous calendar year, together with their breeders, agents and owners. The event provides a continuing incentive to strive for Dalmatians to excel in structure, movement, temperament and conformation according to our written Standard.
The event offers all who attend a chance to view the Top 20 Dalmatians in the Country based upon their competitive standings for the previous year. Using a scale of points, each dog is evaluated according to how closely it conforms to the Breed Standard. This event is not available at any AKC show and allows the spectators an opportunity to evaluate the dogs, scoring them at the same time as the three selected judges to see how individual views can produce a consensus decision, which can then be compared to their own impressions.
There are no eligibility requirements other than being named among the final Top 20 Dalmatians in conformation competition from the previous calendar year.
The Top 20 invitees are based on point standing in breed (total of Dalmatians defeated) or all-breed (total of dogs defeated) as published by the American Kennel Club, for the previous calendar year. Should there be any deceased or past winners in the Top 20 Dalmatians for the previous year, their names will be eliminated, and the list extended to make a full complement of 20 Dalmatians eligible from both the breed and all-breed systems. Previous winners and deceased finalists will be noted in the Top 20 List published in the event catalog.
To compete in this event, all owners and co-owners of qualifiers must be in good standing with the AKC and DCA, if a member, at the time the invitations are extended and at the time of the event. At the time of the event, all dogs must be eligible to compete at AKC events, with the exception of spayed bitches or neutered dogs who have been named among the final Top 20 Dalmatians and who may compete in this event.
A person judging any Conformation class, including Sweepstakes and Futurity, at the DCA National Specialty Show may exhibit or have a dog exhibited in the Top 20 that is owned or co-owned by that judge as long as their assignment is complete prior to the Top 20 event.
A person judging any Conformation class, including Sweepstakes, at a Regional Dalmatian Specialty Show immediately preceding the DCA National Specialty Show may exhibit or have a dog exhibited in the Top 20 that is owned or co-owned by that judge.
In order to eliminate any possible perception of impropriety, the following prohibitions will apply:
A person judging any Conformation class, including Sweepstakes, at a Regional Dalmatian Specialty Show immediately following the DCA National Specialty Show may NOT exhibit or have a dog exhibited in the Top 20 that is owned or co-owned by that judge.
A dog that is owned, co-owned, bred, co-bred, or shown by a member of the Top 20 committee, or a member of their family as defined by AKC rules cannot compete at the Top 20 event. The dog, if qualified, can be listed in the event catalog and shown for exhibition only.
A Top 20 qualifier will only be allowed to compete in the event if the owner or agent attends the briefing held prior to the event for the purposes of assigning arm band numbers and reviewing the staging of the event.
All participants agree to abide by any and all Rules and Regulations as may become effective through authorization of the Top 20 Committee and/or the DCA Board of Governors.
These fees are subject to review by the DCA Board of Governors periodically.
Each owner of a Top 20 Qualifier will be sent an invitation to participate in this event. There is an entry fee of $75.00 to be paid with the entry form.
Invitations to appear For Exhibition Only will be sent to previous winners of the event.
A catalog is prepared exclusively for the Top 20 event each year. The catalogs are available only through the order forms for the DCA National Specialty Show and may be picked up at the show the night of the event or mailed after the show.
The catalog contains a double page of advertising for each qualifier, with a photograph, a pedigree and text supplied by the dog’s owner or agent. The catalog also contains score sheets and judging procedures, a profile of each judge, and a page listing all of the previous winners, the judges, and the year in which they won.
The owner of the winner of the event, if a DCA member, will receive an official DCA Bronze Medallion.
Qualifiers will receive a formal rosette. Additionally, the owner of a deceased qualifier will also receive a rosette.
Co-owners and breeders of qualifiers can purchase additional rosettes by ordering on the order form at the time the entry is made. The total number of additional rosettes ordered may not exceed the number of listed breeders and co-owners of the qualifier. Previous winners may purchase a rosette by ordering on the order form at the time the entry is made.
All Top 20 qualifiers will receive a Certificate of Eligibility for their accomplishment. These Certificates will be made out with the dogs’ name and year eligible and will either be mailed or given to the dogs’ owner at the Top 20 Event.
Qualifiers responding “No” to the invitation and not in attendance at the event will be noted in the catalog.
The Top 20 event will be held prior to Intersex Competition at the DCA National Specialty Show.
The draw for armband numbers and the order of competition will be held the day prior to the event as announced by the Top 20 Chairperson.
The winner of the Top 20 event will be announced at the DCA Annual Awards Banquet by the Top 20 Chairperson and/or the President of DCA.
There will be three judges of the Top 20 event. There will be one judge from each of the following three categories:
Breeder Judge
An established Dalmatian breeder and member of DCA who has bred Dalmatians for at least ten years, having produced or shown at least four Champions of Record as published by the American Kennel Club; or is approved by the American Kennel Club to judge Dalmatians. The Breeder Judge must not own or co-own either a dog in the Top 20 competition or its sire or its dam. The Breeder Judge may not exhibit Dalmatians in any class (including Intersex) at the DCA National Specialty Show and any associated All-breed or Dalmatian Regional Specialty Shows in conjunction with the DCA National Specialty Show.
Multi-Breed Judge
A person approved by the American Kennel Club to judge Dalmatians and, at least, one complete Group. If the Multi-Breed judge is a Dalmatian breeder, this judge must not own or co-own either a dog in the Top 20 competition or its sire or its dam. The judge may not exhibit a Dalmatian in any class (including Intersex) at the DCA National Specialty Show and any associated All-breed or Dalmatian Regional Specialty Shows in conjunction with the DCA National Specialty Show.
Handler Judge
A professional handler, either active or retired, meeting the requirements for membership in a Professional Handlers’ Association (though not necessarily a member). The Handler Judge must have at least five years’ experience. The Handler Judge must not have shown a Dalmatian for an owner of a dog in the Top 20 competition for two years preceding the event. In addition, the Handler Judge may not handle any dog at the DCA National Specialty Show or an associated Regional Dalmatian Specialty Shows that is owned or co-owned by an owner of a Top 20 entrant.
Excluded from judging the event will be the following:
Any person actively serving on the Top 20 Committee.
Any person that has previously judged a DCA Top 20 event in any of the three judging categories.
The Top 20 Committee will select the judges in each of the three judging categories.
Each participating Committee member nominates one or two (1-2) judges in each category and forwards the names to the Top 20 Chairperson. The Top 20 Chairperson, after reviewing the nominated judges for eligibility, will forward the names of the eligible nominees to the Top 20 Committee members. The participating members will respond to the ballot, marked in priority order, to the Top 20 Committee Chairperson who will tally the votes.
The Top 20 Chairperson will secure the acceptance of the winning nominees, based upon availability. The names of the winners in each category will be revealed only to Committee members.
It will be the Top 20 Chairperson’s responsibility to ensure that the judges understand that their election must remain totally confidential.
Handlers and/or owners will draw for exhibition order prior to the event. Conformation (“hands on”) judging will be held in a separate room away from the audience. Each dog will be judged by three different judges. Each judge will first record his First Impression Score, to be used only in case of a tie. After examination, each judge will record the scores for each dog on the dog’s individual score sheet. After all the dogs complete the Conformation (“hands on”) portion of judging, they will then be presented to the audience in the main ring. The judges will begin judging each dog’s movement in a circle and a down and back pattern. The judges will record the scores for each dog on the dog’s individual score sheet. Each dog will then be presented to the audience for the “People’s Choice Award”, which will be awarded the same evening of the event.
All dogs will be scored by each judge using the scale of points as provided in the American Kennel Club’s Approved Standard for the Dalmatian.
Immediately following the completion of judging, the judges’ marked sheets (but not tallied for total scores) will be submitted to an impartial person to be tabulated.
The scores for each dog, from each of the three judges, are added together, then divided by three to determine each dog’s average score.
The winner will be determined on the basis of the average score of each dog. The score sheets and the identity of the winning dog will be given to the Top 20 Chairperson on the evening of the DCA Awards Banquet.
In the event of a tie, the winner is determined by the First Impression score. The dog with the highest First Impression score is declared the winner. The First Impression score is used ONLY to break a tie and is not included in the tabulation of the average score. If there is still a tied score, there will be two winners who shall share the title of Top 20 Winner.
Official 2023Top 20SCORE SHEET |
Armband # |
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First Impression:1 (poor) to 10 (best) |
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Scale of Points For Evaluation on the Basis of the Official Standard |
Max Points |
Your Score |
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General Appearance …distinctively spotted…poised and alert; strong, muscular…symmetrical in outline… |
5 |
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Size, Proportion & Substance Desirable height…19” to 23”. …overall length…from the fore chest to the buttocks is approx equal to height at withers. …good substance…strong, sturdy in bone, but never coarse. |
10 |
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Head …is in balance with the overall dog. …fair length…free of loose skin. Eye color…brown or blue, or any combination thereof: the darker the better. …ears…moderate size, …the top skull is level…approx.. wide as long. Stop moderate, …muzzle…level & parallel to …skull. …muzzle/skull are about equal in length. |
10 |
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Neck, Topline & Body The neck is nicely arched, fairly long, free from throatiness, and blends smoothly into the shoulders. The topline is smooth. …chest…deep, capacious…moderate width…Good spring of rib without being barrel shaped. …underline…into a moderate tuck-up. The back is level & strong. …loin…short, muscular & slightly arched. …croup is nearly level with the back. …tail…natural extension of topline. …carried with slight curve…should never curl over back. |
10 |
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Forequarters The shoulders are smoothly muscled & well laid back. …upper arm is approx equal in length to the shoulder blade…foot falls under the shoulder. The elbows are close to the body. The legs are straight, strong & sturdy in bone. …slight angle at the pastern denoting flexibility. |
5 |
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Hindquarters The hindquarters are powerful…defined muscles. …stifle is well bent. The hocks are well let down. Cowhocks are a major fault. |
5 |
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Feet Feet are very important. …compact…thick, elastic pads and well arched toes. |
5 |
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Coat The coat is short, dense, fine & close fitting. ..neither woolly nor silky. It is sleek, glossy & healthy in appearance. |
5 |
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Color & Markings Color and markings and their overall appearance are very important…Spots are round & well-defined, the more distinct the better. Tri-color & Patches are disqualifications. |
25 |
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Temperament Temperament is stable and outgoing, yet dignified. Shyness is a major fault. |
10 |
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Gait …gait and endurance are of great importance. Balanced angulation fore & aft…good condition…produce smooth, efficient action. …powerful drive from the rear…extended reach in the front. …topline remains level. Elbows, hocks & feet turn neither in nor out. As the speed of the trot increases, there is a tendency to single track. |
10 |
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