Why are you doing this?

The My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show is a way to allow members an additional opportunity to participate in the sport they love without leaving home, see and compete against dogs they would not normally encounter from across the country and around the world, let others see their dogs, learn more about their breed, and most of all have FUN. You can’t always be at a real dog show, but the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show makes you feel like you are always in the ring.

An overview of how the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show process works.

• Show information including the closing date, show date, available classes, and the judging panel will be announced in the “View Upcoming Shows” section of the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show.
• All entries are made through the InfoDog Online Entry System and photos are uploaded for competition. A suite of free online photo tools is available to crop, rotate, lighten or darken photos.
• The window for making entries closes and the judging begins. Judges access a virtual judge’s book and use the online tools to view the dogs and make their placements. The virtual judge’s book is just like a normal judges’ book and no dog, owner, breeder, or other dog information is visible.
• My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show members may log in and use the same judge’s tools to make their own private selections for conformation class winners in any breed they choose. Then they can compare their personal choices with the judge’s placements when results are posted.
• My InfoDog members also vote on the winners of the Non-Regular "FUN" classes.
• The results are posted as an online, marked catalog. The online catalog will have pictures of all dogs that competed along with the results. There are options to enlarge the photos, view judging simulations per class, and privately compare your selections to the judges.

Who can participate?

Any My InfoDog member in good standing may enter any AKC registered dog from the seven AKC recognized variety groups or Miscellaneous Classes in the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show.

What can an individual My InfoDog member do in the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show?

• Enter dogs in conformation and non-regular "fun" classes
• Manage photos – upload, rotate, lighten, darken, and crop images online with our free online, easy to use tools
• “You Be the Judge” allows members to privately pick winners from any breed and compare their selections with the official judges’ picks.
• "Vote Now" allows members to cast their vote for the winners in all Non-Regular classes. All My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show members can vote even if they do not have a dog entered.
• View online catalogs, see photos of all competing dogs, and watch animated judging simulations of all Conformation classes.
• Have great fun from start to finish!

What does it cost?

There are no fees associated with the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show. It is one of the many benefits of belonging to My InfoDog.

What classes are offered?

The My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show offers the following conformation classes: Puppy (6 months and under 12 months), Open, and Best of Breed/Variety. Each dog may enter one conformation class per show. We also offer several Non-Regular "fun" classes including, but not limited to, Cutest Photo, Dog Looks Most Like Its Owner, Best Costume, and a Deceased class for honoring our canine companions that are no longer with us. Each dog may enter multiple Non-Regular "fun" classes.

How do I enter?

By entering the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show you agree to the following:

• Entries for the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show may only be made online through the InfoDog Online Entry System.
• Entries, photos, and video links must be in our system prior to the closing date and time for the show.
• You are not a judge officiating for the particular online show to be entered or a member of the judge’s household or immediate family. Immediate family includes husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law.
• Dogs that are owned or co-owned by a judge or a member of the judge’s household for the particular online show are not eligible.
• Entries may be changed up until the closing date and time. We must receive email notification of changes along with the registration number, name of dog, and show.
• There are no fees associated with entering the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show.
• Photos and/or video links that are mailed or emailed to us will not be accepted. Photos and/or video links must be uploaded using the tools provided by the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show.
• Photos and/or video links must be received by the closing date and time. Any entries without photos will not be eligible to compete.
• The judges will judge dogs and bitches separately in puppy and open classes designating 1^st – 4^th placements along with Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. Immediately following is the Best of Breed competition.
• Best of Breed winners will go on to compete in the Variety Group competition and Variety Group winners will compete in the Best in Show competition. The judges’ decisions are final.
• Non-Regular “FUN” class winners are not eligible to compete in Variety Groups or Best in Show.
• Exhibitors are solely responsible for submitting the online entry forms, photos, and/or video links correctly. The My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show accepts no responsibility for such errors.
• All My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show exhibitors agree to participate in this event in the spirit of FUN for which it was designed. Poor sportsmanship or abuse of the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show system may result in suspension from future My InfoDog Virtual Dog Shows and/or termination of your My InfoDog account.

What are the rules for photos?

• Photos must be uploaded directly from your computer once your online My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show entry is submitted. We will not accept emailed, mailed, or handed in photos for the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show.
• Please upload 1 - 6 color photos of your dog in JPEG format. It could be helpful if you have various angles of your dog such as left view, right view, front view, top view and rear view.
• Photos must be uploaded before the closing date or the dog will not be eligible for competition. Photos may be changed up until the closing.
• The My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show provides onscreen tools for rotating, lightening, darkening, and cropping your photos.
• Photos should ONLY show the dog and may not include any titles, ribbons, rosettes, awards, or trophies. Photos also may not contain any identifiable judges, handlers, owners, or agents. In addition, any entries with photos containing these items will be disqualified from competition and reported to the proper authorities.
• Please do not submit photos that would be deemed offensive. The My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show is to be enjoyed by all and is held in the spirit of FUN. Any entries submitted with offensive photos will be disqualified from competition and reported to the proper authorities.

What are the rules for videos?

• Users may submit a video link of their dog for possible review by the judges. This will build the foundation for the use of videos in future My InfoDog Virtual Dog Shows.
• No actual digital video files will be uploaded to the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show server. The digital video file must be placed on a video hosting website such as www.YouTube.com
• One video link per class entered may be provided once your online My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show entry is submitted. We will not accept emailed, mailed, or handed in video links for the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show.
• Video links must be uploaded before the closing date.
• Videos should ONLY show the dog and may not include any titles, ribbons, rosettes, awards, or trophies. Any entries with videos containing these items will be disqualified from competition and reported to the proper authorities.
• Please do not submit videos that would be deemed offensive. The My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show is to be enjoyed by all and is held in the spirit of FUN. Any entries submitted with offensive videos will be disqualified from competition and reported to the proper authorities.

What is "You Be the Judge"?

The “You Be the Judge” feature allows all My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show members to use the online judging tools to have their own private judging session with all breeds and conformation classes in the show. At the end of the show you can see how your picks compare with the judges' placements. All My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show members can participate in this feature even if they don't have a dog entered in the show. "You Be the Judge" is a great way to have fun and possibly learn more about the breeds.

What is "Vote Now"?

The "Vote Now" feature allows all My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show members to cast official votes for the Non-Regular “FUN” class winners. All My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show members can participate in this feature even if they don't have a dog entered in the show. "Vote Now" is a great way to have fun.

Who are the judges?

The My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show will assemble the judging panel for each online show. Judges will be randomly assigned or invited to judge. If you are interested in becoming a My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show judge for conformation please complete and submit the application linked here.

How does judging for the My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show work?

• The My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show is not just a photo competition. A great photo of a dog that does not adhere to the breed standard will not help it win just as a poor quality photo of a perfect breed specimen may prevent it from winning.
• Once entries are closed a judge is presented with an online judges’ book containing his/her assignments. The online judge’s book is just like a normal judges’ book and no dog, owner, breeder, or other dog information is visible
• For conformation classes the judges will judge dogs and bitches separately in puppy and open classes designating 1^st – 4^th placements along with Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. Immediately following is the Best of Breed competition. Best of Breed winners will go on to compete in the Variety Group competition and Variety Group winners will proceed to the Best in Show competition.
• The judges will rely on their knowledge and experience and use the same criteria to judge the entries as they would if they were physically with the dog, as far as the pictures allow. There are limits to what can be achieved online so please keep in mind that this is all in the interest of good fun and amusement.
• The judges’ decisions are final.
• The Non-Regular “FUN” classes are a voting competition by the members of My InfoDog Virtual Dog Show.

What can I win? / What are the prizes?

Winners will receive online a beautiful, color virtual rosette and certificate with the dog’s name and photo suitable for printing. Other prizes may be awarded on a per show basis.