What Does Reserve Best in Show Mean at a Dog Show?

Reserve Best in Show is the final honor awarded after Best in Show at an all-breed conformation show. In plain terms, it is the judge’s second choice from the seven dogs that won their groups. That sounds simple, but the words “reserve” and “best” appear at several points in a show day, so it is easy to confuse this award with a breed-level reserve winner.

The short answer: Reserve Best in Show is the final runner-up

At the end of a typical American Kennel Club all-breed show, the seven group winners enter one final ring. The judge considers those seven dogs, each representing a very different breed and purpose, then awards Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show. Reserve Best in Show goes to the dog selected directly behind the Best in Show winner.

It is a major honor because the dog has already won through several demanding rounds. Before reaching the final ring, it has prevailed within its breed and then placed first in one of the seven groups. The final two awards are not about a dog being “almost good enough.” They recognize two exceptional breed representatives from a day’s strongest finalists.

The AKC’s overview of conformation events is a useful starting point for the larger idea behind this judging. Dogs are evaluated against the standard for their own breed, including type, structure, movement, condition, and temperament. The final ring does not ask a Pekingese to resemble a Pointer, or a Boxer to move like a Whippet. It asks which finalist most fully represents the breed it was bred to be.

Only seven dogs can compete for it

The Best in Show ring is small because the field has been narrowed all day. An all-breed show recognizes seven groups: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. Each group winner advances to the final, which means one dog from each group is standing in the last lineup.

That is why a Reserve Best in Show award carries so much weight. The dog is not second in a class or second among dogs of the same sex. It is the judge’s second selection from the seven group winners, after every one of those dogs has already been judged as an outstanding example of its own breed.

For a clearer look at the route to that final, read Furry Vibes’ guide to dog show classes. It follows the day from the regular breed classes to Winners Dog, Winners Bitch, Best of Breed, groups, and the final ring. Once you see the sequence, the last two awards make much more sense.

How a dog gets to the final ring

Most dogs start in regular classes within their breed. Those classes are commonly divided by sex and can include Puppy, 12 to 18 Months, Novice, Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-bred, and Open. The first-place dogs return to compete for Winners Dog or Winners Bitch, the awards available to non-champions working toward a championship.

Next comes Best of Breed judging. Champions of record come into the ring with Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. The judge selects the dog that will represent the breed in group judging. That winner may be called Best of Breed, or Best of Variety in breeds that have recognized varieties.

The seven group rings take place after breed judging. A dog that wins its group is one of the only seven that can compete for Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show. If you are following one dog, you can think of the day as a ladder: breed class, breed winner, group winner, then final lineup.

Group judging is also a wonderful place to see how different breeds carry their history into the ring. A dog’s outline, gait, coat, expression, and presence all tell part of that story. Exploring Furry Vibes’ Shop By Breed collection before a show is an easy way to start recognizing the dogs you hope to see ringside.

Reserve Best in Show is not Reserve Winners

This is the most common point of confusion. Reserve Winners Dog and Reserve Winners Bitch are awards within one breed’s regular-class competition. They are given to the dogs that finish behind Winners Dog and Winners Bitch, respectively. Those awards come early in a show day, before Best of Breed and long before groups.

Reserve Best in Show is different in every important way. It is not separated by sex, it is not awarded inside one breed, and it is not limited to dogs still earning championships. It happens only after group judging, when the whole show has been reduced to seven finalists.

The shared word “reserve” can make the awards sound related, but their jobs are distinct. A reserve winner at breed level signals a strong entry in the regular classes. Reserve Best in Show recognizes one of the top two dogs in the entire all-breed show. Knowing where the award is announced tells you which one you are seeing.

A simple way to describe the result

When you are sharing a show result with friends or celebrating a favorite breed online, the clearest wording is simple: the dog won its group, then earned Reserve Best in Show. That tells people the dog reached the final ring and finished as the judge’s second selection from the seven group winners.

Avoid calling it “reserve Best of Breed” or “second in breed” unless that is the award the dog actually received earlier in the day. Conformation results have specific names because each ribbon marks a different level of competition. Using the right title gives the handler, breeder, and dog the credit the result deserves, while helping new fans follow the show with confidence.

What the judge is considering in the final

There is no single physical template for a Best in Show dog. The finalists were developed for very different work, so the judge is not looking for the tallest dog, the fastest dog, or the most dramatic coat. Instead, the judge compares how fully each finalist embodies its own breed standard.

That can include breed type, balance, soundness, movement, conditioning, and the way the dog presents itself in the ring. A dog may be examined standing still, moving around the ring, or moving down and back. The judge already knows each finalist has had an excellent day. The last comparison is a matter of deciding which dog best captures what its breed should be.

For spectators, this is a better way to enjoy the final than trying to pick one universal favorite. Notice the differences. A herding breed may show an effortless, ground-covering gait. A toy breed may have a distinctive expression and outline. A terrier may project alertness and hardiness. The winning dogs can look nothing alike because they are not meant to.

If you are attending for the first time, the practical rules in the dog show etiquette guide will help you enjoy the final ring without blocking handlers, distracting dogs, or missing the moment while trying to move closer.

What the award means to handlers and breeders

A Reserve Best in Show ribbon represents a remarkable run through the day. The dog has won its breed, won a group, and stood out in the final comparison. For a breeder, owner, and handler, it is a proud recognition of the work behind the dog’s breeding, care, training, conditioning, and presentation.

It is not a promise that the dog will take the same award at the next show. Dog shows are judged on the dogs present that day, and every entry, judge, and ring situation is different. That is part of what makes a strong finish meaningful. The dog earned that exact result against that day’s competition.

It also does not diminish the Best in Show winner. The final awards are a paired result from one judge’s careful comparison. Best in Show is the top selection, and Reserve Best in Show is the next selection. Both dogs have made it to a stage that most entries never reach.

How to watch the final ring without getting lost

When the seven group winners are called in, take a moment to look at the lineup before the judging begins. The announcer or show program can help you identify each group winner. You do not need to memorize every breed. Pick out a few features you notice in each dog: the outline, the way it moves, the handler’s pace, or the way the dog responds to the judge.

Watch the judge, too. They may look closely at each dog, ask for an individual pattern, and step back to take in the lineup. The point is not to guess the result before the judge points. It is to see why the final ring is both a celebration of variety and a serious test of breed quality.

Keep a respectful distance from the gate and leave clear lanes for handlers. The final ring is exciting, but it is still a working ring. A quiet place near the barrier and a little patience will give you a better view than rushing for the aisle at the last minute.

Take the breed pride home with you

Furry Vibes grew out of more than three decades in the show-ring community, where the details of a breed are never generic. The Heritage Breed Collection celebrates that same connection, with designs for people who recognize the silhouette, spirit, and history of the dog they know by heart.

Whether your favorite dog wins the final, earns a class ribbon, or simply catches your eye from the ringside seats, the best part of a show is learning to see what makes each breed unforgettable. When the day is over, browse the full Furry Vibes shirt collection for a way to carry that breed pride into everyday life.