Here's how the show works!
Contestants parade their dog into the show ring and form a line or semi-circle in front of the celebrity judges.
For non-active categories, the MC will ask each contestant to step forward and present their dog in front of the judges.  For active categories, each dog will be given the opportunity to perform individually according to the category.
 

Parading dogs past judges

Lining up facing judges

Judges score each dog

For the qualifying round, the judge(s) will score each dog to their own liking with a 1-10 value (with the exception of the categories listed below).  The top ten scoring dogs will advance to compete in the Final Round.

In the Final Round, the top ten dogs in each category will compete.  Celebrity judges score each dog to their own liking with a 1-10 value (with the exception of the categories listed below).  Scores will not be presented publicly.  The MC will announce the 3rd, 2nd and 1st place winners.
 

Both our qualifying judges and our celebrity judges enter their scores into an electronic keypad system, which will automatically tally the numbers to arrive at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners within moments. 

1st place winners for each category will receive a blue ribbon and move on to compete in BEST IN SHOW!
2nd place winners will receive a red ribbon, and 3rd place winners will receive a yellow ribbon.

Special scoring categories:

Fastest Eater - Fastest Eater dogs are given a bowl of food that we provide, and given a start time.  The handler holds up a flag when his/her dog has finished all the food.

Fastest Mutt - The owner hands their dog over to the judge and moves to the opposite side of the ring.  The MC announces "On your mark, get set, GO!" and the judge lets go off the dog while the owner calls the dog to him.  A show ring attendant records the time with a stop watch.