historical records / conformation records
Group Records
HERDING GROUP
DATE 1ST ENTERED
This date is determined by Westminster Kennel Club records and is somewhat arbitrary. It does not necessarily correspond with official recognition by the AKC nor with its standing as a separate breed or variety at Westminster. Rather it is usually when that breed is first named as such in the catalog and show records.
If the breed was shown somewhat consistently in the Miscellaneous Class before 1924, that goes to establish the “Date 1st Entered.” If shown in Miscellaneous Class in 1924 or after, it is noted but did not count until regular status is granted and the breed winner is eligible for Group and BIS competition. See Miscellaneous Breeds section.
BIS & GROUP PLACEMENTS
Best In Show has been awarded since 1907 (except for 1923) and Group competition has been held since 1924.
The column headings in each chart represent the number of Best In Show Awards and Group placements in each position. The year in parentheses in the “BIS” and “1” column represents the last year that this breed won BIS and the last year that it won the Group; the number in parentheses in one of the other columns represents the last year that the breed placed in the Group; if there is a year only in the “1” Group column, that means that the last time that the breed placed in the Group, it won the group. For example, a Pointer has won 3 BIS (the most recent in 1986), 14 Group 1 (most recent in 1989, 4 Group 2, 7 Group 3, and 5 Group 4 awards. The last time it placed in the Group was in 1998 with a Group 4.
AKC REGISTRATION
The 1888 Catalog is the first in which AKC Rules are included (adopted Dec 6, 1887). From Rule 2: “Every dog entered at any show held under these rules … must be registered in the American Kennel Club Stud Book. In case a dog has not been registered previous to date of entry, owner must fill out a registration blank and forward same, with fee of 50 cents, together with show entry to the Secretary of the Show, who shall mark the dog as registered and forward blank with registration fee to the Secretary of the American Kennel Club (The above to take effect January 1st, 1888).”
RECORDS
(includes results from before 1983 when the Herding breeds were a part of the Working Group)
Best In Show wins – 5
Most recent: German Shepherd Dog (2017)
Most Group wins – 18
German Shepherd Dog
Most consecutive Group wins – 3
Pembroke Welsh Corgi (2000-2002)
Most Group placements – 54
German Shepherd Dogs (2023)
Most consecutive Group placements – 8
Pembroke Welsh Corgi (1997-2004)
Herding Group only (since 1983)
Best In Show wins – 2
/Most recent: German Shepherd Dog (2017)
Most Group wins – 11
German Shepherd Dog
Most consecutive Group wins – 3
Pembroke Welsh Corgi (2000-2002)
Most Group placements – 30
German Shepherd Dog (2023)
Most consecutive Group placements – 8
Pembroke Welsh Corgi (1997-2004)
Current streak of Group placements – 5
Old English Sheepdog (2018-2022)
PLACEMENTS
Year in parentheses indicates the most recent year of the award.
| BREED | 1st year entered | BIS | Grp 1st | Grp 2nd | Grp 3rd | Grp 4th |
| Australian Cattle Dog | 1981 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Australian Shepherd | 1994 | 0 | 2 (2023) | 4 (2022) | 2 | 0 |
| Bearded Collie | 1978 | 0 | 2 (2011) | 4 | 4 (2010) | 2 |
| Beauceron | 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (2020) | 0 |
| Belgian Laekenois | 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Belgian Malinois | 1967 | 0 | 0 | 1 (2003) | 0 | 0 |
| Belgian Sheepdog | 1907 | 0 | 0 | 1 (2010) | 1 | 1 |
| Belgian Tervuren Herding Group Working Group Totals | 1961 | 0 0 0 | 1 (1983) 0 1 | 2 (2011) 0 2 | 0 0 0 | 0 1 (1981) 1 |
| Bergamasco Sheepdog | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Berger Picard | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Border Collie | 1996 | 0 | 2 (2018) | 4 (2019) | 3 | 1 |
| Bouvier des Flandres Herding Group Working Group Totals | 1931 | 0 0 0 | 4 (2019) 0 4 | 7 (2023) 1 8 | 0 1 1 | 2 0 2 |
| Briard Herding Group Working Group Totals | 1929 | 0 0 0 | 0 1 (1981) 1 | 0 1 1 | 1 0 1 | 6 (2004) 0 6 |
| Canaan Dog | 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (2013) |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 1936 | 0 | 1 | 2 (2018) | 0 | 1 (2007) |
| Collie (Rough) Herding Group Working Group Totals | 1877 | 0 1 (1929) 1 | 0 6 (1941) 6 | 0 7 (1960) 7 | 2 (2009) 9 11 | 2 3 5 |
| Collie (Smooth) Herding Group Working Group Totals | 1888 | 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 | 1 0 1 | 2 2 4 | 3 (2002) 0 3 |
| Entlebucher Mountain Dog | 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Finnish Lapphund | 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| German Shepherd Dog Herding Group Working Group Totals | 1908 | 2 (2017) 0 2 | 11 (2022) 7 (1982) 18 | 5 5 10 | 5 4 9 | 9 6 15 |
| Icelandic Sheepdog | 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miniature American Shepherd | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (2021) | 0 |
| Mudi | 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Norwegian Buhund | 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Old English Sheepdog Herding Group Working Group Totals | 1888 | 0 2 (1975) 2 | 6 (2021) 8 14 | 2 14 16 | 7 (2022) 5 12 | 5 4 9 |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi Herding Group Working Group Totals | 1935 | 0 0 0 | 4 (2004) 3 7 | 3 6 9 | 7 (2017) 2 9 | 3 5 8 |
| Polish Lowland Sheepdog | 2002 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Puli Herding Group Working Group Totals | 1937 | 0 0 0 | 3 0 3 | 4 (2021) 0 4 | 0 1 1 | 3 1 4 |
| Pumi | 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pyrenean Shepherd | 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shetland Sheepdog Herding Group Working Group Totals | 1927 | 0 0 0 | 5 (2020) 1 6 | 2 0 2 | 4 (2023) 1 5 | 2 6 (1966) 8 |
| Spanish Water Dog | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swedish Vallhund | 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NOTES:
- The Herding Group was held for the first time at Westminster in 1983. Prior to that, the Australian Cattle Dog, Bearded Collie, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Bouvier des Flandres, Briard, Collie (IRough), Collie (Smooth), German Shepherd Dog, Old English Sheepdog, Puli, Shetland Sheepdog, Welsh Corgi (Cardigan), and Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) competed in the Working Group.
- Prior to 1959, the Belgian breeds (Sheepdog, Tervuren, Malinois) were all registered by the AKC as Belgian Sheepdogs and all competed in the same breed classes.
- The first mention and differentiation of Collies (Rough) and Collies (Smooth) is seen in 1888 (Rough Collies had been exhibited since 1877). From 1924-1942, one Collie is selected as Best of Variety and advances to the Working Group. Beginning in 1943, each Best of Variety competes in the Group.
- The German Shepherd Dog was known as the German Sheep Dog from 1908-1918 and as the Shepherd Dog from 1919-1931.
- From 1888-1892, the Old English Sheepdog was known as the Bob-tailed Sheepdog and as the Old English Bob-tailed Sheepdog.
