The International Dog Show (IHA) is under the protection of the umbrella organization FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale). Entitlements to the Austrian champion, the Austrian youth champion, the veteran champion and the international beauty championship (CACIB) can be awarded.

The National Dog Show (NHA) is under the protection of the ÖKV (Austrian Cynology Association). Entitlements to the Austrian champion, the youth champion and the veteran champion can be awarded.
The Club Winner Show, which is organized and supervised by the ÖRC. With the approval of the ÖKV, entitlements to the Austrian champion, the youth champion and the veteran champion can also be awarded.

For the holding of a special exhibition as part of an IHA or NHA, as well as for the Club Winner Show, the board of the ÖRC must apply to the ÖKV for approval to hold such a show. The organization for such a special exhibition then lies with the ÖRC. The award of titles for a special exhibition (ÖKV exhibition regulations) is identical to an exhibition without a special exhibition. It is only possible to deviate from this within the framework of the Club Winner Show (e.g. selection of the “best working dog”, etc.). The judges are selected and invited by the ÖRC, ie judges for special exhibitions are selected and invited by the board of the ÖRC. For every dog registered at a special exhibition (not the Club Winner Show), the ÖRC receives a refund of currently € 6 from the ÖKV. The ÖRC pays for the reimbursement of judges' expenses (i.e. flight, hotel, etc.) as well as the remuneration of the ÖKV reference rates for a special exhibition, the ring staff is also provided by the ÖRC.

Only judges authorized by the respective federation (ÖKV) or the FCI for the respective breed are authorized judges, these are cynologists ("dog experts") and breed connoisseurs with tested specialist knowledge. For the obligation of foreign judges, the consent of the respective state umbrella organization must be obtained by way of the ÖKV and a separate approval must be given. Judging is based on the FCI standard of the respective breed. As compensation for expenses, judges receive a daily allowance as well as the reimbursement of reasonable expenses for travel and overnight stays. A judge should not have to judge more than about 80 dogs per day in order to guarantee that the program runs without delay.

Ring staff are special managers and secretaries who support the judge in performing his duties in the ring. The ÖKV repeatedly holds courses for ring personnel.

The report is made by submitting the registration documents. The registration form is to be requested from the respective exhibition organizer and is sent to the organizer of the exhibition at the earliest 8 weeks at the latest 4 weeks before the exhibition day, with a copy of the pedigree, the payment slip for the entry fee and any evidence of the entry in the utility or champion class . This returns the so-called confirmation of acceptance.
Attention: Registration forms are to be requested from the respective exhibition organizer. (For the ÖRC Club Winner Show, registration forms are automatically sent to all ÖRC members)

(The deadline is always the day of issue!)
Great age
Puppy class 6 - 9 months
Youth class 9-18 months
Intermediate class 15 - 24 months
Open class over 15 months
Working class over 15 months *
Champion class over 15 months **
Veteran class over 8 years
Honor class for international champions

* Working class: Age over 15 months (registration only possible with presentation of the FCI working dog certificate - available from the ÖKV upon presentation of proof of having passed the corresponding (hunting) test.

** Champion class: age over 15 months (registration only possible with presentation of the championship certificate, ie championship confirmed in writing by the cynological regional organization). The entry in the champion class is for as an Austrian. Champion (ÖCH) from ÖKV confirmed retriever obligatory. The confirmed Österr. Youth championship (ÖJCH) does not entitle to entry in the champion class, nor are the following title holders: world, European and national winners.

Other classes are:

- Couple class:
2 retrievers (male & female) of the same breed owned by an exhibitor, which were registered and presented at the exhibition.

- Breeding group:
At least 3 retrievers from a breeder, which, however, no longer need to be in the possession of the breeder, and which have been reported and demonstrated at the exhibition. The registration for the breeding group can usually be made directly on the day of the exhibition.

In the puppy class, no actual form value is given yet. "Very promising", "Promising", or "Not corresponding" is noted on the evaluation sheet. In all other classes, the form grades “Excellent”, “Very Good”, “Good”, “Sufficient”, “Not Sufficient” or “No Assessment” are given. The best four dogs in a class with “excellent” or “very good” are ranked by the judge.

If four (or more) retrievers have been rated “V” in a class, the ranking is as follows: V1, V2, V3, V4. If there are fewer than four retrievers rated with a "V", the order can be as follows: V1, V2, SG3, SG4. If no “V” was assigned, a ranking starting with SG1 is possible.

A title (e.g. Best Junior or CACA) is awarded by the judge to the dog that has been awarded V1. The evaluation of a dog with V1 does not automatically mean that this dog receives the title. The decision rests with the judge. If the title is not given to the dog rated V1, we call it: "V1 oT" (without title).

As an external sign of the awarded evaluation, colored form value ribbons are presented: gold for CACIB, silver for reserve CACIB, red-white-red for CACA, orange-white-orange for reserve-CACA, red-white for the best youngsters, blue for "excellent" , Red for “very good”, yellow for “good”, white for “sufficient”. Dogs rated “Insufficient” do not receive a ribbon. Pink for “very promising” in the puppy class - here every dog receives a ribbon, no matter how the evaluation turns out.