How the National Owner-Handled Series Works

The Reading Room • Explainers

More than 80% of show dogs are handled by their owners. The National Owner-Handled Series is AKC’s national competition just for them — and it runs on a completely separate points system that has nothing to do with championships.

The 30-second version

At shows offering NOHS, after Best of Breed judging, the professional handlers step out of the ring. The judge picks Best Owner-Handled from the dogs handled by their owners. That dog earns NOHS points:

Owner-Handled Best of Breed: 5 points (10 at a national specialty)
Group placements: 30 / 20 / 15 / 10 for Group 1–4
Owner-Handled Reserve Best in Show: 75 points
Owner-Handled Best in Show: 100 points

Points stack — a BOB plus a Group 2 is 5 + 20 = 25 points for the day. The top 10 dogs per breed each year are invited to the NOHS Finals in Orlando.

Zero championship points. NOHS points don’t count toward a CH or GCH. They’re a separate competition entirely.

Who can compete? You must be an owner of record and not a professional handler — anyone paid to handle dogs in the conformation ring. Household members of pros and current assistants to pros are also ineligible. Junior handlers can compete. Check the “Owner-Handled eligible” box on your entry form before entries close — no extra fee.

Step 1: How a show day works

Regular breed judging happens first — classes, Winners Dog, Winners Bitch, Best of Breed — exactly as described in How Dog Show Points Work. Championship points are awarded normally.

Then the NOHS judging begins. Everyone stays in the ring except the professional handlers, their household members, and their current assistants. The judge looks at the remaining owner-handled dogs and selects Best Owner-Handled.

That dog goes on to the Owner-Handled Group and potentially Owner-Handled Best in Show — judged separately from the regular groups.

Step 2: The point scale

NOHS points per placement

Placement	Points
Owner-Handled Best in Show	100
Owner-Handled Reserve Best in Show	75
Owner-Handled Group 1	30
Owner-Handled Group 2	20
Owner-Handled Group 3	15
Owner-Handled Group 4	10
Owner-Handled Best of Breed	5
Owner-Handled BOB at a National Specialty	10

Points from multiple placements add together. A BOB (5) plus a Group 1 (30) is 35 points for the day.

Step 3: A worked weekend

One Wire Fox Terrier, four days

Thursday: Owner-Handled BOB → 5 points

Friday: Owner-Handled BOB (5) + Terrier Group 2 (20) → 25 points

Saturday: Owner-Handled BOB (5), no group placement → 5 points

Sunday: Owner-Handled BOB at the national specialty (10) + Terrier Group 1 (30) → 40 points

Weekend total: 75 NOHS points. Zero championship points changed hands in this calculation — it’s a parallel universe.

Myth: “NOHS is a consolation prize for people who can’t afford handlers.”

Reality: NOHS judging is based solely on the quality of the dog — handling ability isn’t scored. A top NOHS ranking means your dog beat every other owner-handled dog of its breed in the country on merit alone. For breeding programs, that’s a cleaner signal than a championship finished by a professional handler.

Step 4: The Finals and lifetime achievement

NOHS Finals: The top 10 dogs per breed (plus ties) from the September-to-September qualifying year are invited to the Finals, held alongside the AKC National Championship in Orlando each December. Breed and group judging across two days, NOHS Best in Show on Sunday night.

Lifetime achievement levels — separate from the annual rankings, based on total career NOHS points:

NOHS Levels of Achievement

Level	Lifetime points
Bronze	250
Silver	500
Gold	1,000
Platinum	2,000

Each level earns a commemorative pin and certificate from AKC.

Why it matters with zero championship points

Because it answers a different question. Championship points ask “can this dog win?” NOHS asks “can this dog win on its own merit, shown by the person who loves it?”

For owner-handlers, it’s the only national stage built for them. For breeders, a NOHS Finals invitation or Gold achievement on a stud dog or brood bitch is proof of quality without the asterisk of professional handling. And for the fancy, it’s where the heart of the sport lives.

Where this fits: the full picture

Championship points → How Dog Show Points Work. 15 points, two majors, three judges. The foundation.

Grand Champion points → How Grand Champion Points Work. 25 points in Best of Breed, then Bronze through Platinum.

Owner-Handled Series → this article. A parallel competition for owner-handlers. No championship points — and proud of it.

Sources: AKC NOHS Overview, AKC NOHS Point Scale, AKC NOHS Finals, AKC NOHS Levels of Achievement.