Entering Rabbits in Single, Double and Specialty shows

How does a double show work? 

Double shows are normally hosted by two different rabbit clubs. 
The two clubs get together and agree on a location and date of the show.

There are two scenarios common when showing at double shows.
They are;
The second show starts after the last rabbit has been judged in the first show.
Normally the second show starts after lunch.
Or
One club starts with the youth classes and the second club with Open classes
 in the morning, then they switch in the afternoon.

Entering a Single or Double show

As soon as you arrive at the show, go find the sign up table and see if you have time to unload anything or not. Often I've left my bunnies in the car and signed up first.

If it's a single show you'll have no problem finding the sign up table.
When you go to a double show, you'll often need to sign up at two different tables. 
Usually at opposite ends of the room.
You'll sign up for both shows in the morning. 
Even if you only want to show in the afternoon, you still need to sign up in the morning. If you can't arrive on time then you need to get a friend to sign you up.

Both clubs may hire the same judges for both shows,
however you will never get the same judge judging your rabbit in both shows. 
You'll always get one judge judging your rabbits in the morning and a different
judge in the afternoon.

You need to find out if you must enter your rabbit a week before the show. Large shows normally can't handle "day or entry" and need your entry information a week or so before the show.  
This also may mean you send your entry money via Paypal or mail before the show.
You can find this out by looking at the show catalog normally posted on the clubs website.
 Even if you do this, you still need to sign in the morning of the show, it just means the sign-in goes faster. 
Some shows take "day of entry" fees, meaning you enter your rabbits and sign in the day of the show. 
If both shows take day of entry fees then you need to find out which club is taking entries first.

At double shows, one club will normally start taking entries an hour before the other.
So you don't want to be standing in one clubs line-up while the other 
club is getting ready to start the show and you're not entered. 
Some clubs are extremely strict about not taking entries after a certain time. 
This is to prevent the show from running too late. 
Often judges have a long drive home after the show. 
Normally they only get a hotel provided for them the night before.
Once the clubs close the entries, they often won't allow you to enter late.
Make sure you're early for the show.
Most entries start at 8:00 AM for the first club.

Specialty Classes 

Often a single or double show will also have a specialty for a few select breeds. 
Those select breeds may show three times in one day. 
So when you here people talking about a "Holland Lop or Fuzzy lop Specialty" then it means those breeds get to show an extra time. 
At a double show with specialties, the specialty rabbits show three times and everyone else shows twice that day. 
If you are showing in a breed specialty then you'll need to enter your rabbit just like a regular show. The Specialty entries are normally found at one of the regular clubs entry tables, so just ask.

You'll rarely know if your Specialty class will be morning or afternoon, it tends to be the luck of the draw. If one judge finishes sooner than the rest and just before lunch break then that judge often judges one of the specialty classes.
Sometimes you can't go for on a lunch break because your specialty class may be called to the tables during the regular shows lunch break. So showing three times in day is tiring for both you and your bunnies. If your have young Junior rabbits showing for the first time I would advise only entering them in one or two shows. It's really stressful for them.

Waiting for your class to be called

While waiting for your class to be called, don't expect to hear your breed over a loud speaker.  
Often only one club will have a loud speaker and the second club will barley call out the breeds.
I recommend new show people sit themselves next to a Youth (if you are showing Youth) or Open breeder of your breed that has many rabbits in that breed to show. 
The class will rarely start without them. 
If they have for example three Sr. solid bucks entered the judge won't start the class with that many rabbits missing in a class. Not without making an effort or announcement to find the missing rabbits.
It's easier for you to notice a breeder with a large number of rabbits in your breed leaving for the class, than trying to make out what is being called out across a room.
Good Luck!

Your class is up!!!

When your class is called up. It can get really confusing at shows sometimes.
A lot of shows will have a sign posted at each judge's table showing the judges full name and the breeds that they will be judging.
You can leave your rabbits close by the table which posts your breed and that way you're not fighting through a crowd of people when your class is called up.
However if there is a large turn out and the judge is falling behind, then your breed could be switched to a different judge. You have to pay attention.
Furthermore, I've shown in some shows in Michigan and they don't have breeds assigned to the judge's tables. All they have is a sign with the judge's name at each table.
The show can have 6 to 12 judges and as soon as the judge finishes a breed they get assigned another breed. These are the hardest shows to attend when you're starting out.
Especially when they will call "Fuzzy lops to Eric Stewarts table" and you don't know who Eric is. 
There are two ways to approach this. 
One way is to park your rabbits next to a breeder that is showing in the same class as you are. That way you can follow them over to the right table.
The other way is to get a piece of scrap paper and write down a little floor plan of the judges tables and the copy down the judges names. 

Once you get to the Judges table 

The judges will call Solid Senior Fuzzy lops bucks to the table first.
After the judge has picked the best Solid Senior Fuzzy lop buck then he'll call the does to the table. 
When your class is called you must quickly place your rabbit in an empty hole on the table.
If there are no empty holes left, let the judge know. He'll either have you hold onto your rabbit until there's room or have you place it in the coops behind him.
You shouldn't touch your rabbit after you've placed it in the hole. The judge isn't supposed to know who's rabbit he's judging. However you will see people placing they hand over the holes to stop rabbits from jumping out. It's not desirable to have two rabbit sniffing each other. They can catch diseases and bucks will often start fighting.
 So everyone acts as rabbit wrangles for the hole in front of them.

The order of Judging is;

Solid Senior Bucks
Judge keeps Best Senior Buck and everyone else removes their rabbits from the table

Solid Senior Does
Judge keeps Best Senior Doe and everyone else removes their rabbits from the table

Solid Junior Fuzzy lops Bucks
Judge keeps Best Junior Buck and everyone else removes their rabbits from the table

Solid Junior Does
Judge keeps Best Junior Doe and everyone else removes their rabbits from the table

The judge then takes the Best Sr. and Jr. Buck and does and picks
the "Best of Variety" and "Opposite of Variety" of the solid fuzzy lops.
One will be a buck and the other a doe. 
Then he'll call up the broken pattern.

Broken pattern Senior Bucks
Judge keeps Best Senior Buck and everyone else removes their rabbits from the table

Broken pattern Senior Does
Judge keeps Best Senior Doe and everyone else removes their rabbits from the table

Broken pattern Junior Bucks
Judge keeps Best Junior buck and everyone else removes their rabbits from the table

Broken pattern junior Does
Judge keeps Best junior Doe and everyone else removes their rabbits from the table

The judge then takes the Best Sr. and Jr. Buck and does and picks
the "Best of Variety" and "Opposite of Variety" of the Broken pattern fuzzy lops.
One will be a buck and the other a doe. 

Now the Judge will Judge the best solid pattern and the best broken pattern fuzzy lops against each other to decide "Best of breed" and "Best opposite sex"

If you win Best of Breed you take you rabbit back from the judge.
However when they call for the Best in four class or best in show your rabbit is supposed to be brought up the table to be judged against the best of breeds in the other breeds.
In other words your Best of breed Fuzzy lop will be Judged against the best of breed Holland lop, angora, jersey, etc. for a "Best in show".

  Discouraged after Judging?  

You'll often find with double shows the rabbits end up placing in 
the opposite orders because judges tend to put importance of different 
traits on the breed you are showing. One judge may be strong on body type 
and the other may put more emphasis on coat length and head width (I show fuzzy lops).
I've had my Ruby Eyed White (REW) Holland lop place second to last in
the first show and win a leg for best group variety in the second show against the same rabbits.

Therefore if you are new to showing, don't get discouraged if you get judges that aren't crazy about your rabbit. 

Show your rabbit a few times and see if any of the judges like it. 

Keep your comment cards and review them. 
If most or all the judges have the same comments about your rabbit then that is the area you need to improve on.
For example; If four judges all say your fuzzy lop has a long shoulder then breed it to a fuzzy lop with a short body and wide shoulder. 

If you don't know what a comment means you can always ask. The first year I started showing I asked a few winners if I could feel their rabbits. I explained that I was new to showing and would like to learn what I'm supposed to be breeding towards. Since fuzzy lops are so wooly I was really surprised at what the winning rabbits body types where like. And they weren't anything like mine.
I had a lot of work do.

The most common faults for fuzzy lops are, narrow hindquarters, unfinished coats, long in the shoulder, pin-bones, narrow head, lacks crown development, too much ear control, flattens over the hindquarter and lacks depth. 

A very common thing a new breeder does after getting negative comments is sell the rabbit or rabbits and complain loudly about the breeder that sold them the rabbits.

Getting discouraged after a couple shows and selling all your stock isn't the best way at becoming a top breeder. I showed one huge fat rabbit my whole first season and still had fun doing it. He was tossed off the table a lot for being just over the maximum weight. However, I used him to learn about judges and shows before I went out spending more money on new stock.
I still have that original bunny "Corbin's Robin Hobb's" and he has his place in the rabbitry as one of my top herd bucks.