From The Publisher

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10 – November/December, 2022

By Tom Grabe

The American Kennel Club defines dog shows by saying, “…the true purpose of conformation showing is to evaluate breeding stock. The dog’s conformation… is an indication of the dog’s ability to produce quality purebred puppies, and that is what is being judged in the ring.”

Exhibitors and breeders accept this premise and understand that the breed or breeds they exhibit at dog shows are judged against a written standard for that breed. The standard defines the characteristics of the breed complete with desirable and undesirable traits, penalized faults and, in some breeds, disqualifying faults. Breeders and exhibitors acknowledge that the judges are the ultimate defenders of the breed standard since AKC has recognized them as experts by granting them status to judge that breed. It is the judge’s obligation not only to find the best exhibits, but also to recognize undesirable breed traits and disqualifying faults.

Exhibitors and breeders have a similar obligation. They should know the pluses and minuses of their dog and those they are competing against. If their chosen breed has disqualifying faults, they should be committed to memory and easily recognized. Professional handlers have the obligation to know the standards of each breed they handle and understand them as well. That being said, there has always been an unwritten rule or understanding that professionals don’t purposely try to interfere with another professional’s livelihood by calling a bench show committee on a fellow handler or possibly having another handler’s charge disqualified by calling for a wicket, scale, lameness exam, etc.

Click here to read the complete article
10 – November/December, 2022

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Posted by AnthonyA on Nov 11 2022. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.