A Shared History: Breed Books And Breed Standards

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292 – May, 2024

By Sarah Montague

Today, if you want to know the standard for any particular breed, there are myriad sources–from the AKC website, to the various national breed clubs, and from many breed-specific magazines and books. Or, you can simply have a look at breed class winners at major shows.

But, breed standards change. Perfection is always a moving target; never a moment fixed in time–except, that books do freeze that time.

Etiquette for Renaissance Gentlemen, by Baldesar Castiglione, was published in 1528 and became the gold standard for social niceties for well-bred men. And in the equestrian world, the Greek general Xenophon is credited with writing the first training manual for horses, simply titled (in translation) On Horsemanship.

So I found myself wondering about the history of breed books, and breed standards, because those standards combine requirements having to do with size, coloration and conformation, and with expectations about character.

The libraries of the AKC Museum of the Dog and AKC seemed great places to start. Libraries are the gateways to and guardians of knowledge.

At the Museum’s second floor, I was guided by Alyssa Sheaffer, Visitor Experience Associate. She’s been working at the Museum for about four years; joining shortly after the 2019 opening in New York.

She says the library is often the starting point for hopeful dog owners:

Click here to read the complete article
292 – May, 2024

Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=286419

Posted by AnthonyA on May 27 2024. 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.