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Conformation Basics at AthleticDogs.com

Conformation Basics

Conformation trials are the oldest and still most popular types of dog shows. The original purpose was to evaluate the breeding stock, thus the objective is to find the dog that best represents the breed’s standards. By definition, conformation is reserved for pure-bred dogs and all dogs participating in conformation must be intact (not spayed or neutered) because the point of the effort is to evaluate breeding stock!

At conformation trials, the dogs are not competing against each other directly, but rather are rated based on how they stack up against the breed standards. Conformation judges are experts on the specific breeds they work with, and there is some level of subjectivity in the scoring. That is, different judges might place emphasis on different aspects of the breed standard. In addition, there are a few of the official standards that are inherently subjective, such as full coat and cheerful disposition...it is up to the judge to decide how each dog ranks in these areas.

There are three basic types of conformation dog shows: all-breed shows, specialty shows, and group shows. All-breed shows, like the big annual dog shows seen on television each year, are competitions among more than 150 breeds and varieties of dogs. Specialty shows are restricted to one breed (or varieties within a breed). Group shows feature only dogs from one of the sanctioning organization’s dog groups (the AKC has seven groups). The size of conformation events ranges from small, local specialty club shows to large, national all-breed shows with 3,000 or more dogs entered!

It is very common for pure-bred dogs to participate in other performance sports in addition to conformation. Though conformation does require the mastery of basic behavioral skills, it does not always provide enough “work” for highly energetic dogs. Obedience and agility are common second sports for dogs active in conformation.

Check out the AthleticDogs.com store for products and training aids for conformation!