Showing dogs is a great sport where the
thrill of competition
is combined with the joy of seeing beautiful dogs. dog show
are one of nine types of AKC dog events in which
AKC-registered dogs can compete. Other AKC events
include tests of instinct and trainability, such as field trials
or herding tests.
At a dog show, the
main consideration is the dog's
conformation or overall appearance and structure.
The judges examine
the dogs and place them in accordance
to how close each dog compares with their mental image of the
"perfect" dog as described in the breed's official standard.
These standards include qualifications for structure,
temperament and movement. In short, they describe the
characteristics that allow the breed to perform the function
for which it was bred.
These official
written standards are maintained by each
breed's national club and published in AKC's The Complete
Dog Book.
The judges
are experts in the breeds they are judging.
They examine or "go over" each dog with their hands to
see if the teeth, muscles, bones and coat texture match the
standard. They examine each dog in profile for general
balance, and watch each dog gait, or move, to see how all of
those features fit together in action.
Dog shows are
basically a process of elimination, with one
dog being named Best In Show at the end of the day. Along
the way, some dogs accumulate points toward the title "AKC
Champion."
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