Every dog is beautiful in its own way, whether that be its health, personality, coloring or the lay of its coat. To show your dog at AKC events, you have to agree to your breed’s Parent Club’s definition of perfection, which is written down in a breed standard that is recorded with the AKC. Each breed standard is unique and meant to reflect the breed’s original function, whether that be a working heritage like hunting or herding or simply as a personal companion. Breed standards are similar in that they all will mention the same elements, including movement, coat, and head shape, but they also differ in that something that is extremely important in one breed standard many be of minimal or no importance in another.
Comparing Your Dog to the Breed Standard
Any dog of a particular breed should be fairly well described by its breed standard, i.e. any Beagle is more likely to conform to the Beagle standard than the standard for any other breed, say a Harrier or English Foxhound which have similar markings and origins. The differences within a breed that separate the best dogs in terms of the standard of perfection can be subtle; as a matter of fact dog show judges have to go through a rigorous system of prerequisites, testing, and provisional judging before being fully licensed to judge a given breed and award championship points. This makes it difficult for the average dog owner to determine the quality of their dog relative to its breed standard.
Origins and Expertise Increase the Likelihood of Show Quality
Show quality dogs most often are produced by breeders with a consistent track record of success at dog shows with dogs that they have bred. Success in this context means consistently producing AKC show champions, not just blue ribbons or Winners and Best of Breed wins where there were few other dogs in competition. In very popular breeds where the competition can be fierce these titles can be more difficult to obtain. A breeder who does not personally compete in dog shows and finish champions is not as likely to sell show quality animals, but if they acquired their dogs or are being mentored by a successful show breeder, this improves the odds.
Evaluating Your Dog’s Show Quality
If your dog was purchased from a successful breeder, it is likely they told you if the dog had show potential at the time of purchase, and they should be able to give you an honest evaluation of its current show potential as well. If you did not purchase your dog from a breeder with this type of record, the likelihood that your dog will be competitive in conformation competition is lower. You can contact a local breed club and ask if one of their breeder-members would be willing to give you an honest evaluation; conformation class instructors and professional dog show handlers may also be able to give you an informed opinion.
Showing Your Dog in AKC Shows
If your dog has not been spayed or neutered and has no disqualifying faults for its breed, it can be shown in conformation. The AKC has a short guide to getting started on its website. If you simply want to gain experience showing and gain contacts within the show dog community, this can be a valuable experience regardless of the level of your dog’s show quality. Unfortunately, it can also be a disappointing experience if your dog is not judged to be as close to the official breed standard of perfection as the other dogs in competition. If this is case for your dog, use the opportunity to learn not only about showing, but which lines you are most interested in if you wish to buy or breed to a dog with more show potential. If you decide the beauty contest world of conformation is not for you, there are other AKC competition options. Obedience, rally, and agility do not discriminate based on appearance, are open to spayed and neutered dogs and may be a more satisfying choice.
Cleo Parker - I’m a dog enthusiast with many years of experience raising, training and showing dogs at American Kennel Club (AKC) events; my breed ...
