The Basics

If you happen to have stumbled across this blog and are trying to figure out what I'm talking about, here are the basics of American Kennel Club breed conformation. Yes, dog shows really do have a serious purpose.

Each AKC registerable dog breed has a "parent club" that establishes the breed standard. This is basically a description of the ideal for that breed in terms of characteristics such as size, coloring, body proportions, correct movement, and temperament. The AKC acts as a supervisory club approving these standards. You can read much more about how this came about on the AKC Web site's History page. The bottom line is that an elaborate system of points awarded by AKC-certified breed judges at regional shows results in the declaration of "champion" animals - dogs and bitches that have accumulated 15 points according to the rules of the point scheme. Champions represent preferred breeding stock and go on to establish higher levels of status by competing in breed "specialty" shows and ultimately national shows like the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

In a typical AKC dog show, entrants are divided into classes by age, sex, and a few other distinctions such having been bred by the person(s) exhibiting them. A single judge stands in the ring and examines each animal as it stands and moves around the show ring. The judge compares each animal to the breed standard, finally choosing a winner in each class who most closely conforms to the standard (hence the term conformation). The same-sex winners from each class then compete, resulting in a Winners, Dog (WD) and a Winners, Bitch (WB). These winners are judged to determine a Best of Winners which then competes again for Best of Breed with any current champions who may have entered the competition. (There's slightly more detail involved - and there are certainly more layers of complexity - but this is the basic idea.)

If this is a breed specialty show (a competition for a single breed) the competition is now over. In an "All Breeds" competition, however, the Best of Breed winner of each breed is then judged along with the winner of each of the other breeds in the breed group to which that breed belongs. Every AKC-recognized breed is assigned to a group according to its traditional function. Vizslas, for example, are in the Sporting group, while the Silky Terrier is classified in the Toy group. In group competition, the judge must determine a winner by deciding which animal is the closest match to its own breed's standard - a very difficult task indeed. The winner of each group then competes at the close of the show for Best in Show, an even more difficult task for a single judge.

As I mentioned in the previous post, the original goal of conformation was to improve breeds by publicly recognizing the best examples of breed standards to promote sound breeding stock. To quote the AKC Web site: "Dog shows, or 'conformation' events, are the signature events of the AKC. They concentrate on the distinctive features of purebred dogs and help to preserve these characteristics by providing a forum at which to evaluate breeding stock."

The AKC is the governing body for purebred dog registration and championship status, and they carefully monitor the conformation point system to help ensure against fraud and errors. By all indications, they are largely successful in their governance of actual points awarded, though I have heard a few horror stories. My concerns do not lie here; I believe the AKC is to be commended for the diligence with which they maintain championship records. I believe the majority of problems lie in the judging process itself. I'll address that next time, so stay tuned.