Do you just love watching the dog shows, but are not always quite certain what they’re talking about? If so, you’re not alone. After all, what exactly do they mean when they talk about angulation or conformation? What’s the difference between Best of Breed, Best of Show and Best of Winners?

For most competitive events which are held under AKC rules, the focus is on conformation. For these dog shows, the dogs are examined by a judge and then placed according to how well they conform or measure up to their breed standard. The breed standard is what defines the breed. One of the main objectives of the conformation classes is to identify those dogs most suitable for breeding and producing the next generations, with the emphasis on the structure that suits the dog for its typical tasks. .

There are other competitive events such as obedience, agility, and trials like hunting, herding and go to ground (terrier-earthdog events). The main objective of these events, as opposed to the conformation events, is to identify the inner character and ability of a particular dog which, when combined with the structure, results in the ideal animal.

Of course, for many, the main purpose of dog shows today is simply to have fun. In fact, for many dog fanciers, dog showing is not just a hobby but a lifestyle.

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