The judges examine dogs of a specific breed or sometimes dogs of all breeds, to see if it fulfills the breed standards or not during a dog shows, breed shows or conformation shows. Regular shows are being conducted by kennel clubs or breed clubs. During specialty shows, only specific breeds are examined.
Judging is based on the standards set prior to the show by the judges of the show. To execute subjective judgements is an extremely difficult task especially to choose dogs which match the set standards laid out for the show. It is not a matter of comparing one dog to another but to the judge’s image of an ideal dog which meet the breed standard almost perfectly. The dog show is organized to select a dog that fits almost completely the set breed standards, as the winner.
From the the long list of breed standards which contributes to the conformation point, all the judges work together to frame the conformation point. There are certain necessities that form the basis of competitions though conformation points can alter from one competition to another. The focal point of observation is the fur, apart from the pet’s color, pattern, length, type and quality. The judges will also be observing very carefully the distribution,quality and quantity of the markings.
A pigmentation free healthy skin and the shape and color of the head are other important determinants that the judges look for. For each breed of dogs, the general attitude and temperament are noted down. The jaw-line and the structure of the teeth and how they align when the jaw is shut are also considered. Shape and color of the eyes and shape and set of the ears are looked at including the size, ratio of the length and height also compared. To determine whether the dog entering the competition is well presented , the style of walking and gait and the shape of the feet and tail are closely observed . For purposes of easy identification the name of the participating dog and its breeder’s kennel name are registered.
For the purpose of identification the kennel club calls the dog by its registered name while the owner calls it by its call name. There are many dog shows conducted on various levels: there are local shows and national shows, which attract competitors from various parts of the country. Due to the graded nature of the contests , only winners at each competition are seeded to enter the final stage of the competition to select a worthy champion.
These shows at the highest level only allow pets that have already won championship in other shows to participate in order to choose the best in the breed. As such shows boost the reputation of the dog, breeder and kennel, the price of the puppies of that particular dog fetch a surprisingly high price. The popularity of the breed increases rapidly when people look around to buy a pet that resembles the champion. Crufts in the United Kingdom and the Westminster Kennel Club Show are acknowledged as the two prestigious dog shows available.
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