All-Breed Conformation Dog Shows
The American
Kennel Club (AKC) defines "Conformation” as the official
term for “Dog
Shows” of purebred dogs registered with its particular registry. While these
shows may seem glamorous, the original purpose of
Conformation Shows is to evaluate breeding stock. The dog’s
conformation, overall appearance and structure is an
indication of the dog’s ability to produce quality purebred
puppies. This is what is supposed to be judged in the ring. While a dog show may look like a
breed beauty pageant, actually it’s not supposed to be. Dogs are
to be measured by how closely they conform
to the Breed Standard. The closer a dog’s appearance is to the breed’s standard, the better that dog’s
ability will be to produce puppies that meet that the breed standard. It’s also the reason why mixed breeds and
spayed or neutered purebreds are ineligible to compete in Conformation.
In an All-Breed Dog Show, breeds are divided into seven different groups for the competitions. The groups are as follows: sporting group, hound group, working group, terrier group, toy group, non-sporting group and herding group. German Shepherds are in the herding group. AKC All-Breed Dog Shows are sponsored and conducted by AKC affiliated local Kennel Clubs. There are 190 Breeds currently recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
However the glitz and glamour of the 3
most prestigious American All-Breed Shows are something quite different.
These 3 prestigious Dog Shows in the United States each year are the
American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championship, the Westminster
Kennel Club Annual Dog Show, and The National Dog Show (aka The
Kennel Club of Philadelphia Dog Show sponsored by Purina).
German Shepherd Dog Breed Standard
The basis of judging in Conformation Dog Shows is breed type, the whole of the characteristics that are typical of a breed. Breed Type is outlined in the written Breed Standard for each breed, and the judge looks at the entered dogs for the ones that most perfectly resemble the judge's mental image of ideal breed type. Dogs are judged against the judge's subjective mental ideal, not against each other. The goal of the conformation show is to identify breeding stock for the breed, and the breed standard is "the standard or model which breeders endeavor to achieve." Dog Shows are a way to evaluate dogs against the breed standard, evaluating soundness, movement/gait, type, and temperament.
Conformation shows are not intended for the
examination of the entered dogs for fitness for purpose or
abilities (such as
herding or working skills as in the German Shepherd). While
dogs may be excused by a judge for obvious lameness, illness or
poor temperament,
the dogs are not tested in the ring for genetic health or
examined for the general health of the animal beyond externally
observable appearance and behavior as described in the breed
standard. So often in competitions, the esthetics of a dog may
be a factor in competition.
Breed standards are not quantified, and are interpreted by the judge in a Conformation Show according to the judge's experience with the breed and the judge's subjective personal tastes. Breed clubs and national kennel clubs provide regular seminars for the training of judges in the details of the individual breed standards and how they are interpreted. Breed standards are written by individual breed clubs, and, if the breed club is a member of a national kennel club, the standard will go through a process of being approved by its national kennel club. Members of the breed club can take part in the dog activities sponsored by its national kennel club. The American Kennel Club (AKC) only directs the form of the breed standard, the breed standard itself is written by the breed club or clubs.
More than 80% of show dogs are handled by their owners. The AKC National Owner-Handled Series celebrates the dedication and enthusiasm of owner-handler exhibitors and allows them to compete head-to-head against one another in the Conformation Ring.
In the breed of the German Shepherd Dog, a controversial subject is a discussion of American Show Lines and Working Dogs. The founder of the German Shepherd Breed, Max von Stephanitz developed a Breed Standard based on mental stability and utility. The Captain's motto was "Utility and Intelligence." To him beauty was secondary, and a dog was worthless if it lacked the intelligence, temperament, and structural efficiency that would make it a good servant of man. Some American Show Line German Shepherd Champions do not have the ability to work or even pass a herding instinct test to be a "Shepherd" as the name of the breed implies. This is why French's German Shepherds and other likeminded breeders have breeding programs for the "Total Dog." A well-bred German Shepherd Dog is virtually unsurpassed in its working versatility when compared to other breeds. The breed is popular because of its strength, agility, athleticism, hardiness, intelligence, enhanced hearing and scent abilities, trainability and obedience. A German Shepherd Dog is a loyal, devoted faithful working dog and companion.
AKC Conformation Titles are: CM - Certificate of Merit, CH - Champion, GCH - Grand Champion, GCHB - Grand Champion Bronze, GCHS - Grand Champion Silver, GCHG - Grand Champion Gold and GCHP - Grand Champion Platinum.
AKC's A Beginner's Guide To Dog Shows
An AKC Specialty Show is a Dog Show that only allows a single breed and often many different disciplines. A Specialty Show is unlike other dog conformation shows because they are open to all breeds recognized by the AKC and sponsoring Kennel Club or organization. A specialty show may be local, state, regional or national. A "Best in Show" win at a National Specialty Show is tremendously prestigious, indicating that the winning dog at a contest has attracted entries from the most serious breeders and fanciers of its breed under more rigorous standards than All-Breed Shows. The 2018 German Shepherd Dog Club of America National was held October 13-20, at Purina Farms at the Purina Events Center in Gray Summit, Missouri. The 2019 GSDCA Show will be held October 5-12, 2019 at The Ranch in Loveland Colorado.
For the German Shepherd Dog, the parent club affiliated with the AKC is the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA). The GSDCA has clubs listed by State, and by Region. Regional Clubs are dog clubs that are members of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA). They offer specialty dog shows (just for GSDs) throughout the year and many also offer training and breeder referral services for German Shepherds. Regional clubs are a great resource for German Shepherd Dog owners looking to find training and like-minded GSD lovers as well as for people looking for a well-bred German Shepherd puppy. Most Regional Clubs put on 1 or 2 dog shows per year which is a great place to network with other German Shepherd lovers and see what a specialty dog show is like. Regional Clubs are eager to meet new people that share the love of the German Shepherd, want to observe and perhaps exhibit and perhaps get involved with their local Regional Club.
The German Shepherd Dog Club of America's Futurity System. Established more than fifty years ago, the Futurity/Maturity System was designed to provide a "look into the future"; a method for breeders to showcase their litters and a way for others to compare, contrast, and learn from their efforts. Today, despite all the changes in the world of dogs, the purpose remains the same. Breeders and members are provided a way to showcase, share and learn. The Futurity/Maturity System is comprised of several parts; litter nominations, regional shows, National Specialty finals, and Red Book tabulations. The Futurity System's purpose and objective is to:
To bring together each year as many young animals as possible from different bloodline combinations so that the fancy can share and learn by the accomplishments of each other.
To provide all club members, large breeders or single puppy owners alike, the opportunity to compete year after year under conditions equally favorable to all.
To provide an incentive to improve Shepherd bloodlines and add to the excellence of the breed as a whole. The Futurities provide the breeder with the opportunity to nominate his/her litter as a statement of faith in his/her breeding program.
To provide a means of early identification to breeders of the strength and weaknesses of current stud dogs.
To provide a Judging environment that will
promote the highest level of sportsmanship, thereby eliminating
direct perceptions of unfairness.
German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA) Awards:
Annual Training Achievement Awards (ATAA)
Program
This is an annual award and point tabulation for
the German Shepherd Dog sires and dams whose purebred progeny earn
titles (and points) through performance events including, but not
limited to, herding, obedience, tracking, agility and Schutzhund.
Award of Excellence (AOE)
This
title is the most prestigious “conformation” award given by the
GSDCA in recognition of the quintessential German Shepherds. They
excel in conformation, are sound in body, have keen minds which make
them capable of and suitable for the many different “jobs” in which
society has placed them... i.e... THE TOTAL DOG.
Conformation Grand Victor
The Grand Victor is chosen
each year as the best of all dogs (males) shown in the Breed class
at the annual German Shepherd Dog Club of America National Specialty
Show.
Conformation Grand Victrix
The Grand Victrix is chosen
each year as the best of all females (bitches) in the Breed class at
the annual German Shepherd Dog Club of America National Specialty
Show.
Futurity/Maturity (FV/MV)
Established more than fifty years ago, the Futurity/Maturity System
was designed to provide a "look into the future," a method for
breeders to showcase their litters and a way for others to compare,
contrast, and learn from their efforts. Today, despite all the
changes in the world of dogs, the purpose remains the same. Breeders
and members are provided a way to showcase, share and learn. The
Futurity/Maturity System is comprised of several parts; litter
nominations, regional shows, National Specialty finals, and Red Book
tabulations.
Performance Award of Merit (PAM)
The Performance Award of Merit (PAM) is designed to reward
dogs with advanced performance titles. Members of the GSDCA are
eligible for this prestigious award.
Select Excellent Champions
This award is an enhanced attachment
to the "Select" Award, which recognizes the superior, mature dog or
bitch with certified hips and elbows. This award promotes and
recognizes an important facet of Breed improvement through sound
breeding programs.
SV/WUSV Conformation for Working Dogs
German SV
Standard is different for Working Dogs.
While there are multiple sites that provide pedigree information
for the German Shepherd dog,
GSD Events Online is different in that it is based upon
Conformation Show Results that have been hosted by the
United Schutzhund Club of America (UScA), German Shepherd Dog
Club of America (GSDCA), German Shepherd Dog Club of America
Working Dog Association (GSDCA-WDA), German Shepherd Schutzhund
Club of Canada (GSSCC) and American and Canadian exhibitors in
the SV Bundessiegerzuchtschau (SV).
Visit the German
Shepherd Dog Club of America SV Program for more information!
United Kennel Club (UKC) Conformation
The United Kennel
Club (UKC) also conducts and sponsors
Conformation
Shows through its Kennel Clubs for dogs registered in their Club. The goals and purposes of the
UKC Breed Standard
are to furnish guidelines for breeders who
wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to
advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world;
and to act as a guide for judges. Breeders and judges have the
responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are
detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this
breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not
perpetuated. Professional Handlers are not allowed in the UKC. The
UKC also allows altered (spayed or neutered) dogs to compete in
Conformation. Paid handlers are not allowed to show a dog in UKC
Conformation. Read the
UKC Conformation Rulebook
for more information.
UKC Conformation Titles: (NBOB) -
National Best of Breed, (GRCH) - Grand Champion, (CH) - Champion, (ALCH) -
Altered Champion, (ALGRCH) - Altered Grand Champion, (EGCH) -
Emerald Grand Champion, (AEGCH) - Altered Emerald Grand
Champion, (RGCH) - Ruby Grand Champion, (ARGCH) - Altered Ruby
Grand Champion, (SGCH - Sapphire Grand Champion, (ASGCH) -
Altered Sapphire Grand Champion - The UKC also has a "Total
Dog" title when dogs win in conformation and performance in a single
show.
Fun Facts: There are about 340 breeds recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the world governing body of dog breeds, sometimes known as the World Canine Organization. But the standards for breed recognition vary from country to country.
