A dog show may look like a strange place where dogs are pronounced Best of Breed or Best in Show. But what makes all these winners “the best”? are they the strongest, the fastest, or the best hunters. The answer to this mystery lies in a single word: the standard.
The standard is a precise, full description of the perfect dog for a given breed. The ideal description is written according to a specific method where, following a brief historical summary, each part of the dog is described in detail, from the general appearance of the dog to the accepted colors, its head, its gait and its character. This description should help the reader form a very accurate image of the breed without having a dog on hand. Besides this description, the standard is completed by specific comments bringing forth the most important aspects of the breed, its qualities and flaws. Some of these flaws are specific to the breed, whereas some are common to all breeds; a lack of conditioning or a bad character are always sanctioned by the standard.
The first standard was established by the Kennel Club in 1876, and concerned the English Bulldog.
For a person seeking an apparently purebred dog as a companion who will make a good pet and be pleasant to look at and live with, the standard is not of much use. However, for anyone who selectively breeds purebred dogs, the standard represents the basis of their occupation.
A dog breeder is an artisan who attempts to make nature yield to his will in an effort to reach an ideal described by…the standard. In this quest for perfection, nature puts up a good fight, and it takes an enormous amount of perseverance to reach one’s goal. The standard helps breeders keep sight of their goal. For breeders, the standard is a guide.
Selectively breeding purebred dogs is closely linked to dog shows. Dogs are examined by judges trained to select the specimen closet to the standard. The changes in the terms linked to competitions are significant of this evolution. Dogs are no longer considered Beauty Champion, but according to their closeness to the standard. There is no personal preference involved in judging dogs. The standard is the judge’s Bible and constant reference. While subjective criteria do exist, they serve only to distinguish animals who are highly similar and are involved only in the end.
The standard is the cornerstone of selective breeding. However, it is not the single criterion. Many dog breeds were created to meet a specific use: function creates the organ. Hunting, shepherd or racing dogs would not be what they are currently if their functions as helpers or companions of man had not “shaped” them. The work of dogs allows, when the standard is respected, to maintain the specific qualities of each breed. The standard helps qualify the excesses that are naturally linked to the search of the perfect dog destined only to beauty contests. Work also allows to operate a selection based on the character and aptitudes, this favoring dogs and man. Breeding and selecting an animal means moving away from the original model proposed by nature. And while the goal is not to return to nature, breeders and judges must always remain attentive to the well-being of the animal whose future they are shaping.
Selective breeding also means choosing the animals who are the most apt in term of character, qualities and health, to please the people who watch and love them.
Log in
