AKC Dog Shows
A Brief Look at What Goes on at an AKC Dog Show (Illustrated)
AKC dog shows are conducted under the rules established by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Individual shows are authorized by the AKC and sponsored by specific member clubs or associations or by licensed non-member clubs and associations. Shows are staged and administered by either Show Superintendents or Secretaries. Each show has various officials including veterinarians, judges and stewards.
There are several different types of shows but the most common type is the Conformation Show where the dogs are judged based on their conformance to the standard defined for the breed. Each breed of dogs that has been officially recognized by the AKC has a published breed standard that is prepared and approved by the specific breed’s national association.
Conformation shows are important to the dog breeding community because the winners of the various competitions are awarded points that count toward a dog’s designation as a Champion. It is generally recognized that a Champion is considered to be an excellent representative of the standard for any particular breed of dog. The goal of ethical dog breeders is to improve the quality of the dogs available within their breed and producing dogs that can earn the designation of Champion is validation of the success of a good breeding program.
 |