I was texting with a relative today, and she said she was watching a recording of the Westminster dog show. She asked me how they judge the many breeds of dogs against each other when many are so wildly different. She has a perception that it's a beauty pageant. I didn't have time to answer her right away, but I promised to write to her with an answer soon; I realized she may not be alone in her curiosity so I've opted to make the answer public.
It's easy for non-dog people to look at the seemingly endless parade of breeds of every shape, size, and color and wonder how anyone could compare, say, a Neapolitan Mastiff to a Pomeranian, but the reality is pretty straightforward: they aren't judged against each other at all.
Each breed of dog has a written standard which details what that breed should look and act like. It's essentially an impossible-to-attain description of what the perfect dog of that breed would be. Each dog in a breed is judged against the same standard, and the dog that is closest to that written perfection wins. The best dog of each breed moves on to compete in groups.
Every show group is comprised of breeds who have a similar purpose. For example, dogs that hunt by sight or scent are generally in the AKC Hound group, while terriers, large and small, are in the Terrier group. The only group that differs is the Non-Sporting group, which has become kind of a catch-all for breeds that don't really fit into any other group.
When dogs of different breeds are being judged in the group ring, they are still only being judged against their own breed's specific written standard. The judge is tasked with deciding which dog is the closest match to his or her description of perfection.
So why doesn't the same dog always win? The answer is because perfection is actually somewhat variable.
Show judges have to take the written word and envision it as a fully realized perfect dog in their minds, and thus what one judge sees as absolute perfection within a given breed, may not be perfect to another judge. This doesn't mean one judge is necessarily better than another, it just means their interpretation of perfection is somewhat different.
Another variable is the dogs themselves! If you ask a show judge why they put up the winning dog, often they'll say the dog "asked for it" or that the dog "wanted to win." Attitude in the ring can tip the scales in the dog's favor. This is because the written standard also describes the ideal temperament of each breed, and a dog displaying that temperament in the ring may have a better chance of standing out. This is why so many of Westminster's Best In Show winners over the history of the event have been terriers. Those plucky, alert, self-confident little (or not-so-little) terriers often strut around the show ring like they own it! Conversely, sometimes a dog just isn't having a good day, and thus a dog who's a great example of the breed might be overlooked that day...the dog just wasn't performing very well.
I happened to witness this firsthand once. Years back I was at a show and I ended up chatting with an exhibitor about her Sheltie while waiting for judging (it was briefly delayed, I forget what reason). She told me her dog was having an off day and she didn't expect him to place well, even though he was a gorgeous example of a Shetland Sheepdog with many wins already under his belt. Sure enough, that day he slunk around the ring and wouldn't stack at all. As his owner predicted, he did not win.
You have to remember that dogs can't talk to us. Maybe he had a headache, or had an upset stomach, or just wasn't in a good mood. These are living creatures after all!
But when a dog is "on," look out!
I should mention that in North America, there is not one, but three legitimate and honorable registries that you can show dogs in. Most people have heard of the American Kennel Club (AKC), but there is also a Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) and the Michigan-based registry, the United Kennel Club (UKC). Not all breeds are accepted by every one of the three, and not all written standards are the same across each registry. Your mileage may vary!
This actually goes for many different species, too. If there's a domestic animal, there is a fancy for them, and thus conformation shows! Everything from cats to cows to fancy mice are shown in conformation events! I actually breed and show rabbits...and yes, people are always asking if I'm being serious when I say that. I am a dues-paying member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association, as well as several regional clubs. I breed Zwergschecken, also known as Dwarf Papillons; they are a small but not-genetically-dwarf breed that places heavy importance on the rabbit's markings. Obviously we don't trot/gait our rabbits around the ring like they do at dog shows (although some breeds of rabbit are judged while running across a table), but the basic principle of conformation judging is the same. Each rabbit is judged against a written standard of perfection, to determine which rabbit is the best example of his or her breed. Like dogs, each breed is shown individually, then the winners of each breed compete for Best In Show.
This brings me to my next point: the purpose of showing is to judge the quality of breeding stock. This is why the dogs in the show ring are intact (not spayed or neutered). Showing isn't just a fun way to spend time with your dog (although it IS a lot of fun!), it's a method to gauge suitability to breed. A dog who consistently doesn't place well at shows may not be the best choice for breeding. Now, some species can be shown altered, such as cats. But dogs in conformation showing are usually intact.
I should reiterate, dog shows are fun...actually all animal conformation shows are fun! In addition to dog, horse, and rabbit shows, I have gone to chicken shows, cattle shows, even a pig show once. And I'm planning to go spectate a cat show sometime in the near future. I love going to shows. For some events you must bring your own chair (I keep a folding canvas chair in the back of my SUV) but often there are chairs or bleachers available. I especially enjoy attending the UKC Premier dog show, which happens to be held every year in my home state. Not only do they have conformation showing, there's all sorts of canine sports being run at the same time! The last time I attended I got to watch dock diving, agility, barn hunt, and competitive obedience. And there's usually a lot of vendors with cool products and breed-specific things!
I highly encourage everyone to go to a show, any show, and experience it firsthand!
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