Understanding the Breed Standard
A Breed Standard is a written description of the ideal
representative of a given breed.
A breeder's goal is to breed dogs that most closely epitomize his or her
perception of the ideal dog as described by the standard.
A judge's goal is to evaluate how well the breeder has done in achieving
the "perfection" described in the standard.
A exhibitor's goal is to present his or her dog to the judge in the best
possible light, illustrating by appearance, condition, grooming and
behavior in the ring, that this dog is an exceptional portrayal of it's
breed standard of perfection.
Breed standards are subjective by nature, and further complicated by the
difficult task of putting a picture into words. This leaves much room
for interpretation, so that no two breeders, or judges, will envision
the perfect dog exactly the same. This is part of the challenge, and
much of the joy of breeding purebred dogs. Each breeder has an
opportunity to imprint his or her vision of perfection on the future of
the breed.
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ACD Breeder Education
