[brytlea]

Why would you require anything else to become a conformation champion? Shall they also then require some sort of conformation title in order to qualify as a field champion? Many of the parent clubs have versatility titles, which the dog acquires by titling (or pointing) in various venues.

A conformation champion means simply what it says it says.

susie

[the OlLine Rebel]

You don't know the Verien fur Deutsche Schaferhunde, then!

The parent (in the true sense) club of the German Shepherd REQUIRES all GS gunning for conformation titles finish work in SchHI at least.

As much work as that involves (alot more than just obedience), many people manage to get these titles by the time the dog is 2yo, and then he can go on to conformation TITLE (judgements can be made before then, but cannot have a title).

They are also very stringent about who get to breed - i.e., who is registrable. If your dog is not titled, or has poor hips, etc., his pups cannot be registered.


AKC doesn't need to be as anal as Germans are, but they SHOULD have some minimum for every breed, like a simple Novice Obedience title. It might help better ensure the dogs have some kind of mental/emotional capability.

[HairOfTheDog]

A conformation champion means simply what it says it says.

It's not a 'conformation championship' though, that's merely the way most people in the past have treated it... like a beauty contest. Truly, if you want to measure whether the dog meets the intended standard for the breed, that includes both looks and temperament to do the work the breed was intended to do. I like it. I'm not sure, but I think the British registry requires that hunting dogs pass some rudimentary hunting aptitude test before titling them.