Conformation

A dog’s conformation is not about how beautiful a dog is. The conformation of a dog is an important evaluation of the functional abilities of our dogs by measuring their structural angles and evaluating them in motion. It is important to take into consideration a dog’s form and function when selecting breeding dogs and then when pairing dogs together for planned breedings.

All of our dogs selected for breeding are evaluated through the International All Breed Canine Association (IABCA) or equivalent such as AKC. This is an organization that evaluates a dog’s structure at a conformation show. Unlike AKC and other organizations, IABCA shows have judges who provide written critiques of each dog. When you enter a show you have at least two judges from the USA and one international judge. The dogs are evaluated by structure and by movement compared to the FCI breed standard. After showing my dogs, I get to sit down with the judge and discuss the structural strengths and weaknesses in my dogs. There is no dog that has perfect conformation. Evaluating conformation will always be important when choosing pairs that compliment each other and improve each other’s overall structure and balance.

• Measuring Guide – Small Munsterlander
• Pat Hastings Method – Process of Evaluating Puppies
• The Puppy Puzzle with Pat Hastings – YouTube Video of puppies conformation