Conformation

Conformation is a sport where purebred dogs are evaluated by judges against their breed standards. The traditional purpose of conformation is to evaluate breeding stock, but some people like to do it for fun as a relationship-building activity with their dogs.

Conformation is a good socialization activity, particularly for puppies. It introduces them to new people and places, teaches them to work with the handler in the face of distractions, and incorporates body handling with strange people. When introducing all these concepts to a puppy, make sure to reward them well so that the experience is positive, and don’t push them past their point of comfort.

Outside of socialization, participating in conformation shows helps the breed’s development, particularly for rare breeds that are not fully accepted in AKC. For Eurasiers and Hokkaido, showing these breeds will contribute to educating judges, especially if the dogs have good conformation to the breed standard.

You can start off with the foundations at home, which involve getting your dog comfortable with handling and being touched all over its body. Teach your dog a “stand” command, and build stillness and duration in the command. Add in the exam portion, which involves a second person touching the dog while the dog is standing still.

To up the challenge, look for local conformation classes in your area. Conformation classes will introduce multiple new things at once - working in a new space, with unknown dogs that your dog should not be interacting with, and a new person going over your dog.