What it is

The term conformation, which is a word closely associated with dog showing, refers to a dog’s structure and appearance. But conformation events are about a lot more than looks. As the American Kennel Club (AKC) puts it, “While a dog show may look like a beauty pageant, it’s not. Dogs are not being compared to each other; they’re being measured by how closely they conform to the standard of their particular breed.” The site goes on to say that the closer a dog’s appearance comes to the standards for its breed, the greater likelihood that the dog’s offspring will also meet the standard—and that’s what it’s really about.

To compete in an AKC conformation event, a dog must meet specific criteria. A dog must be:

• of a breed recognized by the AKC
• registered with the AKC
• at least six months of age and fully vaccinated
• intact (not spayed or neutered)
• without “disqualifying faults”—characteristics that do not comply with breed standards

According to the AKC website, conformation events continue to be among the most popular of the club’s events. For more information on conformation, see the AKC website.

For more about the title designations, see this list of titles by sport on the AKC website.