Are Conformation shows the only good way...

[conradpem]

...to evaluate breeding stock? If I use the good judgement of several long time breeders of top dogs in my breed. For info on if I should breed the dog and what dog to breed it to. Is that enugh? Do I still need to show? I would like to get in to agility and obedeance, but my family is closed to the idea of conformation showing.
I should have said the over all evaluation of breeding stalk.

[tom l]

There are also Field Trials, Hunt Tests, Herding Tests, Lour Coursing, O/B Trials and on and on.
The trainability of the dog is every bit as important as it's looks.

You didn't say what breed, so need to keep the options pretty general.

[doggslover]

...to evaluate breeding stock? If I use the good judgement of several long time breeders of top dogs in my breed. For info on if I should breed the dog and what dog to breed it to. Is that enugh? Do I still need to show? I would like to get in to agility and obedeance, but my family is closed to the idea of conformation showing.
I should have said the over all evaluation of breeding stalk.

If you want to breed your dogs, you really should show them so that you have a hopefully impartial, knowledgeable third-party evaluating your dogs. That's the whole purpose of showing. Even the long-time breeders that you're talking to can be "kennel blind," and if you've bought your dogs from them, they may not be seeing some faults that shouldn't be perpetrated. Even if they are the best resources in the world, for your own credibility as a breeder, you should show your dogs. Why is your family opposed to conformation? Perhaps they don't understand what it's all about.

[raymondchur]

I believe in researching more into the type of breed that you wish to own and show as it benefits you with more understanding of different standards classified in the show rings around the world.

Nevertheless, showing is a wonderful sport !

Cheers !

[wolfsoul]

In my opinion, conformation rarely proves anything. I show my dogs, and I still say that. Conformation does not tell you much about the health or temperament of a dog. A dog needs a good enough temperament to stand for a judge (sometimes), and good enough health to run around the ring a few times. Doesn't take much.
Evaluating breeding stock takes much much more than just showing in conformation. A top winning showdog can still have a terrible temperament, terrible health, and poor working ability. You need to find proper balance in order to achieve a good breeding dog.

Relying on other breeders to tell you which dogs are good and which are bad is all just relative. Everyone's opinions are different -- if they weren't, there wouldn't be SO many different lines of dogs. I can compare my best girl, Visa, to the very typey European dogs. And I prefer her. But most breeders will choose the European dog. You have to decide for yourself what you like best, and research pedigrees based on health and temperament, not show records. I regret not researching the pedigree of the first stud I used. Now I am very well-read in Belgian lines and I know exactly what I want and where to avoid problems. Make alot of friends...and use their knowledge to guide you. But don't let show records cloud your judgement. Health and temperament are your #1 priorities.

[Working Dog]

I may have a different goal for my dogs than you have but with that being said, I like to see titles on dogs like SAR, obedience, agility, schuthund, ring, herding. just b/c a dog supposedly looks pretty in a ring dosen't mean it should be breed. Take into account health and hip scores, its temperment, etc... It is my opinion that conformation rings hurt breeds. Take for instance my favorite breed the German Shepherd Dog. :mad: