The judges examine dogs of a specific breed or sometimes dogs of all breeds, to see if it fulfills the breed standards or not during a dog shows, breed shows or conformation shows. It is often conducted by kennel clubs and breed clubs. Specialty shows are events where only special breeds are examined.

Judges of the show are totally responsible for setting the standards for the show. Because judgements are subjective, it becomes extremely hard to choose dogs which match the set standards laid out for the show. It is not a matter of comparing one dog to another but to the judge’s image of an ideal dog which meet the breed standard almost perfectly. To have a winner you need find a dog that fits almost completely the set criteria as laid out for the dog show.

All the judges get together to frame the conformation point from the long list of breed standards. Conformation points can vary from one contest to another but certain general requirements still form the basis of the judging. Although the pet’s color, pattern, length, type and quality are observed, in the final analysis the fur is still the most important factor. The judges will consider carefully the positioning, quality and quantity of the markings.

Healthy skin with no pigmentation is also one of the important criterions with the shape and color of the head also taken into consideration. The general attitude and temperament of each dog also contributes to the decision. The jaw-line and the structure of the teeth and how they align when the jaw is closed will also be compared and taken into consideration. Shape and color of the eyes and shape and set of the ears are looked at including the size, ratio of the length and height also compared. Grooming the dog before a competition is necessary because observation will be made on the style of walking and gait and also on the shape of the tail and feet. The name of each participating dog and the name of the breeder’s kennel are registered to identify the participating dog.

For the purpose of identification the kennel club calls the dog by its registered name while the owner calls it by its call name. Contenders from different parts of the country are attracted to participate in the many dog shows conducted at various levels: both local and national. Usually dog shows are hierarchic competitions where the winners earn certain points in each show at each level, which makes them eligible for the next show.

To fulfil the aim of choosing the best in the breed, these shows at the highest level only allow pets which have already won championship in other shows. As such shows boost the reputation of the dog, breeder and kennel, the price of the puppies of that particular dog fetch a surprisingly high price. This is because of the popularity of the breed and the tendency of people to look for a pet that resembles a champion. If you are looking for respected dog shows then you have Crufts in the United Kingdom and The Westminster Kennel Club Show in the United States.