What is the big deal over "Breed standards?

Question

I hear so many people on here critisizing others and quoting the "breed standard". Alot has come from one answerer, GetEmGang, who does nothing more than insult others and seems to offer no intelegent advice. Who determined these standards? Unless someone is showing a dog professionally, do most average people care if their purebreed dog matches the breedstandard? As far as appearance goes, it is a personal opinion. By "breed standards" my male Siberian Husky has the markings, coat, and eye color considered as one of the "standards", but that doesn't mean that he is a better dog, than say my sons mutt. Dogs should be chosen because the person loves them, thinks they are beautiful regardless of some breeds standard made up, and because they have a great personality. Why is such a big deal made over this with some people?

If I decided to get another Siberian Husky, I am not going to look at the dog and say "Well, I don't think I should get this dog until I see if he matches the breed standard." If I like the dog, think its beautiful, its healthy according to a vet, then I will get it. We dont have a breed standard for our children, so why do we have one for our dogs?

Answer 1

I cant give you a specific dog, but I can give you pointers to choose a suitable dog...

I always urge people to seek out a rescue group or reputable breeder when choosing a dog. Here are a few things to look for when choosing a dog or puppy.

Age

Puppies should be no younger than eight weeks. A good breeder will not place puppies younger than that. Old school used to be six weeks was fine. But so much growth and development happens between six and eight weeks. Also think, puppies' eyes and ears open at about three weeks and they begin to test solids foods after that. A five or six week old puppy is barely weaned.

The extra couple weeks with the dam and littermates can make a big difference overall. Also, puppies should have at least one set of shots before going to homes. The vaccine schedule for puppies is usually 6, 9 and 12 weeks with the first rabies booster being at 16 weeks. As for the other end of the age spectrum, older animals. I am a firm believer that any dog at any age – even a senior – will have something to offer. If you go to a rescue, look at an adult dog. Just because a dog is fully-grown does not mean they are past training. Adult dogs have better bladder control and more attention span than a young puppy. And puppies are only little for a short time!

Sometimes puppies in rescue may have to be placed younger than eight weeks. This is an exception to the rule and many shelters will try to find foster care for young puppies if possible. The younger you get a puppy, the more work it will be and the more patience you must have with it. Ideally, no pup should be placed before eight weeks. If a "breeder" tried to insist otherwise, get out. It is amazing how many people have litters and try to place them young because of the work and expense involved. And keep in mind; in some places it is illegal to sell animals less than eight weeks.

Condition

The puppies or dogs should show NO signs of lameness, discharge from eyes, ears, nose, etc. They should have clean, shiny coats and be alert. Their stool should be firm. A good breeder or rescue group will have no issue if you wish to have your vet examine the animal before bringing it home.

Now, look at the condition of the facility. Is it full of feces and looks unclean? Does it have a really offensive odor or smell too heavily of cleaners as if something was being hidden? Is there sign of pest infestation? What is the attitude of the people to the animals? What is the attitude of the animals?

Attitude

Is the person trying to place the pup or dog trying to push the animal on you? Is the person telling you both the pros and cons of the breed – or cross? I cringe when I hear statements like "This is the BEST dog for anyone." This is far from true. What I would like in a dog is probably different from what you want. I like active dogs with a strong work drive and moderate to high energy levels.

I prefer longer coats and dogs that can handle various climates. I want something that will think nothing of hauling a pack or cart or working all day if asked to. This can be quite a handful for many people. No matter how I feel about the breeds I like and have, I would never insist it is the best breed for everyone. Anyone who tells you this should be selling used cars on the corner. I look for someone who will tell me both the good points and bad points of a dog.

Having gotten animals from reputable and responsible breeders as well as rescues, I feel that people in both areas should be more than honest when trying to match a dog to you. If they seem too anxious to make that sale or adoption, I would consider strongly going elsewhere.

Temperaments

Has there been any temperament testing to the puppies or dogs? If you are a quite, laid back person, it could be tough to be matched with an outgoing, dominant puppy. If you are looking for a dog to compete with in sports, that quiet, shy dog would probably not work out well. A good breeder or rescue will screen the puppies or dogs to make the best match possible.

Your Gut

What feeling do you get about where you are looking to get your pet – be it a reputable and responsible breeder or a rescue? And when considering a rescue, many are tempted to rescue that hardship case. Use your brain. Having rescued hardship cases I can personally say it is a HUGE amount of dedication, work and money. Multiple trips to vets, medications, worries about potential behavior issues and how to deal with them, time, effort and money can easily run into the thousands before you realize it.

It is noble to wish to help all the hardship cases out there. But in reality, can you devote the time and effort? Many hardship cases end right back in rescue. Use your brain as well as your heart.

I hope I have outlined, adding a dog to your life is no small thing. It is time, commitment, money and even heartache. Impulse buying a pup from a pet store (the worst place to look for a pet) or grabbing the local paper and reading the plethora of ads from people breeding for the same of it often lead to bad placings and even trouble.

It is your responsibility as a future dog owner to research your life as well as various breeds or types of dogs to help make the best match for you. It is your responsibility to find well-educated and committed people to help match you with the best canine companion. It is your responsibility to ensure the dog is well trained, socialized and the safest he can be.

Before you buy, stop and think and think again. Is this the right thing for you?

Answer 2

OK. The breed standard are the standards that were established with that particular breed. These have been in place since that certain breed has been reconized by the AKC or other club. The purpose of breeding to the standard is to try and get a puppy that is closest to the breed's correct standard. There is no perfect dog and the purpose of breeding is to try an achieve that goal. Ethical breeders don't breed to make money, they breed to improve the breed,....to try and get it to the correct standards. Sure the breed standard has head type, height, size, weight, color, coat, etc...but it also has tempermant. Let's say you are interested in another husky. If your not into caring about the breeds standards you may buy a dog that doesn't meet any or all of the qualities and what if he's mean or has some other issues. Buying from a reputable breeder usually eliminates some of those issues....who is trying to breed the perfect husky...wouldn't you rather buy a dog that is sound or one that maybe is far from it. I'm not saying you have to buy a purbred dog. In fact if your looking for a dog and you don't care what breed it is, then a shelter is the way to go. They have many different breeds and mixes. But even if you buy a CERTAIN breed, of course you want to make sure your personalities match.
The big dig with the breed's standard usually isn't the general public. The people who really really care about the breeds standards are the breeders who breed that particular breed. I hope that helps :)

Answer 3

Because breeding should be left to those that do show dogs.
They work very hard to keep up the standard of the dog because that is the only way the dog will win in the ring.

When a byb comes along and just breeds for the sake of it, they are not bettering the breed they are only after the bucks. You see to show a dog it cost a lot of money, so basically people that show are doing it because they enjoy showing and are not after the bucks.

It is nothing agaist anyones dogs personally, as all dogs in the world should be loved, it is against the breeder of the dogs for not upholding the standard and breeding just for the sake of it.

There are too many dogs in shelters without byb's adding to the multitudes.

I spend mega bucks on petrol getting to shows, the entry fees, the food I give is very expensive, the shampoo and conditioner I use is also very expensive.

Then I will hear of someone just breeding labs for the dollar, they mate not taking color genetics into consideration, even though these dogs may be registered, they are only doing it to make a buck. Those who breed unregistered purebred dogs, often don't get the genetic testing performed.

Torbaynewfs, you are correct, I had to travel extensivley to get my show quality lab puppy. There are two types, conformation and working lines, both are totally different.

Answer 4

No, most average owners do not care about the breed standards. HOWEVER...when THEY decide to breed their pets, that is when they need to be concerned with the standards!!!!
Your dog can be "disqualified" according to the breed standard, and that does not make hima poor pet....but it does make him just that...a PET!!!!! If you breed, you do no service to the breed by breeding crappy examples. Then all dogs would start to look alike. Those of us who prefer a specific breed want it to look a certain way. I DO NOT want a Newf that looks like a St. Bernard nor a Lab. I want the tail to be a specific way,the hocks,the head, the eyes a specific color. No one wants a Husky that has a Lab tail and a Newfie coat. You want the Husky to look like a Husky!!!
The average person doesn't have to care....but they shouldn't breed just because they have two dogs that have testicls and a uterus and are the same breed. Just look what has happened to Labs!!!!!!!!!!!

Breed Standards DO NOT cover things like hip and heart defects. Those are covered under the health clearances the breed should have. If a dog is a great example of the breed, but has bad hips, that dog should not be used in a breeding program, but breed standards do not cover genetic health problems.

And again....I do not think anyone is saying that dogs that are not up to the standard are useless. They go on the make great pets,get working titles, and become service dogs. BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE BRED!!!
Tons of people on here think just because the dog is got a great temperment it should be bred. People need to think and realize that a good temperment is not a reason TO breed, but a bad temperment is a reason NOT to breed!!!!!!

Answer 5

Mostly it's when you are breeding. You want to preserve the best of the best qualities in the dogs the way they are. Otherwise certain characteristics get lost over time. If there were no standards, Huskies wouldn't look like Huskies in just a few generations.
It can back fire though. German Shepards have a natural slope to their backs, which can be "faked" by bad breeders by breeding hip dysplasia (bad hips) into their lines. A few years ago, it was almost impossible to find a GS in the USA with decent hips. Now responsible owners are fighting an up hill battle to correct their hips.
There is a new trend for "designer" dogs, if there was no breed standard, we would eventually lose the different breeds.
Comparing dogs and kids is illogical in this case. We don't breed children for any reason, while dogs are bred for certain jobs, which require certain characteristics.
You are correct in saying that personality should be the deciding factor in all aspects of dog ownership.
I hope this helps.

Answer 6

Breed standards are really only a concern for those interested in buying, breeding, or showing purebred dogs. I agree, just because a dog matches the physical and sometimes temperament descriptions of the breed standard for a pure bred dog, doesn't make it a better dog all around than a mutt. It just means that that dog matches the requirements for a good example of the particular breed. For a pet owner, breed standards don't really come into play. I have a lab mix who is the absolute best dog I have ever owned, including her health and personality, and I foster dogs for Great Dane Rescue. I have a great love for the Great Dane breed, but I don't care if the dogs I foster have a little something else mixed in or were poorly bred. What that does mean to me is that those dogs that DON'T match the breed standard SHOULD NOT BE BRED, because they wouldn't improve the breed. People that breed dogs are the ones that should stick to the standard 100% percent and breed dogs that improve the breed all around, not just physically, but temperamentally, and genetically. For example, just because you own a Husky, doesn't mean it's of the correct quality and genetic makeup to be satisfactory for breeding. But that doesn't mean he isn't a great pet. There's nothing wrong with having a mutt .Mutts are great! But there are millions of mutts (and purebred dogs) and poor examples of certain breeds that don't match the standard in shelters waiting for homes or being euthanized, so they shouldn't be bred. I don't think anyone should be critical of a pet that doesn't match the breed standard, at least if it just a pet. BUT if a breeder is selling and breeding dogs that don't match the standard, then they definitely deserve to be criticized.

Answer 7

If she is bred to another yorkipoo, the resulting pups are NOT fullblooded. They are still mutts. A mutt, by definition, is any combination of various breeds. (Merriam-Webster's definition, not mine.) If you have 'enough generations' you will have just that, multiple generations, not enough to gain AKC recognition. In order for that to occurr, there would have to be a long time coordination of efforts by MANY breeders, who devise and agree upon a set standard, who conduct extensive medical testing and carefully record the results and their own pedigrees. There is A LOT more involved than just breeding dogs, getting a handful that are not first generations and POOF, they are a new breed. Purebreds as they are recognized today were bred by seletively pairing various breeds long ago to achieve certain characteristics and for a purpose. What is the purpose in breeding mutts now except to supply a current demand in the market or fulfil one's own selfish desires? Those who protect and promote specific breeds have every right to be upset when they see them randomly paired to create mutts with a cute name and high pricetag and no long term goals or consideration of a bigger picture. Likewise, this is a subject that many feel very passionately about. Therefore, you will get a wide variety of answers. If you are not capable of handling the answers of those with opposing views, then do not ask the question. You will only be disappointed when your effort to control the opinions of others fails.

Answer 8

I guess I know where you are coming from I have a collie she has mo papers, but Both parents are full blood. I guess An average Joe like me and you find our dogs to own as what is called " Pet Quality " no less of an animal just off on color or markings some little flaw... But thank God for the Good breeders and standards or everything would be the same .

Answer 9

One big issue is the dog's health. Different breeds have different standards for physical health of the dog when he/she gets older. i.e hip problems, cancer (color of animal) etc...True some standards are ridiculous. For instance i have 2 Akita females. One has all the physical features that an Akita is suppose to have. My other pup is a purebred as well but instead of having short hair (around 1")1 she has hair that is 5" long. I found out that Akita breeders actually usually kill these long haired pups at birth. There is nothing about my long haired Akita that I dont personally love -except the dog grooming.

Answer 10

quote
"Who determined these standards"

The national breed clubs for each breed develop their breed standard and then submits them to the American Kennel Club.

The standards should be important to everyone because it is through breeding to the standards that we continue to have dog that are capable of doing the jobs that the breeds were developed to do. True this is of no impotence to the person that only wants a house pet,,,,, unless that person happens to be buried under an avalanche and is relying on a trained search dog to save their life.