I don't get it...

[JenC]

Remember though, the AKC has NOTHING to do with the standard. It's the Labrador Retriever Club. Parent clubs set the standard and that's what AKC judges against.

There's plenty of hullaballoo going on with the standard. Quick background, they say the LRC is more hunting folks than conformation folks. The short story is that the last time they revised the standard, it got revised in favor of the hunting dogs, not in favor of the conformation dog, and while voted on and passed (by the hunting majority) the conformation folks weren't given input. At that point, the best known, most famous lab breeders in the conformation world dropped the LRC and said screw it, we're breeding what we like, what we know is correct. Lawsuits were filed. You can look them up. Whether what they believe was correct at the time is still what they are breeding and even close to what the standard says or even with the FCI standard stays, I'm not going to debate that. IMHO, labs run the spectrum from the FT labs, the HT labs, the pet labs, the show labs and the specialty labs. From thinnest to heaviest. Right, wrong, who knows.

Part of the reason my next pup is a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon! LOL 28 days until we know if buns are in the oven....

[Archie]

Remember though, the AKC has NOTHING to do with the standard. It's the Labrador Retriever Club. Parent clubs set the standard and that's what AKC judges against.

There's plenty of hullaballoo going on with the standard. Quick background, they say the LRC is more hunting folks than conformation folks. The short story is that the last time they revised the standard, it got revised in favor of the hunting dogs, not in favor of the conformation dog, and while voted on and passed (by the hunting majority) the conformation folks weren't given input. At that point, the best known, most famous lab breeders in the conformation world dropped the LRC and said screw it, we're breeding what we like, what we know is correct. Lawsuits were filed. You can look them up. Whether what they believe was correct at the time is still what they are breeding and even close to what the standard says or even with the FCI standard stays, I'm not going to debate that. IMHO, labs run the spectrum from the FT labs, the HT labs, the pet labs, the show labs and the specialty labs. From thinnest to heaviest. Right, wrong, who knows.

Part of the reason my next pup is a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon! LOL 28 days until we know if buns are in the oven....

Makes me glad I'm with the CKC, I think?? lol.

I hope there are buns in the oven - that will be a fun puppy to watch as it grows

[TuMicks]

[QUOTE=JenC;74943]Remember though, the AKC has NOTHING to do with the standard. It's the Labrador Retriever Club. Parent clubs set the standard and that's what AKC judges against.

There's plenty of hullaballoo going on with the standard. Quick background, they say the LRC is more hunting folks than conformation folks. The short story is that the last time they revised the standard, it got revised in favor of the hunting dogs, not in favor of the conformation dog, and while voted on and passed (by the hunting majority) the conformation folks weren't given input. At that point, the best known, most famous lab breeders in the conformation world dropped the LRC and said screw it, we're breeding what we like, what we know is correct. Lawsuits were filed. You can look them up. Whether what they believe was correct at the time is still what they are breeding and even close to what the standard says or even with the FCI standard stays, I'm not going to debate that.

[TuMicks]

I did not know that. Fascinating.

Is there a binary conformation "title" like there is in HR... i.e., yes/no this dog meets the standard. The HR movement began because the FT world was getting crazy for the average hunter. So they began setting a standard consistent with an exceptionally well trained hunting retriever.

Then, of course, people being people... they started the MN, then that was not enough so they started the Master National Hall of Fame. But still, a hunter can match his dog against a standard. My sense is that it has brought good training techniques to the masses. In spite of the crazy end of it (I'm raising my hand here... I want to be running the MN with RD some day) the hunting retriever movement has been good for the breed.

Is there anything comparable for labrador structure? (My old dog, I believe meets the standard. She's much more moderate. But there would have been no venue that I know of for her.)

[JenC]

Some clubs do something called a Conformation Certificate. I find around here it's done more in conjunction with hunt tests. Dogs can be awarded this CC to say they "conform".

[fidgetyknees]

Not sure why they wouldn't carry on competing if it is an activity the dog and handler both enjoy?

I have quiet a few (none bench championships, agility championships) and I carry on competing. My current agility dog loves it. Admittingly we are going to tone it down a little the 2nd half of the year and pursue other dogs sports and agility venues.