Why Altered Conformation Matters

The United Kennel Club (UKC) is an international registry that's a bit older than the Canadian Kennel Club. Among some of the unique aspects of the UKC (which includes a moratorium on professional handlers) is a commitment to offering altered conformation at all their shows.

CKC clubs can offer altered and some areas of the country have embraced this optional class, but in most areas the opportunity to show an altered dog is few and far between.

The loudest argument I hear against offering altered is that “conformation shows are designed to evaluate breeding stock.”

That argument is flawed in a myriad of ways. First, although it would be difficult to quantify how many dogs being shown are ultimately bred, I'm confident that it would be a surprisingly low percentage. Many owners never intend to breed, conformation is simply a sport for them. Many dogs will fail a health test or be determined to have a poor temperament. Others will be bred but not successfully.

Beyond all of that, it's ludicrous to say that an altered dog isn't a reflection of a breeding program. I'd far rather see several littermates in the ring (including those who've been altered) than one single pup. Seeing more depth and breadth of a litter gives me a much better understanding of what that pairing produced.

There are also many beautiful dogs who've been bred then altered for whatever reason, but they still love to show.

Thanks to science, we can collect males for future breeding, so seeing them out in altered is no less valuable then watching them in regular competition.

Aside from all the questions surrounding breeding stock, altered classes have significant value as they can be an entry into conformation for a new handler. Altered allows an owner to compete with what may be a gorgeous dog that wasn't intended to be a show dog. An entry into altered conformation can prepare an owner for their next dog, who may be one destined for the regular show ring.

Dismissing altered conformation as less worthy or unimportant dismisses those new people who could become the next strident supporter of the dog fancy.

I was beaming with pride watching a lovely bitch I produced take Best Altered in Show recently. I was pried of the dog I'd bred that's as equal a reflection of my program as any other dog I've produced AND proud of the owner who's worked hard to learn with her best canine pal and is now beginning to show the beautiful show prospect from my most recent litter. ❤️