Certain parts of the dog show are definitely a beauty contest.In the breed judging in sporting dogs, the standard by which they are judged, which includes structure (skeleton) coat, disposition, musculature,as well as temperment,all have a great bearing on the dogs being able and fit to do his job.As you can probably tell chesapeakes are my breed. my boy diesel who is my avatar picture,is a dual titled dog. diesel kills them in the show ring,and hunts with me each season.He has the tools to do this for a long time. I have seen many hunt bred dogs that have tons of drive and natural ability for their jobs, but their physical structure belies a dog that is not going to last.You need both to do justice to any breeding program.As well as a dog that can do his job you need a dog that you can live with the rest of the year!This is where temperment comes in.A conciencious breeder will look at both venues for prospects for breeding.both dog shows as well as hunt tests. Some how this doesnt seem to have figured in with labs, even akc admits that labs are a dual breed. the black lab last night was winded just trotting around the show ring.I would hate to send him on a long field retrieve in North Dakota after a crippled canada goose. The poor dog if he made it would probably have a coronary before he got back to the blind!The chessie in the show last night "Grit" who we bred our Kelly girl to last year is a dual titled dog, he not only looks good he can do the job he was bred for.So what I am saying is there is a place for the shows as well as the field if we look to both we will be breeding dogs that wecan be proud of for generations to come. Rich
