The Relationship Between Conformation and "Attitude"

[BLCOLE]

I have heard show people talk about "attitude" in show dogs. I was wondering how it interrelates with conformation to make a winning show dog.

My current Newf, Calza, has her Ch. I have rehomed other show dogs who, in my opinion, had much better conformation. I was even told before I got her that she was a better example of the "old" (pre 1990) breed standard than she is of the newer one.

Calza went with me to a nursing home this morning to take part in a "dog show" for the residents. Calza REALLY strutted her stuff in front of those people. In other words, she may not have the level of Conformation as my old Zeus did, but Calza has MAJOR "attitude" when you get her in a position resembling a ring.

I am intersted in everybody's ideas concerning the interrrelationship of conformation and "attitude" in a winning show dog...

 

[NewfieMama]

I do not know and am not a show person...but I do know that my breeder rehomes show prospects/dogs sometimes because their personalities lean more toward "couch potato" than "competitive show dog". Sounds like Calza's got that drive to win!

 

[Capri]

Yes, I would definitely agree that attitude plays a role in the show ring also. It's not the "working dog attitude" that you need, but you need a dog that'll run without needing to tug on lead, that'll stack on his own with head held up high effortlessly. The dog'll need to be confident to "shine" in the ring. A lot of it has to do with training the dog to be in a high-drive state (with still under control) in the ring.

A dog with a poorer structure but with Attitude will most likely win a dog with a superb structure and not much attitude.

 

[ardeagold]

Attitude makes a huge difference. It may be the difference in a win or loss if you have two dogs with good conformation.

You can have a beautiful conforming dog with great movement (outside the ring), but if it doesn't like showing, keeps it's head and tail down, slinks around the ring, obviously doesn't want to be there, etc....the chances of that dog winning are slim. And I agree with Bettina...the one that shines will win, even if it's not quite as "good" conformation wise. However, if it's clearly superior to the others, it just might.

Of course this is just what I've observed. It always depends on the judge that day.

 

[R Taft]

We have the perfect example at home..Lukey was a failed showring dog, he was timid and worried and the person that tried to show him said he was useless, never was in the line-up. We made it fun for him, he got exited, changed his body shape/attitude and became sassy in the showring and got his Championship in four showings in Alll breed shows and a newfie Specialty.
Attitude, just makes all the difference. Even Katy who is no beauty, catches the Judges eye when she was in the showring by just performing for them and "showing off".
But under all of that you still need good conformation.

 

[CMDRTED]

You can tell when the dogs are in the ring, the ones who act like "Pick Me!" a nd the ones goung through the motions, at least that's how I interpret it.