What do judges look for in the puppies?

Any help with this thread topic will be greatly appreciated.

 

Go to ADBA site and click on about ADBA Then go to ABDA conformation breakdown.Here's the link http://www.adba.cc/p_pdetails.asp?fpid=32.Hope this helps a little.

Here's a little info. from the ADBA site on conformationAbout the ADBA
ADBA Conformation Standard Breakdown


I. Introduction



A. To truly understand any breed standard, one must know the history behind a breeds existence.

B. The purpose of a judge is the unbiased selection of quality breeding stock with true breed type.

C. The responsibility of judging is to put up the dogs that conform most to the conformation standard leaving personal bias aside.

II. Overall Appearance 20 points

A. Conforming to breed type

1. Should look like an American Pit Bull Terrier from across the ring



2. Sturdy, three dimensional. Giving the impression of strength, not slight or frail.

3. Appears square, with heavy boned, solid front end with a light and springy back end.

4. Should look athletic, not bulky. Musculature should be smooth but defined.

5. Presentation of an adult dog should be of a lean, exercised animal showing a hint of rib and backbone (without hipbones showing) with muscles firm and defined. Clean, glossy coat with short trimmed nails. Presentation of dogs in the puppy classes should be of a well nourished puppy, showing no ribs, backbone or hips. Coat should be glossy with short, trimed nails.

 

B. Balance

1. Equal angulation of front and rear assembly - judged best at the trot.

2. Height to weight ratio - the tallest dog at a given weight

3. Head size in proportion to the body, with a neck long enough to have the head appear above the top of the back when head is in a normal upright position.

C. Presentation

1. Dog is socialized , showing interest in things around him.

2. Although some degree of dog aggressiveness is characteristic of the breed, unruly behavior will detract from the judges ability to accurately judge an individual dogs conformation.

D. Health

1.The vitality of the dogs spirit, the gloss of the dogs coat and the sharpness of the dogs eye, will exude the healthfulness of the individual animal.

2. Colors or color patterns known to be genetically linked to health problems will be considered a serious fault . Major faults: merle color pattern, albinism(white dog with blue or pink eyes, pink nose, lips, no pigment present on pads, rims of eyes etc.)

III. Attitude 10 points

A. Confident and alert

B. Interested in things around them, in control of their space, not threatened by anything in their surroundings.

C. Gentle with loved ones Faults: shy or timid



IV. Back end 30 points A. Loin

1. Broad and long enough to square the dog. Too short can interfere with a dogs flexibility. Too long a loin causes the dog to carry excessive weight and affect a dogs agility and quickness..

B. Hip

1. Long and sloping with adequate width. This can be judged by the set of the tail, which should be low.

2. Ideal slope of hip should be 30 degrees to the ground.

C. Proportions of the back leg.

1. The femur should be of a length so that the stifle joint is proportioned in the upper 1/3 of the rear assembly.

2. The tibia-fibula is the longer bone of the rear assembly

3. The length of the metatarsal is moderate, with muscles that attach equally on each side of the bone so that the hocks move parallel to each other, deviating neither in or out. The metatarsals bones, hock and lower part of the tibia will be light, fine and springy.

4. Rear angulation - ratio between the lengths of the bones and the muscles which attach on these bones, causes a bent stifle which leads to a well bent hock. This contributes to the natural springiness that is desired in the rear assembly.

5. The muscle attachment is long and deep, well past the joint , which causes the muscles to appear smooth, but defined. (Not bunchy).

Faults: short or flat hip, straight stifle, double jointed or slipped hock, cow hocked, bunchy muscles.

V. Front end 20 points

A. Ribcage

1. Deep and elliptical with a prominent breastbone or prosternum. From the side, the bottom of the ribcage should at least be even with the elbow joint.

2. Well sprung at the top, tapering to the bottom, extending well back into the loin.

B. Shoulders

1. Wider than the ribcage at the 8th rib. Scapula well laid back, 45 degree or less angle to the ground, and broad and flat allowing for adequate muscular attachment for a heavy and sturdy front end.

2. The humerus is angled at an opposite 45 degree angle and is long enough that the elbow comes to the bottom of the ribcage, elbows lying flat against the body.

3. Forearms are slightly longer than the humerus and solid, twice the thickness of the metatarsal at the hock.

C. Feet

1. Small and tight, set high on pasterns.

2. Pads thick, and well built up

3. Dew claws are natural on front feet, and do not naturally occur on back legs.



Faults: barrel chest, narrow chest, fine bones, out at elbows, down in pasterns, splay feet, thin pads, back dew claws.

VI. Head and Neck 15 points

A. Neck

1. Heavily muscled to the base of the skull

2. Long in length

B. Head

1. Head size balanced in relationship to the rest of the body

2. 2/3 the width of the shoulders

3. Wedge shaped when viewed from the top or side, round when viewed from the front.

4. Cheeks 25% wider than the neck at the base of the skull

5. The length from the nose to the stop should equal the length from the stop to the back of the head.

6. The bridge of the muzzle is well developed. The fill in under the eyes should be wider than the head at the base of the ears.

7. The head should be deep from the top of the head to the bottom of the jaw.

8. Straight box like muzzle

9. Lips tight

10. Teeth, incisors should meet in the front in a scissor bite. Canines should be wide at the base and taper to the end, top canines fitting tightly together behind the bottom canines. They should be sound and healthy with none missing.

11. Eyes, small and deep set. Elliptical when viewed from the front, triangular when viewed from the side.

12. Ears- no preference should be given to cropped or uncropped ears, except to enhance the overall attractiveness of the individual dog.

Faults: short neck, cheeky, underdeveloped muzzle, lippy, missing canines, overshot or undershot to the extent that the canines do not fit tightly together.

VII. Tail and Coat 5 points

A. Coat

1. Skin thick and loose around neck and chest, tight fitting elsewhere, showing vertical folds around the neck and chest even in a well exercised animal.

2. Short and bristled, the gloss showing overall health of the animal.

3. Color or any combination of colors, except for colors or color patterns known to be genetically linked to health problems.

B. Tail

1. Thick at the base, tapering to the point. It’s length should have the tail extending to the point of the hock.

2. Hang down like a pump handle when relaxed.

Major faults: Merle color pattern or albinism. (White dog, blue or pink eyes, lacks pigment)

Faults: Longer coat, fringed hair on tail or elsewhere, bobbed tail or any tail other than straight.

Disqualifications: Man aggression, one sided or both sided cryptorchid, spayed or neutered dogs

Above all, the American Pit Bull Terrier should appear to be an all around athlete. His body is called upon for speed, power, agility and stamina. He must be balanced in all directions. Too much of one thing, robs him of another. In his ideal form, he is a thing of beauty.

 

Try clicking here.
http://www.adba.cc/thumbImg.asp?i=conformation+%5F+weightpull+pic%2FBothConfDetail%2Ejpg&w=450&h=450You can find stuff like this on registry sites most of the time.

 

Thank you, I have that stuff. I am looking for little tips, insights etc.

 

They are looking for a puppy that has an overall healthy appearance, good coat condition, etc.

 

How's that saying go? "If you're going to learn to swim, you've just got to jump in the water." LOL. If you're not sure how to interpret the standard as it applies to your dog, you should probably hit a show. Talk to the other exhibitors and ask if they've got a moment, could they look at your pup? They might direct you to the judge, because not everybody is going to feel comfortable giving an honest opinion to a stranger. (And some exhibitors may honestly not know. For example, if you asked me, I am just starting to get familiar with how the standard applies to real dogs, and I still wouldn't dare pick my own show pup without a breeder/exhibitor backing up that choice.)

Different judges interpret the standard differently. But if you go and show your pup, you can always ask the judge why they did/didn't like your dog. And make sure you listen with an open mind. If a judge tells you your dog is lacking merit or whatever, don't take it personally. You're basically paying for their trained opinion on your dog, and judges do have their own preferences. (You may get another judge who raves over your pup, or your pup may just end up not being show-quality, which is fine too so long as you love her anyway.)

 

thanks, I am just trying to have some fun, two of my pups littermates will be there. Also want to check out the weight pull and involve myself w/ our breed overall.

 

Go for it! (Meeting up with "family" at the shows is the best.) But be forewarned, "dog stuff" is addictive. You'll find yourself coming up on a nice weekend and thinking, "I wonder if there's a dog show this weekend." Or worse, waking up to a foot of snow and thinking "Crap, now I've really got to rush to get that snow cleared if I want to make it in time for entries."

 

You got that right. I find myself preparing my trips 3 weeks before the show. Now im in Japan and I have to prepare even earlier to catch the "shows" out here. good luck with the show.

 

Thanks folks, love the enthusiasm(sp?) YEE HAWWW

 

In pups 9 months & under they are looking for a healthy happy puppy who is sure of him/herself, curious in its surroundings and not shy/insecure. I like to see a pup with good body fat (they are puppies!) In the 9-12 classes, they like a pup that is starting to show some definition and the higher in the age group you are the more definition is acceptable. All in all, go to the show, have fun, keep it fun for your pup so that they enjoy being in the show atmosphere. If your pups are younger, let them be pups don't worry about stacking them too much , the judges understand they are puppies and don't expect alot from them in that regard. For prep depending on the age of your pup, practice walking on the leash. Sounds trivial but you'd be surprised at how many people have pups on a lead for the first time at a show & expect them to be perfect LOL!

Enjoy youself & your pup will too

 

Thanks Cdpits i was wondering to. I am hoping to show my girl of ten months the 29 i was worried she was not in her top form with puppy fat on her

 

ya judges like to see outgoing puppies that are nice and healthy...they want to see the body fat, after all, they're still growing...at about 9-12 mths they can start to slim down. The last show i went to, i saw horrible horrible horrible puppies...they were so young and starved...in fact, there were quite a few dogs at the show that looked starved instead of condioned...meaning no muscle tone...you can tell a starved dog from a conditioned dog...but cmon ppl...they were bringing 4 mth old pups there where you could see the ribs...but most there, were nice and healthy...