Essential Guide on Canine Form and Function

Book excerpt: As a dog breeder or owner, you should be aware that form always follows function. "Canines don't move when they're on their heads!" At ringside, we frequently hear things like this. You might sometimes hear this precise sentence... in various breed rings. Form does, in fact, follow function. Every breed was created with a specific purpose in mind. All were created to assist man in locating game, herding flocks, guarding flocks, guarding people, drafting, killing rats, and a variety of other tasks. Even toy breeds have a goal in mind: to please their owners. It was for survival that man created breeds. Their physical appearance was far less essential than their ability to perform a certain task. Did it matter how a dog appeared as long as it could hunt, herd, guard, or perform any other task? Most likely it didn't. They were seeking for tonight's dinner, or they were anxious about their herd, or they were worried about safety. Why don't today's judges award the dog's capacity to perform in the manner required for the original purpose if the function is the only criterion? Some of the rules you may know are simply altered, which is why we included a disclaimer. Breeders used the finest performing available dog and the best performing available bitch in the early development of working field dog breeds with the goal of developing superior working dogs. Hounds were first shown in 1860. As more breeds were allowed to compete and dog showing became a sport for everyone, dog shows grew in popularity. The shows were new, and there were a lot of challenges to work out. The judging criteria were the most significant of all. This argument arose during the inaugural dog show in Newcastle in 1859, when sports dogs were judged only on their appearance and shape, rather than their ability in the field. Throughout the Victorian era, there were criticisms that the quality of English sports dogs was deteriorating because breeders focused on "a good neck, bones, and feet," rather than "intelligence, a good nose, and stamina." It's all about the form!- this should ring a bell... more than 150 years later? True, but we added the unsaid proviso that "Form follows Function... as long as it appears the way the standard specifies." The phrase "form follows function" does not adequately describe how a breed appears. Form follows function simply indicates which anatomical elements are required to make it a sound moving animal with the appropriate temperament and any unique functional requirements, such as size or coat. And in this book guide, we will talk more about how to get the right size and also get you dog the best out of your irrespective of the breed function as you expect it to, just relax get a cup of coffee and read on.