‍Breed Character

‍By Richard Beauchamp

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‍Many judges consider breed character one of the most important characteristics by which they evaluate the worth of a dog. Yet just as many exhibitors are really not clear on what breed character actually is.

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‍To help solve this predicament I define the term as follows:

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‍Breed character is the sum total of all the mental and physical characteristics that define not only what the breed should look like but also how it should conduct itself. A dog possessing great breed character gives you all the clues to its origin and history and assists you in establishing that all-important vision of excellence for the breed.

Personally speaking, I consider breed character such an important characteristic of breed type that I have devoted an entire expanded chapter to it in the new, revised edition of my book,Solving the Mysteries of Breed Type. In that chapter I attempt to illustrate with both word and picture something that is actually more “essence” than it is measurable. Characteristics like height, length, size and color are easy to calculate and picture but breed character both includes and goes beyond these obvious characteristics…