Wildmeadow Windhounds

silken windhounds for companionship, show, and sport

Dog Sports & Activities

Dog sports are an excellent way to demonstrate the stability and versatility of a dog’s temperament. Stable and versatile dogs make great pets, and sports are fun for both humans and their partners! Sports also provide dogs with exercise and enrichment. Here at Wildmeadow we participate in a variety of activities with our pack.

Click the sport below to find out more.

Conformation

Think “dog show,” like Westminster, although most dog shows aren’t as big a production!

In conformation, dogs are judged according to their breed standard. The dog who best conforms to or embodies their breed standard according to the judge wins, in theory. Conformation is a highly subjective sport, as standards often leave much to interpretation. Conformation judging is traditionally used to evaluate breeding stock, though of course these days pets are also shown for fun.

Dogs are freshly groomed, presented to a judge in a standardized pose called a stack for the judge to evaluate physical features by sight as well as touch. Does the sighthound have a correct, flexible topline and depth and breadth of chest for lung capacity for running? Dogs are trotted around the ring so that the judge can see movement, or gait, which provides insight to how all those different physical features function together.

There are all sorts of conformation accolades and titles, which vary based on venue. Champion is a title awarded to a dog who has accumulated a specific number of points and wins; Grand Champion is a step above that. Best of Breed indicates that the dog was felt to best embody the breed standard over all the other dogs of that breed present. Best in Specialty Show is Best of Breed at a special show with only one breed present; typically these shows attract large, competitive entries and breed savvy judges. Best in Show is a title given to the dog of all breeds that best embodies it’s breed standard.

Straight Racing

Lure Coursing