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Originally Posted by gemjunkie
Funny, you mentioned a lot of things that they said they liked about my girl.. Very outgoing and friendly, 'bold little one isn't she? That's a good thing!'. Like 'nice feet'... Something i NEVER would have thought of but I guess it's a package thing in show isn't it? Something they said about the nice contrasting white to red, to red to black.
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Yep, a show dog is a package and what one hopes to get is a package that conforms to the standard as closely as possible. And IF there is one puppy in the litter with the list of virtues and qualities I mentioned in what I looked for - well that is the pick puppy and 98.99% of the time the breeder isn't going to let it go. IF they do, it will more than likely be on a co-ownership.
If you'll notice I said nothing about color and or markings factoring into what I look for. Obvious mismarks and/or fluffies would be automatically eliminated from puppies to consider for the conformation ring. The internet byb puppy farmers are predictably infamous for labeling their puppies with full white collars and nice blazes as "show quality." Ain't necessarily so, that's just icing - I want a full bodied cake underneath. It is what is underneath and how it is put together under the nice contrasting white to red and red to black that matters. For example, in a Pem I'd take a plainer puppy with a little rounder foot that had excellent shoulders, upper arms and strong rear over a flashier one with a collar and blaze that was cowhocked.
What breeds do your instructors have? And what venues do they participate in with them?
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They said A LOT of things that I didn't understand between each other too, hmm-ing and ha-ing the whole time, nodding and poking, getting her to walk and stand and run and jump and sit and rubbing her front and rear. Also said I need to do more reading as well... 
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As I said, you need an Illustrated Standard (
http://www.pwcca.org and look under publications). When we started handling classes - many, many years ago now
we were expected to have some understanding of the standard when we set our dogs up. Years later, when I was teaching I would ask questions about whatever breed I was examining - how they were supposed to be set up, what a judge in their breed would be looking for - truly educational for me. Learning about other breeds, helped me get to know my own better - structurally. Everytime you read the standard, you should pick up something new or a light bulb go off that you finally get a certain section. It is a life time study and I can thank my internationally known judge friends
for impressing that in me.
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I'll be sure to ask the trainer again about what they said about her next week. Beyond them saying just because she appears good, it doesn't mean she will show well...
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Very true - there is a whole different environment when it gets to the show buildings and rings.
Debbie