Conformation refers to the overall structure and appearance of a dog, and the way in which a dog can move is set by the dog’s overall conformation. Dogs come in all shapes and sizes with conformation varying greatly between breeds.
The ideal conformation for each Royal Kennel Club (RKC) recognised breed is set out in an official Breed Standard for each breed, and the English Toy Terrier (B&T) Breed Standard is available on our website.
Before being able to fully understand the conformation and movement of an English Toy Terrier, it’s helpful to have at least a high-level understanding of general canine conformation and movement.
Any dog owner, exhibitor, or breeder interested in the basics of canine conformation may find the resources below helpful.
1. Points of the Dog
The start point for conformation and movement is the points of the dog – forty key points of a dog’s anatomy.
The Points of the Dog seminar is one of the mandatory criteria for the Judges’ Education Programme (JEP Level 1). If you create a free account on the RKC website, you can take a mock test for Points of the Dog online (must be logged in for access).
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2. Dog Steps – an introduction to conformation & movement
First published in 1973 (latest edition 2014), Rachel Page Elliot’s book “Dog Steps” is still one of the best books ever written on canine conformation and movement. Available to order from many book stores including Waterstones and Blackwells in the UK.
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3. RKC Conformation & Movement Seminars
The RKC runs some excellent ‘in person’ seminars on Conformation and Movement throughout the year, all over the UK. See: RKC Events & Seminars Diary.
In addition, an informative series of videos on Conformation and Movement is available in the RKC Academy – you must create a free account for the RKC website and be logged in to access these videos.
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