Structure, Type & Functional Conformation
Ethical breeder and informed buyers work together to protect the future of the breed.
Structure, Type & Functional Conformation — Beyond the Outline
Correct structure isn’t about aesthetics alone — it’s about function, longevity, and the ability to do the job without breaking down. Functional conformation supports efficient movement, soundness under work, and durability across a lifetime. While breed standards provide a blueprint, real-world evaluation reveals whether a dog can carry that structure into performance and daily life. Structure matters because form and function are inseparable — and shortcuts here always show up later.
Lakehaus Kennel Insights
Structure is not about chasing trends or flash in the ring — it is about protecting the dog’s ability to do its job safely and sustainably. We evaluate form through the lens of function, balance, and longevity, using the breed standard as a blueprint refined by generations of purposeful breeding. Sound structure supports sound movement, endurance, and a longer working life.
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THIS SERIES IS A WORK IN PROGRESS AND WILL BE UPDATED AS 2026 PROGRESSES
Structure, Type & Functional Conformation
Articles 13 - 22
Standard #13 - Structure Protects the Dog You Live With
Structure isn’t about aesthetics. It’s about protecting the dog you live with. Correct structure allows a dog to move efficiently, absorb impact properly, and perform the job it was bred to do...
Standard #14 - Structure Matters Beyond the Ring
Structure doesn’t stop mattering when a dog leaves the show ring. One of the clearest examples of this comes from the roots of our breed. The forefather to the AKC German Shorthaired Pointer is the Deutsch Kurzhaar...
Standard #15 - Soundness Starts at the Ground
If you want to understand a dog’s soundness, start by looking at their feet. Every stride a dog takes begins and ends at the ground. Feet and pasterns absorb impact, stabilize movement, and determine how force is distributed through
Standard #16 - Front Assembly Supports Endurance
Endurance lives in the front assembly. The front of the dog carries a significant portion of the dog’s weight, especially at a working trot and during long days of activity. Because...
Standard #17 - Rear Assembly Drives Power and Longevity
Power comes from the rear — but longevity depends on how that power is built and used. The rear assembly is responsible for propulsion, drive, and stability. It’s what allows a dog to push of the ground efficiently, cover terrain with purpose...
Standard #18 - Coupling Connects Power to Motion
Power is useless if it can’t travel through the body efficiently. The coupling is the bridge between the rear assembly and the front — and that bridge is what determines how power is shaped, transmitted, and ultimately expressed...
Standard #19 - Movement Tells a Story
You can hide a lot in a stack. You can’t hide it in motion. Movement is where structure, balance, and function all come together. It shows how the dog is built, how efficiently their body works, and whether their structure...
Standard #20 - Function Should Guide Type
Breed type was never meant to exist in a vacuum. Type isn’t about chasing a look or producing dogs that fit a trend. It’s the physical expression of function — shaped by generations of dogs doing the work they were bred to do...
Standard #21 - Structural Faults Have Consequences
Structural faults don’t exist in isolation. Every deviation from correct structure changes how a dog moves, how force travels through their body, and how much physical cost they pay to do everyday tasks. Some faults are...
Standard #22 - Pretty Is Not Always Practical
Eye-catching does not always equal functional. In several breeds, we’re seeing structure pushed further and further toward exaggeration because it’s striking, flashy, and rewarding in the show ring. Weimaraners and Dobermans are often cited examples...