What does confirmation mean? We're getting a new puppy in 4 weeks time and when we visited the breeder today she said another person had first choice out of the bitches and that what they would be looking for was 'confirmation'.

You mean conformation.

It is how the puppy is put together, whether it is well balanced, has good shoulders, correct angulation etc.

Baiscally I would say that the person before you is looking for a potenetial show prospect, so needs to be the best made puppy in the litter.

Very simply, how it conforms to the breed standard.

Regards, John

Unfortunately spell check doesn't seem to recognise conformation as a word, and even in canine publications I have seen it weitten as confirmation (even on the copy of the KC movement video) it is spelt this way, whcih oif course is silly as it isn't confirming anything.  I always though of confirmation as a religious ceremony I wnet through :D

Anyway without the levity, as John says it should be Conformation as in conforming to the breed standard.

I came up with this definition, which seems to make sense.

One entry found for conformation.


Main Entry: con·for·ma·tion
Pronunciation: "kän-(")for-'mA-sh&n, -f&r-
Function: noun
1 : the act of conforming or producing conformity : ADAPTATION
2 : formation of something by appropriate arrangement of parts or elements : an assembling into a whole <the gradual conformation of the embryo>
3 a : correspondence especially to a model or plan b : STRUCTURE c : the shape or proportionate dimensions especially of an animal d : any of the spatial arrangements of a molecule that can be obtained by rotation of the atoms about a single bond

"Overall appearance & structure determined by the physical development of an animal's individual parts as well as the combined relationship & outlines of such" (Spira - Canine Terminology)

If it's America/Canada, they also might use the term for a 'show' prospect.
As they sometimes call dog shows 'confirmation' shows..

praps its a rather religious puppy? :)