At the Conformation Show: Chasing the Ideal Dog

The article discusses the world of dog conformation shows, where breeders and owners compete for the ultimate goal of creating the perfect dog. The author describes the process of selecting and breeding dogs to meet specific breed standards, with a focus on the German Shepherd breed. The article highlights the controversy surrounding the practice of 'linebreeding', where breeders use dogs that are closely related to each other to create a specific trait. The author also touches on the ethics of dog breeding and the potential health risks associated with inbreeding.