Conformation

It can be easy to write off conformation as little more than a beauty contest. But there’s a reason working-dog enthusiasts place emphasis on good conformation: It helps a dog perform.

A dog that’s conformationally sound is designed to perform the task for which it was bred, and in the case of the American pit bull terrier, that means a dog that’s agile, powerful and athletic. The WPBTCA has adopted a conformation standard that recognizes the fact that, in order to work, our dogs need to be built with function in mind. For a detailed breakdown of what we look for in our conformation competitions, see our WPBTCA Handbook for complete rules and regulations.