Breed Standard - Who What & Why?
Australian Labradoodle Breed Standard - Who Should Write a Dog Breed Standard - and Why?
There are a number of "Labradoodle Breed Standards" which have been written and adopted by various groups of people. But WHO should write a Dog Breed Standard?
A Breed Standard is intended to be a guideline for breeders to help them strive for excellence, and as a benchmark for conformation judges. Absolute perfection in any living creature may be unattainable, but the existence of a standard which exemplies the ideal, enables breeders and judges to work together to improve and maintain the quality of dog breeds.
When a Breed Standard is written it is critically important that the author/s have a sound appreciation of certain principles including but not limited to, the following:
First and foremost -
1. The purpose for which the dog breed was developed
2. An understanding of the different ways that conformation impacts on the health of the dog
3. The relationship between anatomy and the dynamics of movement
4. Form to function and the relationship between the purpose of the breed and its temperament
5. The importance of BALANCE and the absence of exaggerations. If the Breed Standard requires a ' long neck' for example, longer is not necessarily better! And if the croup is to be 'sloping' let's not breed the dog so that he looks as if he is sitting down when he is standing up! Words in a Breed Standard, such as 'moderately' are terms often used in the pursuit of 'balance'.
Without a working knowledge of such basics, mistakes can be made which may result the over emphasis of certain traits that may not be able to be erased in the future. Writing a Breed Standard is not something to be undertaken lightly.
SOME BRIEF EXAMPLES OF EXAGGERATED 'VIRTUES'
Let us suppose that 'someone' thinks that a breed would look nicer with an exaggeratedly flat face, 
combined with as deep a jaw as possible to create, big chunky shoulders, wide chests and narrower hips...the result may include bitches who need Caesarian Section to deliver their puppies and dogs who have dental issues and breathing problems .... i.e. the wonderful British Bulldog.
Read about the Bull Dog's short lifespan and Caesarians
A Breed Standard may say that eyes should be large and face flat, so instead of maintaining balance Let us suppose that because show judges are favoring large eyes and flat faces, breeders decide that flatter is better and larger is far better. Before long balance has been lost and exaggerations are compromising the health of the breed.
Exaggerations are eventually damaging!
Some ways in which exaggerations can damage health -
► Long ankles and weak pasterns put extra strain on tendons ligaments and muscles which then translate into joint strain and malfunction
► Straight upright shoulders can not make room for hind movement to follow through the front end of the dog - results in stilted movement putting additional strain on the anatomy at the forehand of the dog
► A long back evolves into a weak connection between the front and hind end of the dog and weak loins
► Heavy bodies on short fine boned legs impose strain on the entire structure of the dog
Breeders should strive for balance and form to function in order to protect their breed from exaggerations that predispose to health problems.
The result could well be serious breathing problems, and shallow eye sockets which can cause the eyes to fall out of their sockets and onto the cheeks of the dog, requiring surgery to put them back into place, and which can lose the dog his sight. This is exactly what has happened to the popular and darling little Pug
Read about the Pug Dog's Eye Problems