Dufault's truck is equipped with a dog box that features temperature-controlled compartments for each dog. Each compartment is lined with a special foam pad that wicks moisture away from the dogs. I work my dogs in the field, too, and if they get wet, the foam sucks the water down to the bottom, so they're not laying in moisture. Dufault's dogs will be putting their best paws forward for a dozen or more American Kennel Club shows this year. To qualify as champion, a dog must win 15 points in AKC competitions.
Judges rate the dogs on how well they conform to the standard of perfection for their breed.
They have to stand for examination as a judge goes over them, examining their teeth and bite. The dogs trot around the ring, so the judges can evaluate their gait and tail carriage. Their ancestry can be traced back to Scotland in the mid-1860s where they were developed to aid hunters in locating and retrieving game birds. I want my dogs to be well-rounded. Goldens are smart dogs, so the more you do with them, the better they like it.