Quote Originally Posted by LilacDragon
The purpose of showing the dog in a conformation ring is to show that it is the BEST of the best and more closely meets the breed standard. As for being proven in the field - bettering the breed means that the dog has the temperment and workability that the breed was meant to have.

Sorry - but both of those things are just as important as health clearances. I don't want a skittish or aggressive rottweiler that looks like a doberman.
Agreed. Extremes at either end of the spectrum is not good and usually spells disaster for the breed itself. However, a standard was formulated to ensure that a dog of the said standard can successfully fulfill its original duty. The vice versa is true. If a dog does not live to its standard, it cannot perform its duty successfully and efficiently. While it'd be my dream to see show GSDs who can herd and working GSDs who succeed in the ring, I'm just saying it's all right if dogs are proven in the ring more so than in the field (or vice-versa). While breeders should be breeding for it all, the sad fact is that many don't. You're right, though. Dogs should be bred for both.