Good breeders may compete with their dogs in conformation (which judge how closely dogs match their
breed standard), obedience trials (which judge how well dogs perform
specific sets
of tasks on command), or
tracking and agility trials.
After all, this basic notion is the reason for thousands
of years
of selective
breeding in the dog world — it's why we've been able to develop
specific lines
of dogs who are consistently driven to retrieve things, herd sheep, guard our homes, or
track rabbits without any formal training at all.