Key points from the MSN article:

Breed Standard: A written blueprint describing the ideal example of a breed, including physical, behavioral, and instinctual attributes1.

Creation and Approval: Breed standards are written and approved by the breed’s national breed club, not the American Kennel Club (AKC)2.

Conformation Shows: Dogs are judged against the breed standard, not each other, in conformation events.

Responsible Breeding: Breeders use the standard to select breeding pairs and evaluate puppies, aiming to produce dogs that closely match the ideal standard3.