i sam
as only started showing the beggining of the year, i have learned a lot and also watch and listen, showing is my hobby an expensive one especialy when you have three young girls as well, so was most upset when going to a show in wales and asked another exibitor why a champion dog was entered, in my breed as well, and was laughed at and told i might as well go home now as it was going to get best of breed and best in show and it did, the old looking after ones mates, people like me don't stand a chance when there are people like that out there but like the press say how do you prove bent judgeing, regards tina

Hi Tina, I used to feel like you do at the moment, still do a bit BUT you do learn a few things as you go along. I agree with every word you say, re expenses etc, but please believe me when I say that not ALL judges are bent. The reason I have proof of this is that I have had some lovely wins with my dogs, and I promise you I am nobody in my breed. I have had BIS, top puppies, some really nice things from Judges who didnt know me from Adam. Also as time goes on, you will get to know names and faces, and which judges like what type, and who the bent and straight judges are. Then you can save your money for a decent honest judge. Please dont give up and get disheartened, its worth it in the end...promise xxx

I agree with Phillipa

I'm in the same boat with my boys, although I only show Buddy now. You do learn with time where to go and where not to bother with and the judges too. I look back to when I very first started showing, which was only 15 months ago, how bad I was at it. I look at the first piccy I took of me stacking Jasper - what a Mutt he looked - all down to me. I'm not perfect by any means - but now stack Buddy so much better, I am learning how to make him look better all the time. It's not surprising judges didn't place us much in the early days.

Buddy has had some really lovely wins with two BPIB's from totally unknown people who made some lovely comments about him. Also other Cocker people have also said how lovely he is. That gives me the heart to keep going. There are times when you know that a judge prefers a particular type - but what and who comes with time. Having said that - with all competition - there are always those that don't play it very fair. Life I'm afraid.

Keep at it. If you and your pooch enjoy it - that's what counts.

Pam n the boys

A word in defence of judges(not all just some). When I first started showing my Boxers I felt I was always treated fairly placed at most CH shows I went to, at one the judge came over repositioned the dog grabbed me put my hands in the right place said "now stay like that and look as if you mean it" and pulled us out 4th in a big class at Leeds CH Show. I found that very encouraging,
Anne

What a great way to judge! I think all us newcomers to this 'art' would agree that a little encouragement and constructive criticism goes a long way. I have to say that I have been made to feel very welcome among many 'Cocker people' and have been given some good advice too. I have a lot to learn yet and I'm well and truly hooked but come on you judges...give us novices a fair crack - after all the novices of today could become the 'faces' of tomorrow!
Jackie

Just yesterday in my breed note writer capacity, had an excited lady ring me. She took her puppy of 6 months 3 days to it's and her very first show, and went BPIS! It is also her very first dog!

hi phil and all,
thanks for the reply, i will not loose heart no fear of that,i and the dogs enjoy it,and they can hold there own, it does not bother me placed or thrown out i love the whole thing of the dog world, always pleased for those who win even if it is facey or bent judging, i take the rough with the smooth as joan says, but i thought that was a bit below the belt what was done at that show, the said person is not liked much although his dog is worthy of being a champion it's the way this person goes about things that get people, as you say there are some honest judges out there that do a very good job, i think most would say no one minds being beaten by a good dog and i think it's hard sometimes on the judges, regards tina

I'm new to showing too, been at it for about 15mths now. One thing I will say is that finding out which judges are facey and which ones you do and don't like is darn expensive ;-)

I've had my fair share of facey judges but the way I look at it now is this; if I am happy with my dog and my own performance then so what if I don't get placed, IMO I could do no more and I can't make the judge like my face or my dog; if my dog has played me up or I have handled him not as well as I could of then I need to practice and improve and at the next show I might do better. I will also look at the dogs that were placed and decide for myself if I think they deserve to beat me. There are many Sh Ch in my breed that I don't like, it's personal opinion, but obviously enough experienced people liked them to give them tickets.

One thing I won't do is give up. I love showing, yes it's expensive but then that's why I work my butt off - to pay for it all :D I love my dogs, I think I know their good and bad points but I wouldn't change them for the world. I've seen me travel hundreds of miles to be the only person walking out of the class cardless and I just grin and say "not my fault if she doesn't know a good dog" lol But then they won't ever get the pleasure of going over my dogs again so who's lost out ?!

I am a long long way off judging. I did one spot of junior handling judging recently, I had the chance to be facey because a girl I know reasonably well saw I was judging and entered right at the last minute, possibly thinking I would place her highly because I knew her ?? Who knows. Thing is she was in a tough class and there were other handlers who happened to be better than her, she didn't get placed at all. So if I can use my own mind being a newby then why can't more experienced folk do the same It can be very frustrating at times BUT I no longer dwell on it, must be all the practice I've had lol :D

Same here phillipa, and those successes are then all the sweeter, even if rarer!!