I had my 10 month old Terrier puppy at Leeds yesterday.  She is a bit of a madam to say the least when on the table and did her usual of playing up, not being afraid or anything but just wanting to jump all over the judge :-)

The judge yesterday came up to her and she did the normal and he had the cheek to say "she's not a show dog then" I couldnt believe it:-(

When she moves and stands she is perfect but obviously we didnt get placed as shes not a show dog!!

I'd have smiled sweetly and said, 'no, not yet, she's a puppy'

I'd rather having a baby with spirit than a robot :) I wish some people would think before they speak.
Don't let it put you off, we ask a lot of our dogs. sometimes I wonder what they think of us!! 

> The judge yesterday came up to her and she did the normal and he had the cheek to say "she's not a show dog then"

Thats a bit off really isn't it. I'm sure my judge was thinking it, it was written on her face. My boy played up big time in the ring, he's still learning and been out of the big ring for a while, he's a big pup at heart, this was in Junior.. I think some judges expect perfection, they are dogs at the end of the day and do have minds of their own :-)...
It makes me smile when you see pups and young dogs mess about and show their handlers up, shows a bit of character for me...

I'd swap you any day for a dog behaving like that as opposed to one being scared! Just don't take it to heart. :)

Better too much spirit than none at all... (A judge said that to me about Ollie) 

Dont take it to heart, and enjoy her exhuberance :-)

Im not taking it to heart at all I know its just her and I also prefer her to be like that and enjoy it which she does.  The only thing that annoyed me was the fact that I had paid to enter her and then got a comment like that.

Wont bother going under him again LOL

too true brainless,lovely to see a pup with spirit, my rupert who got first at crufts,he was always full of spirit,he had a twinkle in his eye,he would always bark at the judge when the judge walked away and he always got first,ignore it,
jo

I like spirit in a puupy :-) It gives everyone a good laugh when they watch you going round the ring with a dog at eye level most of the time :-D Puppies have to learn how to behave, and I would much rather take my time than 'teach it to behave' :-(

> It makes me smile when you see pups and young dogs mess about and show their handlers up, shows a bit of character for me...

You should see my nearly 11 year old veteran, she has never taken things seriously and has delighted in showing me up since she was 10 months old, though out her career.

I'm happy with teh 10CC's and 8RCC's, soem champ shwo Group placings, stakes wins etc.

Who knows what she may have done fi she were a 'show dog' LOL ;)

Every time I think it is time to retire her she wins another RCC.

Henry often delighted in showing me up, bless him! I never had a judge actually comment in the ring, though in our early days of showing we had a couple of write ups suggesting more ringcraft..... I had to laugh last year, I went to a companion show I think it was, didn't think I'd done anything really daft, but the judge clearly thought I hadn't a clue and was carefully explaining how to do a triangle to move my dog - this is after about 7 years of showing! :-D

Terriers in particula,r surely should show they are afraid of nothing.

Karen ;)

Yes, but shes not afraid she just wants to jump all over them.

It is upsetting to think a judge would be so thoughtless to speak to you like that, can only think it was an attempt at a joke that did not come off, I hope so anyway the judge is there to judge dogs, they do not have to behave like Guard officers it is up to their handlers to do the best they can to present them at their best and a puppy is at its best being a puppy.

Your pup sounds lovely, just what you need with a terrier, lots of sparkle and confidence :-D 

Sadly some judges not used to Terriers expect them to be like robots :(    No terrier worth the name is going to show well if it looks like a robot ;)

At least yours didn't stick her tongue down the judges throat ;)  

She would have given the chance LOL

Sounds like my Cavalier girl, she will always kiss the judge and try to jump from the table into the judge's arms if not watched every second!!

I was told not to worry if my girls didn't do it right or were spirited.  They're not in grown up classes yet.  They learn as they go throught the classes with age.  My girl always made an halarious scene when walking round, it made them laugh and she still got placed.  Now she moves like a little trooper (almost lol).  She still likes to let me know she's boss in the ring.

I would be a little peeved also if i had that comment.  i had a judge ask me if this was my first dog and yes I got thrown out the ring, went in with my 'show girl' and still got thrown out.  I wasn't too bothered except wasting my money and the performance one of the other entrants put on with the judge and steward, it was like a three ring circus.  now that was annoying.

Hope your next show goes well.

> Im not taking it to heart at all I know its just her and I also prefer her to be like that and enjoy it which she does.  The only thing that annoyed me was the fact that I had paid to enter her and then got a comment like that.

My puppy was commented by the judge as "this lovely girl just needs more time"
I would sure hope so being a puppy of 9 months, you silly judge :)!

> My puppy was commented by the judge as "this lovely girl just needs more time"

Forgot, I was told she's just a baby, she was in junior what do you expect.  i don't think she was younger than the others lol.

I think the saying 'you can take away their spirit (break it) but you can't give it to them' - which is true as many a spooked dog will never show again... Take no notice, she'll have her day.. is VERY annoying when you're owed a fair assesment though.  Champ showing isn't cheap!

I'd ignore the comment and move on.

If we all took everything to heart we'd be crushed.

I took a very lively boxer (of great quality) to a show for his owner-  he went well I thought, lively, playful and stood up like the stallion he was.
The (rather famous allrounder) judge didnt place me but came over and said that I " should get someone who knew about the breed to help me with my ringcraft".
The owner creased up but I was none to pleased as I was professionally handling the dog.
Needless to say the dog won well after that.

I also stewarded for another judge recently who came to the table and slated the dogs in the class she was judging.... did she know what breeds they were?.... She hadn't got a clue!!