Just a quick question on behalf of a friend.

My friend got a best of breed under a judge about a year ago. The same judge is judging a show in a few months. My friend doesn't know whether it is bad etiquette to enter under this judge as she has already awarded her best of breed? What are peoples opinions? Is it you pay your entry fee as it is the "best dog on the day" or should she not enter?

Think that 12 months is long enough ago to enter again - but remember the dog or the judge may have changed in the time laps and the dog may not do as well, also of course the competition will be different.

It would not be good form to remind the judge of the earlier win, but I think it fine to enter if you wish to see if this judge still likes this dog.

Personally, I would never enter a dog under a judge who has already given it a Best Of Breed.

I think a lot depends on the breed and the number of entries and what type of show it is. I have no problem with putting a dog under a judge that has already given it BOB -hard NOT to sometimes as one of mine has 17 BOB wins -but I would never again show a dog under a judge at a champshow with tickets that already has given that same dog a CC. That I would consider to be bad etiquette. But I'm sure all of this varies from breed to breed.

It is true that many of these things depends on the breed, what seems the norm in one breed is considered poor form in another. As things go I think following a judge around and always entering under them because they awarded the dog well in the past is poor form but once in 12 months is not a problem - and then again if the numbers entered at open shows are not high you are doing your best to keep the classes if you enter so not entering could be considered poor form. A case really of doing what your own head tells you and the critics can go moan in the corner.

Also might depend on how many dogs you have to show. I have entered under the same judge more than once, not over and over again, or too frequently, but if people moaned, I ignored them. Alright for the big breeders that have a puppy coming out every year or so, but I don't have that luxury, I only have one or at most 2 show dogs, so if I can't take them to a show, I can't go at all! But yes, your dog might have changed and the competition will be different. I think I've gone better the second time once and worse every other time! I'm about to try my slightly bald from puppy bitch under a judge that gave her a class at a club show 18 months back, which could be interesting!

I you got a CC last time I would say no if it is CCs this time as that is a waste of a CC BUT if it is CC's this time and not last time I would be there is a flash :-)

I'm with Lucy, or even worse, having only one show girl.

If a judge gave me BOB I would enter a higher level show under them - i.e. a breed club open show if they'd given me BOB at a general open show, or a champ show if had BOB at a lower level show - the entries will be bigger and you pays your money and takes your chance.

I wouldn't bother at open shows.

M.

Def enter again if no CC's were awarded last time

Wouldn't enter again if it was CC's last time and CC's this time UNLESS it was Crufts or special breed club ch show

I would go for it!