I was idly wondering how other people choose which judges to enter under, especially at open shows. I found that it was a waste of time entering under the ones who are doing several breeds....especially if the other breeds were completely dissimilar to mine! It seemed to be very much a lottery where anyone was placed - the standard of judging could be a farce! Sometimes I'm sure they'd never read the breed standard at all!

So I'm sorry, Show Secretaries, but if you have a Utility Group with only 6 breeds classified, and the same judge doing them all, I won't be there!

It is sometimes difficult to decide which judges to enter under and which not. If it is someone whose opinion I would appreciate or someone who is in the breed or is known as being interested in the breed the option of entering is higher than where it is a Utility Toy or Working Judge. If the judge has sporting dogs maybe; but someone doing Yorkies Pekes Cavs and our breed !!!!!! Forget it LOL they are unlikey to know a good moving dog when they see one (prepares for flaming & ducks in anticipation :) )
The other side of the coin is that without exhibits the judge will not get to know the breed. BUT why should I spend money and time going under someone whose opinion I do not respect? Maybe it is because I do not know them but it a risk to enter. There is an ample sufficiency of people within the breed able and willing to judge at open show level (and limit shows which I can see coming back somewhat - why they went away is societies trying to grab a large slice of a (un)limited (sic) cake.)
The other alledged problem is when a well known kennel exhibits at most open shows and it is felt by some exhibitors that they do not get a fair shot as ****** is there. Their answer is to not enter. My answer is enter and if the judge is worth their salt (where did this expession arise??) they will judge the dogs and not the handler. If after the show you feel badly done too don't take it out on the person who won, they were there to be beaten, but refuse to show under that judge again and make it known why.

Dawn (hiding in the kennel now waiting for the responses)

i tend not to enter unless i know the judge will understand my breed------so dont do to many open shows, but then if we get a good judge and i do ok, im accused of only showing if i know in going to win :rolleyes:

I've just said on another post it's bizaare that a judge doesn't have to be knowledgable of breeds/standards etc in order to be judging. Surely it's not rocket science, the KC should address this and educate the judges regarding the breeds they deal with.
Julie ...grumble,grumble!:)

One judge (many years ago now) told me that my (liver) bitch would have got Best of Breed, but "at her age her spots aren't going to turn black"!!!!!

This is why I tend to stick to GSD only classes:) Plus Dizzy- what's the point in entering if you don't stand a cat in hell's chance- you're hardly a beginner like me and Kassie who could both do with the experience;)

Stacey x x x

Sadly, this was a breed class!!

Not even if it was our friend TT??

TT????????oh, think ive got it--you cant mean me !