Hello
Could anyone tell me if it is normal for a judge
to pick up the dogs feet to check the pads?
I have not had this ever before and wondered
why this judge had to poke around between the
dogs toes and check the pads. He flinched real
bad as he is very ticklish.
Nutkin

hi,
i have seen this done many times in my breed, sibes, i always assumed it was to check the pads and feet were correct, but i think i read somewhere it can also show movement faults? for example if a dog carries more weight on 1 side of the foot, wouldn't one side be more worn? i am sure somene can correct me if this is wrong!
kelly

I've seen this done quite a few times with gundogs. I was told it is to check the thickness of the pads.

I've also had a judge actually put his arm under my dog to lift him up from the front, just a couple of inches from the floor, then drop him back down to see how his feet land. I thought this mad at first but then apparently it is to check if his feet are correct or if I have placed them in a certain way to make them look good. Quite I good idea when you think about it :-) Providing it is done in the correct manner and with confidence so that the dog doesn't spook

I check pads when I am judging, in some breeds it is part of the standard and will obviously be there for a reason (working dogs, gundogs). Of the 4 breeds these are the points from the standards :-)

pads thick and tough

Thick pads with protective growth of fur between toes.

Pads tough and thickly cushioned

well padded

Newfs a sometimes checked to make sure that the dogs feet are webbed as they should be .
As this is a major fault of they are not webbed.

Peanuts

Hi
But has anyone ever seen a judge go over a gsd and lift it's tail up and stretch it out whilst trying to look side ways on to the dog.. :)
Mind you , he won't ever do it again.
Tracey

I was in a class once with my puppy Newf at an open show and got placed last in the line of 5.
Afterwards the judge came over to me and said what a beautiful puppy pity his testicals have not come down.
She looked quite embarresed when i told her it was a bitch :)

Peanuts

I hope the judge was really embarrassed! At a local show in January, the judge was examining a lhasa apso on the table, then at the end of it asked the owner when this dog had been castrated - well, the 'dog' was only a 'bitch'. I find it unbelievable that a judge could make such a mistake!

Talking of tails my friend was showing her afghan hound under a non-breed specialist and part of the afghan breed standard is that their tails have a ring at the end and the stupid judge was desperately trying to straighten it. i know that the judge wasn't a specialist but if they are doing a variety class they should at least know the basics of various breed standards

One of the most stupid was a judge doing an Import Register class....looked at my friend's Kooikerhunde and asked "What breed is it?"

my friend had a puppy aussie shepherd at a matchnight..the judge asked her to put it on the table.he thought it was a sheltie :)

When my Standard Poodle was a pup, she had to have her tail shaved for a minor op. In the ringcraft classes the judge thought she was an Irish Water Spaniel. I don't suppose we would have stood much of a chance
;-)

You think that's bad one person who judged an import class went to a Spanish Water Dog owner and told her that "that Bolognese is mismarked". Wouldn't mind but he was about 10" taller than a Bolognese and brown and white!!

Personally, I think it is better to ask what the breed is, than to just guess and judge accordingly. At least they'll then know what it is NOT supposed to look like! :D :D :D

But I thought that a judge was given a list of what breeds s/he'll be judging before the event? So they'll have read all the relevant standards and at the very least be able to recognise it??!!!

Tracey,

I'm intrigued!!

Why would the judge do that? It's not like their tails are supposed to be carried that way...it seems pointless to do it.

And, um...why won't he ever do it again??

Lisa

Hi LISA
It was his first judging appointment, he'd just got a gsd and had judged other breeds before..we all knew him and really took it out of him in the bar later over a few drinks and laughs :D oh and his Gsd turned out to be a long coat so he couldn't show him anyway bless him..he kept him and he's just a bed warmer now. :)
Tracey

Spanish Water Dogs should also be checked for webbing.

It is quite often done in my breed, Hungarian Wire Haired Vizslas. I believe that pads are to feet what tyres are to wheels.
Diane

checking feet is done in breeds such as Bichons as it is an easy way to check the pigmentation - ie white dog but should have black pads. For breeds like the Finnish Lapphund it is done to make sure the feet aren't trimmed which is against the standard.

Kate

Judges also check the feet of tibetan terriers to make sure they have big flat feet which is in the standard also chinese cresteds as they are supposed to have extreme hare feet

Like the folk who judge Munsters and pull their ears forward towards the tip of their noses....why?????? In my 15 years of showing I've never had an answer to this one!

Some judges do it to dalmatians too....when asked the reply was "to make sure the ear leathers are long enough". What? There's nothing in the Standard about ear length, so leave them alone!

Many thanks to everyone who answered.
I had never had this before and the dog flinched because I had never trained him to get used to his
feet touched in this way. He is terrible ticklish and really flinched bad.
I assume the best way to over come this is for him to get used to having his feet picked up and messed with a bit. Maybe something I can ask others to do at ring craft.

Probably best to fiddle with his feet as much as you can, as you say, and get other people to as well. If nothing else, it might make nail-clipping marginally easier.

(I've also known judges to "bounce" the dog's back, fore and aft, to see how much "spring" they have in their pasterns and hocks!)

Jean...

Just quickly, judges have done that with my dogs too...

Some so roughly, I'm there thinking, give it a rest you'll break his back!!!

Lisa

Talking of testicles, what about the US champion that had three! apparently the owner had done some home surgery on a monorchid pup and at the grand old age of seven or so, the other decided to make an appearance. Wish I had been there!!!

I don't know about checking feet but one judge remarked 'he's a wee bit heavy for a springer'. Damn right he is....he's a Field Spaniel.

I got a second at an open show last week, only a youngster , never shown in doors before so very pleased , as the rossetes were given out she shook my hand and said "It is a Tibetan Mastiff Isn't it" Win did not seem so good then. At a Champ show in A.V.N,S.C. the judge was pulling the line up out all she said to us was "and the big black and Tan" Then the judge comes to talk to you and asks you about the breed standard. I know there are lots of breeds but how can they place you if they do not know what they are looking for.

I did have a judge once say at a show between my two Weimaraners. I don't know anything about the breed I just hoped I picked the best one, did I?
I suppose its very hard when a judge is called on to judge a breed and does not know anything about it. My friend who owns Weimaraners had to judge cockers and he said to me. I don't have a clue what I am looking at. Which is fair enough as he did'nt. But why do people get to judge over animals they dont know anything about. Open shows are just as important to the exhibitors as any other show and we like to think that our dog has won because its the best on the day not just that one will do because I dont know any better.
Nutkin

Certainly judges shouldn't be accepting breed appointments for breeds they have no knowledge of. they should at oleast be sure of the basics, and most vital aspects.

If they are doing variety classes then it is more understandable, but my judging friends say you can ask the Society secretary if there are any unusual breeds entered in varieties, so the judge shouold at least have read and tried to interpret the breed standard. Also there is nothing to prevent a judge checking on a finer point in the breed standard. for example a light ey is a fault in many breeds, but allowed in others, or accepted with certain dilute colours.

I do get cross if breed classes are bieng judged by someone who doesn't even have enough interest to thoroughly study the breed standard before the show. They shouldn't accept the appointment.