You hear about it and see it all the time at shows. There's always the odd dog that will get grouchy with a judge. Some because they shouldn't be in the ring but for others it's completely out of character. How do you combat this if it happens to you? Are there any guidelines/techniques to teach the dog this isn't acceptable?
Julie :)

Obviously champdogggers dogs don't bite or growl at judges :D :D

I remember back in the 70's, a friend of mine was judging Basenji's at Crufts. She gave one dog two chances but after the third attempt to go over it failed she eliminated the dog. I remember thinking, that was one more attempt than I would have made!

Each case must be looked at as it stands. I've known some heavy handed judges and in those cases then careful sympathetic handling will hopefully overcome the problem.

I'm new to showing but already I've seen alot of it goes on. At one show, the handler was well known, has lots of showdogs. The dog he was showing was a pro, yet it snapped at the judge. I know it must be very embarrassing but what are the possible triggers? Is it possible that the scent of other dogs on the judge affects the dog and why would it occur out of the blue?
It's something that doesn't get addressed much because so few people, understandably, want to discuss their dogs bad behaviour. I know I'm not the only show novice on the forum and was hoping to get some advice on how to avoid and if nessecary overcome the problem.
Julie :)

Thing is Julie, it depends so much on the breed. Gundogs for example are bred to work. People who show may not want to work their dogs but that is the reason they were originally bred. They are worked in close company with other dogs and people and as such any temperament faults should be penalised without fail! They are out of the breed's character.

A ratter such as a PJR for example is an altogether more feisty dog and is by its nature a little sharp. Terriers are often shown facing each other to encourage them to "Spark" off each other so it is really not surprising if occasionally one takes it right up to the judge. Is it acceptable? Some would say no, others would say that it is just character!

Shows were, in the old days the shop window for the breeders. The entry form asked the selling price wanted for the dog, as others of my age will remember. There were really no “Hobby Show” people, but times change and so does the world outside the show ring. In this day and age a "Feisty" dog could land the owner with a fair size bill if it ever bit anyone!

Just my thoughts, John

I am also new to showing... I have encountered a champ dog who is very growly at my local ringcraft. He is a champ dog, but only handled by a male ... I am told not to get to close to him for fear he may growl, maybe bite... but in all fairness it is in its character to be dominant, but I have never came across one like this dog....
You may say he does not belong in the ring... but he is a very "showy" dog, as well the owners judge this breed as well... I think it is all in the manner that the owner handles the animal... everyone knows this animal to sit in the corner and only is in the presence of public when it needs to be shown and it is on its best behaviour....(under tight restrain of the owner) So yes even the growliest of them all can be shown, providing maybe the owner knows how to handle it...
Some animals are not used to being poked and prodded for hours.. and by the time they are show may have had enough....
I tend to when at shows not handle the animals at all, I would rather just sit and admire.... I think children should not be allowed to poke these animals, sometimes too much is too much, even for us.
Just my opinion.....

I certainly agree that dogs should not be punished for saying "Enough!" if they've been pushed and prodded and pulled and mauled by all and sundry. We all "snap" every now and then if we feel we're too pressured.

But if a dog has a genuinely dodgy temperament all the time, not only when it is tired/overstressed/in pain, then it should not be shown, however beautiful and otherwise close to the standard. Because if it does well then people will use it for breeding, and the problem is reproduced and the 'bad genes' are spread wider.

JMO :)

At crufts this year i was benched opposite a hound I know fairly well...it was lying on its bench or on the floor on its back from 8am to 2pm with hoards of kids stroking it, petting it, cuddling it & never batted an eye lid. Went into the ring & bit the judge. I saw the whole thing happen & there were no half measures or warning growl...it just lunged & bit her arm as she went to go over its head. The people next to me (Joe public) started up about how dangerous dogs shouldnt be allowed at crufts blah blah blah..it posed a really difficult dilema to me. here was a dog being a paragon of virtue with the public all over him, then at the crucial moment he bit the judge, was removed from the ring & reported to the Kc. i am not in any way condoning his behaviour...just pointing out how some unknown trigger can upset a hound or dog of previously unblemished character.

Honesty is needed on the part of the owner. A friend's Golden became a little nasty after a judge was over heavy whilst checking his testicles. I spent quite a time on that dog because I had known it since a puppy and knew it to be out of charactor. The other side of the coin is the dog on a bench which we see every week at shows snarling and trying to get to everyone who passes by. The dog stands perfectly in the ring whilst being judged but is then returned to the bench where the trouble starts all over again.

It is possible to train almost any dog to behave it's self for a few minutes in the ring but that is only masking it's true self.

Regards, John