How do you all feel about Senior Judges? no disrespect intended but at what age should they hang up their judging book?
I worry sometimes when I see judges at champshows really bad on their legs struggling with very large classes and I know a lot are very well qualified to make decisions about the dogs they are judging but some are not! and when you consider the cost of entering,petrol etc... is it fair if the judge is gazing into space when a dog is being moved? this is something I saw at blackpool several times and no Im not telling which ring :) unless you already know ;) and not my breed so no clues there ;)
Also Why cant Judges give puppies more time to settle when judging puppy classes? when Im judging the puppy class is my favourite class and they are just babies and need time instead some judges grab at their mouths roughly and quite frankly cause the puppy a lot of grief.
Also why do judges make derogatory comments about dogs in critiques why cant they keep their comments constructive not damning ?If they dont like a dog dont place it ! simple as that.

Okay Moan over :) :) :)

I do know what you mean, when we were at Derby on Sunday, we were watching some judging going on with a well known older judge in the ring.
When it came to the final line up for BOB the steward called all unbeaten dogs , three people entered the ring and before the second two had even turned round to set up there dogs the judge had already awarded the BOB and the lady was taken her lap of honour.
The other two just stood there beweildered as they had not even been given the time to get into the places let alone set up there dogs.
To me that is really rude, and just to add insult to injury, the puppy waited in the ring for the BP award and the judge gave the sign that she was ready for the next breed and the steward called the next class so she started to leave the ring and the judge said to the lady oh i think this is yours , handing her the BP rossette.

I have never seen such judging before how rude was that.

Peanuts

Thats a shame we all like getting our best puppy rosettes it is an award like anything else.
Also do you find that some shows are a forgone conclusion ive been told many a time who will get a tcket at such and such a show and low and behold it happens.

I had a similar experience of diasappointment at Crufts one year. I had no gripe to the results (I won two classes) just the manner it was done in.

Often the judge having judged the classes will have already decided which is their CC and RCC winner, but especially at Crufts, the challenge should still be something to see, as this is the first time these exhibits have been in the ring all together, and certainly to move them all round once, ande let them all set up their dogs would make a climax for the audience.

At this particular show no-one realised the CC had been given until the RCC winner got her card, and the rest of the unbeaten dogs hadn't finished filing into place!

I felt really flat, even though it was my best result at Crufts to date.

Do you think some people get very blase about winning CCs ? that it is no longer the thrill its was a the start.

when people pay agreat deal in time and money preparing for a show they should at least feel they are getting assesed

Alot of the time you do wonder if your dog has actualy been looked at atall, even if they have chosen there winners already, they should still treat everyone with the same respect.
But and i will say it out load, I think some judges are so up themselves they think that they are better than everyone else. they may have been in their breed along time and yes have a lot of knowledge but to treat people newcomers and veterens so badley i think that they should be struck off for good!!!
How would they like it!

Peanuts

Yes I do think we should get our £18/£19/£20 worth out of a judge. A judge recently judging my breed looked throughly dis-interested in his job, seemed to be picking out on an "eeny-meeny-miny-mo" basis and then after judging said to my friend who'd won the CC - "You pick your winners and then you don't know what to do with the rest of them" and waved his hand dismissively. :( :( :(

There is something in Our Dogs about judges over the age of 75 not being allowed to judge new breeds

When a person gets invited to judge the first time it is such an honour you plan for months what you will wear read up on everything do what you think is the best of your abilty you are the judge,people want your opinion on their dog This is a great honour and you should treat each exhibit with the credit they derserve for getting up at the crack of dawn preparing their dogs and placing their dogs before you,you should not treat it as something to get over and done with as quickly as possible and get your lunch! and maybe write a critique when you feel like it ! when a judge gets to that stage they should give up !it is an honour when people want their opinion and they should treat them with respect.

I am very new to showing and I have come across the judges who understand you are nervous , they try to relax you as they go over your dog and there are others who make you feel a though you are wasting their time and just glance at your dog as though you really shouldnt be in their rng :(

I agree that some judges give dogs a very cursory glance and if you have paid your entry fee, you deserve the same treatment as everyone else!

I also agree that some judges are very rough on the puppies which shouldn't be so - I have been under some judges though that are very patient and that's very welcoming. A puppy is a baby after all and its an overwhelming experience for them - they deserve some patience and I would expect a judge to know this.

One show I was very pleased with was the Scottish Rottweiler Club show.

The judge was an Italian lady and knew what she was looking for - no clever handling to disguise movement, she made them all move at a particular speed. No heavy handling either, she took notice of each and every dog - money well spent for the entrants I thought for an honest opinion.

However, it was disappointing to see some of the breeders/owners throwing tantrums because there dogs were not placed, quite frankly the language and behaviour was appaulling, especially when you consider there were newcomers and children there.

When I first started out showing, I received very little encouragement and it was only "devilment" that made me carry on! I've always tried to be supportive of new show people, the ringcraft classes in my area are sadly not which is a shame.

I am still fairly new in my breed (11 years) and along with quite a number of fellow exhibitors really try to make any new exhibitors welcome, as without new exhibitors, and breeders the breed will stagnate, as the older breeders are running their breeding and showing down, new dedicated custodians for our breeds are needed. It isn't just about show glory.

The most lovely person I ever showed under at the beginning was Harry Jordan (HAJ) he was such a gentleman and treated everyone the same lovely man now departed

In labradors was Mary Roslyn Williams she was such a Lady and you could ask her anything she would make time for everyone when I got my First Lab (1981) I wrote to her as there were many mansergh dogs in the pedigree she wrote me a 6 page letter all about the dogs how many would do that now

Her daughter is just as down to earth and approachable. She is in our breed, as well as Borders, and her books on both breeds are easy to read.

I also have enjoyed showing under ellis Hulme, first in stakes at my first show with my naughty returnee, then in a Chgamp show Group (same bitch), and then in breed classes without CCs.

Be3ing visulayy handicapped I appreciated the clear way he would tell you what he wanted, and no waving of hands, but very clear about who he was placing. When he did our breed he gave as much attention to the obvious also rans as the tope winners. Spoke nicely to the dogs to. My bitch who can be a devil for fidgetting over her mouth exam stood rock steady for him on every occasion!

Oh yes Anne is nice and Ellis hulme like him too

I think Frank Kane has always proved to be a very polite judge who seems to treat every dog the same way as well as handlers.

I agree there Lilly :) he is fairly young though and hopefully be around quite a while

I know missus ;) Ijust thought I'd mention him as I've not heard one bad word said against him & his ways of judging...ok the placings won't please any others than the winners but at least you feel you've had your money's worth out of him.

Haven't yet had the opportunity to show under him, but enjoyed a talk he gave at a seminar on judging conformation.

I agree, Frank Kane has always been unfailingly polite every time I've seen him - and he'll stay and discuss the placings afterwards too (if there's time).
:)

This is one of the things as a newcomer that has really bothered me. I don't mind not placing - in fact most times I don't expect to place, but I DO expect the judge to give my dog a chance and look over her properly - as long as they've done that then I'm happy. I've watched judges go thoroughly over dogs they've already decided to place and barely glance as mine as they casually run a hand over her. THAT's when I get annoyed. I don't mind faces placing (they might deserve it over my girl), but my gosh at least LOOK at my dog and THEN dismiss her.

Wendy

I Know waht you mean, at a ch show recently our judge was doing the dog line up and he asked the first two to move and he watched, when he asked the rest to move one by one he turned round and started chatting to the steward not even looking at the dogs at all.

Peanuts