how difficult is the exam ..anyone done it??

Roni

conformation and movement doesn't have an exam

Hands on is really easy, just memorise the sheet! :)

HI Ice queen
it was referred to as an exam when  I made the enquiry...
thanks for your help..
Roni

Hi Roni,

The hands-on assessment is so easy it's cringe worthy LOL  -  for eg some of the points to be identified are "eye" and "tail" :rolleyes:  -  we're talking kindergarten stuff here!   To actually learn more it's worth going along to one of the conformation and movement seminars where they cover the entire anatomy of the dog usually with a skeleton for referring to from hand out sheets etc and also the video "Dog Steps" plus if one of your breed club holds a breed specific seminar for trainee judges it should give you a better idea.

regards Teri :)
still playing (poorly) Florence Nitingale :P

thats what I like to hear ...easy..

Roni

Yes you are correct I meant a hands on assessment not conformation and movement ...getting a bit ahead of myself ...

Roni

I've done the hands on; the assessor got us in a group and showed us exactly what he wanted us to do when he asked for each thing, then did it with us separately! :-)

Im going to a breed club seminar soon, I think it is a hands on thing, a bit scary as ive never done anything like it, I hope I dont make a fool out of myself

The hands-on assessment is so easy it's cringe worthy

No wonder the judging system is in such crisis, it just backs up my theory that correct conformation is seldom understood.

Hi Christine,

I did the Conformation & Movement seminar prior to the latest set-up.  It was indeed very detailed and much info provided but in such a way that even the most forgetful of correct terminology truly had the opportunity to have an in depth understanding of the skeletal make-up (skeleton provided too ) and the different affects that certain minor (or major) deviations in conformation cause (essential obviously for different breeds).

The Dog Steps video was shown and discussed to help apply the theories learned which was adequate but perhaps a few dogs of widely differing breeds would have been better.

This seminar only provided a Certificate of Attendance - this is why the hand on element was applied later and a pass or fail introduced.   I also did that element but there were no hand out sheets, discussions etc nothing! so no opportunity for preparation.  Merely book in advance, show up on day, individually taken into a private room with an assessor, one dog and handler.  The assessor then asks around 30 questions relating to the anatomy of the dog which the candidate has to demonstrate in front of her. 

Personally I don't think the judging system is in crisis although there are certainly some judges out there who are mind numbingly clueless :rolleyes: but as the assessment and exam procedure is a relatively new concept IMO it is more because too many people want to jump straight into judging after a very brief period of involvement and are less either willing or able to seek a reliable and respected specialist mentor to help them in the early years.

What's of more concern to me is the new "fast tracking all-rounders" :rolleyes: That's a hoot, NOT

Regards Teri :)

conformation and movement doesn't have an exam

You have to ask yourself why don't you?  Never been to one of these exams - I just assumed that you at least had to have a decent knowledge of canine anatomy and be able to prove it with an exam!!!

I remember doing a Greyhound seminar which most people found very hard - had to name certain bones and how they worked etc.  Personally I loved it :D

Debs

Hi Debs

Breed Club seminars - certainly in those I have an interest in - tend to be, rightly, very detailed.  Both Clubs for my own breed use a small number of the same specialists as speakers so that basic general info is identical whether or not attending a seminar in Carlisle or Cambridge :)   Usually if someone wishes to progress to judging it would be by applying to go on their Club "C" list and having attended at least the beginners' seminar which covers the basics of breed type, conformation, how to go over a dog properly and basic ring etiquette.  Advanced students would sit a written paper requiring detailed knowledge of construction and what affect this has on movement as well as detailed questions relating to the Breed Standard and the intricacies of "type".  This is followed by a hands-on exam and full critique of 5 dogs which must then be placed and reasons for placings written in detail also.  Papers are then forward to a senior panel of specialist CC judges for assessment.   To keep things fair, candidates are anonymous so papers have a number rather than name, and prior to students going over and placing the dogs at least 3 specialist CC judges have assessed them privately, placed and given full crits on them for comparison purposes with the specialist panel :)

The conformation & movement and rules & regs elements are KC set and controlled :rolleyes:  says it all!

regards, Teri

Yeah I used to organise the breed seminars for my breed and also give seminar talks on the breed for other Clubs.  I have to admit to being an avid user of the "form follows function" route ;)  Our seminars follow the same guidelines (or used to - haven't been a member of my breed club for years now so don't know if they still use the formula).  I can remember the first draft of my exam papers being turned down in committee for being too hard LOL.

It just surprised me that the KC conformation and movement one didn't have an exam.  Is the stewarding and judging one the same?  I was already awarding CCs before these seminars were in existance so thankfully I never had to attend one LOL. 

Does this mean that you can attend - not listen to a word - learn nothing - and pass the seminar?

Debs

Hi All
Anybody know if there are any hands on assessments coming up not too far from Devon in the nearish future.  Need to do one!
Thanks

they are advertised in the our dogs or dog world every week.

Roni