just a wee query. sorry if its silly. you know how in breed standards it often mentions a height for dogs, do they get measured in the show ring to ensure they are within standard or is it the handlers job to know. Was just wondering...thanks!

In our breed, I have only ever attended one show that the Judge got her measuring stick out tic much to the amusement of us all.
whether smaller breeds are measured on the table I don't know but never see it done with the large breeds.

My dog walker told me that she had to stop showing one of her GSD bitches as an adolescent as several judges had got the measuring stick out for her This particular bitch is pretty huge though.

Could it be that judges are that offay with the breed, that they will know as soon as they are near it if it is over height?????
Just a thought as I have no idea!!! LOL :)
Lea :)

Certain breeds tend to get measured, in particular those where there are different sizes such as Poodles. In general though, no, measuring isn't done.

I know judges in my breed will measure the correct height against theri leg with shoes on, adn will then be able to judge a dog too much over or under the desired height (we have a desired height not a height range), some others will glue a matchstick inside their trousers at the right height.

In Scandinavia they always measure and publish the height in critiques for my breed.

some breeds like poodles tend to have a measuring stick. i recall abut 15 yers ago a crufts judge brought a horse measuring stick into our ring and proceeded to measure all the dogs.....at least one was never shown again as it became a nervous wreck! :( I know another judge who has a safety pin in her trousers at the correct height!

i know of a judge that used to were a check skirt and she know which line on her skirt the dogs and bitches should come to.
I have been told that she has not placed these dogs in the past which is good as newfs are a giant breed and some of the big winners do look a little small.

I've only seen poodles getting measured, dachshunds get weighed though, at least it is optional now I think. At the Cavalier club shows there is sometimes a class for '12-18lb' which is the breed standard, and of course they are weighed then. :-)

Our Breed, the Hamiltonstovare, in their native country are measured with a stick and are eliminated if their size is not correct. I have frequently (not always) had my Hounds measured abroad (all have passed :-) ) also my girl at the World Show abroad, was judged and measured by Kari Jarvinen who then awarded her BOB.

It is a bit of a "hot topic" in the UK as we have lots of height variation....I would be quite happy to have all my guys measured in the UK too.

Pam

Previously only 2 breeds had to be measured - those being German Spitz (Klien and Mittel) and Poodles (mini and toy - as far as i am aware there is no measuring for standards).  The requirement for them to be measured every time they were judged was removed from 1st December 2008 - to the complete disagreement of the breed clubs.

Any breed can be measured - i have stewarded for a Belgian Shepherd club show where the judge measured some exhibits she wasn't sure were up to size and been in the ring when a first time ticket giver measured all the vallhunds in classes above junior (she explained later that she was concerned the breed was getting too small - she discovered instead they were about right but with a few over large specimins)

some breed clubs organise evaluation events where the dogs are gone over by breed experts, normally indpendent ones from the breed's country of origin, and they grade the dogs and as part of that they are measured and the height recorded - if of course there is a height given in the standard.

kate

We have a couple of judges who like to get the measuring stick out - think it's more shock factor than to prove a point sadly.  Also I believe the rules are that you must put every dog under the measure not just single out a dog (may have that wrong though). 

Also know a judge who wears a check shirt for the same reason as the skirt lady (table dogs obviously in my case ;-))