I was at an open show today. I was watching other breeds and was astounded at the Old English class. The exhibitors, two in particular, were grooming the dog while the judge was standing having a final look. This went on for a few minutes with the judge just waiting for them to finish.

What do others think of this?

LOLOL It's been going on for years & years

I didn't realise just how bad it was until today...rudeness in fact.

happens all the time here, with any dog that needs any amount of grooming.  peks, poodles, OES, etc.  I dont like it, but i have a short coated breed

Well, know it happens, don't like it and can't see the point. The judge should be judging the dog not the hairdressing so it should be a waste of time. Some judges make it known that they will not allow grooming equipment in the ring but it is only a few.

Many many many years ago Joe Braddon told all the handlers to leave their brushes outside of the Ring, result was chaos, as the handlers tried to groom using their hands !!

It's the same with some Beardie handlers, I only every gave them a quick once over as the judge was doing their final assessment prior to placing, especially if mine had been sitting on a knee outside of the ring  !! or having a "frolic"after  or before being go over by the judge. I think judges accept it & have done for a long long time, at one time OES handlers worn white coats !!!

> at one time OES handlers worn white coats !!!

think at one time all handlers wore stock coats, just as those handling sheep or pigs in the show ring still do. Even a short while ago it was still seen in a terrier ring.

Ahh Joe Braddon that name brings back memories.  He gave my mum a first many years ago with one of her first show dogs in a big class, her face was to die for.  I think her chin is still on the floor, she couldn't believe it :)

Joe Braddon! my gosh, that name take you back, that was a gent with a sense of humour.  I remember being under him and he made everyone run around the ring for what seemed an age.

Oh my goodness!! His name also takes me back quite some time too. Wish he had been there yesterday!!

Oh I must be getting old.  Surely Joe Braddon wasn't that long ago.  Having said that I was laughed at the other day for asking if they still sold Royal Coatalin!

Whilst I won't spend hours grooming on the final look I will take my time on the table.  My view is, I've paid £23 for the judge to see my dog at it's best, so s/he won't mind waiting a few seconds for me to catch my breath & straighten my dog out.  We don't get our 3 minutes any more so......

I do tend to sort then out on the table while the other dog is moving and while the judge is going over the last dog, but this is when the judges backs is turned.
We pay a fortune for entries now and the judge should see your dog at its best, after all you enter and travel hours to get there.
Also if you have too dags near enough the same in conformation but one is groomed better than the other the one that is well groomed as well in my opinion will have that edge over the other dog,
Times have changed we are not in 1940s anymore and grooming equiptment has evolved so much over the years so we can create a better looking coat, and a greater volume to the coat, so why not use this to its advantage? Yes its about conformation but grooming does come into it as well.

Thats just my opinion :-)
Fiona x

> Having said that I was laughed at the other day for asking if they still sold Royal Coatalin!
>

Don't they? :-)

I always take a small slicker brush in to make sure my Cav's coats haven't gone straggly with the sitting down and bouncing around they do, also if the floor has stuff on like in the horse arenas or even just grass outside, it's better to get it off.

Oh yes Joe Braddon a blast from the past.

I remember i could only show my setter one way head in left hand while everyone else held the head in right hand.

He was doing his last look round and said to me your making life difficult for me showing that way so i went to turn my boy round and the next thing i knew he was making everyone else face my way.  I was not very popular with my fellow exhibitors that day.

Don't make them like that anymore.

I can  understand a quick run over with the brush while the judge is going over another exhibit or has her/ his back turned but to stand and groom your dog while the judge is trying to assess the line up is wrong I think. My breed can get tussled too when a judge goes over them but usually their coats settle on the move. It is something that is hardly ever seen in my breed.

Don't see them like Joe Braddon any more....more's the pity. 

Well according to a well known trade stand (not sure if I can mention it so won't) said they didn't!  I have a full pot & my mum gave me another one bless her.  We always used it for our bitches after they gave birth to try & save their coats from pups, yuck & the heat lamp.

>>Royal Coatalin!

Remember it well. I am sure its still around. Now does anyone remember using Bay Rum?!!!

nova,

you make a good point  a good judge should be able to see past all the hairdressing and trimming and judge the dog to the breed standard.

> Now does anyone remember using Bay Rum

Recognize the name....think my friends dad put it on his hair....as cologne!

Bay Rum

You can still buy it in Morrisons or Lloyds Chemists :-D   Smells lovely!  

royal coatalin isnt manufactured any more I had difficulty getting some so contacted the company and they said it was discontinued but some placed will probably still have some stock, I found some at seapets but have seen it at shows since.

If you're still brushing your dog while the judge is assessing the final line up it would serve you right if he didn't place your dog because he couldn't assess it imho, that's completely different from a quick brush along the skirt and ears while the last dog is being moved. :-)