Just wondered if any of you who have judged or entered the companion dog club classes at companion shows can tell me how they judged the class or how the judge assessed the class they had entered? Talking to people entered in a companion dog club class last weekend it seems that judges are very divided about how to judge the class, some favouring judging it like a 'Best Rescue' class and others as though the dogs entered were in a pedigree class.

Umm don't know whether I should comment as I may get shot down :)

A number I've been to even in the pedigree classes the more "pet" type have won.  I've even been called for taking my rare breed at at least 2 companionship shows.  Asked how dare I be there when you can tell that they are show dogs etc, this was at a time when the breed couldn't even be shown.

Other things have been said to me by organisers etc.  Think there's one near me today but after the comments I got from the organisers a couple of years ago I will never support them again, shame really as proceeds go to their rescue society.

I used to really enjoy going to them but when you see the "best condition" dog being a fat overweight Doberman etc. it does make me smile.

I don't go to win and don't care if I'm thrown out but I do wonder about the judging at times.

Hi! We have a lot of companion shows locally, and the pedigree classes are always judged as 'pedigrees' - because a lot of the show people use them as a training ground.  So it's as a show, judge goes over the dog, usually followed by a triangle and up & down, then stand in line.  It was only at one show a couple of weeks ago, the judge ran everyone together in a circle, that was all, then went 1st, 2nd, 3rd....so that didn't go down too well!

Have to say think the judge does their best with the pedigree classes but as a bystander I have to say it would seem in the other classes most aim to spread it around a bit and look for a dog, type or size they have not previously awarded a win or high place to.

I haven't judged that class myself, but have been in it a few times. I think they would probably judge it more like a handsomest dog / best movement / dog the judge would like to take home class, particularly if there were crossbreeds as well as pedigrees in it. Probably one of those personal choices for the judge though I'm afraid. :-)

Hi

I was referring solely to the companion dog club classes which qualify the dogs for the Scrufts finals. These classes are for pedigree or heinz 57 variety types, but they must all beregistered as members of the Companion Dog Club. I have just judged the class but when I asked if there were any guidelines I was told "no judge it how you like".

I ended up asking each exhibitor what difference having the dog made to their life, and then asked them to do some basic obedience in the ring which I would expect any companion dog to be able to perform by six months of age. Made it a sort of KC Good Citizens meets Crufts Canine Heroes lol

Now you'll all tell me I should have judged it like a show class.... lol :-D

I have held companion dog classes at my shows that i hold and have one coming up soon.

I think it is down to the individual judge on the day although i think most judge it as a show type class and not obedience (but that doesn't mean it's wrong to judge it like that).  I have had judges do it like it was a pedigree class and others that have treated as a novelty type class.  I don't think the KC give guidelines for this class. 

Yes that is true, when it comes to novelty classes, it's usually a case of, which dog hasn't had a rosette, just so that everybody gets something.  I think that's fair enough, and some of them are just novice people, might never have been to a show, and it just makes their day when their dog wins a rosette!