My friend was in the ring with her dog yesterday and after she had been seen by the judge and waited for the rest of the class, her husband briefly spoke to her at the side of the ring. He told me that the judge had told my friend that her dog was too big at the shoulders for his breed. He obviously threw her out. This is a dog that ALWAYS gets placed 1st or 2nd at champ shows and is a stunning dog.  My friend is upset that he should give her critique while going over her dog.  Is this normal??

Judges may occasionally make comments,  Is your friends dog on the bigger side of the criteria!

I was once told by a top judge, who was judging at LKA, that my dogs eyes and pigmentation were the wrong colour, that his friend had imported the breed etc.

I listened with interest and then told him that he had the wrong breed as I was the original importer of the breed and that he was thinking of Lagotto's that couldn't even be shown in Britain yet :d

One of my other friends was told at a champ. show that her Bolognese wsa the wrong colour as they only come in white.  My friends dog was a brown and white SWD and about 5 times bigger than a Bolognese, this was yet again said by a well know group judge who has judged abroad and should have known better :d :d

> I was once told by a top judge, who was judging at LKA, that my dogs eyes and pigmentation were the wrong colour, that his friend had imported the breed etc.

> I listened with interest and then told him that he had the wrong breed as I was the original importer of the breed and that he was thinking of Lagotto's that couldn't even be shown in Britain yet

Bet you didn't get placed ... or was he so embarrassed he gave you the class to shut you up LOL?

M.

remember judges don't know everything they may think they do LOL
carol

judges are not allowed to give verbal critiques, but at least you know why the judge didnt like your dog.

Oops, that's a major clanger SWD!!! I was stewarding an open group once and the AVNSC dog was something that looked a lot like a Siberian Husky (forget what it was now). When I was noting down ring numbers, its owner said to me 'it's alright, it's not a bad Husky, it's a ****'. So I just smiled and said 'fine', trying not to sound as if I'd never heard of them, not being very experienced with anything but Cavs and Yankees!! When I got back to the table, the judge whispered to me 'what's that? Not a husky is it?' so I could sound really knowledgable and tell her what it was!! :-D

LucyD, was it a Canaan Dog?

It was not my dog he did not like, as I got second .  In fact he praised my dogs head and tail while going over him. Although flattered, I have never had a judge do that before, I ve always read the critiques in the dog paper.

Was this an overseas judge by any chance.

In FCI countries the judge writes a critique on each dog to give the handler at the end.  some judges will take mike in hand and actually critique the dogs to the audience.

Must admit I rather like this (was used to it when I showed Rabbits as the judges would often give their thought processes), at least you know the unamended opinion, not the one the judge writes when they see who the dogs are in the catalogue later.

Critiques in the ring aren't allowed in the UK, but judges will often make comments to the handler, and why not, you might have to wait weeks/months for the sanitised critique. :)

At the 2 BSD champ.shows we always get written critiques and grading of the dog in the ring, continental style, whether it is foreign judges or our own. Love it, it's the most interesting shows of the year. :) It also makes you feel SO much happier if your dog isn't placed or is placed last, if it still is graded Excellent.

In FCI countries the judge writes a critique on each dog to give the handler at the end.  some judges will take mike in hand and actually critique the dogs to the audience.
oh that sounds rather a good idea. We only showed our dogs twice now but it actually gives us no insight into our dogs or how to show them better  because each time we got no feedback... I know that's how it is but it's be so useful to get told especialy when you are begining and need more help, knowledge and hopefully encouragement. .

I think it's a good idea as at least you get to know what the judge thought of your dog at the time especially as a lot of judges don't send reports to the dog papers (or don't get published for one reason or another)

I agree with Brainless that it's quite common for FCI judges to do this when judging here. I got a CC from a well known european judge and quite liked the fact that he stood in front of my dog and the limit winner and explained to both of us what he liked about our dogs, and why he was giving mine the ticket. RCC winner was happy too as it was basically a case of more maturity. I also won puppy bitch that day and was a bit peeved when he told second in class that her bitch had a better head than mine! - swings and roundabouts :D

I think the FCI system is excellent in that you know what the judge thinks about your dog - however - I just dont know how ready for the truth some exhibitors might be.

We will be showing in Germany and other countries soon as we are moving there in October. That is one of the things I will like about showing over there. It will save having to wait on it appearing (or not) in a paper like in this country.