Is there anywhere that provides information on championship show judges? For example, type of dog they prefer ie leggy, heavier etc. Would be good to know that before choosing what judges to enter under

Oh I wish! ;)

It is by trial and error and years of showing that I believe you can gauge what each judge prefers.  I have only been showing a year and have about 4 judges on my list of not to show under again - either too rough or made 'interesting' decisions!

Personally I enter under everyone and rather learn myself if a judge 'likes' my dog or goes for something completely different - and will enter all puppies regardless.  I don't like to go on hearsay better to learn for yourself! :)

I would add to rachelsetters comments that you should try a judge at least a couple of times. The reason I say this is that when judging I once gave a very nice dog BOB, when I next judged he was entered under me but had been allowed to get fat, the day was very very hot, and he moved round the ring like a "slug who had dined too well", consquently he was placed right down the line.

So obviously as a judge is expected to judge "on the day", do make sure before you "write off" that judge, that it is your type the judge doesn't like and not something which has changed between that judge going over your dog previously and the next time you enter under him or her.

All judges will at times make questionable decisions I have never yet met one who didn't! I steward a lot and some judges do not make the decisions I would have made if judging that class, but the problem with judging "from the ringside" or as a steward or the person holding the lead is that we do not get to put our hands on every dog entered and we cannot see what that judge is seeing.

Generally though you can as Rachelsetters says build up a picture of what certain judges like. I always used to keep a booklet with the all class placings noted down for each judge I entered under,whether or not I was placed, (if the winning dogs have a picture in the paper you can keep this with your notes to remind you of the type placed). By looking at the type of dogs the judge was placing it gave me an idea of what that judge might like. It is interesting that in a breed I have in partnership in Spain there is a husband and wife team, both judge and I have often noticed that what the wife likes and places the husband doesn't.

We'd all love to know that one :D

The best thing to do is speak to your breeder and ask if his/her line appeals to a wider range of judges including all rounders or are they more leaning towards a higher percentage of specialists  ;)

Your breeder should be able to keep your right on some judges that may be a total waste of time if they do have obvious leanings towards a different mould of dog to that which you own - other than that you pays your money and takes a chance like the rest of us!

Good luck, Teri

Would be good if we could have that info though wouldnt it!! Would save a lot of time and money! I am a newbie so im entering the shows not too far from me and learning the hard way! Experienced people have said to me your dog is too heavy etc etc for that judge and its been right, ive been chucked!! Gonna take years to know what judge likes what as they don't judge that often do they

How true!

This is not a cheap hobby by any stretch of the imagination but do remember it IS just a hobby (it's not the winning but the taking part etc ;) )  If you have a good mentor in your breeder it will help you save wasted fees on entries or travelling great distances for a few judges - but all judges should be judging your dog against the Breed Standard and NOT simply against those in the same class.  If your dog is the best on the day, well and good, but we've all been in the "also ran category" at some point - even with dogs that have taken major awards previously or are destined to do so in the future :)

Just remember that if you dont really enjoy showing or if you really feel you MUST win, this is probably not the past-time most suited to you ;)

regards, Teri

'Fraid not.  Talk to someone in your breed who's been showing for years and they will have seen all the oldies judge before! :)

Good idea, i just feel sometimes like im being a pain in the arse as im always asking questions or asking for help, they must get fed up with me!!

There are genuine people around (not all I know:rolleyes:) who truly don't mind helping anyone sincerely interested in their breed! :D

The trouble there is, I have been told not to go under certain judges because they are "facey" and won't like my dog because of his colour (hardest colour in the breed) one judge gave me a first in two classes the other gave my dog his stud book number, you can never tell

Don't forget, people who advise you sometimes have a different agenda to your own agenda!   If there was a judge that I'd gone under who had given me a first, then I would certainly go under that judge again, and similarly with the other judge!

Margot

I must say that every single ticket that we've won has been unexpected and from unknown judges.  Each time we've gone under people who've said "How is your beautiful bitch?" or "You have been doing well with ***.  She looked wonderful", then we've gone with hope in our hearts and been disappointed.

When we were actively campaigning our girls, then we would go to every Champ Show within a 2.5 hour drive, and plan to enjoy the day out with people with a shared interest and learn a bit along the way.  If we got a good place, won, or came home with the ticket, then it was a bonus. :) 

I see showing as a place to learn as much as a place to win. :)

So true Val,  it's always when you least expect it. 
When we bath the dogs, pack the car and leave the house at an ungodly hour we go for a day out, if we do anything great, if not well we have a great day chatting to people who we haven't seen since the last Show and drive back home :)

Just what happened with me Val - everyone said it wasn't worth going under the judge who then gave Henry his ticket, but since then whenever we've gone under a judge I am told likes my dog or at least his type, we get chucked out! :-)

I remember asking the same question when I first started showing a couple of year's ago and wishing for the same as you - some sort of judges profile.  I think talking to your breeder will help as they will know what type/colour a particular judge will like.  I know showing isn't all about winning but it also becomes an expensive waste of time if you know before hand that the judge will not even look at your dog because it's the wrong colour (as happened to me with my puppy's first show earlier this year - only looked at tri's).

But, to be honest, the best way is to try the judges yourself and make a note of those not to go under again if you know they haven't liked your type or they have just picked out the names - we have a book of definite 'no's' 'yes's' and 'maybe again's' (because our dog hasn't performed as well as they could).      

Not quite the same, but I got my schedule through for poole open show yesterday and it gives a short profile of all the judges, eg. what breed they are in, for how long, what breeds they give CC's in.  Quite interesting really :)

I always take the advice of people who have dogs of my line, they know which judges - might, will or wont like my boy.  But then there have been a few surprises

I went to a show a few months ago, we were supposed to have a canadian judge but when we got there we heard that a different judge would be judging us. A woman i know was able to tell me exactly who this replacement judge would place first in OD and give them BOB. She also said the judge would throw her arms around the bloke and give him a hug and a kiss when she gave him BOB. Sure enough it went exactly as this woman said. There would have been a much smaller entry if everyone had known that we had this judge and not the canadian. She was described to me as a blatant face judge.
It's disheartening when you go to the trouble of travelling for 3 hours, up half the night before getting your dog ready and the judge gives  everything to the people that they know.

Jimbob,

I know how you feel but interesting to find that 'face' judging doesn't happen - apparently. 

Face Judging deffo does happen IMHO. In my breed you can predict the face the judge will pick (not all Judges but some are terrible)

You will soon learn breed specialist judges by what they own/breed/show.

On the majority all rounders tend to go (although not always the case) for heavier, stockier, flashier dogs that will look good and show well in the bigger rings (ie groups)

Also by looking and all rounders/non breed specialists who their friends are within the breed they are judging.  not nessercary that they will put up their friends but the fact that they will tend to see the type that there friends breeds/owns/shows as their "desired" type.

also with all results now being online look back at shows (championship mainly) where the judges have previously judged and see which dogs they put up.  which lines they were, what the type was and who owned them.

You do get facey judges, no-one can hide that but at the same time you get honest judges as well...honest :)