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-- Dear Judge . . . (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=439879)

Dear Judge,,,

Dear Show Secretarys..... when you refuse to invite a judge back because he has the balls to withhold a ribbon or two.... you are NOT helping the breed... you are helping whining folks whose dogs are NOT the great dogs they think they are.

Judges should not HAVE to keep everyone happy,,,, they should feel comfortable trying to get people to improve their dogs if need be. I feel handing out ribbons to EVERY dog can do years of damage to a breed.

You pay to ask that judge their HONEST opinion,,,, do not be upset when you get it.... while the judges you have on speed dial put your dogs up every show,,, please think on that.

Dear UKC,,, encourage your judges to judge like this,,, their aim should be to judge dogs not to be the most popular judge with owners and exhibitors.

When you see Dogs that will NOT walk on a lead,,, or dogs jumping off the table or dirty filthy dogs win,,,, it hurts EVERYONE...

As a part time ring steward,,, I see things the judges HATE to do,,,, like that filthy dog.... the judges judged that dog,, then RAN to the table to wach their hands and went EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW ,,, yet thet gave that dog a winning ribbon? It was the only one of it's breed. I know they did not want to,,, but trying to be nice to everyone,,, and work again,,,, they do it. They should not be made to feel that obligation.

Let the judges be judges,,, without fear of reprisal.

The word is JUDGE...,,,,

Ken of KnD

Dear Judge

Dear Judge (and fellow exhibitors):

The Miniature Pinscher is supposed to have a "hackney-like" gait - with reach and drive. The most important aspect of this movement IS NOT and SHOULD NOT BE a dog's ability to "hit his chin with his wrists"! If he is, he is moving BADLY and you will see it coming at you.

My motto - "Lift, bend AND extend"! And what is "pretty" and high lifting/breaking on the side profile needs to be just as structurally sound coming and going! The dog must move parallel when coming at you.

Yes, the Min Pin standard is the only one in dogdom that calls for "hackney" - but the dog needs to be judged on the whole, not on just this one thing. And this one thing still has to be correct - with all the elements - not just lift and break!

Joanne Wilds
Altanero Miniature Pinscher

BISA/BISS AKC/UKC CH Altanero Barnstormer "Ace"
AKC/UKC CH UWP Altanero Sharper Image RN CGC "Jag"

quote:

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Originally posted by Kathy Graves
In Pembroke Weslh corgis moderate means moderate!

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__________________
Leslie Gene Reed
KeelMtn Corgis
http://KeelMtn.com

Home to a bunch of short dogs who occasionally allow me the honor of holding the other end of their leads!

@Kathy...I will still stand by breed type first...if a dog walks into my ring and I seriously have to look at the judging sheet to see what breed it is SUPPOSED to be it doesn't really matter how it moves...there a lot of mix breeds that are very pleasant to watch move around a yard!
Case in point: years ago I had a dog brought into the ring that I immediately thought to be a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever...much smaller and lighter in bone and body than a Golden Retriever, lots of white markings etc. etc. etc.
It was supposed to be a Golden Retriever. I withheld on lack of merit and later found out from the upset owner that the dog had already been awarded group placements!

Don't want to raise any hackles as I usually don't get involved in public message boards because it usually just becomes a pi$$ing match between a bunch of people with no purpose served in the end... JMHO

just hope nobody gets me started on "balance" ;-)

Respectfully,
Linda Reece

quote:

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Originally posted by HiSociety
@Kathy...I will still stand by breed type first...if a dog walks into my ring and I seriously have to look at the judging sheet to see what breed it is SUPPOSED to be it doesn't really matter how it moves...there a lot of mix breeds that are very pleasant to watch move around a yard!
Case in point: years ago I had a dog brought into the ring that I immediately thought to be a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever...much smaller and lighter in bone and body than a Golden Retriever, lots of white markings etc. etc. etc.
It was supposed to be a Golden Retriever. I withheld on lack of merit and later found out from the upset owner that the dog had already been awarded group placements!

Don't want to raise any hackles as I usually don't get involved in public message boards because it usually just becomes a pi$$ing match between a bunch of people with no purpose served in the end... JMHO

just hope nobody gets me started on "balance" ;-)

Respectfully,
Linda Reece

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__________________
Self-deception is seriously detrimental to one's intellectual integrity.


Jemm's American Bulldogs
www.jemmskennels.com

Home of UKC's #1 American Bulldog for 2010 & 2011!
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Breeder/Owner/Handler Jemm's American Bulldogs

Home of UKC's #1 American Bulldog for 2010 in weight pull!
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Breeder/Owner/Handler Jemm's American Bulldogs
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All American Bulldog Club
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Re: Dear Judge,,,

quote:

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Originally posted by KnD
[Your] aim should be to judge dogs, not to be the most popular judge with owners and exhibitors.

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__________________
Sam Murphy
Hesed Hof German Shepherds

Dear Judges,

Please remember that, although they look like one, the Portuguese Podengo is NOT a terrier; they are Sighthounds.

Please approach our dogs in a gentle, quiet manner and do not rattle keys, drop things to see expression or ever ask us to spar our dogs.

We would greatly appreciate it.

Susan Faw
Broken Road Portuguese Podengo Pequeno and Beagles
www.brokenroadpodengo.com

Corded Standard Poodles

"Dear Judge, in <Standard Poodles>, so many times my dogs have been prejudiced against in the ring or even one time at a Bel Aire show a Judge asked what bred he was and why was he in the Standard Poodles ring.
I know that UKC has a standard for the corded coat of a Standard Poodle, so why the confusion and over all dislike of a coat that was the original to this breed. Before 1904 there was hardly any 'brush coat' Standard Poodles, almost all were in corded coats as they did not have the tools to maintain a 'brush coat' style.

dear Judge

When I do my down and back with one of my yorkies, when we stop and he is fixing to look at you, PLEASE do not make that loud noise with your mouth that scares my little guy half to death and makes him try to run from you. it serves just the opposite effect than what you want. it not only scares him in front of you but his future with other judges also.

__________________
Dee's Lil' Yorkies

Ch. Dee's Lil Diamond Jewel Theif (Pretty Tail)
Ch. Dee's Lil' Midnight Lace
(Lacy a/k/a Chicken)

Dear Judge

Please, when judging Shelties, remember they are a HERDING breed who are supposed to have reach and drive. A Sheltie with the correct angulation will move with its head SLIGHTLY LOWERED. It will not move with its head up "emoting" (I nearly choked when I had a judge tell me that they were supposed to "emote" with their heads up when they moved). Ah yes, I can just see a sheep stopping dead and saying to the Sheltie, "I'm sorry. You're not "emoting". I don't have to do what you say"
Tipping around the ring FAST is NOT correct movement. It shows NO reach and drive. A "fluffy stuffy" (ie: lots of coat, straight front and rear, no neck) is not correct in our breed. Shelties are not Toys. Please judge accordingly.

Karen B. Evans
Karashome Shelties (1974)

__________________
Karen B. Evans
Karashome Shelties
www.karashome.com

Dear Judge,

When judging the Japanese chin, their movement is " stylish and lively". That means they can move. Quickly. They do not plod around the ring like a Peke. Their coat is soft and silky. They do have a profuse mane, pants and tail. Females tend to be less coated. And there are colors other than black and white. The reds range from a very light lemon to a deep mahogany. The sables are the same. The height range is a big one. They can be tiny at 8" all the way to 11". And the height is only an ideal. The length and height should be the same. A square dog.

Please do not expect all chins to bait. Some will happily do it. Some will not. They have a mind of their own. Their way. Or no way. No matter how much noise you make or how great your bait might taste, if they dont want to,they won't look.

And chins REALLY don't like their mouths messed with. When you want to see the teeth. Look fast. They will only give you one shot at it. That nose is just too short to be having it shoved even farther between their eyes so they can show you their teeth.


And last. When judging. Please go over the dogs thoroughly. Look at the head, touch the shoulders, rear and legs. The worse thing is when you ask for an opinion and the judge just runs their hand over the dogs back. I dont think you can feel the entire body just by touching the back.

If any judge has questions about the chin. Please ask. I am more than happy to tell you all about them. Or even if you aren't a judge but want to know about them.



Kathie and the Kyashi chin kids

I've had good experiences at the shows and judges we showed under, so this is just compilation of things that have been said by fellow breed exhibitors of Czechoslovakian Vlcaks:

Dear Judge, a CsV is not another version of a sable GSD. Please don't remark that the eyes are not dark enough as the standards calls for amber eyes, which is I believe faulted in GSDs. Please do not expect the dogs to not stack square but more like a GSD, or fault a dog for having a narrow chest not reaching past the elbows.

Please, please dismiss extremely shy dogs as this is a written disqualification per the standards.

And please don't base our dogs on the illustration that accompanies the standards.. That dog appears to have atypical front, badly placed forelegs, poor coat, too round chest, too long tail and long ears.

Thanks to the thread for letting me raise these few points.

And thank you to all the judges!

Dear Judge,
Greyhounds are not large Whippets.
Our tail, gait...everything is different but our coat color.

__________________
Linda Zucker
mom to
CCB URO1 FO GRCH LAKILANNI WEST WIND ZEPYHR

Dear Judge,

"The Labrador Retriever is a medium-sized, short-coupled, powerfully-built dog..." "A correctly built Labrador Retriever male in working condition should weigh between 65 and 80 pounds and a female should weigh between 55 and 70 pounds."

They are meant to be hunting dogs. Being fat does not make them "powerfully-built." In addition, when they are so obese or oversized that they are winded after doing a go-around, you should probably consider another dog.

Dear Judge when judging Collies-remember they are a expression breed and should have a pretty correctly placed eye--a balanced head, movement to do their job-which is Herding--if they can't move they can't do their job. Balance is so important, the Collie should never be overdone. The coat is the crowing glory in rough collies--they need to be shown clean and well groomed. Free stacking and showing off their natural outline.


Carrianna M.Glenn
SilverBrook Collies

Dear judge,
Please pay close attention to breed type in the APBT Also these dogs should not move like Afghan Hounds...even though it does look pretty
And please remember a rangy APBT is just as much of a fault as being overdone.

__________________
Kim

Dear Judge...

When you look into the mouth of a hairless Chinese Crested, and see missing, crooked, wonky teeth and wonder...

When you see that 8 pound Pomeranian waltzing around the ring and you're thinking that's kinda big...

when some crazy lady comes waltzing up to you as soon as you get to the show, to tell you all about her dog and why its the perfect example of the breed...

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE STANDARD!!!

whenever i see that for my breed, or whatever breed is in the ring, it really makes me more confident in the judge. Even though i might not agree with the decision, at least i know you READ the standard then chose the dog you thought best.

and PLEASE withhold ribbons or give out a second instead of first, and explain nicely WHY.

so many times i have sat ringside and watched an obvious pet win... and sometimes over a worse obvious pet, so the other one finishes. its definitely not fair to the breed, the owner who now thinks she has a better dog than she really does, and the people watching ringside with the 'HUH?' look on their faces.

but mostly... thank you so much for all your time and opinion!

__________________
"Tater" (CC-pp) AKC CH, Nat/Int'l BACh, URO1, UKC GrCH Gingery's Tater Tot; BIMBS; 2x RBIMBS; IABCA BPIS, RBPIS, BBE BPIS, 3x UKC BPIMBS

"Toby" (CC-hl) UWPO, UGWPCH, AKC/CKC/Int'l C, UKC GrCH Gingery's Terrapin CGC, TDI, NADSR WP 4; 12x BVIMBS; 5x BIMBS, 5x RBIMBS; 6x MWPP; #1 Top 10 2007; 9x Total Dog Award

"Indy" (CC-pp) URO1, AKC CH, UKC GrCH Gingery's Independence; BIMBS, 2x RBIMBS; #1 Top Ten 2010

"Bobby" (Pomeraniac) URO1 Thing-a-mah-Bob CGC, TDI

Well said rocketsigntist! I can agree with those points.

I always appreciate a judge looking up the standard to check our breed - or any breed. I have faith that they want to do their best in judging against the UKC standard for that particular breed.

Agreed also on withholding 1st place ribbons. I have only seen it happen a few times, but the judges were very nice to explain to the exhibitors why they felt they couldn't award that first place for their dogs.


I appreciate the time judges give to go over my dogs and watch them move. It makes me feel like they gave me a fair shake to show my dog on that day. Also. I know that often shows are running late, . . . but I like when judges go to pick best in breed and explain their pick on that day. It is always informative and interesting to hear - whether it is my dog or not - I enjoy listening!

__________________
Maryanne Steurer
Coloma Catahoulas

Home of:
NALC Quad Grand Champion Arrow A's Sadie
NALC Grand Champion of Champions/UKC GRCH Coloma's Lucky Strike
NALC Champion of Champions/UKC OB1 UWPO PA UWPCHX GRCH Coloma's Jezebel, CGC, 9X "Total Dog" award,
2008 Weight Pull All Stars, 2008 UKC Top Ten #1 Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog

I agree with the other Sheltie statement... But I do want to add, not all Shelties show their movement at the handlers fast walk pace...

The handler should pace themself to their dog... I have one Sheltie who moves as most do, a nice steady pace for handler to walk...

Then, another who as some put it "pulls", but he is NOT pulling, he is moving. When I get him gaiting, anything slower than a fast jog and he is 'out of whack' with his gait. Out in the yard, out with stock, he moves - plenty of reach and drive. To hold him back just makes him look unnatural.

So, yes - Judges, please watch Sheltie movement, watch for the lowered head and level topline (including no gay tail!) with reach and drive... Do not hold it against the dog if they move faster than the others in the ring, but look beautiful doing it.

I try to put my guy in line first or in the group ring, we place ourselves sometimes even in front of the aussie or BC depending on their speed (I watch the other breeds to know where to put myself), or just leave extra space before we take off.

Kelly Clark

Dear Judge: When judging the APBT's please remember to look at feet, flat splayed feet and long toes are NOT the standard.

Dear Judge, also please read the standards on the tail, a GAY tail is a serious fault and should be held to that. It also states ::: When the dog is relaxed, the tail is carried low and extends approximately to the hock. Does not say has to come to hock, and Fault: Long tail (tail tip passes beyond point of hock)

Dear Judge, we seem to have issue with many dogs and their shoulders, please see that Upright or loaded shoulders is also a fault. The breed is suposed to have well laid back shoulders.

Dear Judge: they also are not supposed to be bull doggy, or a LARGE breed, it clearly states: The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short-coated dog with smooth, well-defined musculature.

I could keep going on this... Thanks for letting us vent, and it is also nice to see what others think we as Judges need to look at also or more closely...

My 2 Cents <3

__________________
Home to:
UWPCHX UWPO GRCH Hilltop's Number One Stunner TT, CGC, RN, RA, CAL1, GDT, IDT3, WP3, PennHip, CERF, OFA
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CH Hilltop's Pride N Joy of Kayo

GOLDENS

Dear Judge,
when judging Goldens, please remember-

COLOR

Color may be any shade of GOLDEN, but it must be rich and lustrous. Body color that approaches CREAM or red is undesirable.

not to mention the temperamant that is the signature of the breed. if you are not sure of the standard, please look it up! an exhibitor would rather wait for you to check then to have you put up a dog that shouldn't be put up. i think this encourages people to breed dogs that they shouldn't be breeding when their dogs get titles that maybe they shouldn't be getting.

with that said- i wouldn't want to be in any of your shoes! you guys have a tough job!

__________________
Life is too short not to live with a Golden Retriever!

Dear judge...

I could not for the life of me figure out what you were looking for in my breed, nor in the group ring, nor in BIS. I pondered this for years, of watching you judge, confused as to what on earth was your motivation for what you picked.

I showed you my dog 4 different times. 2 times you rewarded it and 2 times you did not.

I was confused when you gave me RBIS and then the very next day when you judged my breed, placed that same RBIS dog, 3rd out of 3 in the champion class.

I was confused when i watched you give other dogs BIS, and then the next show, not put them up on the breed ring.

I explained nicely to my competitors, who were sure they would win under you, that "YEAH...that judge gave you RBIS, but that does NOT mean they are gonna give you Group 1 this show"....because i knew you were unpredictable, and still had no idea what you were looking for.

Reluctantly i showed to you, and you gave me BOB, reluctantly i went into Group, expecting nothing, and you gave me Group 1. We went to BIS expecting nothing, and there you were ringside...cheering for my dog? Note my confusion level grows here.....and when we were awarded BIS, you spent a great deal of time talking with my husband about my dog....and how much you liked her.

and finally...i figured out what it is you were looking for. You make your mind a blank each time you go into judge, not considering the past placements, and viewing what you have with a new light, and make honest placements based on WHAT is in front of you at that moment...YOU...are judging...the way you are supposed to.

Thankyou for being a true unbiased judge. NOT easy.

__________________
Serena Galloway
www.ankhu.com

Home of Multi-BIS U-GrCh, Multi Group Winning/Placing AKC Bronze GCh, MBIS/MRBIS Int'l Ch, CKC Ch. Pineridge-Anji's St. Cecilia

Home of BIS/MRBIS U-GrCh., MBPIG CKC Ch., Int'l Ch, AKC GCh. Ankhu's Steamy Windows

No part of this message may be forwarded without permission

Dear Judge, when judging any breed, please don't be afraid to withhold ribbons or look at the standand(s) while judging.

While withholding is quite embarrassing for the exhibitor, it is sadly a necessary evil if one wants to do what's best for the breed. There are specimens who show so much lack of merit that withholding a ribbon is really what's best for their breed. There are others that you can find enough good qualities in them and feel they are decent representations of their breed, after all, you shouldn't be fault judging and there are no perfect dogs. I'll leave it up to you to decide where that fine line between acceptable and unacceptable lies.

Looking at the breed standard should not make you feel like you're taking up too much time on one breed nor should it embarass you in any way. We can not rightfully expect you to remember ALL our standards to a tee. I would prefer a judge who will take the extra time to review my standard than to just hurry us along an take his/her best guess or to just wing it.

As for judging Dobermans, the first paragraph in our standard is very important to me. "The appearance is that of a dog of medium size, with a body that is square. Compactly built, muscular and powerful, for great endurance and speed. Elegant in appearance, of proud carriage, reflecting great nobility and temperament. Energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient." If you can't look at what you have in the ring and see this paragraph, then you must not have a very good Doberman.

Overly Shy or Vicious dogs should NOT be tolerated. Vicious does NOT mean towards other dogs! Many Guardian breeds don't always "like" other dogs.

Open the mouth and know what to look for. These are a working breed and bites, occlusion, etc...are very important to their function. I have very few judges who ask me to see the occlusion and to open the mouth.

Don't assume that a "show" dog is a "good" dog...not all "show" dogs are "good" dogs. And some who may be a little less excited about being escorted around the ring may actually be better dogs.

Blues and Fawns are not of lesser quality based on their color alone. They are accepted colors in AKC and UKC and should be judged the same as Blacks and Reds.

Oh and one more thing, SMILE! I know I don't smile in the ring when I'm showing because I'm on auto pilot but I'm positive I smile and say thank you to every judge as I leave the ring, win or lose. I remember when I first started showing, I was scared to death of the judges!! They all looked so serious and intimidating, it was like I was waiting to get scolded or grounded by my Mother because my dog wasn't good enough haha...not that this isn't serious business but this is also supposed to be fun! Lighten up a little...you can have fun and be a good judge at the same time.

Thank you for all your time and efforts!!

__________________
Meejin Pike
Firefly Dobermans

CA, UAGI, URO1, USJCH, UGrCH, Am CH, UDC CH, Int'l/Nat'l CH Fayek Pitch Black V Firefly CGC, RA, BN, CA, MX, MXJ, NF, DJ, RATI, RATN, VCX, RL1, RL2, RL3, ATD, ROM, CHIC, Multi TD Qualifier "Kyra"
ARCHX, CA, URO1, UCH, Int'l CH Firefly's More Than Meets the Eye RN, CGC, CA, RATI, RL1, RL1X, RL2, RL2X, ATD "Arcee"
UGrCH, Int'l CH Fayek's Fire Walk With Me (AKC Ptd) "Ruby"
UCH Fayek Causing A Commotion (AKC Ptd) "Rowdy"
UGrCH Apache's The Perfect Storm CGC "Magda"
BISS, UGrCH Tiburon Goblin Moon (AKC Major Ptd) "Goblin"

www.fireflydobermans.com

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Originally posted by CCR
Dear Judge,
...please pay close attention to the part of the standard that states "Catahoulas should always be presented in hard, working condition."

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Re: GOLDENS

quote:

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Originally posted by Karla


with that said- i wouldn't want to be in any of your shoes! you guys have a tough job!

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