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

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Originally posted by Houndawgs
whatever

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whatever

Jeez, people, grow up and stop hijacking a thread that other people found useful. This thread was intended to be a useful tool. David says so himself on page four, when he says:

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First of all, let me thank everyone who contributed to this thread. Your insights on your breeds have been quite instructive and helpful to all of us who dare to judge. The little details such as the post about spanning is critically important to our being better judges.

But as the thread continues, please help to keep to the original intent. It was not intended to advise the judges of ring procedure, a reminder about checking standards, address handling issues, or really do anything more than to give us judges the inside scoop on what is important to you within your breed in regards to conformation, temperament, grooming, and other little known “secrets”. Otherwise, it would have been titled, “Dear Bonehead!” (Heaven knows, that thread would take off like a rocket!)

So, as a reminder, please begin your post with “Dear Judge, in <state your breed>, please . . .” If you don’t tell us what breed you have, you might get us spanning Collies.

Now, to reset my example . . .

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__________________
Kimberly Egan
LoupGarou (mostly) Toy Fox Terriers

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AKC and UKC Ch. UAG1 'PR' LoupGarou Kajun-Fox Beausoleil CD, RA, NA, NAJ, CGC
AKC Ch. And UKC GRC La Isla's Wickfair Watersprite, #7 Toy Fox Terrier 2011
U-Ch. 'PR' LoupGarou Cajunization
U-Ch. 'PR' LoupGarou Christmas Bayou
U-Ch. 'PR' LoupGarou Bay Toys Kyrie Eleison
U-Ch. 'PR' Stardust Saints Geaux Marching
Showboat Saintsational Season, HT, BN, CGC

RIP Roger Dodger Over and Out. Your time on this Earth was far too short. God bless and God speed.

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Originally posted by KYASHI
While sitting grooming a dog today a thought hit me hard in the head. I realized that most of the time that we as exhibitors scream that a judge does not know our standard is when we have lost. When we win then the judge is very knowledgable in our breed. What we havent thought is that maybe the one who awarded us didnt know it well either. We just got lucky and won.

How many times do we cry foul about a judge when the camel on wheels wins over our dog? Or the two headed cat that the judge gave best in show to and loudly stated that it was the best poodle they had ever seen? It is in the eye of the beholder. The judge.

We state we are not kennel blind. Reality. We are. We read the standards one way. A judge may read it another. One breeder prefers to breed one type. We breed the other. Both can be correct.

As a judge I do my best to learn your breed and understand every aspect of it. I am given limited time to decide if your dog fits all the requirements of your breed. Unfortunately I do not have all day to make sure that your dog fits to perfection what your standard states. I only have minutes.

I know some people will think I am a great judge. Others will think I should go into underwater basket weaving. My job is to award the dogs that I feel are worthy.

So if you see me giving best in show to the purple peanut eating bandit that walks backwards. Know that I know their standards states that is what they do with an easy, soft movement that looks like they are floating. That they have a level top line. Scissor bite. And any red markings are a DQ. And he was the best one I have ever seen.

And yes I did choose to be a judge. I waited 40 years to do it. I didn't take it lightly. I wanted to learn as much as possible about as many breeds as possible before I took on this endeavor. And if at any time I feel I am not doing justice for the dogs, the breeders, the exhibitors. I will retire.

And as an exhibitor if you feel I do not know enough of your breed. Teach me. If you want to learn about my breed. Ask. I am willing to not only learn but to teach as well. No one knows everything. We spend our entire lives learning. But don't expect every judge to know your standard by heart. We try. We do our best. We are only human.


Happy showing.


Kathie Brown

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__________________
Darla@KnD Kennels Rat Terriers
"The Best Little Whole House Of Rat Terriers In Texas"
Home of:
UKC GrCh KnD's Diamond In The Ruff
a.k.a.
"The Rock"
www.kndkennels.com
www.imageevent.com/kndkennels

quote:

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Originally posted by KYASHI
[B]While sitting grooming a dog today a thought hit me hard in the head. I realized that most of the time that we as exhibitors scream that a judge does not know our standard is when we have lost. When we win then the judge is very knowledgable in our breed. What we havent thought is that maybe the one who awarded us didnt know it well either. We just got lucky and won.

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I have found..

I have also noticed, judges that do have the same breed as I do judge to thier personal preferences and not to the standard. I will have no plans to show to them again either.

So, do not think just because they "should" know that breed that they will judge it to the standard. Personal preferances and politics will be in the ring with you.. ALWAYS. This is why we vote for judges with our dollars and pick whom you will show to.

I don't care if you don't put my dog up.. as long as I got a fair shot at it and the dog you did put up is a good example. And don't give lame excuses... The dog I spoke about above.. that I was told was too square and in fact was almost a prefect 10:9.. was a total and complete butt that day. She is young and a very happy go lucky dog. I could barely keep all four feet on the ground. I could take THAT as a more true statement than her being too square.

__________________
Darla@KnD Kennels Rat Terriers
"The Best Little Whole House Of Rat Terriers In Texas"
Home of:
UKC GrCh KnD's Diamond In The Ruff
a.k.a.
"The Rock"
www.kndkennels.com
www.imageevent.com/kndkennels

I have always told my judges, if you have any questions regarding my breed, I will be glad to speak with you.

I always say this on my way out of the ring after judging.

I am not pushy about it, but most of us who show in UKC have rare breeds or breeds that are not seen on a regular basis, so If I can help someone with a question or two, I will gladly do that.

I once had a judge in Canada tell me, I remember when your standard called for a white tail tip!

Our standard has never called for a white tail tip at all!!!!

This was a Canadian judge who had judged our breed many times before, and she was later lined up to judge the Canadian National Specialty, and yes, she put up a dog with a white tail tip for her breed winner of the day.

It is just one person's opinion, and you have to go with the flow.

__________________
Marsha M, mother of Jessica RN, who owns Annie the toller who has 8 Best Altered in Shows, and Secret, the American Water Spaniel,who is now a UKC CH.

This is exactly why so many are bothered that "some" judges that judge breeds they are not familiar with and the one furthest from the standard is put up.

From the "How to Become a Judge" page:
No person has greater opportunity or ability to affect a breed and its development than the judge. The daily decisions made in the ring by the judge can have an impact on breeding programs for years to come. A judge must be thoughtful, well-schooled in the breeds they are to judge, mindful of their responsibilities to the breeders and exhibitors who show their dogs to them and accountable to the United Kennel Club for their actions.

Someone mentioned offereing to answer any question the judge might have AFTER the judging. If you have the only breed entry, that's all fine and good, but when there are multiple breed entries, shouldn't answers to their questions be given PRIOR to judging a breed they aren't too sure about?

I know there are very few breed parent clubs in UKC. Perhaps this should be a consideration. Parent clubs could sponcer breed seminars that would be useful to all judges. A national specialty would bring in better numbers than most multi-breed shows. That would be a significant learning experience for breeders and judges alike......Just a thought...
Linda Rusinko
Wooster, Ohio

__________________
Home of Warlord Dobermans:

12 X Alt BIMBS, 4 x Alt RBIMBS, 9 X HSIT, URX, UROC, UCD, UCH D'Lano's Guns N'Roses, CGC, TDI, TT, WAC, RE, BN, UDC VC, AKC CD, APDT RL3, AOE-L1, L2 & L-3, ASCA ODX, CW-SR', ODC BROM (aka Raney)

Warlord's Khaos v Whitedheim, WAC, CGC' (UKC pointed) (2-27-2007 to 1-5-2013)

Daker Drago, CGC

We did try that route and we ran our nationals for years here. But truth is non club membes who refused to follow rules created political havoc on running the shows.

Our club members footed the cost of FCI judges and trophys for non club members.

With Rare breeds getting clubs going is hard when breeders do not need to be part of a club to sell pups .

So we gave up,my clients are required to follow ethics/rules to sign off on breedings. Other breeders do not require those rules thus joining our club is not cost effective to them.

Which is why I suggested senior judges giving rare breed seminars at the judges seminars required by UKC.

Maybe when the depression is over i will spend another 3k for a FCI judge again , to help get FCI critiques on members and non members and invite UKC judges.

__________________
Number 1 UKC Dog 2002 to Present
http://www.centralasianshepherd.com
716 751 6927

Whine whine whine.

My dog lost, my dog won. It's all about me, me, me.

Can we please act like ADULTS?

Judges, you want opinions? You got 'em. Exhibitors, you want to know what judges think of your dog? You got it. You can't pick and choose. Take it all, internalize it, and come to a rational conclusion. Be the best judge/exhibitor/breeder you can be. If you're doing that, then please keep it to yourself. We don't need to all hear about how you have the best dogs in the world or you always put up the right dog, and how you know all the right answers.

I'm sorry the rat terriers aren't the worlds best known standard. I truly am because I am sick of the whining that no one knows the standard.

Judging is a hard and subjective task. With puppies, you know their little bodies change. If you think too hard, you realize your 2nd place puppy will probably be a better dog than your 1st place puppy.. but your 1st place puppy is the better puppy... but you know that it will become coarse as it gets older, so even though it looks mature now, that is TECHNICALLY incorrect.. but you judge the dog on the day, right? So it goes to the overly mature, but better, puppy. And yet people are mad! OR wait! It goes to the immature puppy who looks like a puppy and not a 4 year old dog -- and people are STILL mad!

Judges can't win. At least judges who put up their friends are crystal clear on their priorities. Or wait.. maybe they put up their friends' dogs because they know their friends lines and know the virtues of their friends' dogs from, oh I don't know, having personal interactions with them. Maybe it's like that ugly dude you dated in high school. You thought he was the cat's pajamas, but now you look back and thing - hmm, what was I thinking?! Emotional closeness hides the "ugly". There've been plenty of studies done to show that. So maybe judges aren't TRYING to be political, but their brain is hiding the faults because of the friendship. Like I said, judges can't win.

You know what I like? I like a judge who takes the 10 seconds to explain the placements. I had a judge, I forget who, it was somewhere in MO years ago, that at the end of every class before the ribbons were handed out or the dogs were put in order, the judge would say "I am putting up the dog with the best overall movement, and that's #7" or "all of these dogs moved beautifully, but #12, I felt you had the best type". WOW, that made me feel great, even when I lost, because I knew the judge had something going on in his head. I might not have agreed, but at least I felt like the placements had a purpose. AND, I found out one of my collies didn't have the lovely gait I thought she had. My friends told me how beautiful her movement was, and I found out from a total stranger that she trotted like she was getting ready to take a dump. Her butt was all tucked under herself. Turned out she needed a series of chiro adjustments to fix her pelvis.

My #1 concern with the UKC is that some breeds have absolutely ZERO representation. It's not that the breeds aren't shown, it's that no one is out there acting as a judges' education advocate. There is no strong breed club who is willing to teach. There are other breeds where that statement couldn't be further from the truth, so please go back and read that part about "some". There are certainly uninvolved breed clubs in other registration bodies, but I see it more in UKC (but then again, I show more in UKC than CKC or IABCA).

But then again, having to work together with PEOPLE? Some of you just aren't cut out for that. You're too busy being perfect to listen to other people's opinions. Please, be the people your dogs think you are, and not the whining children that you are online.

REALLY??

Whine whine whine.

My dog lost, my dog won. It's all about me, me, me.

Can we please act like ADULTS?
___________________________________
How can this be a whine or acting immature when we are answering a topic put before us? I think many truely didn't want to hear the answers. Will this topic help.. I hope so, but with attitudes like yours I have serious doubts. A wise person is one that knows they don't know it all.

I have no idea who you are judge or not, but if you are a judge, do not be sorry judges do not know our breeds standard.. READ IT and learn it for yourself and do not take anyone.. ANYONE elses opinions on it. Judge the breeds to the standards as you understand them. A fair chance.. thats all many of us want. We know we will loose some and we know we will win some. We also know judging is not an easy task, but we want, expect and pay for a fair playing field.. like any other sport. Nothing more.. nothing less.

I am sorry you did not find this topic helpful. People will take away what they will.. some will see it as helpful and some won't .. they won't even look for it, but blame sour grapes. The only thing sour in my mouth is the unwanting.. the unwanting to do better. BUT HEY! after all judges wouldn't be judges if they didn't know what they were doing.. right?

__________________
Darla@KnD Kennels Rat Terriers
"The Best Little Whole House Of Rat Terriers In Texas"
Home of:
UKC GrCh KnD's Diamond In The Ruff
a.k.a.
"The Rock"
www.kndkennels.com
www.imageevent.com/kndkennels

I'm sorry the rat terriers aren't the worlds best known standard. I truly am because I am sick of the whining that no one knows the standard.

Mailgator,,, may I please remind you,, it was a judge that started this thread,,, and Judges have in fact replied,,,

It is not about Rat Terriers,,, and a Rat Terrier person did not start it.

Go back and read,, MANY breeds have come forward.

If you think the thread is about whining or losing,, DO NOT READ THE THREAD.

Do not voluntarily read pages upon pages of posts,, and then complain about those posts.

There is a red and white X on the right hand side top of your screen,, hit that and your problems are over.

Adults ARE talking...and answering a question that we were asked,,, BY A JUDGE.

Ken of KnD
www.kndkennels.com

Dear Judge,

Thank you for taking time to assist in the efforts of preserving our breed standards. It is a thankless job and very easy to stray from preserving our breeds to getting caught up in the name game, popular trends, and pleasing clubs and exhibitors.

Please ALWAYS remember YOU are the guardian of our sacred breed standards set forth to separate our breeds from all others and to set forth standards our breeds need to possess to perform their function, which is so critical to our breed.

Please hold strong to the standard to its entirety! Some breeds are type breeds, some are moving breeds, some have different personality traits that they are overly jovial or could really care less about any other human than their owner, which is clearly stated in their breed standard. Dogs of curagious breeds should not flip out and run when a comb drops. Dogs who are bred to work should be of WORKING condition in the ring (labs, chessies, etc should NOT have fat bumpers on each side!) and depict a healthy weight to walk out of your ring and go perform their function the rest of the day w/o overheating, heart attack, or stroke from being in 'show shape' vs working condition. Also overlook cosmetic imperfections our true working dogs may have (pyrenese w/ scars from a fight protecting flock from yotes, rubbed noses/scars from herding dogs pushing through fences to move stock, bite wound scars/scabs from coonhunting the night before). These are not faults and ONLY depict that these dogs are functioning members of their breed and have more than type and structure to offer the breed, which working ability is often lacking and IS part of the breed standard when reading the wole thing.

Please always keep in mind your opinion is limited to personal preference within the scope of the breed standard. What you put up, people are expecting a knowledgeable representation of the breed for BREEDING purpose. Never lose track that if you put up quality it promotes breeding quality and preserving the breed standard becomes a goal. If you put up dogs in the current fad or inferior dogs (out of,standard) you are helping the breed change rather than preserve what our breed stands for.

Please remember, those of us who are passionate about our breed and not here for our own popularity contest are depending on you! You have the power to hold our breed standards or have them negated and open the door for breed ****ation. GSD's should NOT walk on their hocks, didn't in the 50's, and only do so in the US. It is NOT in the breed standard either. Yet the American bred GSD has been forever changed to inferior quality and that is what wins despite not being correct to standard. What you put up, will be bred and shape the future of,our breed.

Please, when you encounter a new breed..seek us out and spend some time learning. We will be happy to show off our breed and discuss the standard. You will know if it is a new person to the breed or somebody who has a great deal of experience. Visit our kennels, watch the dogs work, and understand those of us are quite passionate and expect you to also be passionate about preserving our breed standard if you are going to judge them.

Please understand we do appreciate everything you do to help us preserve our breed. We are just as passionate as you are of your own. And we know that there is nothing in our breed standards that qualify a prof handler as having the better dog. It does not state that paying for a handler means a win can be bought. Prof handlers should make you judge at a higher standard as you will have to look for flaws being hidden against strong points an inexperienced handler may not be promoting. You are judging in the breed ring and not JR handling

__________________
It ain't the bark, it ain't the growl, it's the bite that hurts!

Where's the like button?

Nicely stated, starplott!

I show a rare breed and while some judges have taken the time to learn our standard, others have made decisions in the breed ring that tell me they have not. I never mind losing to a good dog, but when a clearly inferior dog, with a blatantly obvious "serious fault" by our standard gets put up over many other superior dogs, I get a little riled.

__________________
Jenn, Zen, Fern, Haven, and Isla
Ides of March Berger Picards

I've shown rare, rarely seen in UKC popular in AKC, and coonhound breeds (which I am a BSJ for coonhounds) that some judges have never seen when we first started the CCH title for coonhounds in multi breed shows.

I REALLY can't complain with the response from judges. Especially before I had the Dutch Shepherd standard (coat/color) changed to meet what the FCI was trying to state but got mixed in translation. Only allowable colors were yellow, blue, gold brindle (which judges were confused with the black brindles-which is considered a blue/yellow/gold brindle through FCI and not a black brindle). The judges were very good with questions on the breed.

I have shown under a couple judges I question...but for the most part judges (seen it with my own two eyes) will review the breed standard at the stewards desk before the breed goes into the ring. Which has helped greatly!

One of the hardest things for our judges is we don't certify for breeds like AKC and we don't have deadline to pre-enter. Which means our judges don't know what breeds they will be judging at any given show unless the breeds are limited. Day of show entries make it hard for judges to spend much time on breed standards of rare breeds new to the UKC ring.

Standard breeds to UKC should be known by judges forwards and backwards. But, unlike AKC, we have no misc class for judges to get exp with new breeds before full reg. We also don't have a SMALL number of breeds we add every few years like AKC. So we do ask a LOT of our judges. When we accepted all FCI breeds that brought in how many NEW breeds open to UKC? It was a lot.

Judges have lives too (jobs, kids, families, their own dogs, etc) on top of their judging assignments they take on. It is impossible to expect them to decipher and retain breed standards for the few hundred breeds not commonly seen, let alone pick through and guess which ones to study first as they are most likely to see at the next show.

As a trainer and having my life revolve around dogs the last 30 years, I have read hundreds of breed standards and put my hands physically on many breeds most have never heard of. Yet we expect judges to have the same experiences and opportunities BEFORE we enter a breed nobody has had in the ring before.

Breed standards also allow a lot of variables in certian breeds. Some may prefer smaller dogs w/i the standard while others prefer bigger dogs. Either way, that is personal pref within the standard.

With our multi-breed judges I find a LOT more integrity than AKC, or even our coonhound bench show judges. Most do take their assignment seriously as opposed to an AKC status symbol or a BSJ who is just becoming a judge to 'help the club'.

It doesn't matter how good your dog is, there is always one better. So nobody is exempt from losing...

__________________
It ain't the bark, it ain't the growl, it's the bite that hurts!

I am absolutely thrilled when a judge reviews my dog's breed standard while it is in the ring!

I have tollers and even though they have been around UKC for a long time, you wouldn't see a lot of them.

Now you can see three or four which is an amazing amount of this breed.

Our standard addresses color, temperament, height and a few other things as well.

Thank you to the judge who reviews the standard and cares enough to comment or ask me a question!!!

__________________
Marsha M, mother of Jessica RN, who owns Annie the toller who has 8 Best Altered in Shows, and Secret, the American Water Spaniel,who is now a UKC CH.

quote:

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Originally posted by KnD
If you think the thread is about whining or losing,, DO NOT READ THE THREAD.

Do not voluntarily read pages upon pages of posts,, and then complain about those posts.

There is a red and white X on the right hand side top of your screen,, hit that and your problems are over.

Ken of KnD
www.kndkennels.com [/B]

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********...

You see a LOT of breeds saying Judges need to look closer,,, but you only see Rat Terriers complaining.

This is a board where ALL people get to voice an opinion.

You disagree,,, fine. That does not make these people wrong.

Yet you keep singling out me????

You are not a monitor,, you have no right to tell people what they should post or how they should post.

Who do you think you are??

Another anonymous poster... big shock...

Ken Jones
www.kndkennels.com

People ,,

PLEASE ,,, count the breeds in this post,.,,,

It is NOT all Rat Terrier owners or breeders,,,

It is a LOT of breeds asking almost the same thing.

A judge started this thread,, and also stated his opinions on what judges should be studying in HIS breed.

No-one is whining,,, people are answering a question put to them,, BY A JUDGE.

Read all the words.

IF UKC see this as a bad thread,,, delete it..... THEY are the monitors and this thread has been here a long while. Maybe it is not terrible.

If you do not wish to read the thread,, do not.

Disagree,,, fine,, but do not infer that ANYONE that disagrees with you must be an idiot.. a whiner or just wrong..... That is putting yourself on a huge pedastal. They are not necessarily wrong,, they disagree with your opinion.... there is a difference.

If you have a differing opinion or point,, say it,,,, but do not just attack so as to make you right. That does not work.

It does indeed look childish.

Ken of KnD
www.kndkennels.com

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Originally posted by maligator
Yeah, all I am hearing is "You don't have to listen to me whine and rant and rave like a child, you do so, it's YOUR problem"

You want free reign to whine and complain and throw a merry little fit about how awful judges are, but heaven forbid someone call you on your childish antics.

Two words buddy: grow up.

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__________________
Darla@KnD Kennels Rat Terriers
"The Best Little Whole House Of Rat Terriers In Texas"
Home of:
UKC GrCh KnD's Diamond In The Ruff
a.k.a.
"The Rock"
www.kndkennels.com
www.imageevent.com/kndkennels

Re: Dear Judge . . .

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Originally posted by Aircastle way back in the beginning
I figured I would ask you, the breeders/exhibitors, what's "really" important to you.

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__________________
Sam Murphy
Hesed Hof German Shepherds

What to know about the Pharaoh Hound

Dear Judge,

Thank you for all that you do. With all the breeds in UKC, I would never expect you to remember finer details of breeds and very much welcome you to stop and review the breed standard. I also realize that our standard as written is a bit vague, yet on the AKC side our parent club has provided an illustrated guide. (http://www.ph-club.org/illustratedguid.aspx)

I also very much enjoy the judges who after judging will talk with the various exhibitors asking what the main thing about our breed and the major trend is. This shows me that by virtue of the fact that not many pharaohs show in UKC, that you want to learn. It is very much appreciated.

Now on to the finer points: Unlike most sighthounds where single tracking is desired, the pharaoh hound should parallel track. (again this is where the standard is vague, but it is taught in the education seminars: Movement is free and flowing, the dog covering the ground well without any apparent effort. The head is held fairly high. The legs and feet move in line with the body.)

Please remember this is a medium sized dog and should be in the following ranges: Height ranges are: dogs, 22 inches to 25 inches; bitches, 21 inches to 24 inches. (big is the fad these days)

Tails: you will see in the illustrated guide that bitches most commonly tuck tail upon examination, the tucked tail reference in the standard is on the move.

Color: as long as a variation of red, no other preference should be noted. Darker is not any more correct or desired than a strawberry blonde. In our country of origin, there are many shades of red.

Angulation is MODERATE...so too much or not enough ar not desired. These days our fronts are too straight with restricted movement from short upper arm return. Our rears are getting too much angulation to get that flashy show stance and drive out. We are a breed that is SLIGHTLY longer than tall. Immediate review the dog should look square, not long rectangles.

Last but not least: EARS...the pharaoh hound has highly mobile ears and use them to express emotion. When a pharaoh is happy, ears usually down against head, not flopped, or when nervous. So you may not always get the upright look.. ears also go own on the move again against head not flopped. BUT although a feature breeders must strive for, not a priority in overall in the ring to an extent, as a) we are not a head breed and b) our dogs do not run on our heads. (of course if still within breed type).

On a general note, please do not hesitate to withold ribbons. You compromise the integrity of the UKC if pet quality dogs are getting CH because they were the best in the ring that day.

Even if it was my dog that day withheld. I would want a clear explanation why according to the standard but would accept it. It helps breed better dogs and it helps the exhibitor understand their standard better as well.


Again thank you for what you do and striving to learn more!

To see all our accomplishments, go to http://kaijekennels.com

__________________
Bekki Pina
Kaije Kennels

Dear Judge~

When judging Standard Rat Terriers please do not forget, that there are larger dogs out there! Up to and including 18-19" wither height, we sometimes get looked over and sometimes its a bit of a surprise for a judge to see a Standard Rat Terrier that large but we are well within our Breed Standard.

Thank You judges for all that you do, many times people forget to just say Thank You.


Respectfully,

Kim Seegmiller
Seegmiller Standard Rat Terriers
http://www.imageevent.com/kimsee

Dear Judge...

Be it my breed (Pyrs) or another, please do what you need to do to be confident that you are giving each dog in front of you the opportunity to be judged fairly. If that means pausing to check the breed standard, I welcome it. With so many breeds supported by UKC, it is a lot to remember, and each entry deserves accurate and reasoned consideration against its own breed standard.

I started showing dogs in UKC more than 25 years ago, when there were only 3 main conformation breeds (Eskies, APBTs and TFTs) and still prefer it as a starting venue for young dogs. The less frantic environment allows them to gain experience and confidence that they will need in the busier, high stress AKC venues.

But for all your years of study, apprenticeship and effort to become a Judge, there is one thing that no breed standard will tell you...

Regardless of the breed in front of you, please do not discount a superior young dog/bitch and put up a lesser quality older entry (even if it is a Ch/GrCh) just because the older animal has 'earned its stripes' so to speak. My then-6 month puppy was highly thought of by all four judges one weekend, and all awarded her Best of Breed, but only one had the courage to place her in the group (4th of 7). The others said that they would have loved to place her, if only she had been 'a little older'. Six weeks later she finished with a Group 4, a RBiMBS and a BiMBS (beating out 2 of the top 3 in one breed and a multiple-Westminster Breed winner in another).

Our sport is about improving our breeds. When we (or the breeders who bless us with our wonderful pups) are successful in this goal, and we present these young dogs for your consideration, please do not punish them for their youth. If, even at their tender age, they are a more worthy representative of their breed than an older and more experienced dog is of his/hers, please give them the recognition that they deserve.

Thank you.