Page 78 - Chow LIfe - Summer 2022

Think Like a Judge
by Sandy Weaver
What does that mean, “think like a judge?”
You’re a competitor, working hard to win with
your dog. And why on earth should someone
be telling you to think like a judge, anyway? To
help you win more, that’s why.
The judge may have 175 dogs, two groups and
a dozen or more win photos to accomplish
in their day. Hopefully they’ll have time for
bio-breaks and lunch at some point. They
may have a great steward, a so-so steward or
a grumpy, inept steward. They may have the
superintendent running in and out of the ring
making changes in their judge’s book. They may
have the AKC Executive Field Rep standing
outside their ring observing them, so they have
to take notes on each dog. They may be having
a great day or they could be dealing with lost
luggage, no breakfast and feet that hurt from
yesterday’s judging assignment.
The judge has a lot on their mind, a finite
amount of time to accomplish their assignment,
and a lot that could make it harder to focus on
the job at hand –judging your dog. If you’ve had
the foresight to think like a judge, here’s what
you’ll get right that many other handlers won’t:
1. You’ll be clean and neatly attired for the
show ring.
2. Your dog will be clean and appropriately
groomed for the show ring.
3. You’ll be outside the ring, bait in pocket,
comb or brush neatly tucked into your outfit,
paying attention to how the judge is running
the ring and examining each dog.
4. You’ll double-check that the dog’s collar is on
correctly before going into the ring. (You’d
be shocked at how often the judge sees a
collar that is on backwards, meaning the
poor dog is being choked because backwards
collars don’t release well.)
5. You’ll be wearing the armband that
corresponds to the dog at the end of your
lead, so when the judge is checking off
numbers you’re not a puzzlement for them.
6. You’ll go into the ring when your number
is called, not stand around waiting for the
teams with numbers before yours to go in
first. Leave a space for the laggards–get in
the ring so you’re not the one slowing the
judging process down.
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7. You’ll gait your dog at the speed best for that
dog so the judge doesn’t have to either ask
you to re-gait, guess at what your dog might
look like at the right speed, or decide your
dog is so crippled that it’s out of the ribbons.
8. When it’s your turn for the individual
exam, your dog will be stacked and looking
beautiful before the judge turns to look at
you. You’re helping the judge keep the ring
on time when you do this.
9. You’ll have practiced showing the bite so
much that your dog could almost do it itself.
10. You’ll remember that the dog’s nose needs to
point at the judge’s nose so the judge doesn’t
have to bend or squat to see dentition.
11. You’ll remember to keep your head out of
the way–you know what the teeth look like,
so you don’t need to look while the judge is
trying to look. (Can you tell a lot of handlers
have issues showing bites?)
12. You’ll control your dog’s head as the judge
moves around the dog for the exam.
13. You’ll refrain from being Chatty Cathy/
Charlie while the judge is examining your
dog. You’ll respond to questions and won’t
start conversations or make excuses for your
dog’s behavior.
14. You’ll politely ask to be excused if your dog
won’t stand for exam–if she growls or if she’s
cringing and shrinking and clearly in mental
distress over the exam process.
15. You won’t throw bait, and if you do throw
it or drop it, you’ll pick it up before moving
your dog.
16. You’ll remember what the judge needs to see
on the down and back–the rear of the dog
moving straight away from the judge and
the front of the dog moving straight back to
the judge. You’ll orient yourself for the down
and back so the judge can see those two
essential elements of judging without having
to take two or three steps sideways.
17. You’ll stop about five or 6 feet away as you
come back to the judge, letting your dog
free-stack far enough away that they can
appreciate the whole picture, not just the top
of your dog’s head.