Page 37 - K9 News - Issue 15 - March2021
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man could have a future as he has obvious whose opinion they greatly valued; it was no big
talent and a good eye for a dog. It was therefore secret and was publicised on Facebook for all
disheartening and disappointing to hear that he the world to see. Weeks later I was judging in
had approached a friend of mine and told him my friend’s own country and he appeared in the
that he would be showing to him in the near ring. I daresay some of his competitors would
future. What was the point of that? In any event have seen those Facebook pictures and may
I told the young offender in no uncertain terms have been thinking this gave him some kind of
that he had made a huge error of judgement advantage. Thankfully I was mentored at a very
that had not been appreciated by my friend young age by Nigel Aubrey-Jones in the art of
who, thankfully, is not the kind to allow any level judging dogs cold and ignoring all the extraneous
of inappropriate behaviour to blind him to a rubbish that can flood into the brain and cloud
deserving dog. I went on to explain that when I it. Did I give undue attention to the fact that my
was showing dogs I never, ever, told a judge that friend was in the ring? Not really, I liked his bitch
I would be showing under them. I merely got the up to a point, fully aware of her winning record,
dogs looking as good as possible, turned up and but in my opinion there was a superior male that I
took my chance. This applied to total strangers had never seen before with a handler I had never
and good friends alike. Eventually he took my seen who beat her in three convincing areas
point and I would like to think he won’t make the and so he won the Breed whilst she was Best
same mistake twice. Opposite. Did my friend throw a hissy fit? Did he
blank me when we spoke hours later? No. He
If we have respect for our friends we must could see the merits in the dog that beat his and
respect their judgement, whether we are we remain very good friends.
watching from inside the ring or from ringside. If
we show under them we take our wins or losses, Most of our judges regularly get to judge dogs
hopefully knowing that they were made honestly that are shown by handlers who are friends,
and with knowledge. acquaintances or possibly even past employees.
Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose, it all
Another perplexing trait of some judges I know depends on the quality of the dog they happen
very well is the need they feel to apologise to to be handling and the level of competition they
someone who has shown dogs to them and who meet. Judging dogs is not rocket science … if
hasn’t done as well as the judge would have liked you concentrate on what matters.
to do them, based purely on their friendship. Why
would anyone ever feel they should apologise At judging seminars the attendees sometimes
for doing the best job they could? That is what are visibly horrified when I admit to them that
they were there to do and that is what any friend nothing gives me greater pleasure than being
should expect them to do. able to put up a friend when they have the best
dog. That is not a crime. Putting up a friend when
Those of us who have spent virtually a lifetime you are robbing a superior dog in the process is.
in dogs have many friends and acquaintances Ownership does not affect any dog’s merits.
with whom we socialise from time to time. Some
of us are judges, some of us are breeders and or What matters above all else in the sport is
exhibitors and some of us are handlers. Contrary that all dogs are judged on a level playing field,
to what some rather sad minds might conclude, evaluated without fear or favour, and the best
when we do get together the talk never gets dogs suitably rewarded. Whatever dog wins you
round to who is handling what, when and where can be sure that the chuntering classes will be
as there is a mutual respect that would outlaw guaranteed to find a reason why. It was ever thus
such talk. A few years ago I had a situation where and I daresay always will be.
I was entertaining a good friend from overseas
at dinner as he was in the UK to judge a breed by Andrew Brace
specialty. The meal took place because most of
the committee wanted to show under someone
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MARCH 2021
