So you want to judge or steward
at a dog show (or even both)?
The following article, written by David Roe, on judging and etiquette in the show ring is from the point of view of a judge, exhibitor and steward. David, of the well known Sunshoo affix, has been an exhibitor, breeder, judge and steward for more years than he would care to remember! He has stewarded at every Championship show in the UK, regularly stewards at Crufts and is currently (2005) Chief Steward for the East of England Championship Show.
Judges
The following points are just as important at either an Open or Championship show, or if you are asked to judge the breed for the first, second or third time.
What Makes A Good Judge?
Knowledge? An eye for a good dog? Experience in breeding? Owning good dogs? Years of exhibiting and stewarding? Watching experienced all-rounders judge other breeds? Ring presence giving the impression of confidence? A combination of all these points plus Ring Etiquette
If you have just received your first invitation to judge and/or are hoping that you may be asked in the future, I hope the following points will help you have an enjoyable day, not only for yourself but for the Exhibitors who have paid for your opinion.
Etiquette in the ring - from the time you receive your invitation to judge your first show, or for the time that you have the privilege of judging at a championship show. You have been asked to judge the breed at your local open show, the first questions you should ask yourself are — have I the knowledge and experience to take on this appointment? Do I know this breed well? Have I been on a judging/breed seminar, a conformations seminar and a rules and regulations seminar? The last two are organised by the Kennel Club and are a must if you want to judge at Championship show level. All of these will increase your knowledge, but remember there is always something ‘new’ we can learn. Do I really know the breed standard and can I put it into practise in the ring? Am I on a breed judging list? Have I acted as a ring steward? If the answer is yes then write back to the secretary of the show confirming that you would be delighted to accept, and keep a copy of this letter with the original letter/invitation asking you to judge and file them in a safe place. At the same time put the date and venue of the show in your diary, with a note 7 to 10 days before hand to remind you that the day is approaching. About 10 days before the show you should receive a schedule giving details of your entries.
The night before the show (Early Night and a cup of Cocoa!) check the weather forecast to see what the weather is likely to do, and working on the principle that it is an outdoor show in Great Britain, dress for what the weather should be, but take with you some extra clothing in case the weather should turn. Always take a waterproof coat, and umbrella with you, plus footwear for all occasions — ladies, it is very embarrassing if you have high heels on that slowly sink in to the soft ground in the ring, and please remember if you are bending over dogs all day what you look like from the rear and that there is always the possibility that their could be a strong wind blowing! Take a couple of pens, notebook, breed standard (that you have been reading every night) and a note of the venue and phone number, if one is given plus of course the schedule.
The day of the show, set out in good time so that you arrive at least 45 mins, before judging time. It is a good idea to have a look around the showground finding out where your ring is and where the nearest toilets are. Then proceed to the secretary's office to report in. There you should be handed your judging book, Judges rosette, and with a bit of luck you will be offered a cup of coffee. If it is a Championship show you will also have the coveted CC and B0B cards in your bag. This is the time to take a few breaths and try and put your self at ease (we don't want you upsetting the exhibitors!). Arrange to arrive at your ring at least 5 mins before judging time, and with a bit of luck your steward should be waiting for you. Introduce yourself, put your judges bits and pieces on the table, look round the ring to see in your own mind where you are going to go over the dogs, and where you will he moving them, if the sun is shining will it be in your eyes? Now explain to your steward where you want the new dogs, where they should stand when they have been seen, and also where you wish the ones that you place should stand remembering that it is left to right.
When you have judged your first class and placed the dogs in order, mark up your judging book with the results, then do your critique on the wining dogs. When you have finished writing your critique inform the winners that you have finished and that they may leave the ring, go back to your table and double check your judging book, make sure you have marked the numbers correctly on all the slips and that all absentees are marked down, then sign and tear out the slips and hand them to your ring steward.
Important points to remember when you are judging — Exhibitors have paid for your opinion, they have spent hours preparing their dog, they have quite often got up at some terrible hour to get to the show, so a smile and politeness to each exhibitor can go a long way.
Remember you are the judge in charge of the ring, be decisive. Many years ago I was told by a very respected judge "that he who hesitates is lost, and if you are going to make a mistake (which everybody does from time to time) for goodness sake do it quickly. If you run in to someone you know at the show and may be they are showing under you , please do not ignore them just because you are the judge that day, say ‘good morning’ politeness costs nothing.
Once you have finished judging and providing there is not another breed following in your ring, do not shoot off, but have a chat with your exhibitors (that is of course if they want to speak to you). But, seriously, do not run off straight after your judging.
Critiques
Try to paint a picture in words — a tape recorder is very handy, you can just say everything on to it then sort it out when you start to write.
The bad class. I was always told if you can't say anything good about a dog say nothing. However you could always start your critique with how disappointed/Worried you were about untypical dogs poor movement etc etc, and exhibitors will draw their own conclussions. It is very hard not to repeat yourself, i.e. moved well, good coat presentation etc. But do try to take time to write your critique as soon as you can, after you have judged, whilst the dogs are fresh in your memory why did you really prefer the one you put first, was it the set of ears, the shape of eyes the topline, angulation etc.
The Exhibitor
You, as an exhibitor, have spent an awful lot of time and money getting your dog ready for the show, you have no doubt set off from home at some ungodly hour to get to the show and do the last minute preparation before you go in to the ring, here are a few points to think about. Get to the show at least an hour before judging takes place so that you can prepare the dog, take him to the exercise area, and have a cup of coffee, find out where the ring is, if it is outside have a good look at the ring, does it slope one way, this could give your dog the impression that the topline is not correct, are there any dips in the ground, which could then make your dog look very low to the ground if he manages to stand in the dip. Once judging has commenced watch what the judge does, where she/he likes them to be placed when going over them, does he/she move the dogs in a triangle and or straight up and down, do try and be a little professional about it.
If you are lucky enough to be placed wait in line for the steward to hand out the prize cards and, whatever you think of the judging good or bad, please remember your manners, it really does no good at all to either storm out of the ring muttering or refuse to take your prize card, after all there is always another show and another judge and most important of all you take home the same dog with you that you bought to the show in the morning.
Stewards
I am not going to go through all the rules and regulations, as by now you should have been on a Rules and Regulations’ seminar organised by the Kennel Club. The job of a steward is very important and without them a show could not be run.
A Stewards responsibilities are at all times to assist the judge — not to take control of the ring. To check that he has the relevant paperwork, normally there is a stewards sheet to write results down, prize cards and in some cases ring numbers — plus a smile for judge and exhibitors. To get each class in as quick as possible, lined up where the judge wants them, to inform the judge that they are all present or that there are some absentees, if so mark these down on your stewards sheet and in the judging book, keeping a watchful look-out for any late entries into the class, and to remember to cross these numbers off. Then while judging is in progress, to take a position near the outside of the ring or sit in a chair by the table observing the judging in progress checking that the dogs that have been seen go to where the judge has instructed.
At the end of the class pick up prize cards etc. and stand by table, see if the judge is going to walk them again and when you are sure that the judge is going to pull out her winners go and stand approximately where the judge had early advised you that they wanted them and as they are pulled out line them up left to right. Stay near the first one and say or do nothing until the judge informs you that is the final line up. Wait until the judge collects her judging book and has started writing down the numbers, then call out the numbers and hand out the prize cards, you can then ask the ones that are not having a critique written on them to leave the ring, if that has been agreed with the judge.
While the judge is writing down there critique call the next class in. If there are any seen dogs place them in order of past winnings if that is the case, and when every one is in inform the judge that there is X number of new dogs and X seen dogs.
Once the judging has been completed for the dogs, it is time for the CC to be awarded, ask the judge which dogs they would like to be called in as its their choice. The CC is awarded after each sex, then at the end B0B, followed by best puppy from all unbeaten puppies. Check that the judge has signed the CC and reserve CC before handing them out. The judge may ask you to collect the CC and the RCC from the owner to fill in the name etc, but some judges like to fill in both sexes at the same time after judging has been completed. Double check that the judge has filled in her Judging book with the CC and reserve CC winners plus BOB and Best Puppy and that all the slips have been signed.
©2005. David Roe All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. david@roesunshoo.freeserve.co.uk Web Site www.sunshoopapillons.co.uk
