Page 64 - ShowSight - December 2019
P. 64

                    MICHELLE SCOTT continued
CONFORMATION DOG SHOW JUDGES
 WE'VE DISCUSSED "ROTATED FRONTS" before but I was given some photos to
BY DR. ANDREA BRADFORD
use to illustrate what we mean, so, here
PART 3 — HOW DF
we go again!
O WE GET WHAT WE WANT?
The first picture is of a Dachshund with a rotated front and the second picture is of a Dachshund with a good front. Then I drew the approximate bones and angles on the same two pictures.
irst of all, given that the things we want are sometimes
• There are too many shows and that has required too many judges to be approved to cover the shows;
• We are approving the wrong people to judge, and making the process to become approved so difficult that the right people are not willing or able to go through what it takes to become a judge;
• We are approving breeds too rapidly and no one can ade- quately learn so many breeds adequately in the time frames between application and approval;
• We need a different venue for “new judges” to learn by doing; • We need a way to provide feedback that is meaningful to the
judges and actionable by AKC.
Are there too many shows? If there were fewer shows and fewer
judges, would that improve the quality of judging? Would it mean that judges would have better entries, better experience, and more exposure to low entry breeds? Entries seem to have decreased in shows across the country, including those areas that have fewer shows. We have, in some areas more than others, deserted our com- munities for venues in the area of another club, and for four and five day clusters of shows. Exhibitors are now able to choose where they exhibit and who they exhibit to in a way that was not possible in the past. Would they go back to entering at shows with larger entries where there would consistently be more losing than win- ning? Has winning become more important than comparing your
TWHE DSAOMWEAONPTINION ABOUT EVERYTHING, BUT
The rotated front has a scapula that is
placed almost perpendicular to the hori-
zontal humerus—the angle between the
two isn't bad—that's why it's not just a
straight shoulder.
Many people are attracted to the rotated
contradictory, we can’t
always get what we want
(apologies to the Roll-
ing Stones). We know that we have judges with
 front because the dogs tend to have a lot
of forechest and it places the leg well
under the body.
There are no breed standards that call for
a rotated front.
not want all judges to have the same opinion about everything, but we
WHEN JUDGING IN ANY COUNTRY WdEo want their opinions to
bmeubsatseadbiidnethbeyBtrheaetdcSotuandtrayrd'ssrwuiltehsaattnedntion to type, structure
arengdufluanticotniosn,.cWusetoamll hsavnedopirnaicotnicseasb.out what has happened in the
rIingCandadwahtahtantemedesatnoshjaupdpgeens. Imt usesetmjusdragre that we work together
to try to come to some definition of what the problem is and how
according to the CKC's breed standards.
to make it better.
Conformation Show Rules and Regula-
What, then, is the problem that we seem to have? The things
tions—Rule 4.4.14—Judges officiating at
heard consistently include:
varying education and
training, and a wide vari-
ation in hands on experi- ence in the ring. We do
 shows held under these rules shall be
governed by the standards of the breeds
as adopted by the CKC.
The AKC's Rules, Policies, and Guidelines
for Conformation Dog Show Judges
states: Your Responsibilities As A Judge—
Breed Knowledge—Through experience
and ongoing study, you must demon-
jud
“WE DO NOT WANT ALL JUDGES TO HAVE
strate sound knowledge of the breeds
you judge. As breed standards are re- vised, it is your responsibility to know
and to judge by the current standard. I've heard that some judges refuse to
THEIR OPINIONS TO BE BASED IN THE BREED STANDARDS WITH ATTENTION
ge by
any
othe
r bree
their own—for fear of a reprimand by
their own governing body or being seen
d sta
nda
rd t
han
 TO TYPE, STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION.
in a published win photo with a dog that was an acceptable colour in the foreign
country but a clear DQ by their own
WE ALL HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT HAS
breed standard. Does it really put them
in a no-win situation?
Would love to know your thoughts—for
HAPPENED IN THE RING AND WHAT NEEDS
or against, and your reasoning.
I SEE SO MANY POSTS THAT WE, AS A
TO HAPPEN. IT SEEMS RARE THAT WE WORK
society, have to be more accepting, more tolerant, more compassionate, and less
judgemental,
bu
TOGETHER TO TRY TO COME TO SOME
t the
So much drama.
Where do you draw the line for accept-
able behaviour?
How differently does someone have to do things before they've gone too far? Do you take it personally? Why?
you really take exception to it then take a step back and ask yourself why—what is actually happening and what is really bothering you? See if you can help or be of assistance in any way instead of complaining—a little positivity can go a long way.
>
62 • ShowSight Magazine, DeceMber 2019
y se
em
to
be
emp
ty
DEFINITION OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS
words on the page because it's not being practiced in the real world.
AND HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER.”
The reality is that most people are doing the best they can with what they have. If
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