Page 233 - ShowSight - September 2020
P. 233

                 HOW TO JUDGE GOLDEN RETRIEVERS LIKE A BREEDER-JUDGE
  HOW TO JUDGE GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
Like a Breeder-Judge!
 BY AINSLIE MILLS
All photos are from the Golden Retriever Club of America, which has permission to use them for educational purposes.
Judging like a breeder-judge; should this not be the aim of every judge to know a breed well enough to put up a dog with correct breed type? One of the highest compliments I ever received as a judge was when I put up a certain
Dachshund, surprising the gallery, and was later told that he was a “breeder-judge” type dog, a very good dog not often recognized by all-rounders.
I am a Canadian Kennel Club all-breed judge who has been a passionate breeder and owner of Golden Retrievers since 1974.
Photo Dave McCurly
I am currently Chair of the Golden Retriever Club of Canada Breed Standard and Judge’s Education Committee, and served as a member of the Golden Retriever Club of America Judge’s Edu- cation Committee for 17 years, 15 as Chairperson. I also serve on the Canadian Kennel Club Breed Standards Committee.
As a person involved in helping new judges learn about Gold- ens, members of the fancy have often expressed their frustration to me about judges who “just don’t ‘get’ the breed.” I can relate, as I still exhibit occasionally. Many judges are drawn to the breed because Goldens have large entries and are enjoyable to judge. However, there is a growing trend in our breed where many exhibitors tend to show more at specialties or under breeder- judges whom they respect for their knowledge of what is required in a correct Golden Retriever. While this may be beneficial to the exhibitor, it does not allow many multi-breed judges to see some of these wonderful Golden Retrievers in competition.
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2020 | 231
         






















































































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