says
IS ENOUGH TRAINING AND EMPHASIS GIVEN TO THE MENTORING OF NEW JUDGES?
I have seen people being mentored in my one breed by someone who just happens to have the breed and has bred a litter. My other breed, a judge who mentors is campaigning several dogs so we know what she is advising. –Anonymous There is ample mentoring available to anyone that will take the time to search it out and use it! I have not found anyone that is not willing to share their knowledge in their breed! We have been at shows when people find out one is looking for mentoring they will come to us and offer their view. We have been taken back to their set-ups and shown puppies through adults and they are not bashful telling you the good and bad points of each dog. Breeders are wonderful! Also setting at ringside with other judges is beneficial also, it gives one a chance to talk with other judges about differ- ent dogs. And again, I find other judges very willing to share. Again, the information is there it just takes a little leg work to achieve ones’ goal. –Anonymous We educate/mentor the new judges, but everyone still hires the old judges and they aren’t required to get up to date on the breeds. So yes on mentoring of new judg- es, but old judges need to be reeducated and mentored as well. –Jeri K. Conklin “JUST AS IN ANYTHING IN LIFE, A GREAT TEACHER CAN CHANGE YOUR WHOLE LIFE FOR THE BETTER. BUT THE ABILITY, DETERMINATION AND APTITUDE OF THE STUDENT WILL DETERMINE HOW FAR THEY CAN GO IN LIFE.”
Yes, I feel the program in the US is much better than here in Canada when it comes to mentoring judges. I like the fact that an effort is made by judges to attend and sit with mentors at specialties and many take the time to actually come over and discuss our breed at shows. –Anonymous Yes, the value of training and mentoring is well recog- nized. Look around at nearly any show and you’ll see small groups of judges, prospective judges and breeders discussing a breed and going over one or more dogs. This is a vital part of learning a new breed. If you get a chance to mentor someone interested in your breed, please give some of your knowledge and passion for your breed. Pass it on. That is one of the best ways judges can learn. –Anonymous Parent clubs try to do their best to help new breed judges understand the elements of breed type. Still, there is a lack of continuing education. Good judges seek out qualified, lifelong mentors. We need more conversations about breed- ing stock. Longtime dog folk should be able to discuss their exhibits without taking offense at any criticism. Rock and a hard place? Some folk just want a ribbon. More conversa- tions about breeding stock would be helpful. It takes a vil- lage; we can do our part by willingly discussing the faults and virtues of our exhibits. Judges would gain valuable knowl- edge from having courageous conversations with longtime breeders. –Billy Miller Just as in anything in life, a great teacher can change your whole life for the better. But the ability, determination and aptitude of the student will determine how far they can go in life. You can put food down in front of a dog, but that does not mean they will eat. It is the student’s responsibility to seek out the experts in whatever breed they are studying to learn as much from them as possible. Study expert judges in the ring, judging those breeds. Read, read and read more. There are so many outstanding books and publications out there to gain knowledge from. Personally, my three staples are the AKC breed standards, The AKC Complete Dog Book and Encyclopedia of K-9 Terminology written by Ed and Pat Gilbert and illustrations by Dan Sayers. For a real student of dogs, in my opinion, continuing education is a lifelong dedi- cation of constantly gathering knowledge. –Julie L. Mueller “IT TAKES A VILLAGE; WE CAN DO OUR PART BY WILLINGLY DISCUSSING THE FAULTS AND VIRTUES OF OUR EXHIBITS.”
104 • S how S ight M agazine , J anuary 2017
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