Showsight January 2017

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IS ENOUGH TRAINING AND EMPHASIS GIVEN TO THE MENTORING OF NEW JUDGES?

“JUDGES SHOULD BE MENTORED BY AN EXPERIENCED PERSON IN THE BREED, BUT FOR SOME BREEDS, BECOMING A BREED MENTOR IS NEAR TO IMPOSSIBLE.”

NO! No. I don’t feel enough mentoring or training goes into judges before they are given the green light to take assign- ments. I think maybe requiring more times shadowing a plethora of different judges, working with reputable breed- ers, taking exams on the breed standards and taking on assignments for puppy matches and others like bred by and puppy judging should be increased. A person should not be able to judge multiple breeds simply because they have bred one specific breed for 50 years. They should have to show and prove that they understand the basics of the standard before being give their license. –Jennifer VanNiman No. I think they need to be taught about the standard. Not told whose dog is better than whom. I recently was at a show. New judges sitting with a certain mentor I know all of them well. I overheard the mentor say, “Now, the Breeder of this dog breeds for certain type and they have ok dogs. But then the Breeder of a different one has great dogs. Etc, etc, etc…” The one she said had great dogs had the mentors name on some. Point it. Teach about the breed. Not who breeds better than others, etc. –Anonymous No, there is a lot of classroom instruction but not enough hands on. In addition, there is not enough mentoring ring side by a variety of people. The addition of illustrated breed standards for individual breeds will help if the judges read them. From experience I was stopped outside a ring with my curly lion cut Portuguese Water Dog and was told he was in an illegal clip. I responded that the judge needs to read the breed standard to learn about the breed. –Marilu Novy Heck no. I steward a lot and have been around a long time and when I roll my eyes, exhibitors watch out. I have seen some do great in some breeds and then in another haven’t a clue. Stop looking at the end of the lead. There are Breeder owner handlers that have a dog as good or better than the Handler. Not knocking a handler for the good ones I said don’t want to show a so, so dog. –Mark Berkel No mentoring needs to be done by breeders/breed experts who are not willing to show aspiring judges exam- ples of the breed other than their own breeding! Difference

between so called fault judging and judging the total dog needs to be emphasized but with attention drawn to what the breed you are mentoring requires to be that breed. Generic training—they all should move this way, they all must have, etc should not be part of the process and mentors should not show to individuals they have mentored for at least a year. –MC Ptacek First off, we need more judges overall, but we need judges who are not just taking on a breed to complete a group, etc. Judges should be mentored by an experienced person in the breed, but for some breeds, becoming a breed mentor is near to impossible; so I think breed mentors are also needed and this can keeps getting pushed farther and farther down the road. Mentoring new judges also needs some emphasis on general items such as common courtesy to all participants, allowing handlers to show the bite/mouth and perhaps some- thing like trying to not appear to show favor to friends or pro- fessionals with too much friendliness and interaction before, during and after judging. –Marlene Groves I believe it has to start with the breed clubs. They need to have qualified mentors and judge’s education pack- ages that can thoroughly provide the education needed. If this is not in place, then no, the judges can’t be properly educated. –Leanna Mottus Absolutely not in our breed, Dalmatians. They have not got a clue. It’s sad out there and we feel after 45 years, we will pick and choose our judges and cut down on the all-breed shows in 2017. –Anonymous No. I have seen judges who clearly misunderstood, did not remember or never knew the standards for Belgian Sheep- dogs. I am not sure how you would address this as you can give judges all the tools they need but it doesn’t mean they are going to read them or remember. Maybe a handout from the parent club of each breed being judged by that person that day would help, something to remind them of the standards just before the breed enters the ring. –Anonymous

No. AKC should have a formal coordinated mentoring plan for parent clubs and aspiring judges. –László Sulyok

106 • S how S ight M agazine , J anuary 2017

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