Looking Around With Lee

By Lee Canalizo

It’s time for a change. I’ve been looking back for a long time, but from this point on I’m looking around… then I’m?looking forward!

Looking around recently, it has come to my attention (again) how so much that is wrong with our dog shows is blamed on the judges! Well, folks, I have news for you. We need to look more closely at the people who put the shows together for some (or more) of the blame.

When a panel is planned, how many show chairs try to match the judge to their original or most successful breed or breeds, or areas of expertise? ?The answer is not too many. I know this from personal experience, having been part of show committees for over forty years, and as an active judge.

The most economical way to fill in the blanks on the show application is taking the simplest way to put the panel together… hire a multiple group judge and load that person up with diverse breeds! ?Another popular so- lution is to use your “favorite” judge for all his new breeds, plus maybe your own breed. Of course, there is always your friend, the show chair for the Podunk K.C. This person would be delighted to judge for your club and oh, by the way, would you like to judge Podunk’s show next year? A little quid pro quo or some- thing for something. There is also the tactic of hiring a judge who hasn’t judged for a very long time. Ever wonder why? ? And you can’t forget the fellow who doesn’t charge a fee
and/or expenses! ? Sometimes, you get what you pay for folks!
With all of the new judges joining the ranks lately, I’m afraid it’s going to be a free-for-all when it comes to assembling judging panels.

I realize you can’t place a specialist in every breed ring, but more attention must be paid to those who are best suited or highly-regarded in that breed.

It seems shows both big and small are not concerned about who they as- sign to specific breeds and it really dis- tresses me. ?With a bit more attention, judges could be much better suited to the assigned breeds, thus resulting in better judging and less cause for “legit- imate” complaints and quite possibly larger entries at the shows! ? Com- plaints about shows and judging run rampant but we can and should reduce the reasons for these complaints.

Judges are traveling around the country, increasing their knowledge base in order to be able to do a more credible job in the ring. Let’s work with them to make their job easier.

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=105633

Posted by Alex on Jun 11 2016. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.