Mega Clusters – The Death of Dog Shows?

By: Lori Wilson-Paust

Warning, this is a long rant.

I just finished a busy cluster with 5 days all breed shows and lots of specialties. This cluster was taken over by a person who doesn’t live locally and, in my opinion, has zero interest in anything but making it big.

My observations. A cluster this size used all-arounders across the board. What’s wrong with that you say? Many breeds had specialties. Few, if any had breed specialists judging any of the breeds on the non-specialty day. For instance, we had a Whippet specialty and NOT ONE day did we even have a hound breeder that judged our breed, except the day of the specialty. And that’s because he was hired separately. When our specialty judge walked into the judges hospitality, he was not welcomed. Really? There were a couple Hound breeder-judges on the panel, but they didn’t judge our breed. I know this was the case with many other breeds that had specialties, as well.

Instead of bringing in some specialists, they chose to work some very good, but older judges to death. In my opinion, it was done in the name of saving money. Why do I say that? This cluster was huge. I think it made plenty of money. These clubs are non-profits. They are here to support purebred dogs, not to ‘make money’.  I know they have to break even and make money for operating expenses, but huge profits are not part of the mission.

Seriously, this cluster is held is a great venue. There is an opportunity to allow us to have specialist judges and bring the entry up. There is a way to make it an event, instead of just another dog show. Hire a few more judges who only have a group or two. Hire some permit judges. Stop working our aging all-around judges to death!!! We are dog people. We keep on keeping on, but there is no need to run them into the ground! I’ve seen it too much the past few weeks; it wasn’t just this past weekend.

Dog shows are about evaluating judging stock. What we are getting as exhibitors is generic judging. Sure, sometimes the all-around judges do a great job; other times they don’t. Can we at least try to get a working dog specialist when you have working dog specialties? A Hound specialist if there are Hound specialties? There was a great hound breeder-judge on that panel who didn’t once–in 5 days–judge either of the breeds with the larger entries. In my opinion, that’s shameful!

I guess the point of my rant is a pleas to utilize the talent you have on the judging panel correctly. Let go of the purse strings and hire some other judges besides all breed judges!

I understand why some of the smaller show have to operate that way, but even they can throw in a few specialists. I belong to clubs. I know they can do it.

I’m begging all show chairpersons to do this for the betterment of the sport. I watched some really generic dogs in lots of breeds get some big wins while judges totally missed dogs with excellent breed type. It was so depressing. In this day and age, you have to add a disclaimer to the wins. There were many good judges who awarded fabulous dogs there. Most of this generic judging was in the classes. THIS is how we get generic champions.

Please, for our sport, try to do better. Stop just trying to full up a judging panel with people who judge without regard to how qualified they are in that breed/group.

This is also a plea to those clubs to use your own members to put on a show. This cluster was once filled with local people who knew how to hire judges. They were run out by others who want to control it all, in my opinion.

If we don’t change our ways, THIS WILL BE THE DEATH OF OUR CLUBS. Stop it now!

Edit: I KNOW huge clusters that are run properly. The clubs hire breed specialists to judge alongside the all-arounders. They entries are huge, and the show is special. The wins mean more when the exhibitors get the quality judges they deserve. Don’t tell me it can’t be done!

Posted by showresults on Jul 6 2022. 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.