Judging on the Day and its Inconsistent Dilemma

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10 – March, 2022

By Wayne Cavanaugh

The expression “judging on the day” is an essential phrase that judges should recite to themselves each time they step into the ring. Like many phrases, however, we hear it so often that we rarely stop to think about what it means; it’s interpretations and consequences.

We’ve all seen dogs not looking their best but winning nonetheless, perhaps on the strength of their past victories. We’ve also seen average dogs have one of those days where all the stars are aligned, and they look like a million dollars marked down from a million-and-a-half. But it’s oversimplification to say that judging on the day just means some dogs look better on some days than other days. There’s much more to it.

So many things can tilt the table. Take for example, the “horse for the course” affect which has the potential to play optical tricks on proportions and movement. Indoors, outdoors, mats, carpets, long grass, tall grass, and ring size can appear to change a dog’s silhouette for the better and for the worse. Can dogs that are balanced but straighter at both ends look more collected in small rings while more angulated dogs look like big spiders trying to run on ice? Of course, well-made, quality dogs should be able to handle any size and surface… except when they don’t.

Consider a dog who is chock full of quality but might be just a shade short on leg. He may look like an international sensation indoors where his leg length is barely noticeable, and his virtues are allowed to shine. The same dog can look like a caterpillar outside in long grass. A judge may be questioned for awarding that dog indoors yet sliding him down the ribbons outdoors the next weekend. Is that inconsistent judging? Or is it applying the essential maxim: judging them on the day.

Click here to read the complete article
10 – March, 2022

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