IMHO – Judges Talk About Current Issues in the Sport

BY ELAINE LESSIG

We asked 3 experienced AKC judges 2 questions about current issues affecting our sport. Here’s what they had to say…

Elaine Lessig – AKC Judge

Q: Explain what you like most and least about judging.

A: What I like most about judging is my time in the ring with the dogs and the people who show them. The trust created in the ring is paramount to me. More often than not, I sense the re- lationship that connects one end of the leash with the other. Feeling that bond shapes my day, propelling me to be respectful, knowl- edgeable and fair.

What I like least about judging is the difficulty and time that is required to get to and from the shows. If I ever win a big lottery prize, a lease on a private jet would be high on my wish list!

Q: Is the quality of the dogs at a show related to the size of the entry?

A: Other than the entries at Westminster Kennel Club, the AKC National Championship, or a national specialty, the quality of the dogs does not seem to be related to the size of the entry. In my ring for Best in Show at a rela- tively small show were some of the best dogs in the coun- try. Recently, I had an entry in a breed that oozed with quality. There were just four: Best of Breed, Best of Op- posite Sex, Select Dog, and Select Bitch. What a thrill it was to judge them.

Click the link below to continue reading the Q&A’s with AKC Judges Peggy Beisel-Mcilwane and Bill Shelton.

Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=150747

Posted by Alex on Sep 24 2018. 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.