As the Dog Show Mentor, I am attuned to trends on social media and at the dog shows that define the future of our sport. There is one recent trend of particular note: the judges are beginning to revolt. In particular, they are revolting against poor-quality dogs that are not deserving of awards.
We know that statistics show the number of dogs entered at shows is declining. Dog show entries are significantly down. Shows that used to be considered significant in number are much smaller. Unfortunately, the quality has also deteriorated in many breeds.
Previously, Owner Handlers have been the ones to revolt against the AKC (American Kennel Club) policies regarding judges’ qualifications for the NOHS (National Owner-Handled Series). Recently, complaints from Owner Handlers have influenced some of the rules surrounding their eligibility criteria for NOHS. For example, working with Professional Handlers, ownership qualifications, and so much more. AKC is often driven by complaints.
Now it’s the judges’ turn. In the past, the primary concern has been about how and when judges qualify to advance in their judging careers. Now, the complaint is that the quality of dogs is extremely low and not worthy of awards.
Withholding any award is a passive action that judges carefully consider. Withholding is the action of not awarding dogs that are unworthy compared to their Breed Standard. AKC has passively discouraged judges from this practice.
Two questions emerge from this discourse.
More and more judges are withholding Championship and Grand Champion points. Some judges explain that there are many reasons for their decision to withhold. Some dogs are not ready to be in the ring and display shyness and/or aggression. Others can be in poor condition, may be underweight or overweight, and, of course, may also lack breed type. Some dogs are even unrecognizable as their breed.
Quality judges find it offensive when exhibitors “make their own majors” and create their own points. Sometimes, exhibitors make points for a poor-quality dog with even poorer-quality class animals.
From a judge’s perspective, it’s one thing to “not try too hard to make a good dog look great,” and it’s another to purposely show dogs that are in poor condition, thin, fat, old, and poorly trained in order to make points for your dog. In some cases, exhibitors are showing every dog they own or co-own to make their Special rise in the Breed or All-Breed rankings! Do they think that judges don’t notice what they’re doing? Is this ethical?
The judges don’t respect this practice and talk among themselves that they have withheld in one breed or another, usually on a previous weekend. It should be noted here that, almost without fail, judges will ask one another, “Are you judging x breed this weekend,” and if they are, that judge will not comment further. It is unacceptable for a judge to appear to try to influence another judge who has an upcoming assignment in that breed.
The conversation may sound something like, “It was so sad, I had to withhold in Toys today. There were no redeeming qualities. I could tell it was a Teddy Bear Toy (a fictional breed), but that’s as much as I could see. None of these dogs would have finished even 10 years ago.”
Exhibitors may learn to make different choices in which dogs they show. There are options available for being mentored by long-term breeders, and learning from the Education Committees in their breeds. There are also Professional Handlers who are willing to share their knowledge of grooming and other experiences exhibiting. Of course, there are online learning options available, including my own Dog Show Mentor.
Although, at times, Professional Handlers are paid to show whatever dogs they are given, breeders may have more options and can hold themselves to a higher standard. This can vary depending on the breed and the exhibitor’s level of knowledge, but everyone should strive for quality. The dog should be presented uniquely in the proper trim and with the correct breed-specific presentation; it should be moved at the correct speed. For example, the Pekingese is unhurried, whereas the Rhodesian Ridgeback exhibits power and grace.
Sometimes, it is thought that judges have an advantage over Owner Handlers because of the proximity they have when judging shows together. This is not necessarily the case. When I started judging, my Rottweiler breeder and judge friend told me that other judges sometimes “reserve you to death.” In no way does this statement imply that the judge is judging anything other than the quality of the dogs, but the point is that judges place the dogs as they should be, regardless of who is at the end of the lead.
As a judge, there is no excuse for showing any dog that isn’t exceptional. It will erode your credibility with other judges. The same applies to exhibitors. I spoke with one who said that she used to help friends show dogs, regardless of their quality. Then she had an epiphany when a judge told her she shouldn’t be showing dogs that didn’t match her reputation and were not of high quality. She learned that most judges notice when you come into the ring with good dogs in succession. The same applies to lesser specimens.
If judges are going to withhold from dogs that lack quality, that revolt will have consequences for exhibitors and the fancy at large. One possible outcome is fewer dogs to judge and fewer exhibitors with in-depth knowledge of dogs. On the other hand, it could improve the quality by demanding that exhibitors show better dogs and demonstrate their willingness to rise to the occasion.
When judges have their Breed Standards in the ring with them and refer to them during the process of withholding, that can give the exhibitors more confidence in the judges’ decisions. It demonstrates that they are taking the Breed Standards seriously. Even new judges who may be hesitant to withhold should do this when they know that the exhibits do not possess the basic components of the breed.
There is no way for judges to know whether the dogs being shown are the best ones being produced, since we aren’t the ones in the whelping box. There is some doubt whether the ones shown are the best in the breeding programs due to the judges’ revolt over a lack of quality. Exhibitors do not always understand whether their dog deserves to earn a Championship or a Grand Championship.
I have personally been known to withhold and tell an exhibitor that their dog “isn’t quite ready to be a Grand Champion at this time.” As some of us revolt and question the awards we are doling out, we need to thoroughly consider the consequences of our decisions on the breeds in our sport as the exhibitors interpret them. Judges should err on the side of maintaining the highest degree of breed-specific standards while still encouraging participation. Exhibitors need to reconsider their ability to assess their breeding stock and show dogs, and reflect on how they can improve.
Presumably, the judges’ revolt will affect dog shows in some way. It may negatively impact the quantity and quality of dogs. However, it could also have a positive outcome, where breeders and exhibitors focus more on preservation breeding and show only the highest quality dogs. Time will tell.
