Well, I am just back from a Specialty Breed Dog Show with another International Judge presiding over the judging competition, and all I can say is, here we go again! There are too many instances of foreign judges who are not familiar with AKC Procedures presiding over AKC dog show assignments. We are continuously running into the same problem, over and over again. I discussed this very topic in my previous Blog Post from February 20, 2016, titled "Foreign Judges" after attending the 2016 Westminster Kennel Club dog show.
International judges must be required, by the show giving clubs themselves, to be fully versed in the methods of awards as well as AKC Conformation Judges Guidelines & Rules. Although spectators, members, and exhibitors may assume that this is a common-sense expectation already enforced; it is not. I can assure you of that.
I cannot tell you how many times I have been to our breed specialty shows, as well as one or more all-breed shows, such as the recent 2016 Westminster Kennel Club dog show, and the foreign judges adjudication methods were chaotic and mixed-up. They appeared confused and discombobulated with our award procedures and this past weekend's specialty show was no different.
This international judge was flummoxed. Simple as that. Concluding his examination over the Best of Breed entries, the judge reduced the size of the class and in doing so, cut out all but one of his female Best of Breed entries. He also excused his Veteran winner(s) which, age-old etiquette, at least in our breed, is that you keep the Veteran class winners in the ring until the conclusion of judging. Even though the judge may not be considering them for the top awards, this is done as both a courtesy and as a show of respect. An exception to this protocol would include severe weather or hot & humid conditions that would make it unsafe for the Veterans to remain in the show ring. However, at this particular show and on this day, there were no weather-related issues.
After further deliberation, the judge prepared to award Best of Breed, but, first, an embarrassing announcement had to go out requesting all female Best of Breed entries to please return to the show ring! This was after several of those exhibitors had walked off already. For those who may not realize, the necessary call-back was to award Select Bitch. To do so, if quality warrants, the judge is to choose Select Bitch from the remaining champions, of that sex, in the ring (but you do not consider Winners Dog, Winners Bitch or Best of Winners as they are ineligible.) The problem was that he had already dismissed all the female champions. What mayhem.
So, the judge proceeds to award Best of Breed to the female champion entry from the original cut. Then, minutes and minutes ticked by as the judge consulted with the chief steward over at the judges table before reappearing to award his Best of Opposite Sex. Next, the judge attempts to award Select Dog to his Winners Dog as the Handler loudly reacts, and I paraphrase, "No, you cannot give me that, he is not a champion; you can only award that to a champion." Sheepishly, the judge withdraws the rosette, wholly flustered now and after another moment or two walks over and hands it to a male champion. He then awards his Select Female and then once again, returns to his Winners Dog to bestow on him his one Award of Merit!
This was an unfortunate mishandling of the situation. The disorganization was obvious, and spectators were vocal in their annoyance. It appeared as one or more exhibitors were vexed as well, and it was both awkward and painful to watch. By the way, for those asking what is the problem with awarding Winners Dog with an Award of Merit? There is no obstacle in doing so, however, consider that the judge had already lined up his cut of champion dogs that he deemed worthy of Best of Breed consideration. Then, after the earlier mix-ups and his visible puzzlement he alternatively gives it to Winners Dog. Thus, in doing so, he implies that his selections of champion hounds initially regarded for the top honor were not, in his opinion and on that day, deserving of an honorable mention.
Experienced exhibitors, as well as judges, shake their heads hearing stories like this. Some react by saying these instances demand skilled ring stewards to guide the international judge, keeping the momentum flowing while advising on the appropriate rules and proper etiquette. But, this does not happen! By all means, stewards and volunteer kennel club members work very hard but most of the ring stewards today are not thoroughly seasoned dog show exhibitors or AKC judges. Nor are they versed in AKC Conformation Guidelines and & Rules of Procedures. Why do we place the onus on a show steward who may or may not have an assertive or confident nature to speak up and interrupt the adjudication process? Some of these clubs today are lucky to have a warm body in the ring with the judge let alone a veteran knowledgeable with dog show rules and procedures.
So, what then? Well, first, we must look to the international who accepted the judging assignment. I am bewildered why so many of the European and British judges are not schooled in AKC judging procedures long before they arrive for their assignment. Do they think they can just wing it? If it were me, I would be ashamed. Honestly, I would investigate and learn how to adjudicate properly in an unfamiliar judging system well before I showed up. Of course, none of this is to say that a judge cannot make a mistake. I know full well that on occasion, a judge can accidentally get mixed up due to extenuating circumstances. Indeed, it happened to me as I remember the event like yesterday. In 2010, I was assigned to judge Irish Wolfhounds at Pennsylvania's Bryn Mawr Kennel Club. After waiting around under a stuffy tent in 90-degree temperatures with a much higher heat index, I began judging. I was sweltering and light-headed and so, during a momentary heat induced state-of-confusion, as the Bred By Exhibitor bitch class was in a final gait, I pointed and mistakenly called the first place bitch "Winners Bitch." Even though I still had yet to judge my Open bitch class.
Mistakes happen, and they always will but in my past decades experience observing and showing under many international judges, it unquestionably is not a slip-up but undeniably, a clear lack of knowledge. Our frustration grows...