Question of the Week

Linda Scanlon

Eagle, Colorado

The Saluki Club of America includes in the contractual agreement with the judge that first through fourth place in all the regular classes, as well all the placings above those, will have critiques submitted. Non-regular classes are also included. They are printed in the next quarterly newsletter sent after the national. We offer up to 10 Awards of Merit, but critiques for those are not required. Most judges are also kind enough to include their overall impression of the entry.

Deborah Barrett

Birmingham, Alabama

If the show committee follows the rules and uses the contract as specified in the show manual, yes, our national specialty judge is required to write a critique. To be exact: “I agree to submit a written critique of each placement in each class within thirty (30) days of the show to be published in the official publication.”

Kathy Lorentzen

Chesaning, Michigan

The English Springer parent club does not require critiques, which I think is a real shame. If you are going to accept a national-specialty assignment, you should be well versed enough in the breed to be able to succinctly put into breed-specific terms a thoughtful and extensive critique. 

The Golden Retriever Club of America requires critiques from all conformation judges — not only at their national, but also at their three yearly regional specialties. They are printed in the club newsletter. I love writing these and reading them from others. I think all parent clubs should require critiques in their judges’ contracts. 

Mike Van Tassell

Salt Lake City, Utah

Each judge is required to submit a critique within 30 days of judging the national. They are published in the Collie Club of America Bulletin that is dedicated for the national.

Sharon Shilkoff

Woodland Hills, California

In Golden Retrivers, our conformation and sweepstakes judges are all required to submit a critique of the first through fourth placements as well as our Best of Breed judge’s critiques of BOB, BOS, BOW, Select Dog. Select Bitch, Best Bred-by, Best Puppy and Best Veteran. All these critiques are printed in the January/February national-specialty issue of the Golden Retriever News.

Karen Mull

Lititz, Pennsylvania

No, they do not, but I sure wish they did. I am all for the European way of showing, few to no handlers and written critiques on all winning dogs. It would help our judges to really remember the standards and not just pick the human faces they recognize. 

Julie Felten

Wauconda, Illinois

No. I really wish that they would "require" critiques, as it would be interesting to know what some of them base their selections on. The breed standard seems to be non-existent to many. I also don't understand why breed clubs hire judges outside their group to judge their national. There are so many nuances to Terriers — best to let the experts evaluate them!

Gail Stuart-Bowles

Lake Oswego, Oregon

The Australian Cattle Dog Club of America does not, but I do think a critique is a super tool to have in your toolbox as a breeder and exhibitor. This is especially useful at a national, where you are showing against so many other competitors from other regions that you don't regularly show against. Even if the critique is minimal, it could be a very beneficial addition to the national program, and could help grow the consistency of the breed standard. Love the use of critiques in judges education programs, too; it would help judges identify a consistent type for the final lineup in a breed that currently has a wide variety of type.

Richard F. Sedlack

Middlefield, Ohio

The Poodle Club of America does not ask for critiques, but we do brief commentary about our winners, and that is published in Poodle Variety magazine.

Pam Mandeville

Somerset, New Jersey

I'm not so sure how any club can "require" it, but we do inform both the breed and sweeps judges we expect it. Our local clubs do the same. They're published in our parent-club magazine. Some are more extensive and thoughtful than others, but I do not believe there has ever been a refusal.

Victoria Corse

Ardentown, Delaware

Oh, hell, yes. But Bull Terrier specialty shows all require critiques.

Diana Smiley

Santa Rosa, California

Our judges usually do not offer a critique, but they will usually stand up at the banquet dinner and talk about the dogs that they judged.

Billie Anderson 

Orrum, North Carolina 

I wish our parent club would require judges to give written critiques at the national. I feel it would show if a judge truly knows the breed standard.