Question of the Week

Bonnie Threlfall 

Cary, North Carolina

My breed is NOT being judged well the vast majority of times. Judges cannot seem to wrap their minds around the fact that English Cockers are NOT small setters! If you grew them up to setter size, they would be made more like a Labrador. This is a round, short-coupled breed with a deep, broad body; a forechest; a SHORT, broad loin, and generous bone to match. He is built so that he cannot single-track — broad! He is not long, narrow and slab-sided with a long loin and front legs coming out of the same hole. If you were judging Pugs, you wouldn’t point to one made like an Italian Greyhound. Stop doing that in English Cockers! You are just demonstrating your lack of breed knowledge.

Lorene Wilson

Murrieta, California

Regrettably, the American Staffordshire Terrier breed standard lacks specific language addressing the ideal head-to-muzzle proportion necessary to achieve the desired “medium length head.” The broad and deep skull of a cheeky, correct AST head should result in a powerful head capable of delivering a crushing bite in bull baiting, and to hold and crush prey. However, the lack of comprehensive breed history has led to inexperienced judges misinterpreting the highly desired strong proportions of a correct head. Unfortunately, the majority of newly licensed inexperienced judges appear to be either misinformed, misdirected or unfamiliar with the correct desired head-ratio proportions for this breed. This lack of fundamental understanding is primarily attributed to the prevalence of “pet quality” mediocrity in the breed.

(A plethora of incorrect head-study proportions is now being promoted and championed by experienced judges. A long, narrow “horse” head with a long, tapered muzzle will result in a weaker, ineffective bite. Incorrect close-set, small, deep-set eyes with a shallow stop, and a long tapered muzzle with a weak underjaw concealed by heavy pendulous lips are all undesirable and result in severe faults that are disappointingly awarded by inexperienced judges who lack knowledge by poor mentoring.)

I recommend that new judges seek guidance from more experienced and recognized Achievement Level Breeder of Merit who have a long consistent successful history to demonstrate breed knowledge.  

Susan Kwiatkowski

Lebanon, New Jersey

Judges in general would rather put up a flashy dog with a major flaw than put up one that meets the standard in all aspects.

Alessandra Folz

Wilton, New Hampshire

Let's be honest: I'm never going to be satisfied with the knowledge that judges have of Vizslas. That being said, when I think of how Vizslas used to be treated by many judges in my childhood — as a "throw away" breed that was never worthy of serious study or contention — this community has come so very far. 

Do I think the four- or five-day seminar system is the best way to educate judges? Absolutely not. It's like turning a firehose of information on people's faces for five days from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and then wondering why they can't recall any details. Personally, I would prefer if we all still had to stand up in a ring in front of Mrs. Clark and have her tell us if we were good enough to judge the breed in the real world. Something strange trickled into our sport when the AKC wanted everything to be stated in the positive, and as long as people could justify their position, then it could pass. Sometimes people are wrong, and their judging is bad. And some adult in the room should tell them (kindly), before it's too late.

Denise Siemssen

Culpeper, Virginia

I imagine most exhibitors will answer the same way — with a resounding NO. Too much emphasis on profile without an understanding of how the parts should be arranged within that profile.

Karen Mull

Lititz, Pennsylvania

I love this question. I feel Border Collie judging has gotten so much worse over the last few years. Judges are awarding Borders that are under our standard in height, are moved around the ring so fast that you can’t tell if their movement is correct or incorrect, carry their head and tails high, and are even lame in the ring, as long as they are black and white. Border Collies come in 14 different colors, but judges very seldom pick a Border that is not black and white. I have been in the ring for Best of Breed and judges will go over the black-and-whites, move down the line and not even go over my blue merle Border Collie — just walk past like we aren’t in the ring. As a club, through judges’ education, we are trying to change this prejudice, but it is very hard. 

Denise Borton

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Bullmastiff judging is currently at a crossroad. Dogs and bitches are trending over the upper limits of height and weight, longer length of body, tail sets below the level of the topline and incorrect headpieces. As the defining feature of the breed, the head is simply a "square on a square." Square muzzle, square skull, with no forgiveness toward the Mastiff or Bulldog in appearance. Judges need to remember that this is a NEARLY square breed with moderate matching angulation fore and aft. When evaluating the bite, the emphasis is placed on the broad underjaw that compliments an equally wide upper jaw, forming the desired square muzzle. Bite alone should never be the determining factor in the final decision, as there are far more structural considerations that can impede working ability. Pigment in the Bullmastiff should always be genetic, not cosmetic. Lastly, showmanship should never supersede correct key breed-type points. Dramatic and over-the-top handling is not necessary or consistent with the Bullmastiff!

For more information, visit www.bullmastiff.us  under the Judges’ Education tab.  

Lori Sternola

Charlotte, North Carolina  

I supposed the answer is mixed. I have Harriers. We have judges who have worked hard to know the breed and the standard. And others who simply have not had the opportunity to see enough of them. This, however, is the challenge of every micro-breed. And it puts even greater onus on judges to know the standard — so that lesser specimens aren’t inadvertently awarded, and worthy specimens are recognized not only in the breed but also at the group level.  

John and Jessie Gerszewski

Tucson, Arizona

We have been breeders and handlers of Great Danes for 50 years. We feel there is a lack of understanding of breed type and an overall lack of consistency. Extremely disappointing!

Lani Morris

Whitesville, Kentucky

My breed is the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno. I have smooths. They also come in wire, which is the preponderance of what you see at shows.

I’ve found it difficult to win with my smooth Podengo! My dog is an NOHS BIS winner, and also a UKC BIS winner, so he’s no slouch. But he often gets overlooked for wires.

Wires win a disproportionate amount of the time, even when there are smooths to consider. Judges seem to pass over the smooths and put the wires up by default, maybe because that’s what they see more, or maybe because they don’t really understand the standard. 

There is a size range in the standard — 8 to 12 inches and 9 to 13 pounds — and is important to the function of the Pequeno as it “seeks rabbits among rocks and thick shrubs.” This goes out the window when judges put up dogs that are oversized. It’s a slap in the face when you walk in with a dog of correct type and size only to get beaten by a dog that is clearly oversized. 

Many wires are bigger, and excessively trimmed and sculpted when they are supposed to be shown in their natural state. Of course this isn’t a problem in smooths! But this is another factor that judges either aren’t aware of or disregard.

I have shown under some excellent Podengo judges, but often, judges seem to be rather mystified by them. They don’t know an exceptional smooth when they see one, and inferior wires often get the nod over the smooths, regardless of how good the smooths are.

I would ask judges to really delve into the standard. This a “breed of moderation.” You don’t want excessive shoulder layback and rear angulation with tons of reach and drive. 

Just because a dog will look flashier flying around the group ring, moving that way doesn’t mean it’s correct. Don’t overlook a good smooth because it is correctly moderate in type and movement.

I never have a problem being beaten by a superior dog, but I do have a problem with losing to an overdone, oversized, overgroomed one. Portuguese Podengo Pequenos are a breed with subtleties. The really good Podengo judges understand those subtleties and reward them.

Polly Smith

St. Stephens Church, Virginia

Not really, but I’m not sure any breed is judged as well as it used to be. Part of the problem with the American Foxhound is you don’t see enough of them that you can get a grasp of the nuance and important parts of the Foxhound. Unfortunately, many judges simply judge on showmanship and markings. 

Erica Cross 

Dover, Delaware 

No, I think judges have lost all insight into what a Spinone is bred to do and where it hunts. They are thinking about the breed as more of a generic hunter that points instead of picturing what they need to hunt in the foothills of the Alps. We are more than divergent head planes and a two-piece topline. To power up the terrain in northern Italy, you have to have a well-rounded croup, which goes with a lower tail set and a powerful front to match. This is a slow, methodical trotter, not a fast, flashy running dog. 

Anney Doucette

Lecanto, Florida

My breed is Golden Retrievers, and I do not feel they are judged very well at the all-breed level (with a few notable exceptions). I have been showing Goldens since the early 1990s, and I'm at the point where I almost exclusively show at specialties to breeder-judges. We have the luxury of having many specialties and many breeder-judges who know what they are doing to make this work. I've owner-handled five champions since 2008. I find that many all-breed judges cannot look into the ring and find "PRIMARILY A HUNTING DOG." This line is in the first paragraph of our standard. Either they don't know, or they don't care to appreciate the physical work required of a non-slip hunting retriever, and the conformation and movement required for that job. They don't understand that these are athletes. All-breed judges tend to reward heavily coated, improper-moving dogs with bad proportions and over the breed standard in weight, groomed and presented expertly by professional handlers.

In Goldens, breeder-judges tend to reward the more moderate, workman-like dog. Well, you might call it moderate or workman-like; we like to call it CORRECT. So many new judges from different breeds want to judge Goldens, since they get a big entry. For the most part I am not interested in their opinion, and I express that by not entering to them.

Geri Bidgood

Chesterland, Ohio

Rottweiler is my chosen breed. Judges are constantly awarding dogs that are not to the breed standard. My thoughts are it is because the breed is flooded with dogs that are of the same line and in the judge’s mind it is showing consistency.

Kate McMillan

Delisle, Saskatchewan, Canada

As always, there are judges who do a terrific job and are consistent in their choices, not just on the day, but across assignments.

However, too often we witness large entries whittled down to a handful of dogs that barely resemble one another in type or even shared virtues. When the final lineup looks like five different breeds, something has gone wrong in the decision tree.

Russella S. Bowen

Gable, South Carolina

Sadly, I believe that Basenjis aren’t taken seriously. We always get the provisionals or unknowns at the larger and prestigious shows. The announcers are always quoting our standard incorrectly, even after years of trying to get it fixed by breeders and the breed club.

Personally, I believe it’s an easy breed, but judges can’t seem to get a grasp of them. It is a square breed, short backed and to appear high on leg. This does NOT mean they are high on leg. This means they are square with underlining and a shelf that gives an illusion of height.  

Movement is balanced and that of a racehorse trotting full out. This would envision proper carriage, not the head hung low or forward while gaiting. Speed is not as important as correct carriage.

They aren’t Dobermans. They are swift little hunting dogs from Africa. Don't judge them on trainability. Don't stare at them in a line-up and make them stay still or freestack forever. Don't bring them in and move them all together at once. They generally don’t like other strange Basenjis. Move them one at a time and pick out the ones that need to be compared.   

Judges should read the standard and take the breed seriously.

Mary Ellen Meyer

Oostburg, Wisconsin

No, I am not happy with the judging of the Keeshond, and I have judged three nationals and served on the committee to revise our standard that just went into effect in January.

Nancy Russell

Walsenburg, Colorado

We are losing characteristics that are critical for Alaskan Malamutes to work and survive in the severe cold of the Arctic.

1. Large snowshoe feet are necessary to stay on top of the snow. A cat foot will punch through the snow, making it almost impossible to pull the loaded sled. But cat feet are so much more attractive in the show ring, so the breed is losing its large feet that spread to stay on top of the snow.

2. Our standard calls for "large teeth." Remember, these dogs ate frozen food all winter.  I have a 1927 movie of an Eskimo tossing a hunk of meat to each dog in the team. They had to chew that meat fast or another dog would try to take it from them. That takes large molars! When I judged the national, I looked at the molars just to see if we still have the large teeth called for in the standard. We do not! The majority of the dogs had small, dirty molars. The only way we are going to fix this is to change it so the judges are required to check molars to see if they are "large" as called for in the standard.

Therese Pactwa

Eatontown, New Jersey

Vizslas in my area of the country (Northeast) are not being judged according to the standard. The bitches are tiny, and the males have huge bone. The toplines are all over the map. I have stopped showing due to the intense politics and the lack of knowledge by breed judges.

Linda Scanlon

Eagle, Colorado

My breed (Saluki) is too often being judged by the "Great American Show Dog" concept. The most important part of the breed standard is either being ignored or misunderstood. General Appearance, near the very end of the standard, is most important, as it tells you what this dog was bred to do going back thousands of years. It is a hunter: It should be strong and muscular, as it is expected to engage in an endurance chase over very hard and rough ground, finally catching and killing the target — the prey also being strong, muscular endurance runners with speed and agility.  Alas, much of this does not translate to the show ring.  More hair, "showy," the fastest trotter with most reach and drive and high head carriage, excessive angulation or your favorite color have no bearing on the functional Saluki. They are not Afghans in short clothes. Balance is important and leads to the impression of grace, as does light, easy movement. "Elegant" is not a word in the standard, and they should never appear fragile. There are several videos on the internet showing Salukis hunting live game in their native lands. Please look at those and try to find the Saluki in the ring who could do the work.

Sue Bauman

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

It is sad to say that judges today are afraid to use the wicket. My breed, Dalmatians, has a height DQ for more than 24 inches. I have personally seen improper measuring of a dog and that the handler moved the dog while under the wicket. Reported to AKC and the AKC rep witnessed this. NOTHING was done! This is a major problem with AKC: Too many people are not being held accountable for breaking the rules. 

Inge Semenschin

Richmond, California 

My longtime breed, the Poodle, falls into the category of “You either get it or not.”

I notice that too many judges in Poodles judge generically or pick pieces of the dog. I am not convinced that they are learning enough about the essence of our breed. They are struggling with breed type and balance.  

Extreme is not breed type or balance. Square seems to be difficult for too many.

Patti Clark

Newtown, Connecticut

I have seen pictures of Greyhounds taking majors in various part of the country. I realize there are not a lot of choices, but, please, withhold. Our dogs must have curves! They also cannot be so narrow that there is no room for heart and lungs that can work at their historic job. They must have underjaw to hold their game.  

R. Cameron A. Lickey

Greenfield, Indiana

My breed is Poodles. I have Standards, and the Poodle breed is in horrible trouble because all the old breeders — Wendell, Kaz, Annie and Jim Clark, Mrs. Putnam, Jean Lyle — are all gone, along with REAL Poodle judges. There are so few of them left it is not funny. It makes me sick to see the German Shepherd movement, horrific swaybacks, etc., and dogs with these faults are six-month-old champions. Wendell Sammet said he stopped going to shows because of what was happening to Poodles and other breeds. Made him sick.

Gay Kuehnel-Hisatake

Trenton, New Jersey

I am at times frustrated with the judging of Alaskan Malamutes, and perhaps the misunderstanding of some aspects of our breed. Ours is a large breed built for soundness, endurance and survival in extremely harsh conditions. Coats need to be healthy, with good, thick undercoats and a coarse, longer guard coat. The standard calls for heavy bone, which can be misinterpreted, with some judges looking for huge bone, rather than heavy bone as compared to the Siberian Husky. The Malamute is a strong dog built for pulling heavy loads over a long distance. This requires an athletic dog with a "compact" substantial body and a short, well-muscled loin, with proper angles front and rear, not a dog who is long and low in structure. While there is no height DQ, our standard calls for a 25-inch male and a 23-inch bitch, which is sufficient to get the job done if all else is correct. Of course, a bigger dog can be most impressive and stand out in the ring, but should not go up over the dog who fits our standard, unless he is the superior animal. And please remember to keep some distance between male dogs in your ring.

Tami Whitney

Olympia, Washington

Time and time again, I am seeing all-breed judges award Basset Hounds with incorrect front construction and sometimes even dogs with clear disqualifications. If dogs continue to be awarded that don't fit our standard, judges and novice breeders are going to begin to think it is correct!

Sandy Harris

Basking Ridge, New Jersey

My breed is a low-entry breed. I can't blame the breed judges because they must judge what they are presented with. They send these "incorrect winners" into the groups. In my breed I have heard comments such as: "We are invisible in the group." The truth is that the dogs sent to the group are not good examples of what the standard states. Sadly, the breeders also seem to be unaware of the standard and are showing (and advertising) incorrect examples of the breed. In time, the entire look of the breed can change. But the standard remains the same. This has already happened in two prominent low-entry breeds. The judges are placing these incorrect dogs in the groups and are being applauded for it. Why bother emphasizing the written standards when the breeders are not following them? Why standards at all?

So, don't blame the judges, especially at the breed judging level. However, the group judges placing these specimens can be blamed because they have either chosen to ignore the standards, do not comprehend the standards at all, or have been otherwise influenced.

Steven Herman

Wesley Chapel, Florida

The judging is about 50/50 for German Shorthaired Pointers. Those who do not know the nuances of the breed use generic dogs with TRAD (tremendous reach and drive). These representatives are often long in back and/or loin.

Kathie Timko

Centennial, Colorado

I believe that my breed is being judged incorrectly by quite a few of the all-breed judges. Per the standard, the Affenpinscher has a unique gait that separates it from other breeds — jaunty, moderate, brisk without undue reach and drive. Coat is important, but a dog doesn’t walk on its coat. An Affen’s job is to chase mice and rats, so an Affen needs to be square with its hocks set under its croup to be able to twist and turn to catch a rodent. Soundness, correct movement and overall compliance to the standard are key. They are a natural breed and should not to be overgroomed, so “Poodle” grooming should be discouraged, not rewarded. Flashy side gait due to over-angulation and sloping toplines is contrary to the breed standard. It is a low-entry breed, so judges may not know what is correct — but then they should always have the standard on hand to check when a low-entry breed like an Affen shows up on their judging schedule.