Dog Shows New Haven CT

Many exhibitors believe wins are within the sole realm of the judge. This is far from the truth. It may appear that the exhibitor plays a passive role in the decision-making, but his responsibility in what occurs beforehand is vital to the outcome.

At an average show a judge devotes around two minutes to each dog of the day’s entry, which is not a lot of time to navigate through bad grooming and bad handling or to project what a dog might look like were it not so obese or terrified.

It is, of course, the judge’s job to find the best dog in the class and reward it accordingly. The best dog is the dog that not only adheres closest to the demands of the standard but also is physically fit and performing in an observable manner. There is nothing more disappointing than having a dog in one’s ring that could and should be a winner but is so poorly presented that it is impossible to reward him.

First place is closely contested in many entries. That is, two dogs balance each other out to the point that either could win. (E.g., “dog A” excels in one area but falls short in another while “dog B” excels in the area that “dog A” falls short in but may lack some of “dog A’s” strengths.)

In situations like this, much of the deciding factor lies in the hands of the exhibitor. Condition and training can play an enormous part. Here, the professional handler may have an advantage because he will obviously show the dog in the string that is most ready to be shown. On the other hand, t...

Author: Richard ("Rick") G. Beauchamp

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