Blast From the Past

A recent post on Facebook mentioned the days when judges at our general Championship shows here in the U.K. would routinely come back to the benches after judging and discuss their placings with exhibitors, days I remember clearly.

To an enthusiastic (obsessive?!) teenager, this was a great learning process, and I can recall many in-depth explanations, all conducted in a very civilized and friendly manner. Exhibitors would clamor around the judges of the day (all of whom were treated with far more respect than they seem to be these days) and hang on their every word. In general their criticisms were made politely, and when direct questions were asked about specific dogs (by their handlers, I hasten to add), they were answered frankly.

This scenario made me feel very nostalgic, and the post in question prompted a variety of comments, expressing differing points of view. Some commentators wished the practice had continued, but I don’t believe that would ever happen today for three reasons, other than perhaps in the case of a most committed breed specialist.

Firstly, the general profile of the average exhibitor has changed. Many are not at dog shows to have breeding stock evaluated with knowledge and integrity; they are attempting to win prizes with dogs that are an extension of their own persona. The prospect of an aggressive interrogation by those who can’t wait to get on Facebook will not appeal to many judges.

Secondly, many of the new generation of non-specialist judges would be terrified of being put on the spot by exhibitors who, in the main, know far more about the breed than they do. Asked to explain in detail their placings, I strongly suspect most would be lost for words. It is a fact of life that these days many systems around the world allow judges to be approved to judge breeds with a relatively scant knowledge of them. We live in a tick-box mentality where the depth of understanding can be rather shallow. To fully prepare themselves for any questions that might follow judging, those in the center of the ring need to understand where a breed is coming from, its original purpose, the reasons for its conformation, gait and temperament being as the standard calls for, and all the nuances of those details that contribute to breed type. Confronted by an exhibitor as to why their dog received a low placing, “I preferred those above” just won’t cut the mustard. A hasty retreat to the lunch tent is obviously a much safer alternative!

And thirdly, sadly, at the end of breed judging most of the benching tents are deserted and the majority of exhibitors on their way home. If I hadn’t watched the breed judging from Minor Puppy Dog through to Open Bitch I felt cheated. Even as a youngster I always wanted to watch the judging in its entirety.

A few comments on the post I am referring to mentioned that both the Canadian and American kennel clubs strongly advised against judges interacting with exhibitors until the entire show is finished. If that is so, then I think political correctness has gone too far. Have we lost sight of what judging dogs SHOULD be about? … A selection of purebreds being put before an expert on the breed for an honest and knowledgeable evaluation.

I did not know the likes of Messrs Kendrick, Roberts and Rosenberg, but, based on the stories I have heard and the reputations they built up, I strongly suspect that discussion of their findings after completing an assignment with those who had shown dogs to them would never have been considered out of place and would be seen as extremely helpful by those who genuinely sought an opinion, especially in the absence of written critiques.

Certainly Annie and Janey, who I did know personally, would have welcomed such conversations, and I recall being told of several discussions that benefited both parties.

When I started attending general Championship shows in the mid-1960s, we didn’t have early removals; neither did we have drunk-driving laws! Consequently, when breed judging was over, everyone adjourned to the benches for a post-mortem (later to be continued in the bar!), and invariably the judge would join them. Many of the judges from that generation may not have been the most literate, but when it came to dogs, they could articulate their thoughts with great ease and answer even the most uncomfortable of questions, though such questions would always be phrased politely and with due reverence.

There are of course ways to approach a judge, and one of my mentors gave me some sage advice when I was starting off. He explained to me that exhibitors will sometimes approach a judge afterward and ask what he didn’t like about their dog. He went on to point out that the kind of person who would make such an approach fell into one of two categories: a relative newcomer who genuinely needed to know where their exhibit was lacking, or a seasoned exhibitor who was spoiling for an argument. My wise old friend advised, “If ever you get asked what you didn’t like about their dog, simply point out that this was a very negative attitude and wouldn’t they rather you told them what you DID like about their dog.” This was good advice that I was able to put into practice on several occasions when the questioner was of the argumentative type. The response completely took the wind out of their sails and they left, looking somewhat puzzled. The novices, on the other hand, welcomed genuine comments.

We live in a time when some of our senior judges are of a generation that will be the last of its kind. Few of these people have written books or committed their vast knowledge and experience to print, be it real or virtual. Any opportunity to learn from them should be seized with both hands and an informal “around the benches” discussion after judging a breed could prove priceless.

It is sad that the modern way discourages interaction between judges and exhibitors, as both parties could benefit therefrom. We seem to be so preoccupied with how things look, protocol and red tape that we have lost sight of what really matters.

The days of the benched shows may be numbered, and with them will disappear one of the most effective learning tools of our time.