Question of the Week

John P. Wade

Washoe Valley, Nevada

It’s my opinion that anyone judging at multiple AKC events on a yearly basis should be required to complete the same requirements as AKC-approved judges. Why should they be exempt given their ability to judge at numerous AKC events?

Leonard Reppond

San Leandro, California

Absolutely! Many Canadians judge in the States regularly. They should be held to the same requirements as those of us here. Seems a bit disingenuous to give them a pass on either the exam or seminar. 

Mary Beth Ross

Grover Beach, California

Absolutely! And stay current as we have to, including weighing and measuring.

Sheila Taylor Allen

Forest City, North Carolina

As long as AKC is allowing foreign/Canadian judges up to 16 shows per year, I certainly think they should have to pass both exams! 

The recertification exam is procedural issues, and if they are going to judge multiple times a year they should most definitely know the rules and regulations.

The Darkness to Light program is now required here for most anyone with any contact with the youth of today. So of course they should have to take it BEFORE their assignment or not come!

In Canada it is far easier to get multiple groups based on their differing requirements. Seems like more and more clubs are using foreign judges with multiple groups rather than using the same panels repetitively. These judges need to come equipped, and know our rules and regulations prior to any assignments. 

As a ring steward I have encountered some who do not even speak our language well, let alone know how to mark a judge’s book correctly. Makes for a long day!

Dr. Kathryn Edwards

Mount Vernon, Ohio

My thoughts are no, Canadian judges do not need to retake the exam nor take the Darkness to Light course. The Darkness to Light course was an overplayed reaction. There is no evidence that child abuse by judges is or has been rampant and hidden by AKC as it has been by the Catholic Church, for example. AKC should have a Darkness to Light one-page handout very strongly written with strong visual images and require both U.S. and Canadian judges to sign a form agreeing they promise not to abuse children and will report any abuse they can confirm.

Kiki Courtelis, Chair

Show-Safe Corporation

As a nationwide nonprofit committed to promoting safety for every individual in the dog show community, Show-Safe supports expanding the Darkness to Light training requirement to include all judges — regardless of their country of origin.

Abuse is not a uniquely American issue; it is a global one. Safety standards should not depend on where a judge is from. Many international judges are permitted to officiate multiple times a year in the United States — often more frequently than some AKC-licensed judges. To maintain consistency and uphold a unified commitment to the protection of minors and vulnerable individuals, we believe it is reasonable and necessary to require all judges to complete either the Darkness to Light seminar or the recertification exam.

This is also one of the most frequent suggestions we receive from members of the dog-show community, both in the U.S. and abroad. Safety should not have borders.

Alice Lawrence

Stafford Springs, Connecticut

Recertification should be mandatory for every judge regardless of where they live. We see a lot of Canadian judges in all the border states. Some of them are excellent and well versed in our standards. Others leave a lot to be desired. Some rarely judge a specific group in their country but are hired here to judge that group. They may be “all-rounders” at home, but are far from that here. Show chairs need to do their homework and not just hire a name because it fits their roster easily. Entries are plummeting and the number-one reason given by exhibitors is “the judging panel.”
Regarding the second part of the question, any requirements imposed on U.S. judges should be applied to all foreign judges as well.

Richard Paquette

CKC All-Breed Judge 

Azilda, Ontario, Canada

Yes, being up to date on rules and regulations as well as the Darkness to Light seminar would benefit Canadian and all foreign judges. 

Canadian judges who judge often in the U.S. are quite familiar with all the rules and come from a background of extensive training. Our judges’ accreditation programs do include mandatory continuing education. The judging procedures and classes in both countries are similar, and the Canadian Kennel Club will also be adding Owner-Handled Series similar to the AKC program in 2026. 

CKC and AKC judges have always been required to mark their own judge’s books, but the majority of FCI countries have the ring stewards recording the placements. This is sometimes challenging for non-Canadian foreign judges judging AKC shows, as the classes and awards are different in most countries. At CKC and AKC shows, it is the judge’s responsibility to check armband numbers, while at FCI shows this responsibility falls on the ring stewards. From my observation many foreign countries also scan each dog's microchip number, and the use of tablets by ring stewards to record results immediately is quite prevalent. 

Another unique aspect of the AKC program are the field representatives, who ensure all judges follow the rules. Every foreign judge, including Canadian judges, are observed at AKC shows on each assignment and given a copy of that report. Canada has a similar observation program for all foreign judges, including AKC judges, but our observers are trained volunteers from our judging community and have no powers similar to those granted to AKC field representatives. In Canada those powers are the sole responsibility of the show superintendent, who has the final say if issues arise.

In closing, I feel any education, formal or informal, is beneficial to all judges. The overwhelming number of Canadian and foreign judges are quite competent and able to judge anywhere in the world, whether it be the AKC, CKC or FCI systems. 

Jodie Childers 

Springfield, Illinois

ABSOLUTELY! All judges should take the recertification exams. Not just Canada but all foreign and domestic judges. It will aid in their credibility for judging a breed and the exhibitors need to know they are updated on the standard they are judging. 

Dr. Larry W. Dosier

Rhoadesville, Virginia

ABSOLUTELY NOT! To be invited to judge in another country is an honor, not a rip-off. A person so esteemed as to be invited from another country and to have an entire club, or even just show committee, endorse the nomination should not be sent a bill for $50 to take a qualifying exam before being "allowed" to accept the invitation. How many times is a foreign or even a close-by neighbor going to USE such a re-certification? This is hardly "diplomatic." AKC needs to find a different avenue to enrich its coffers.

John Ramirez 

Downey, California

Why should they be exempt? What applies to American judges should equally apply to foreign judges.

Sally Carr

Elgin, Illinois

Absolutely YES. Personally, I was in the “first” batch, so the recertification test was harder to manage and the passing score was higher than it is now. The fact that the test now has only “one” right answer makes it much easier. The Darkness to Light Seminar should be mandatory one time.

Shawn Nichols 

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

As a Canadian judging AKC events, we’re visiting judges who are only permitted to judge 16 days per year. I certainly am not opposed to taking any form of education required by the AKC if deemed necessary. The majority of the education that I completed on the path to become a judge was primarily education offered by the AKC. Canadian judges must submit an educational package every five years with multiple components to maintain their license, to insure we remain engaged.

Sydney Good

Venice, Florida

Of course they should! I’m surprised that it isn’t already a requirement!

Carrie Chase
Martinsburg, West Virginia

Yes, if they judge more than once a year in the U.S. Whatever the motive by the AKC for recertification testing, not requiring it for Canadian judges who routinely judge here and supposedly must follow AKC procedures doesn’t make sense.
As far as the Darkness to Light testing, while I personally feel it is of limited effectiveness toward the stated goal, if the AKC says they are serious about going after abuse in the sport, they would have Canadian judges be responsible for taking it, same as Americans. 

Lynn Kiaer

Argyle, New York

Are Canadian judges subject to the same limitations in terms of how many assignments they can accept as European judges? If they are, then the same rules that apply to European judges should apply to them. If, however, they do not have those limitations, then I think it is only reasonable to expect them to abide by the rules that apply to U.S. judges. 

Julianne McCoy

South Carolina

Only when they are new Canadian judges. I find the older Canadian judges are very experienced and understanding of AKC standards and rules, and I enjoy showing to them. It is the Canadian judges that are new judging that I have concerns.

Sulie Greendale-Paveza

Ft. Pierce, Florida

As far as the recertification exam, I am in support of all non-AKC judges having to take the exam. As someone who stewards regularly, too often foreign judges make procedural mistakes because they are not familiar with current policies and procedures.

As far as the Darkness to Light seminar, I am not in support of requiring non-AKC judges to take it. While I took the seminar as required, as a former health-care professional I have never been convinced that judges are in a position in most cases to be able to identify and recognize children who are being either being physically or sexually abused.

Deborah Hubbard

North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Yes, they should be required to take both exams, as the exams are key to our judging standards. Plus it is disappointing that many professional handlers have yet to take the Darkness to Light seminar. Both exams are open book, and their only requirement is your time.

Pam Mandeville

Somerset, New Jersey

Of course they should ... EVERY judge from any place should. I could understand making recertification a requirement before, say, their fifth assignment to accommodate individuals such as breeder-judges who only come once or twice. Otherwise, they are essentially the same as U.S. judges.

Lorraine Bisso

Metairie, Louisiana 

The recertification test covers much more than the required basic rules test and includes the NOHS and Grand Champion/Select awards. The Darkness into Light seminar explained the responsibility of AKC as a corporation to take necessary steps to ensure a safe environment. Why then would any judge be exempt from this training?

I am sure other corporations have dealt with language difficulties and have found suitable alternatives.

Janice M. Leonard 
Denver, Colorado

If we had to complete the exam with a passing score in order to keep our license, we need to know that every judge passing on the quality of an entry in the U.S. has met the same requirements.

Clyde Shaw MD

Denison, Texas

Absolutely Canadian judges should at least take the recertification test. It is so much easier for Canadians to get breeds/groups, and the quality of their judging is already a concern. If I have to take the test to judge in the U.S., ALL foreign judges should have to pass the test to judge in the U.S.

Reginal Jose
Birmingham, Michigan
YES. Simply put, the results of a dog show are only as good as the knowledge and experience of all the breeds a person might be judging. There is no substitute for knowledge.
 

Maureen A. Day

Durham, North Carolina

Absolutely! Why not? It shouldn't be a question — it should be a given!