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WHO JUDGES DOGS, JUDGES OR AKC?
2014 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show generates as much speculation about the quality and style of judging as any sporting event in the nation.
Westminster Dog Show, The National, and Philly are still televised for a viewership who appreciates a glamorous fashion show and a Who’s Who of dogdom but the numbers are shrinking. Most breeders would agree that dog shows have worked pretty well. Purebred dogs have become healthier and sounder through decades of astute selection by judges. Admittedly, exceptions occur when judges succumb to fads or award exaggerations of “type” but overall, purebreds are sounder, healthier, and more appealing than they were a century ago.
Should the American Kennel Club become involved in judging or should AKC stick to registering dogs and recording breed standards and show wins?
The Senior Conformation Judges Association (ref #1), founded by Lt. Col. Wallace H. Pede and all breed judging icons like Melbourn Downing, Haywood Hartley and “Tip” Tipton, had this to say about who should be judging dogs. “Often times judges are severely critiqued by an AKC Rep while pursuing their duties judging.” SCJA cited an instance wherein “The AKC Rep questioned in a derogatory manner a fairly new judge, asking the judge ‘Did you really think that dog was 30” tall?’ The judge replied, ‘No, it’s a bitch and only has to be at least 28” tall.’”
There must be no misunderstanding about who judges dogs. The SCJA January 2014 newsletter contained this edict issued by the former AKC Director of Judging Operations which makes clear that no one can challenge a judge’s placements in the ring. SCJA’s CEO, Col. Pede cites AKC’s own words, “It is the responsibility of judges to interpret the rules and breed standards and apply them accordingly; therefore, how a judge conducts the ring and the specimens they select are at their sole discretion. … Further, a judge’s decision is precisely what an owner seeks when he or she enters a dog in a show. Just as it is practically impossible for anyone to be completely objective about their own dog, it is equally certain that no two judges are going to see the same dog, even at the same moment, in exactly the same way. The whole point of a dog show is for exhibitors to put the question of relative merit up to one particular person at one particular time.’”
Clearly, AKC’s only requirement is that judging applicants satisfy basic criteria and knowledge of the breed(s) for which they apply. That is their duty to the exhibitors who trusting the AKC’s judgment, expend millions of dollars every year seeking the judge’s opinion. AKC should respond to weighted complaints of judging ineptitude or dishonesty in order to insure the integrity of the sport but otherwise, the American Kennel Club should stay out of the show ring.
So the SCJA asks “Why on earth do we have the AKC expending hundreds of thousands of dollars employing a group of individuals to criticize and critique the judges and replace the judge’s opinion with their own? It’s about time we let the judges judge the dogs.”
The Judges Approval Process is an ongoing a subject of debate because it is ongoing and constantly changing. We advocate adoption of three simple, unbiased concepts:
What do you think would solve the confusion, dissatisfaction and unrest among aspiring and approved AKC judges? Send your comments and suggestions to Comments@TheJudgesPlace.com to be included in a follow up after Westminster.
Ref #1 http://www.scja.org Photo courtesy Pam Guevera Collection TheJudgesPlace.com EST 2005 © Jan 2014 http://www.thejudgesplace.com/Judges-education/Who-Judges-Dogs-141.asp
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