Dog Show Politics

[Jess]

It happens in every country and in every breed.

I am shocked to find out about handlers/owners chatting to judges before the classes though That is very frowned upon here, the judges aren't supposed to speak to any exhibitors before going into the ring.

I dont know if id enjoy showing in America. I have no experience of it, just from what i've heard. But it seems like the pro handlers will win the majority of the time just cos they are the right face, i find that sad...

We do get that here of course, though we dont have pro handlers, its more a case of friends helping out friends in return for favours as most breed specialist judges are actively showing their own dogs. But i have to say, from my experience of our wonderful breed, it is not as common as in some breeds. If you have the best dog, the majority of the time you will win - not always, but usually!!

I mean, I came into pugs completely unknown, less than 3 years ago. I got some fantastic placings with Lilah in some very strong classes, qualified for Crufts several times in our 2 months showing!! And then Gracie.. Well, she just achieved so much more than we expected. We have had some very unsupportive people saying very cruel things behind our backs, and to our faces (even behind our backs, it always gets back to us ) but a lot of people have been VERY supportive and pleased that we, as new people to the breed, have done so well.

I would hope that its the same in America, but from what i hear its not easy to be an owner/breeder AND handle the dog as well. But i'd hate to have to hire a pro handler, i love showing my dogs..

[gatekeeper]

I tried showing my Tibetan Mastiff. I swear the judge was blind. Gave it to the handler with a poor dog. After the show, the judge came over to tell me I had a great dog. I wanted to say, "so you are telling me the best dog didn't win?"
I have been going to several shows and my observation is that the handler wins, not the dog. That makes it no fun. You might as well throw your money out the window. You are footing the bill for the dogs with handlers to get points. It a no win situation.

[ayleash]

I feel your pain, as a owner/breeder/handler I have seen it too. I find the politics are usually between the judges and pro handlers. They attend judges dinners, and pal around with some of them at times. But as proven at Eukanuba, they can be beat, and nothing is more rewarding then to beat handlers by out handling them with a better dog. I am slowly working towards applying for my judgeship someday. And I feel I can be objective since I will be coming from a breeder's view, rather than a handler's one. Many judges were once pro's. May I suggest something? The only control you as a handler have, is to withhold your entries from judges that are obviously being unfair. I keep a list, and write down what I feel they were looking for in a dog. If I can get the just of what type of dog this judge is looking for, I will either bring them their type, or at least give them another entry. If I walk away shaking my head, having no clue what he/she was looking for. or worse yet, pulled the political "card" They get one more chance and after that, no more entries from me. If all of us did this, then the poor or dirty judging, would be less common. The clubs depend on our entries to keep their clubs in the black. No entries, no hiring judges that can't pull a good entry.

Sarina - this is a very nice post... Thank you for it... I don't "show" in any way (only run agility recreationally and it's majorly hilarious - I am usually laughing my head off by the end of each run!)... but I found this a very down to earth picture of your mind- and heart-set!

Thanks again!

[tall grass pugs]

I haven't shown in decades, but nothing changes much. If a handler is on circuit year in and year out, it stands to reason he knows the judge. Rise above it. Is your dress flattering to the animal's coat color. Tape a match and watch carefully for what the winner does, and practice that. Are you changing the leash from hand to hand fluidly. Not impeding the judge on the table. Does your dog melt when examined on the table and lose confidence. Remember your bright smile and please and thank yous. Courtesy and promptness at ring side will help. Let me tell you that all those years ago, the West Coast was locked up by Ch. Crespi's Happy New Year. His owner, Donia Cline sat ringside, giving her bow tied handler the look. They always won because people expected her to and laid down and died in competition. My mother out of spite or ambition bought Ch. de Sangpur Gladiator and had him flown out to the West Coast where she committed him two days before the match to the care of his handler. Gladiator won going away, blew Happy New Year out of the water. But we took the risk and made the gamble as sure a thing as possible by bloodlines, preparation, and promptness.

[shaynapug]

Ben does a lot of winning....most of the time, when I see a person that doesn't usually come to the shows...or only comes in for a day....it's usually because they have done well under that judge or judges....Many times, they do win...but every now and then.......someone else does! Most of the time, when there's a top handler that also doesn't come in that often...you know the reason!!

There have been a lot of small shows around here.....In many of the breeds...there's only 1 dog often a special (champion) and it's a handler on that dog going to try for a Group win and possibly a Best in Show!!!! The Toy Group is really heavy with handlers! Still every now and then...a judge looks at the dog....and then Ben gets something in the group too! It's a LONG day when you stay for the groups...and it's hard being looked over all the time! I think the reason I got the last Group win was that I decided that I wasn't going in in front of one of the top handlers in the country. Seems like the judge gets as far as her and then starts going down the line! This time, I went in the middle!!!!