Becoming A Judge

[Miss B]

Just curious how many exhibitors/breeders also have an interest in judging?

Personally, it doesn't interest me in the slightest. I care only for my breed

[TerraNik]

I'm the same. I have an interest in becoming a judge in Obedience or other dog sports, but I have no desire to become a conformation judge.

[Bjelkier]

I'd love to do it one day, much further down the track

[WreckitWhippet]

I'm considering it but as a country candidate, the costs to travel are high. I'd have to give up exhibiting for the duration , which I can't quite bring myself to do yet.

[Rysup]

Ooh I am the first judge. LOL

I have my Non Sporting license. No desire as yet to do it all again, I started the first one a week before my son was born

However I really enjoy judging my own group. It is much harder than people realise! And I think after 18 years it was a natural progression.

Edited December 4, 2010 by Rysup

[Dogsfevr]

Not for me because i am hopeless at exams & explaining myself .

Although i am a junior handler judge which i thoroughly enjoy & have judged 2 State Finals in the East

[Diva]

I'd be interested if one of the criteria wasn't having bred a number of litters - 3 I think? I don't want to be a breeder, therefore I cannot be a judge.

[Legacee]

Ive thought about it a number of times but the amount of travelling to Bulla for lectures etc is a minimum 5 hr round trip. During the week its just too hard.

[Bullbreedlover]

I am a NS judge too Rysup. At this stage I am not aiming for other groups but may do later. I started my judging career in 96 and very much enjoy it. The judging system here is very much different to NZ as to how you climb the ladder.

[HugL]

Agree with Diva.

Think learning to judge would help my showing and understanding but have absolutely no desire to breed. Couldn't stand the thought of not being able to take back a pup that wasn't working out or needed re-homing.

[Rysup]

You can get exemptions from the rules sometimes. If you have been in the game long enough, and you maybe help your mentor with whelping and raising litters or that sort of thing, you may be able to get an exemption from that part. I know lots of juniors do. Their parents or grandparents are the breeders, yet they still get approval to enter the JT scheme.

But its not an easy thing, going through the scheme - you really have to be dedicated to the cause, and its also not cheap (at least in NSW its not).

[becks]

I've ticked the 'in training' option but the UK system is very different. We have to be on a breed clubs judges list and then start of by actually judging at open shows, we also have to attend and pass various seminars on construction, movement, rules & regs and the breed standard for that breed. We then have to judge a set number of dogs, which usually takes several or more years, even if you get asked to judge at a breed club show! We also have to be a ring steward at least 12 times.

ATM I am busy working on gaining more numbers in each of the 3 sizes of schnauzer, I have judged at open shows, champ show without CC and in a few months time have my first breed club appointment.

Once all that is done, you have to wait to be asked to judge at a champ show and give CC's for the first time, when that happens you will have someone watch and report back to the KC before you are fully passed to give tickets in that breed in the future.

The same thing happens for each breed you are interested in, this is why the UK is known for having breed specialist judges and not many all rounders (I think there are only about 5 or 6 judges here who are passed for all groups and all recognised breeds).

I find judging fun but also hard work. It helps to put into perspective the qualities and faults of your own dogs and how they sit among the breed as a whole (especially when it is a coated/groomed breed that is hard to judge from ringside)

[SkySoaringMagpie]

You can get exemptions from the rules sometimes. If you have been in the game long enough, and you maybe help your mentor with whelping and raising litters or that sort of thing, you may be able to get an exemption from that part. I know lots of juniors do. Their parents or grandparents are the breeders, yet they still get approval to enter the JT scheme.

But its not an easy thing, going through the scheme - you really have to be dedicated to the cause, and its also not cheap (at least in NSW its not).

Is that still the case? I know they have tightened it up a lot over the last few years. In any case, neither Diva nor myself fall into the Junior with breeder parents/grandparents category and my main mentor is on the other side of the country. With a full time job that means being around to help her raise the pups isn't workable. My other two breed mentors are very experienced but have concluded their breeding in my breed/group.

I think there are others like us around who can supply the brain/money/dedication involved including travel overseas to view shows and coursing, but who don't want to bucket most of three litters just to get a license. I already do all the other things required (long canine control membership, active committee member, active steward) and do it anyway, not just for a licence.

Edited to add: If I had a companion breed that was easier to place it would be much less of an issue. My breed is not easy to place, has large litters and the market is already saturated, with a number of more experienced breeders having difficulty placing pups.

Edited December 5, 2010 by SkySoaringMagpie

[Libertybrook]

I would love to become a dog judge one day down the track,

the hardest thing is its a 4 hour drive to Sydney from here,

so getting to enough breed lectures during the week, with work and having to stays overnight, would be a big problem,

I have always wanted to do Working, Utility and Terriers, the logistics of getting to Lectures and exams are for me the biggest hurdle

and so many friends up here are in the same boat,

[WreckitWhippet]

I would love to become a dog judge one day down the track,

the hardest thing is its a 4 hour drive to Sydney from here,

so getting to enough breed lectures during the week, with work and having to stays overnight, would be a big problem,

I have always wanted to do Working, Utility and Terriers, the logistics of getting to Lectures and exams are for me the biggest hurdle

and so many friends up here are in the same boat,

I'm trying to work out how to do it. I could get to the lectures, that parts is fine but then it would require an overnight stay and that's when things get very costly and also a bit crazy, trying to get home again , first thing the next day.

[dogone]

Ive thought about it a number of times but the amount of travelling to Bulla for lectures etc is a minimum 5 hr round trip. During the week its just too hard.

Hi Legacee this is from the VCA website

"The conformation judges training program will be offered at both the Bulla Exhibition Centre and at KCC Park in 2011, in response to members’ requests. Members are encouraged to apply as early as possible to enable arrangements for the dual program to be put in place. A review of this dual arrangement will be undertaken at the end of 2011."

Here is the link to the page

http://www.vca.org.au/Content.asp?ID=113&SubID=379

I hope that helps

[*Lolapalooza*]

I'd be interested if one of the criteria wasn't having bred a number of litters - 3 I think? I don't want to be a breeder, therefore I cannot be a judge.

In most states you can get a dispensation for that clause.

[PomsNZ]

I woudlnt mind being a judge, although it would be hard to get away from the whole face judging thing.

It seems i know someone in each group lol.

Id ask my best freinds not to handle under me, to avoid putting us both in a awkward situation...

but one day

[SparkyTansy]

I'd like to become a judge one day... I find that I have an interest in every breed in some way or another, and take pleasure in finding out about them, reading their history and standards to work out why they look the way they do. I look forward to being able to become a judge eventually, and the path to get there, but I'm not in any rush.

[Havasneeze]

I'm considering it but as a country candidate, the costs to travel are high. I'd have to give up exhibiting for the duration , which I can't quite bring myself to do yet.

Country candidates do not have to attend the breed lectures, though it is advantageous to do so, if possible...