Almost 9 years ago I stepped into the conformation ring for the first time. I had watched a few shows, but despite taking my dog to handling class, I still lacked experience and confidence to know what to do the first time. I entered the ring as the only competitor in my class a 9 month old puppy dog. For those of you who don’t do conformation, dogs show before bitches and puppies always go first. So rather than getting to watch anyone else, I entered the ring and was treated rudely and impatiently by a judge who was either tired, grumpy or hated me. Maybe all of the above. When I exited the ring, my breeder told me that she had never seen a judge treat a competitor so badly in her 20+ years of showing. Lucky me.
This weekend, I made my first attempt at Preferred Novice Obedience, just like Novice, only without group sits and downs. I was hurried, but the judges and the stewards were kind. They kept reminding me to breath because I was obviously nervous. Despite a non-qualifying (NQ) score early on, the judge kept walking me through the exercises. While I wasn’t super successful, unknown to everyone watching, was that despite years of practice and attempts I had never been able to do any off leash exercises in competition in the obedience or rally ring. So while my run was an NQ, it was a BIG BIG win for me and my dog.
The judge came up to me and told me what a lovely dog I had and how clearly she wanted to work for me. That we had things to work on, but just to keep trying.
I can count on one hand the judges that I remember who exhibited that extra kindness and humor. They didn’t make those well intended but ultimately disparaging remarks about my breed (“Well, you DID choose a harder breed” or “Dalmatians are not easy”). Yes, I know I chose a dalmatian, I’m aware it might have been easier with a Golden or Boarder Collie, but I love going home with a dalmatian, so that is my breed of choice.
But those judges, the ones who are kind and thoughtful and spend time and help you learn, they make me want to stay in the sport. In ANY sport. My friend running the same weekend in Agility pointed out the tire was the wrong height and the judge said to just go anyway. Really? I realize in novice standard not a lot is on the line, but really?
Quality judges are not just ones who are kind and thoughtful, but they are consistent and fair. They know the rules and are willing to explain them and answer questions. They know how move things along quickly (because even if a judge is kind, no one wants to be running at 8 PM). They build quality nested courses or consistently call the heeling pattern. They don’t have ‘sharp pencils’ they have fair pencils that don’t discriminate because of breed or competitor.
Quality judges willingly pose for pictures, even if it is just for something silly to others, but meaningful to the competitor. They answer questions, point out details and really help competitors learn. I know people are there to win, but we are ALL there to learn. Every. Single. Run.
Those of us with “A” dogs, we are the future of the sport. Judges should be nice to EVERYONE, but when you make an “A” dog competitor laugh or feel good about their NQ, they come back. It is hard enough to be judged by people outside of the ring and mostly ourselves. Competition and training is an easy place to be filled with self doubt or even self loathing, you can walk about thinking, ‘Why didn’t we title with 90+ scores in 3 runs’?
These quality judges, the ones who help us and encourage us and treat us as seriously as we need to be treated, they keep competitors in the sport. Keep it up. I know it isn’t easy, I know you worked hard for your position, but thank you. Thank you for making me feel like coming today was a good choice.