Help - Fun Dog Show!

[eatmyshorts]

So .... I've been asked to judge a "Fun Dog Show".

Now, i know dogs, but have ever judged dogs before, & dog showing isn't really my thing. The person who has asked me, keeps saying it's just for fun, so it doesn't matter i'm not experienced ... but then also terrified me by saying it's very competitive! I just don't want to let anyone down (or get lynched!).

What's the protocol? The "serious" classes are Best Dog, Best Bitch, Best Puppy, Junior Handler, & then there are a few other novelty classes i'm not worried about. I imagine i'll be looking for things such as movement, condition, handling, weight etc, but i have a few questions i wonder if anyone can help with please?

Do they walk round the ring, then get pulled in & examined & asked to move one by one?
Do i pull them in a rough order first like in horse showing?
How do i ask them to move eg. walk away, trot back, trot round the ring?
Do i actually touch them (eg. look at teeth for overbite)?
Do they get pulled in order with first being pulled in first?

Please be gentle with me - idiot proof answer appreciated! xx

 

[Annette4]

He last fun dog show I went to they came round and chatted to each owner about their dog and gave the dog a fuss then pulled out their top 10 (there were 30+ in each class) then asked us to walk round then picked their rosette winners.

 

[satinbaze]

For your serious classes the steward should ask the dogs to like up around the ring. You will need a table for small dogs to stand on for exam. Initially have a quick look around the ring then invite each dog in turn to either stand on the table or stand by it. You then go over that dog, for a fun show I would probably just check teeth and muscle tone. You then ask the dog to move at a trot usually a triangle then straight up and down. That dog then goes to the back of the line and you move onto the next dog. By the time you have seen the last dog the one you first saw will be at the front again. Then have another quick look at all the dogs by walking down the line. You then make your selection starting with first place then second etc until you have placed as many as you have rosettes for.
At a fun show I try to spread the prizes around so hopefully most fogs will go home with a rosette. Also spread around the type so your main winners are not all for example small and fluffy. Really try to mix it up.
Remember at the end of the day this is a fun show and it is your choice
ENJOY

 

[oldie48]

I took Stanley to my local fun dog show a couple of weeks ago. We entered best family pet, best local dog/bitch and best condition, the judge was a local vet. the best family pets were all shown by children, the best condition dogs were all shown by children except for the dog tha thad lost kgs but was still fat and the best local dog/bitch were mainly shown by children. Stan was of course best in every class, beautifully behaved and just too gorgeous but the judge didn't agree, I was mortified as we were fifth of five in best condition! Actually we justwent for the experience and Stan had a lovely time saying hello to lots of new friends. My advice, give rosettes to dogs with children and if you have to choose one with an adult, give it to a grumpy one!

 

[TheresaW]

I took Aled to a local fun show last year run by a rescue. We only entered the “veteran” class. We all walked around the edge of the ring until told to stop. The judges then came round and spoke to us all individually, and went back in the middle. They called out 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Aled should have won, but obviously had an off day

We are going to a fun show run by our vets on the 29th. Luna was supposed to be coming to this time, but as she came into season over the weekend, she’ll be staying at home with the other half.

 

[Cahill]

the last fun dog show i went to my dog behaved perfectly and is a fit fine figure of a dog.
the judge came up to me after,made a fuss of my dog and said rotties are her favourite breed but she was told not to choose one.

that was the last fun dog show i will be going to umphhhh

 

[Clodagh]

JUst remember only one person will agree with your decisions, and the rest will hate you.
Have you read the James Herriot book where he judges the novelty pet class?

 

[Pinkvboots]

I wouldn't worry about its meant to be fun and at the end of the day and novelty classes are totally down to the judges personal preference more so than any other classes. I find mostly children do the novelty classes my friends daughter wins quite a bit but they have the smallest cutest chi cross and they both look so sweet together as she can get him to do almost anything on command.

 

[eatmyshorts]

JUst remember only one person will agree with your decisions, and the rest will hate you.
Have you read the James Herriot book where he judges the novelty pet class?

LOL Clodagh! That doesn't fill me with confidence! No, i haven't ... i'm sure it will be funny ... but perhaps i'll read it afterwards! xx

 

[eatmyshorts]

For your serious classes the steward should ask the dogs to like up around the ring. You will need a table for small dogs to stand on for exam. Initially have a quick look around the ring then invite each dog in turn to either stand on the table or stand by it. You then go over that dog, for a fun show I would probably just check teeth and muscle tone. You then ask the dog to move at a trot usually a triangle then straight up and down. That dog then goes to the back of the line and you move onto the next dog. By the time you have seen the last dog the one you first saw will be at the front again. Then have another quick look at all the dogs by walking down the line. You then make your selection starting with first place then second etc until you have placed as many as you have rosettes for.
At a fun show I try to spread the prizes around so hopefully most fogs will go home with a rosette. Also spread around the type so your main winners are not all for example small and fluffy. Really try to mix it up.
Remember at the end of the day this is a fun show and it is your choice
ENJOY

Thanks! Lots of good tips there! I've roped hubby into being my steward. Making sure everyone gets a rosette sounds like it will increase my chance of survival xx

 

[deb_l222]

I've judged a few of these, so I'll stick my ten penneth in for what it's worth:-

Pedigree classes (if you have them).
Oh my days!! These are taken seriously and (as such) you will need to judge properly (hands on) but not Crufts standard obviously
Move the dogs at least twice for these classes - round the ring, then up and down in front of you. If it's really warm, just once.
We normally have best gundog, best terrier, best working, toy and then 'other' I think. Then best in show but you need to remember what order everyone came in their groups because best in show can't beat someone they lost to in a group (does that make sense). A helper is handy

Fun classes
First thing to remember is to remember!! Who has had a rosette. Make sure everyone gets one. People will often enter multiple classes so make sure everyone goes home with a rosette.
Waggiest tail is the best fun ever - just get everyone really wound up
Veteran - move them as much as the dog is capable, although most veterans are pretty good these days

Definitely do NOT pass negative comments on the dog (as one judge did one year). You're not there to vet the dog, comment on its weight or anything else. For the fun classes, I just had a fuss with the dogs and didn't faff putting my hands all over them - I don't thinks it's necessary.

Just have a good laugh and make sure everyone is included.

Judges choice - I always pick the ugliest one there! Dog, not the owner

 

[eatmyshorts]

I've judged a few of these, so I'll stick my ten penneth in for what it's worth:-

Pedigree classes (if you have them).
Oh my days!! These are taken seriously and (as such) you will need to judge properly (hands on) but not Crufts standard obviously
Move the dogs at least twice for these classes - round the ring, then up and down in front of you. If it's really warm, just once.
We normally have best gundog, best terrier, best working, toy and then 'other' I think. Then best in show but you need to remember what order everyone came in their groups because best in show can't beat someone they lost to in a group (does that make sense). A helper is handy

Fun classes
First thing to remember is to remember!! Who has had a rosette. Make sure everyone gets one. People will often enter multiple classes so make sure everyone goes home with a rosette.
Waggiest tail is the best fun ever - just get everyone really wound up
Veteran - move them as much as the dog is capable, although most veterans are pretty good these days

Definitely do NOT pass negative comments on the dog (as one judge did one year). You're not there to vet the dog, comment on its weight or anything else. For the fun classes, I just had a fuss with the dogs and didn't faff putting my hands all over them - I don't thinks it's necessary.

Just have a good laugh and make sure everyone is included.

Judges choice - I always pick the ugliest one there! Dog, not the owner

Thanks, great advice! I'd never give negative comments, & will do my beys to ensure everybody goes home with a rossette. It's mixed breeds, & the organiser has told me i have 20-30mins tops ... 7 classes including championship .. i'm a bit scared to ask if she means 20-30mins overall or per class. Seems a bit tight if overall, & a bit much maybe overall? :-O

 

[Cherryblossom]

I went to a charity one recently to help my friend socialise their new dog (so observing, not competing). It made me sad that despite it being for a dog rescue charity the judges of every class chose the trendy breeds; so the puggle/jugs/labra-cocka-whatever-doodles. I would've loved if the judges could have at least placed some of those lovely scruffy faces to show that mongrels, most likely from a rescue, have as much value as an overpriced puppy farmed designer cross breed.

 

[PucciNPoni]

I wouldn't have said the Best Dog / Best Bitch are serious classes. They sound like they are open to non pedigree too? In which case you're not judging against a breed standard. So whatever takes your fancy goes, really.

If it was a pedigree class ie Best Terrier, or Best Hound etc then its always helpful to have a basic understanding of how a dog show runs and what the breed standards are.

I would say that at these fun shows the prizes are great and yes people take them very seriously lol, I can remember a woman getting annoyed at me that her toy poodle didn't win best trick when there was a kid in the class with a spaniel that did a whole repertoire of tricks that I was impressed by lol

And as for not passing negative comments, yes that's very important. But sometimes it's hard to not say anything. I was judging at an ag show this year and there was a 6 month old shih Tzu puppy entered in several classes being dragged from pillar to post, and being asked to jump for it's party trick. I wanted to cry, actually. I maybe should have said something, but I wasn't sure it was actually my place.

Also if you are doing a hands on going over the dogs, just watch as some of these dogs that aren't show dogs will not be used to being gone over. So watch their body language and if it clearly says no, just don't touch.

 

[Clodagh]

Also if you are doing a hands on going over the dogs, just watch as some of these dogs that aren't show dogs will not be used to being gone over. So watch their body language and if it clearly says no, just don't touch.

Oh I so remember my OH's border terrier biting the judge in a 'dog the judge would most like to take home'. She had never bitten anyone, ever, and was being shown by my son who was then about 3. She came last.

 

[maxweg]

I used to travel all over showing my dogs and have life time qualifications for Crufts and have judged a few fun shows .
Judge it as it should be , fun!
Don’t take it seriously anyone than does show their dogs I would hope they won’t show at a fun show and if they do I certainly don’t place them !
I know my breed but I’m certainly not “ qualified “ to judge any others to the breed standard .

I generally look at condition , and temperament for the more “serious” classes.
You can’t judge on movement if it’s a novice dog or handler unless is obviously lame!
Do spend time on each dog even if it’s just to ask about them, people want to feel they’ve had their monies worth!

Make sure there is rosettes for all kids , speaking from a nana point of view ! Lol

Not everyone will be happy but go with your gut instinct.
I generally go with a dog that I like , happy disposition, good condition , doesn’t matter if it is a recognised breed or not.
Overall it’s a fun show and everyone loves their dogs , Enjoy

 

[blackcob]

Don’t take it seriously anyone than does show their dogs I would hope they won’t show at a fun show and if they do I certainly don’t place them !

CC/RCC/JW winners are rightly ineligible but I think there's a lot of value in taking puppies for ringcraft experience.

 

[maxweg]

Unfortunately that only applies to companion dog shows are these are held under Kennel Club rules but I take your point on ringcraft practice although ringcraft clubs usually have their own shows for pups/handlers to gain experience .

 

[eatmyshorts]

Thanks for all your advice! I had a great wee day. Entries were massive (25 in the Best Bitch class!) & i was hassled by the committee a bit to rush through them, but met lots of gorgeous dogs, & everybody seemed happy. Loved judging the Young Handlers - the little boy who won was so chuffed with himself. Gave best in Show to a lovely little JRT, a rescue aged 12, friendly & full of beans, & in fantastic physical condition.

 

[deb_l222]

Thanks for all your advice! I had a great wee day. Entries were massive (25 in the Best Bitch class!) & i was hassled by the committee a bit to rush through them, but met lots of gorgeous dogs, & everybody seemed happy. Loved judging the Young Handlers - the little boy who won was so chuffed with himself. Gave best in Show to a lovely little JRT, a rescue aged 12, friendly & full of beans, & in fantastic physical condition.

Awww really pleased you had a good day. It’s great fun isn’t it but quite exhausting!!

I took Button to the springer rescue show last weekend and we had a fab time as competitors.

 

[maxweg]

Thanks for all your advice! I had a great wee day. Entries were massive (25 in the Best Bitch class!) & i was hassled by the committee a bit to rush through them, but met lots of gorgeous dogs, & everybody seemed happy. Loved judging the Young Handlers - the little boy who won was so chuffed with himself. Gave best in Show to a lovely little JRT, a rescue aged 12, friendly & full of beans, & in fantastic physical condition.

Aw ! well done isn’t it exhausting?
I’m glad you took it for what it is and that’s fun.
I can judge under KC rules but I find these fun shows really good fun and a welcomed break from the serious stuff!
My last show I gave BIS to a very elderly collie type, this little girlie was such a happy dog and was in fantastic condition for her age, her owner cried , which brought a tear to my eye !
Like you my favourite class is junior handler, just love seeing these kids having fun and make sure each one gets a rosette so no disappointment.
Glad you had fun