Speciality Etiquette

[Ceilidh]

It may be that being such a small class the judge told the exhibitor they were only critiquing the first 2 dogs? Whatever the situation it is up to the steward to inform the exh they MUST stay till the judge had finished their crit. Was the steward not doing their job?

[SkySoaringMagpie]

It may be that being such a small class the judge told the exhibitor they were only critiquing the first 2 dogs? Whatever the situation it is up to the steward to inform the exh they MUST stay till the judge had finished their crit. Was the steward not doing their job?

I don't think there is any way of knowing the answer to your second question. As you point out, if the judge had let them go then it's a different situation than an exhibitor just deciding to leave because they don't like the decision and/or don't want the critique. Unless you're in the ring with them, you'd not know.

[Pockets]

At GSD specialties the first 10 on the pegs must stay for the critique, generally no exhibitors will exit the ring until the last dog/bitch has been critiqued and once all exhibitors have been awarded their ribbon and shaken hands with the judge. It's just a coutesy and ettiquette thing, each exhibitor on the pegs deserves to be critiqed.

regardless if you have a dog in the next class you are not allowed to leave the ring with the dog, in most cases you get someone else to hold the dog and present it for a critique and to spectators.

So all in all I would say leaving the ring is being a bad sport, you might not like the judges decision but it's one judges opinion at the end of the day, you asked the judge for their opinion on the dog, no need to get annoyed and leave the ring if you don't like the outcome.

My suggestion smile, present your dog, shake the judges hand and move on to show another day :-)

[Bullbreedlover]

I didnt realise there was a rule which stated that you must stay for a critique at a specialty show?

Is there also a rule which states that it must be published in the schedule?

Back in NZ there is a rule which states that if a Club has asked a judge to critique the dogs then it MUST be stated in the schedule that this will be happening. You also have the right to stay in the ring or you may leave if you didnt want your dog critiqued.

You have paid for the judges opinion. If in your opinion you did not like the judges decision for what ever reason then why the heck stay for a critique which may be very damning. Make a note to ones self that you dont enter under that judge again

Critiqueing is an art and can turn into a back stabbing bitch fight.

Like wise, I can not find anywhere in the rules which states that Clubs have a right to publish the critiques if an exhibitor asks them not to.

[Havasneeze]

I didnt realise there was a rule which stated that you must stay for a critique at a specialty show?

Is there also a rule which states that it must be published in the schedule?

Back in NZ there is a rule which states that if a Club has asked a judge to critique the dogs then it MUST be stated in the schedule that this will be happening. You also have the right to stay in the ring or you may leave if you didnt want your dog critiqued.

You have paid for the judges opinion. If in your opinion you did not like the judges decision for what ever reason then why the heck stay for a critique which may be very damning. Make a note to ones self that you dont enter under that judge again

Critiqueing is an art and can turn into a back stabbing bitch fight.

Like wise, I can not find anywhere in the rules which states that Clubs have a right to publish the critiques if an exhibitor asks them not to.

I have been entered in a couple of Speciality shows with critiques and each was very carefully worded. They went something like this ~ Critiques will be done for the first 3 places in each class. If you would like to have your entry critiqued, please stay in the ring after your class has been judged.

I also agree that "Critiqueing is an art and can turn into a back stabbing bitch fight" but I have generally found that most judges are mindful that what is said can come back and bite you. I have also seen a Judge seem to use the old adage "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" On reading the critiques after one show, I know that a particular dog, that was placed 3rd in its class, stayed in the ring for a critique to be done. When this was published the critique for that particular dog was blank. Would you consider that to be rude or polite?

[Bullbreedlover]

I would consider that rude

unless the exhibitor asked for the critique not to be printed.

same as judges who critique specialties and then dont send the critiques back at all!!!!

Edited January 27, 2010 by stonebridge

[Dlanigervon]

So you're looking at specialty, you are graded 3 out of 3 and you don't like the position, STIFF! You do not have the right to leave the ring. You are showing under a speciality judge and you have paid for his/her critique. I am under the opinion that showing specialty is to improve the breed, iron out the faults of your dog and endeavour to enhance his/her qualities for future breeding and or improve the quality of your kennel.

To leave is bad sportsmanship which is a very poor refelection on your character as a sportsman/breeder etc. Nothing in life will always go plan, take the critique and build on it. The next critique you receive will probably be better & could be 2 out of 3, however it will still list the same faults. Grow up, take your medicine, and start to do something about it in the next generation, otherwise stay in Allbreeds.

[Jsk]

I would consider that rude

same as judges who critique specialties and then dont send the critiques back at all!!!!

Amen to this one!

I have been waiting for the critique from the NSW Beagle specialty from last April!

[Bokezu]

Isn't the whole idea of entering a Specialty show to be judged by a breed specialist, and offer your dog to him/her for critique, observations and awards?

Why enter if you are not at all interested in the judges opinion, apart from if you were to win!

If the case was sour grapes then the exhibitor should steer clear of Specialty shows in future, no one is a certain winner

Edited January 28, 2010 by Bokezu

[SpikesPuppy]

Isn't the whole idea of entering a Specialty show to be judged by a breed specialist, and offer your dog to him/her for observations and awards?

Why enter if you are not at all interested in the judges opinion, apart from if you were to win!

If the case was sour grapes then the exhibitor should steer clear of Specialty shows in future, no one is a certain winner

We rarely have a breed specialist judge our shows Out of the 6 I have entered, only 2 had actually owned/bred the breed.

And with regard to my 3rd out of 3 critique, as I said earlier, it was clear the judge (not a specialist) was not keen on my dog from the moment we walked into the ring and the critique had not one nice thing to say about him, I am aware we pay for the opinion, and I am definitely open to the bad points of my dogs, but the critique was just depressing and full of negativity and truly I felt as though I had wasted her time and would have preferred she had refused the 3rd place. The fact that he is listed as having won 3rd place (1-3 are listed in my breed because of the low numbers), when he clearly in her opinion was not a good example, is wrong IMO. I don't mind coming last, but if the dog is that awful- refuse the award.

[Bokezu]

Isn't the whole idea of entering a Specialty show to be judged by a breed specialist, and offer your dog to him/her for observations and awards?

Why enter if you are not at all interested in the judges opinion, apart from if you were to win!

If the case was sour grapes then the exhibitor should steer clear of Specialty shows in future, no one is a certain winner

We rarely have a breed specialist judge our shows Out of the 6 I have entered, only 2 had actually owned/bred the breed.

And with regard to my 3rd out of 3 critique, as I said earlier, it was clear the judge (not a specialist) was not keen on my dog from the moment we walked into the ring and the critique had not one nice thing to say about him, I am aware we pay for the opinion, and I am definitely open to the bad points of my dogs, but the critique was just depressing and full of negativity and truly I felt as though I had wasted her time and would have preferred she had refused the 3rd place. The fact that he is listed as having won 3rd place (1-3 are listed in my breed because of the low numbers), when he clearly in her opinion was not a good example, is wrong IMO. I don't mind coming last, but if the dog is that awful- refuse the award.

I agree its a bit hard to take unnecessary criticism from someone who is not an expert in the breed

[ellz]

I agree its a bit hard to take unnecessary criticism from someone who is not an expert in the breed

Technically, most of us do that every time we set foot in the ring and have a good win. Those ringside experts can be more brutal than ANY breed specialist!!!

[Bokezu]

I agree its a bit hard to take unnecessary criticism from someone who is not an expert in the breed

Technically, most of us do that every time we set foot in the ring and have a good win. Those ringside experts can be more brutal than ANY breed specialist!!!

ain't that the truth, should get them to write out a critique :D

[Dogsfevr]

You are showing under a speciality judge and you have paid for his/her critique. I am under the

Actually many breed shows dont have specialist judges.

[SkySoaringMagpie]

You are showing under a speciality judge and you have paid for his/her critique. I am under the

Actually many breed shows dont have specialist judges.

True, but in the scenario I described the judge was an international specialist.

[Dogsfevr]

You are showing under a speciality judge and you have paid for his/her critique. I am under the

Actually many breed shows dont have specialist judges.

True, but in the scenario I described the judge was an international specialist.

Yep i now Just responding to Dlanigervon post

[Dlanigervon]

[

You are showing under a speciality judge and you have paid for his/her critique. I am under the

Actually many breed shows dont have specialist judges.

Ok, my error, however if you enter a speciality show, why don't you have specialty judges? This is a very poor refelection on the management/committee of your breed club. If a specialty judge cannot be obtained, what's the point of having a specialty show? If they are not specialty judges their critique is not worth the paper it's written on so why would any exibitor 1-2-3 etc bother to stick around for a critique that is of no value. May as well just stick to all breeds until the club can get it's act together.

[SpikesPuppy]

You are showing under a speciality judge and you have paid for his/her critique. I am under the

Actually many breed shows dont have specialist judges.

Ok, my error, however if you enter a speciality show, why don't you have specialty judges? This is a very poor refelection on the management/committee of your breed club. If a specialty judge cannot be obtained, what's the point of having a specialty show? If they are not specialty judges their critique is not worth the paper it's written on so why would any exibitor 1-2-3 etc bother to stick around for a critique that is of no value. May as well just stick to all breeds until the club can get it's act together.

Not all clubs have the luxury of money or large memberships? Our club usually sub-contracts from one of the other shows on the same weekend as we cannot afford to cover the costs of a judge on our own. With a rare breed, too, where everyone knows everyone, there is a real risk of people not entering if a certain judge is booked, because the winner is often evident before the show OR several exhibits are ineligible because of stud dogs etc.

[Dlanigervon]

You are showing under a speciality judge and you have paid for his/her critique. I am under the

Actually many breed shows dont have specialist judges.

Ok, my error, however if you enter a speciality show, why don't you have specialty judges? This is a very poor refelection on the management/committee of your breed club. If a specialty judge cannot be obtained, what's the point of having a specialty show? If they are not specialty judges their critique is not worth the paper it's written on so why would any exibitor 1-2-3 etc bother to stick around for a critique that is of no value. May as well just stick to all breeds until the club can get it's act together.

Not all clubs have the luxury of money or large memberships? Our club usually sub-contracts from one of the other shows on the same weekend as we cannot afford to cover the costs of a judge on our own. With a rare breed, too, where everyone knows everyone, there is a real risk of people not entering if a certain judge is booked, because the winner is often evident before the show OR several exhibits are ineligible because of stud dogs etc.

That's even more reason to stick to All Breeds, there at least you stand a chance and the result is not always known unless you continue to come up against a magnificient speciem of a dog.

The specialty option is in my opinion a NO BRAINER, a complete WASTE OF TIME, and a WASTE OF MONEY & EFFORT.

[SpikesPuppy]

You are showing under a speciality judge and you have paid for his/her critique. I am under the

Actually many breed shows dont have specialist judges.

Ok, my error, however if you enter a speciality show, why don't you have specialty judges? This is a very poor refelection on the management/committee of your breed club. If a specialty judge cannot be obtained, what's the point of having a specialty show? If they are not specialty judges their critique is not worth the paper it's written on so why would any exibitor 1-2-3 etc bother to stick around for a critique that is of no value. May as well just stick to all breeds until the club can get it's act together.

Not all clubs have the luxury of money or large memberships? Our club usually sub-contracts from one of the other shows on the same weekend as we cannot afford to cover the costs of a judge on our own. With a rare breed, too, where everyone knows everyone, there is a real risk of people not entering if a certain judge is booked, because the winner is often evident before the show OR several exhibits are ineligible because of stud dogs etc.

That's even more reason to stick to All Breeds, there at least you stand a chance and the result is not always known unless you continue to come up against a magnificient speciem of a dog.

The specialty option is in my opinion a NO BRAINER, a complete WASTE OF TIME, and a WASTE OF MONEY & EFFORT.

Maybe it is for you, but for me I enjoy the day because I get to see dogs of my breed that don't usually show, or come from interstate, I am supporting the breed club, get to hang out with fellow exhibitors who I otherwise don't see and have a great lunch etc. Naturally, I wish every specialty could be judged by a genuine breed specialist but hey, reality can be a bitch.