Being a specialist breed judge for Dalamtians, I enquired about judging over here in Ireland, accepting that I would need to start with Opens. Shock horror! Most judges for Opens here are expected to do the whole Utility Group! Does anyone know where I can get breed standards for everything except Dalmatians - I am gradually chatting to owners of other breeds to pick up what I can but this will not be nearly enough. If it doesn't have spots - I'm lost!
Hi Deccy Here are all the Utility breed standards http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/ Maybe try contacting individual breed clubs and see if they can help you out? Also try sending Minihaha a PM as she owns and I believe has shown Miniature Schnauzers so she could probably give you a bit of information about that breed
Panic not Deccy , I have never had a desire to judge except from the ringside.. but I can close my eyes and see the perfect interpretation of my breed and others in my minds eye .. In your position I would scan through the breed standards looking for anomalies or deviations from the norm noting particular points ..remember most breeds are basically very similar...a sound dog is a sound dog in any breed and if you can judge one breed you should be able to judge a number quite easily ..many things to do with conformation are self evident, when looking at a line up of dogs of the same breed you should soon be able to spot the worst or best of them with ease...;-)
Thanks Mini - I have been ringside at the Groups all summer/autumn trying to guess what would be pulled, and despite looking at a distance and not getting "hands on" I have been pretty accurate. Early on I was picking out dogs that caught my eye and was subsequently told that they were big winners. It's just specific things for example Bulldogs have to have certain things to a measurement or proportion, or so I have been told. Dallies have some similar things, such as the length of the tail (should be to the hocks) and ears (should reach the inside corner of the eye when you pull them forward). Mind you, last time I judged as soon as I touched the bitch's ears she yelped and sprang back, the owner was looking daggers at me. Apparently she didn't like her ears being touched. I placed her 5th/5 and the owner hasn't spoken to me since (there were other faults as well! ) I am hoping that the Irish standards are the same. I know that they generally are, although FCI have a few differences but for an Open, I needn't worry toooo much! ;-)
how true........ I had an entry of 18 at one Open, only three classes, one girl entered with a dog I had politely admired before. It was a junior but for some reason she put it in Open :? Against what was there on the day, it managed 3rd. She was emailing me for weeks asking me why it didn't win Another person reckoned I would put up the committee member's dog, which I didn't, but the BOB was delighted as it gave her the final JW points - which I didn't know about. You will only ever please your BOB winner! :-(
