Qualified Basenji Judges

[lukris]

Have any of you come across judges who know very little about the breed and because of that, approach your dog with little caution or patience?

I had such an experience today when a judge just came right up to Milo then went behind him without giving him a chance to settle. Of course this resulted in Milo becoming suspicious and very unnerved by her actions. She was very nice but had obviously no real knowledge of the breed.

I just hope he doesn't get freaked out at his next show because of it.

Theresa:(

[tanza]

@lukris:

Have any of you come across judges who know very little about the breed and because of that, approach your dog with little caution or patience?

I had such an experience today when a judge just came right up to Milo then went behind him without giving him a chance to settle. Of course this resulted in Milo becoming suspicious and very unnerved by her actions. She was very nice but had obviously no real knowledge of the breed.

I just hope he doesn't get freaked out at his next show because of it.

Theresa:(

In our breed, I think we see this a lot…. or rather then little caution... way to much... and the Basenji feels it and thinks there is something to be freaked out about this particular person...

[ComicDom1]

Now this makes no sense to me at all. I would think that with ANY dog, you want to approach, let the dog know you for a second, and not just rush up and grab their privates. It seems to me that not many dogs would like that, regardless of their breed, and you would think judges would know that and not want to get bitten or snapped at…

I find this whole thing very weird, but it makes me glad that as a matter of course, we handle our dogs all over, at random times, without warning from the time they are pups. Of course Jason likes having his privates randomly grabbed, but that's a different story for a different forum.:rolleyes::eek:

Miranda

[saba]

This is a problem I am having down here in Tasmania at the moment as well :mad:.

Vandas first show was at Launceston Royal, where we were judged by an overseas man… We ran a few steps to the table where the judge was sitting on the edge of the table. I picked Vanda up, and held her, waiting for the judge to get his toosh off the table... He motioned for me to put her on the table, (he didnt speak a word to anyone, just lots of finger pointing :rolleyes:), so I did, and he remained on the edge of the table to examine her ... He also never allowed me to even set her up, just basically pounced on her mouth, and continued his examination from there :mad::mad:. I was so cross, and thankfully Vanda couldnt have cared less... But thats not the point.

Olivia took Ochre in for her class, and by this time, he had removed his butt from the table, but again he was standing at the table, then pounced on her mouth, and never gave you time to set your dog up AT ALL...

Roll forward 2 weeks, to the Hobart Royal, and we had the EXACT same scenario... International judge, who allowed you no time to set your dog up, and he was standing right at the table, and he just went straight to the dogs mouth :mad::mad: Im lucky I have 2 temperamentally stable girls, that took this shocking judge behavior, in their stride :rolleyes::rolleyes: I did see a lot of dogs who were NOT a little bit comfortable with this judging, and these are dogs that are fine week in and week out. There were a LOT of complaints about this judging technique, I can tell you...

Dont even get me started on the Aussie judges that are doing some shocking examinations on the ACD's lately :mad::rolleyes:

[khanis]

I am not sure what it is that you are stating….
do you feel that all judges should approach a basenji with caution?

WHY?
A show dog needs to have a sound temperament that allows for strangers to come up at touch it.
The basenji is no different than any other breed... it should be just as stable as any other show dog.

Exhibitors will experience what you are describing across the board.. in all breeds... in all countries.

One thing to remember is that YOU are in control of your dog and it's experience. If you feel your dog is too unsettled to continue on, EXCUSE YOURSELF before the situation takes a turn for the worse. There is NO reason good enough to keep your dog in the ring when he/she is having a difficult time in the ring. It is better to quit while you are ahead, for the sake of your dog, and it's show career.

[lvoss]

I think what is being described is a judge that approaches and starts to lay hands on the dog before the handler has finished setting the dog up. Though it is true that a show dog should be stable and this shouldn't "shake" them, it is difficult for the handler to be in control of the experience when they are still stacking the dog.

I showed to one judge who judged like this. The first thing he did in the was grab my girl's head. She took it all in stride though she did pull her ears a bit to the side and took all the wrinkle with it. When we finished are down and back and were doing our free stack for the judge her ears were up, since she was relaxed and focused on me, and the judge said to me, "Why didn't you show me that wrinkle on the table? It is like she is a completely different dog." I just sort of shrugged following the "If you can't say something nice rule" while thinking, "Maybe if you hadn't so rudely grabbed her head you would have noticed them on the table."

[saba]

@khanis:

I am not sure what it is that you are stating….
do you feel that all judges should approach a basenji with caution?

WHY?
A show dog needs to have a sound temperament that allows for strangers to come up at touch it.
The basenji is no different than any other breed... it should be just as stable as any other show dog.

Exhibitors will experience what you are describing across the board.. in all breeds... in all countries.

One thing to remember is that YOU are in control of your dog and it's experience. If you feel your dog is too unsettled to continue on, EXCUSE YOURSELF before the situation takes a turn for the worse. There is NO reason good enough to keep your dog in the ring when he/she is having a difficult time in the ring. It is better to quit while you are ahead, for the sake of your dog, and it's show career.

khanis

Im not sure if you are directing this to me or to the OP, but I will answer as if it was too me

I do not think any judge should approach any dog with caution, BUT, there is caution, and then there is terror/fear, but this is a whole different thing…

A show dog does need to have a sound temperament, I fully agree, and I did say in my post, that both my girls were unaffected by this type of handling. They both have solid temperaments.

I was the one that was disgusted by this type of handling. If I thought my dogs couldnt handle this they would have both been withdrawn, no hesitation at all. I nearly did with Vanda as it was her first show, but I decided at the last minute, she deserves a chance, and certainly would have withdrawn if she wasnt coping. She was completely fine.

Im just angry at the level of judging lately, both by Overseas judges, and also with our Aussie judges too. I have seen some shocking examples of handling of the dogs in the ring, by some judges, and lately it appears to have really deteriorated... I dont know why. Just one quick example... Would you be game enough to stradle a Cattle Dog while examining the dogs front ??? 3 shows in a row we had this done to our ACD's, by Aussie judges, all men who were upwards of 80 years of age. Obviously they were struggling to examine the dogs appropriately, so perhaps its time these guys either handed in their judging licences, or not do the Working, (Herding), dogs anymore. My older male dog was scratched at the ring, my younger dog coped... Lucky the 3 of them didnt lose their goolies, methinks

If this wasnt directed at me, then ignore the ramblings of a cranky Aussie exhibitor

[AJs Human]

Chauncey (the ACD that lived with me) would have had a nice family jewel sandwich if anyone tried to straddle him. He was an Alpha male.

[saba]

I just cant help myself… Thanks for the correct terminology for the 'Heeler', I do admit I am just a touch anal about it, though :D:D

The dog I scratched at ringside 3 shows in a row, would have had 3 nice goolie sandwhiches, for sure... Clancy isnt an Alpha male, he is actually quite a sookie boy, BUT, he was badly handled by another knitwit Aussie judge a few years ago, right at a really important time, age wise. Ruined him. My hubby has worked really hard to get him back in the ring, and was very much a show by show proposition... He is an Australian Ch, and provided the judge got the examination over VERY quickly, he was ok. We have just retired him, as we dont think he was really enjoying it... No point pushing the point with him, it would only lead to heartache, and he doesnt owe us a single thing, either...

[AJs Human]

How about some photos of your dogs in Other Pets? I would love to see what Aussie standard looks like for your ACD's. As I've said, Chauncey was big for USA standard. Most of them here are knee-high…he was about 5 inches taller. Beautiful boy, though...wish I had photos of him.

[thunderbird8588]

[QUOTE=ComicDom1;93241Jason likes having his privates randomly grabbed, but that's a different story for a different forum.:rolleyes::eek:

Miranda

:D:D:D Wait till Jason sees what you have written about him Miranda:D

[lukris]

@khanis:

I am not sure what it is that you are stating….
do you feel that all judges should approach a basenji with caution?

WHY?
A show dog needs to have a sound temperament that allows for strangers to come up at touch it.
The basenji is no different than any other breed... it should be just as stable as any other show dog.

Exhibitors will experience what you are describing across the board.. in all breeds... in all countries.

One thing to remember is that YOU are in control of your dog and it's experience. If you feel your dog is too unsettled to continue on, EXCUSE YOURSELF before the situation takes a turn for the worse. There is NO reason good enough to keep your dog in the ring when he/she is having a difficult time in the ring. It is better to quit while you are ahead, for the sake of your dog, and it's show career.

Perhaps i used the wrong wording there. I only meant that it helps if the judge gives the dog time to settle before rushing up to him. Milo has a lovely temperament and shows no aggression to either dogs or people. It was just an unusual experience for us both.

[khanis]

@lukris:

Perhaps i used the wrong wording there. I only meant that it helps if the judge gives the dog time to settle before rushing up to him. Milo has a lovely temperament and shows no aggression to either dogs or people. It was just an unusual experience for us both.

I do agree with this… but there is very little you can do.
I have had a dog startled bya judge wearing a cowboy hat... he waltked up and the sun was behind him...
that tells you all my dog saw was a big shadow and he backed off hte table.
I asked the judge to give me a moment to re-set him up.
BUT I took him OFF the table, put him on the ground and petting his badk and told him he was a good dog and let's start over.
Just took off the hat and stood on the other side of the table...
the dog could see the judge and he was fine.
Good thing.. he earned himself his first points.. a 3 pt major!

Same dog at his first show was startled by a man judge... I hadn't even gotten him up on the table.. no setting up was attempted as he started to go over him before I could. It was just too fast for this boy.. and he sucked up his testicles like no tomorrow [mind you they were fine when Julie Jones examined him in the Sweepstakes!]… he was DQd for only 1 testicle.
The second we walked out.. imagine what... they were both there!!

I have excused myself more times than I'd like to admit... when I felt the judge had startled or flat out scared my dog... I won't worry my dog over a silly show.. it isn't worth it in any way... no matter how far I have driven or how much $$ entry fee I paid. Suck it up and Excuse myself... and save myself and my dog the heartache of a bad situation.

[saba]

@AJs:

How about some photos of your dogs in Other Pets? I would love to see what Aussie standard looks like for your ACD's. As I've said, Chauncey was big for USA standard. Most of them here are knee-high…he was about 5 inches taller. Beautiful boy, though...wish I had photos of him.

Sorry AJ's Human I forgot to reply to this o

Just need to give me week or two. Im run off my feet, at the moment, AND being really computer illiterate, I need to get my Hubby to get the pics and put them up here :):).