- Written and published with permission
- by Judy Doniere, Toledobes
Every exhibitor should watch the breed that is
in the ring before your own breed is judged in order to see the
Judge's pattern. If that is not possible then for sure watch it
once s/he starts your breed. A judge will always do the same
pattern (or should) so don't wait until the last dog is gaited and
then walk up into line and take several seconds to set your dog
up. It should be set up in the spot the other was set up at and be
totally ready for the judge to look at and examine.
Watch the other dogs and the judge. Does the
judge watch your dog on the go around? All the way? Halfway or not
at all? This is what is their pattern.
DO NOT ASK the pattern on gaiting. You should have seen it had
you been watching as you are supposed to.
Are you ready and stacked up when the last dog is gaiting back to
the end of the line or are you leaning over fiddling with the legs
when the Judge is now walking by your dog. If you are not, YOU
MISSED YOUR CHANCE.
When the judge is making his cuts and you are not in the first
ones, do you give up or are you still fighting to get noticed? You
may get pulled out and you might even win. NEVER stop working your
dog while in the ring.
When gaiting around with the others in the ring are you running up
on the dog in front of you or are you constantly pulling your dog
back and almost stopping thereby forcing the
dogs behind you to almost pile up while you are getting Prince to
stay with you?
Do you watch the dog out of the corner of your eye when you are
moving him to make sure he's not pacing when gaiting?
Are you staring at the judge all the way around the ring??? PLEASE
DON'T!
Are you doing a courtesy turn in front of the judge before you
gait and your dog is now dizzy? PLEASE DON'T. Just start out
straight.
Are you taking your dog only half way down the mat? Are you
stopping 10 feet from the judge so he has to walk up to see your
dog? PLEASE DON'T!
Are you running your dog up so close to the
judge he can't see your dog as it's right on top of him. PLEASE
DON'T!
Personally, I dislike the swing to profile when gaiting back and
there are many judges out there that feel the same. I want to see
the dog stop right in front (about 5 feet away) and see how the
front feet stop on his own and also more importantly his
expression to me as well as when being baited by the handler.
Do you smile and CONGRATULATE the winners on your way out of the
ring and then keep your mouth shut? PLEASE DO! |
