Who Is The Judge and What Is He Looking For?

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Originally uploaded by Dogs in Canada Magazine

Dog Show Judges have owned, bred, shown and handled purebred dogs for many years. There is an approved Standard for each and every breed and most judges have these standards in their heads. There is always a Book of Standards on the judging table in case there might be a point he or she would want to check. (You will see smaller dogs lifted onto tables for the judge to go over.)

In addition to each breed's standard, there are general traits judges look for.

When we watch Westminister Kennel Club Show on USA Network this Monday and Tuesday, we will be seeing the Group judging and then Best in Show.

That means every dog we see has already won Best in Breed. So, another judge has already picked a dog as the best over all the others in his Breed.

The judge goes over the dog; he looks at its mouth, its teeth. Especially with long-coated breeds, he is going to be making sure there is a good body under there.

A dog worthy of Best in Group has a little something extra. Watch for the dog who knows where he is and is watching the judge almost as intently as the judge is watching him!

We all tend to look for the dog who looks like our dog at home, but the Judge is looking for the dog who comes closest to the Standard in that book. He (or she) is also looking for a dog with a little something extra.

You might be able to see it on your TV screen at home. Some dogs just love being at dog shows. They have just the right personality and temperament to be there. They know why they are there.

The dogs we will watch at Westminister on Monday and Tuesday have all won Best in Shows . . . some of them more than one. So this is "old hat" to them.

There is another factor and that is how is the dog feeling on that day?

My personal thought is that a dog who was shown in the Group on Tuesday may have a better chance at performing well in the Best In Show Ring.

Or . . . perhaps the dog who has rested overnight has a better chance!

Hope you enjoy the show and be happy with the Grand Winner because he or she was the best dog on his best behavior and in his best form THAT NIGHT!