ROLE MODELS; MORALS & ETHICS...
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I must admit that when showing in Scandinavia I did not really consider it wrong for a person to exhibit at the show he or she was judging. That was until one day one judge “working” in the ring next to where his/her dogs were exhibited, stopped judging and went over to have a conversation with his next door judge just before his dog was shown. That his dog deservedly won its breed is beyond the point, as it simply looked BAD. Then on a couple of occasions I attended pre show dinners and had the disgusting experience of listening to judges “prepping” their own breeds’’judge with lots of
information, clearly intended to sway the result to his own advantage. That was when I came up with the promise to myself: Never to let anything influence me other than the dog I see in front of me. Good intention, but will probably never work 100%?
to me the result was quite obvious from the very beginning as one of the two belonged to the Best in Show judge’s wife and daughter. Which I knew the group judge was well aware of… Ridiculous isn’t it- and I just wonder, particularly if you are showing under friends, why put them in this predicament?
But back to the question of role models and ethics: I judged at a show in Scandinavia a few years ago. Final show of the year. One of the Group Judges owned a dog that was already, prior to the actual show, a clear winner of the Top Dog in the country. But would you believe it, his own dog was entered, won the breed and of course had to withdraw from the Group judging... And I just wondered WHY- and still do: Not that he withdrew from the Group, but why show instead of letting a fellow exhibitor have the joy of winning the breed for once. Which of course was why they had entered, as the group judge couldn’t possibly show…??
Then sadly I have to tell you that similar things have recently happened in England and Scotland: In Scotland the winner of the Terrier Group decided to withdraw from the Best in Show competition as the owner’s husband judged another Group at the same show … A couple of weeks later at a show near London, again involving the same judge and his wife. Only this time he was judging Best In Show, putting up a beautiful dog, well worthy of the win. But second to this dog in the group was his wife’s dog- so she could actually claim to have been beaten only by the Best in Show winner- and if there were any justice in this world, she should have competed for reserve Best. The dog in question is looking great- and I have this sneaking suspicion that if the group judge had not known the situation, the group placings might have been reversed?
Then of course, what was to me one of the most ridiculous oversteps seen at a show, was at one of The World Shows. We sat here watching the group judging on our computer, lots of great dogs no doubt, then in one group the judge had a seemingly really tough time choosing between no. 1 and no. 2 (You know in Europe dogs are often placed in reverse order.) So much excitement: But
Let me tell you: These incidents have caused so much bad feelings amongst the grass root exhibitors. Most of them already firmly believe that the reason they are not winning more themselves (whether they deserve it or not) is just because judging is crooked and the whole show world corrupt. Continued on page 62
By Geir Flyckt-Pedersen 18 Dog News
babbling
think we all grew up admiring people we thought were fantastic in one way or the otherthat we wanted to either be like, try to emulate, look like or match in whatever they were doing. Of course that also includes those of us “growing up” in the world of pedigree dogs and all that goes with it, be it a breeder, handler or a judge. There were lots of people who, at least I thought, could do no wrong, but were simply outstanding. As I grew older I got to know many of them on a very personal level and I must admit, that although of course uncovering different sides of their personalities and sometimes shortcomings, I was seldom disappointed or disillusioned. Well, that was apart from a few occasions when I was justifiably shocked…