Judging Puppies

[Ridgesetter]

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Grab a cuppa before tackling this prose!

Maturity in a youngster isn't necessarily an asset. It just means they may win early on.

Judges are there to judge the best dog ON THE DAY regardless of it's age or level of maturity. There's nothing wrong with a 6 month old dog winning on the day if it is the best. Just because a dog is older, say 3 years, doesn't mean it should win because it is a mature representative of the breed.

I don't ask ages of dogs or place them on age. In fact, the age and development of the dog is immaterial to me as a judge. As a judge, I may award a young dog a CC but as a breeder I may consider it overdone for age. Remember, you wear two hats and judges that cannot change hats don't make the best judges.

Judges are trained to ask ages not because they need to know but purely to put the handler and dog at ease. I don't like it when judges make decisions based on age.

I guess age classes are more important for some breeds (and judges) than others. Some overseas judges like to know they are awarding the CC to a mature dog. Large and giant breeds take much longer to mature and there is a huge variation between a youngster and a fully mature 6 year old. Toy breeds don't have as much variation between an 8 month old and a 2 year old. For me, the age classes allow me to exhibit several dogs myself without having them all in the one class. I'm currently exhibiting 3-4 bitches so I'm able to have them in different classes.

In Australia we have age classes so exhibits have the chance to win an age class in group against similarly aged other breeds.

I totally agree with your sentiment that exhibitors are wanting dogs mature far too early. They want to win NOW and don't want to wait for a dog to mature slowly. I believe there is more emphasis on winning now more than ever before and the internet allows exhibitors to spread the news of their wins further afield. This list and others are testament to that.

The internet IMHO, has changed the dog world detrimentally. Advertising can/may influence judges, other breeders, potential puppy buyers and breeders. If you are aware a dog with many BOB's or BIS wins, it would take a brave or foolish judge to ignore that dog.

There are also more dogs/semen being imported / exported than ever before and so if a dog carries a particular trait, it can become widespread rapidly.

Breeds clubs appear to have fewer members than ever before so who really is the guardian / custodian of breeds? There are no longer large kennels with acknowledged and respected breed mentors. Everyone's a 'breeder/exhibitor' - or at least they are here.

I do agree with I think it was Jax's comment about looking at the number of puppies exhibited and how many are still exhibited as adults. I often search back through catalogues and am constantly amazed at the number of puppies that 'disappear'.

Overall, I do believe the best dog wins more than it loses. And dogs that win well as youngsters tend to grow up and win well as adults.

Cheers

 

[echo]

I judge the puppy class the same as any other, i.e. the best constructed/moving/typey dog wins.  If they are all equal then the more mature one may win purely because it has probably got its act together and looks more 'finished'.  I do not believe in giving top awards to puppies though because they give away so much in maturity and, if they do look that mature, then the chances are they are going to go way over the top!!

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I agree with Caroline , if I was to place one above another and give` more mature `as the reason it would purely be done to how it looks for its age , An 11 month pup should look `more mature` that an 8 month .

Ive recently judged the odd whippet puppy that IMO look finished (w00t) great to have lots of wins with them but then what ,

Of course we judge whay we see in the ring and not what we think they will mature into .

We do, of course have judges who like to `find a star ` some go on to get their title , some dont .

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Well I wish I could say it has all become clear but I cant. I know an 11 month old should look more mature than a7 month old but i still fail to see why it should win on maturity alone To put it plainly we have two puppies to judge; One is a raw but promising baby with everything required FOR ITS AGE of say 7 months, its a stunning puppy and you wish it was yours!!!! The other puppy is already looking the finished product at 11 months and yes it may be better behaved it may be closer to the breed standard which is intended to represent the ideal ADULT WHIPPET if we then reward this with the win then this is probably why lots of puppy winners never make the grade. If the win was given to the stunning but raw puppy perhaps our best puppies would be best adults. :- " :- " jan

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I am unable to see what you are looking for in your quest for an absolute answer.

Judges will award a puppy or any aged dog for that matter because they feel on the day that dog is performing better. If a less mature puppy is 'Raw' and less together than another puppy that is more finished regardless of age then surely that one will be awarded on this basis. As a judge you sometimes have to split hairs as you can't place both 1st. This is what judging is all about, the less mature will also have its day the next time round as it becomes more finished.

Its about ability on the day.

The comments about winning pups then not becoming champions speaks for its self, not all will finish as expected ether going too big too small or many other reasons.

The limit and open classes should have the best in the breed that have made the grade over many years. Top winning puppies are against the puppies in that year. this might be a strong or a weak year for quality puppies.

Other dogs might be awarded titles along the way such as Show merits or JW but when up against the quality in the higher classes in the breed don't always have the quality to make it to the top. These will still be used to bred from and the cycle will continue average quality young dogs but never making top flight.