Would like to hear the opinion of show people on the scenario of breed judge(FCI (cacib) show) who has just awarded BOB to exhibitor and is happily and publicily seen chatting to the person before he judges the same person in the group and awards this person group 1 ??? Personally I think this very inappropriate!!!!!!
I know there are big differences as to DOs and DON'Ts in different countries when it comes to acceptable behaviour of judges AND exhibitors. I am sure some misunderstandings are due to a simple culture clash.
For example in some countries a judge would be considered rude should he refuse to speak to an exhibitor - by contrast I believe in the UK it is the written rule as laid down in the judging regulations that as a judge or exhibitor you neither speak nor are spoken to except for the bare necessities...
In other countries the definition of 'acceptable behaviour' may be different.
However when it comes to staying at / travelling with an exhibitor I would have thought the written rules would be the same everywhere: under FCI rules this is not acceptable and the judge concerned must expect a reprimand.
Sometimes Judges have stayed with me. However, they would stay in a Hotel the night before the Show. Then after the show they would come home with me, when I would bring them for something to eat and bring them to the Airport the following morning. The would not be informed where they would be spending the second night until after the Show. This has also happened to me when I Judged in the UK and in Europe and I think it is perfectly acceptable, especially when a Judge is travelling alone.
The problem is the exhibitors don't ever think that the judges don't know who they are staying with after the show........ If the Society cannot afford to pay for another night then maybe the best way would be for that particular committee member/exhibitor not to enter on that day.
A few years ago an overseas judge stayed with the recipient of his bitch cc the night after the show. It was very difficult to believe that prior arrangements hadn't been made before the date of that show. It did not go down too well.
Another one for you.......Committee members choosing the judges for their show, going to dinner with them the night before and exhibiting under them the day after.
Most Canine Societies now have that loophole plugged but there are still some that are streniously resisting inplementing this.
And here I was a complete novice thinking about entering the showing world when my puppy is 6 months old........looks like I will have to rethink this..........
No, don't rethink it, new people are always needed and always welcomed, I speak from experiance here having only started showing in December, it is possible to get placed even when your a newbie (I've been placed at open and champs) and more importantly its a great chance to meet loads of new people, wonderful friends and learn more about our wonderful breed.
Wherever there is competition, any competition, there is good and bad. Give it a go, you will get hooked like all of us!!!!! We are still going.........