By Teri DiMarino
November 1, 2013
My last two columns covered comments from both sides of the grooming table: the judge’s side as well as competitor’s side. There was a great deal of great banter, as well as I’m sure there was some eye-opening all around. thanks to everybody who sent me their comments. I would like to revisit those columns with a bit more feedback that did not make it into the very first two versions.
Questions of disqualifications, particularly on what I referred to as filthy and/or matted dogs or dogs with insufficient growth or pre-grooming, came up quite consistently from competitors. Why doesn’t a judge toss them out of the sound before the class starts? Well, as I had explained, pre-grooming is extremely difficult to determine, particularly when the contestant tells us that somebody else groomed the canine last or that they are going to make a unique modification in the dog. The canine may appear already finished, however unless a judge sees fresh clipper or scissor marks (and we do look for them), there’s not a great deal we can do except count it against the competitor in the final judging.
While show guidelines may phone call for a disqualification under these circumstances, it’s challenging as well as in some cases unfair to DQ a canine on these shaky grounds. judges DO look at what is under that table, as well as if all we discover is lint while one more canine has buckets of hair, it is all taken into consideration. Dogs that have mats as well as tangles or dogs that might have been much better prepared likewise autumn into this area for a great deal of judges. I understand that if many judges discover knots as well as tangles in a coat in the pre-judge, they had much better not be there during the final judging. To DQ a canine in the pre-judge for a tangle in the armpit is silly, as well as while some sets of guidelines phone call for it, I feel it’s extremely unfair to pass judgment on something that the competitor just hasn’t had an chance to clean out yet.
This brings me to an area that got a great deal of attention: doing prep work in the ring. I believe we can all agree that a specific amount of prep work ought to be performed in advancement as well as is for the benefit as well as well-being of the dog. Nails ought to be trimmed on a regular basis while ears as well as sanitaries ought to be kept clean as well as neat for the dog’s health. We do recognize that some dogs are chosen up best before the class, as well as the contestant has to offer with a great deal of unknown issues.
One thing that numerous contestants echoed is the lack of genuine great illumination in numerous of the prep areas. Not only can it be poorly lit, however numerous contestants have to surface bathing as well as drying their canine as well as vacate the table to make space for the next competitor to bathe as well as dry their dog. I have to take a step back on this one. At the last couple of shows I attended, I made a point to go back to the prep areas as well as analyze the situations, as well as the competitors are right! bad illumination would have made it difficult, if not impossible, for me to trim a dog’s nails or clean its ears as well as get them best without potentially injuring the dog.
While we do comprehend that not all prep areas are ideal, they are still much better than utilizing your hotel space (something that can get you tossed out of a show) or driving to an out-of-the-way salon. If a judge concerns your canine for pre-judge as well as you are not ready, please tell us, as well as we will relocation on to the next dog. just recognize that show guidelines have contestants in the sound as well as prepared for pre-judge at a specific time, as well as you should abide by that. Please have your dogs prepared as close to that time as possible. If whatsoever possible, keep up with your prep work outside the ring.
Someone suggested that it would be practical if the judge were to critique their canine during the judging process. While I comprehend where this competitor is coming from, this might be extremely unpleasant for all involved. First, judging should be quick, as well as costs time critiquing at the table is sure to raise the eyebrows of the show promoters who requirement to keep things moving in a timely manner. The competitor ought to be concentrating on showing off their canine to the very best of their ability, as well as the judge ought to be concentrating on the groom. Passing a critique at this time around would be awkward, as other people may be listening as well as privacy would be breached. Consider, too, that judges typically don’t make their final decision up until every entry has been gone over. It’s only fair. save critique time for after the class is over as well as the winners are announced.
Input from competitors-turned-judges is fun! believe me, we’ve ALL been there, as well as all of us had the exact samenull