Times Past - Courtesy and Judges

“The judge should always be courteous, just as the exhibitor should always be courteous, just as people should always be courteous.”

Dog-show courtesy was a popular topic with our parent-club breed columnists of the 1990s. Among the many columns of the period to address proper ring decorum was this one, from the July 1990 gazette, by the Irish Setter Club of America’s Mari Silveus.

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It was the teenage girl’s first show with her new show puppy. The puppy was fairly well trained— for a puppy. The girl had worked hard with him. But in the ring, she was obviously new to the sport and a little confused.

When the judge told the exhibitor to go “down and back,” the girl misunderstood and started to follow the exhibitor in front of her. “The judge rudely grabbed her arm,” one spectator described, “and looked disgusted, like she had done something inexcusable.”

Fortunately, the girl is nottimes past one easily discouraged. After all, she had done nothing inexcusable. The judge had.

Is it all right for judges to be rude? How many times have you shown under judges who mumble instructions and then seem annoyed when you ask, “Excuse me, did you say down and back?” How many times have you shown under judges who seem to think that a twirl of the hand or nod of the head is universal body language? What can exhibitors do about rude judges?

Certainly for a judge who judges every weekend, it is easy to understand how giving the same instructions over and over could become tiresome. But this should not excuse rudeness. Without question, a judge must first possess and apply expert knowledge, but that alone does not make a good judge. Because judging purebred dogs is not just a job dealing with dogs, it is also a job dealing with people, because a dog and his person often one entity, “The sport should be a fun one, because the very nature of the dogs is fun.” each an extension of the other’s ego.

And what fun is it to show under a grouchy judge? The sport should be a fun one, because the very nature of the dogs is fun.

Whether it is the exhibitor’s first or fiftieth time in the ring the judge should always be courteous, just as the exhibitor should always be courteous, just as people should always be courteous.

It was the girl’s second time in the ring. She was obviously still new at this, but a little less confused. The judge gave her plenty of time to stack her puppy, AKC GAZETTE 30 and a smile of encouragement. The girl made a mistake gaiting her dog. But instead of grabbing her, the judge gently laid her hand upon the girl’s arm and explained what she had done wrong, so she would learn from her mistake.

Fortunately, there are more judges like this.

There may be nothing exhibitors can do about rude judges—except not show under them. But what you can do is thank the courteous ones and let them know what a pleasure it is showing under them—even if you lose.—M.S.

Reprinted from the AKC Gazette August 2025