While the UKC staff cannot get to as many UKC events as we would like, we do get to a very good representation of shows across the country. We are able to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and see great dogs along the way. This travel also gives us a good place from which to assess the things that we believe can contribute to a constantly improving network of UKC conformation judges. It would do you all a great disservice to only tell you how wonderful you are all doing without describing the areas in which we see a need for improvement.

One area where we would like to see improvement is in ring procedure. While we teach this at every seminar, we still see some habits that need breaking. Proper ring procedure is easier on the dogs, the exhibitors and the spectators. It is also better for the sport.

We’ve all seen the rare judge straddling dogs to examine them, or using other unsafe or intimidating approaches in their examinations. Fortunately, these cases are few and far between. A more common and perhaps less obvious issue is that we still see far too many judges taking far too long to make their decisions in the ring. Obviously, UKC wants its judges to fully evaluate the dogs presented to them, and wants to maintain the UKC’s friendly culture. However, it is still quite necessary for every judge to run their ring in an efficient manner.

With these considerations in mind, we’d like to make it crystal clear that UKC expects its judges to adhere to a schedule of 20 dogs per hour of judging (3 minutes per dog). We feel that this is a more than reasonable guideline for all judges in every situation.

It is universally accepted around the world, and in most all registries, that 2 minutes a dog is more than enough time to asses a dog properly if you have a solid working knowledge of the breed and the breed standard. In fact, in many places, experienced judges are even scheduled at one and half minutes per dog. Because of the more casual pace and character of UKC events, we are doubling that time and suggesting this maximum time of 3 minutes per dog.

To be quite frank, judges with a solid background in a breed begin to sort the class as they enter the ring or are moved around the ring the first time. If it is a mediocre class of dogs, which happens in every country and registry, the saying “staring at them isn’t going make them any better” rings very true. Make a decision. If unusual or extraordinary conditions exist, UKC still expects judges to adhere as closely as possible to their schedule but note the reasons in their judge’s book.

It is the responsibility of the Conformation judge to evaluate the dogs entered under him based on his interpretation of the UKC Breed Standard for each breed. UKC invites its judges to accept judging assignments in any breed that they have studied and feel they can do a credible job of judging.

Good judges possess a working knowledge of the breed standard, the ability to apply that standard to the physical animals presented to them, and the ability to make good and timely decisions in the ring based on that premise. Judges who cannot demonstrate these three criteria call into question both their knowledge of the breed and their ability to apply the standard to the dogs in the ring.

Let’s keep working together with the continual goal of UKC judges being the best in the world.