to be recruited more and more from show organizers and officials. In the US, judges are mostly recruited from handlers,
people who have been paid to win with other people’s dogs.
When talking to many of my colleagues, I often get the
same story. “Unfortunately I cannot keep any dogs any more,
as I judge so much.” Well, most of them had a choice, and
they made it. Am I supposed to feel sorry for them? I find
it worrisome that we seem to be recruiting more and more
judges from outside the ranks of real dog people. In my definition, real dog people keep dogs. That is what makes them
dog people. And if they are not even dog people, why should
I pay for their opinion?
A most honorable
appointment
— judging Best
in Show at the
winter Helsinki
International
show in 2015.
Engh awarded
BIS to the
Standard Poodle
Ch. Da Maya
Huffish Copyright
Woman.
DOGSinREVIEW.com
TEXTERRI PHOTO
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AS: Some breeds have deteriorated to a degree where it
is almost impossible for judges to develop an adequate
competence in judging them. Truly great examples of
these breeds are difficult to find or simply do not exist.
How would you advise both new and more established
ENGH, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38
judges to cope with these challenges?
and I felt I needed new challenges. So, I gradually added
EE: Fortunately, I do not find this to be the case in many
more breeds until I was approved to judge all breeds in 2011.
breeds, but there are sadly some breeds that [fit that] description, with two of the three Norwegian Hound breeds coming
AS: What can upset you when you judge?
instantly to mind. I do not think there is any other way to edEE: Dogs being roughly or badly treated in the ring, such as
ucate oneself and train one’s eye other than to repeatedly see
being strangled or kicked, dogs that are in bad muscular or coat
and appreciate outstanding representatives of a breed “live.”
condition, dirty or not in good health, sometimes looking really
Therefore, a breed can easily get into a downward spiral,
miserable. That makes me miserable as well. I am also not at
which will be very hard to get out of. I guess carefully studyall charmed by people who try to tell me how much the dog
ing photos, videos and reading material
has won previously or trying to impress
could get you somewhere when trying
me with how far they have traveled to
to learn how to judge a breed, but I am
get to the show. I am easily provoked
Breeders and
afraid that it will not get you all the way.
by bullies and bad losers and would not
judges seem to
recommend trying that tactic in my ring.
live in separate
AS: Judging appointments in 94
countries is likely the world reAS: Nowadays, we often describe
worlds. The two
cord. In what ways has officiating
judging and breeding as two sepagroups have much
in so many countries shaped your
rate branches of the sport, despite
to offer each other.
outlook on the sport as a whole?
the fact that they are extremely inEE: I have not joined any competition
terdependent on each other. What
to judge in more countries than anyis your take on how judging and
body else, but if you tell me it is a record, you may be right.
breeding intersect today?
Being very fortunate to judge so many dogs in so many counEE: Yes, I think it is quite dangerous to the sport that too often
tries has of course added to my perspective, both on my own
breeders and judges seem to live in separate worlds. The two
breeds and on the dog sport in general. As a breeder, I have
groups have much to offer each other and need to interact
been able to see close-up the results of combining different
and learn from each other. If breeders and judges have simistrains and traits. My mother did the same thing for many
lar ideals or have a common understanding, both groups can
years, and I think our breeding has benefited quite substancontribute significantly to the progress within a breed. If the
tially from this.
two groups are pulling in different directions, quality is more
I have met so many clever and dedicated dog people who
than likely to suffer.
have contributed to my knowledge and experience. In some of
In years gone by, judges were almost entirely recruited from
the smaller and less affluent dog countries, I have frequently
the ranks of top breeders, and thus they were playing more
on the same team. Now, in quite a few countries, judges seem
CONTINUED ON PAGE 46