[darrenlee@qwest.com]

Does anyone know where to find information on how the judges score an AKC hunt test? I know there are seminars but I would like to start learning about this now. There has to be a manual or video or something, right? Super Retriever post theirs at the degining of each show. 2 pt fault for a whistle 5 point fault for a refusal and so on.

 

[steve schreiner]

No such manual.....or video .....best way to learn is to apprentice with good judges and listen more than you talk ....Don't be afraid to ask questions though... Training days with judges talking about what the dogs are doing and how they would score them..If you can get in a group ....Glad to hear you are interested in learning ...We need more people to set in the chair ....best wishes ....Steve S ...

 

[darrenlee@qwest.com]

Well I'm not saying that I wouldn't want to judge some day but my primary resaon for asking is to assist in my training and and developing a strategy for any given hunt test.

 

[Swampcollie]

Darren,
There are Judges and handlers seminars offered from time to time each year. Check with your local clubs to see at what time of the year seminars are offered.

Here up north, seminars are usually offered in the winter months when there are no conflicting events.

 

[darrenlee@qwest.com]

Is there a sample judging sheet some where? Is there a value given to different faults? How do they determine when a dog gets a seven vs. a 10? I'm new to this game and just trying to understand.

 

[Howard N]

Is there a sample judging sheet some where? Is there a value given to different faults? How do they determine when a dog gets a seven vs. a 10? I'm new to this game and just trying to understand.

Nope, sorry Darrenlee, it just ain't that easy.

You can figure perfect is a 10 and passing is a 7. After that I'm all confused so I let the hunt test judges worry about it.

There is a list of faults in the rule book.

 

[Swampcollie]

There are no number point values assigned to different faults.

Scoring of dog work is subjective in nature. That is why there is minimum handling experience required, a seminar required, an apprenticeship required, and a minimum amount of judging experience required with each judging team.

Keep in mind that at the end of the day, the judges only have to agree on the dogs that pass or fail, they don't have to have identical scores (and they never do have exactly the same score).

 

[darrenlee@qwest.com]

Here is a URL for a booklet of the HRC Judges\Handlers seminar. I see ACK Judges seminars out there so I'm guessing they must have something like this.

 

[darrenlee@qwest.com]

For anyone that is intrested here is the URL Scoring and evaluation PDF. It has a sample evaluation form and a definition of faults.

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RHTRET.pdf

 

[Richard McCullough]

It is still subjective, if you go run say Senior and the judge may judge the dog as if it were in Master and it will get lower scores even though your dog is performing well for that level. Bottom line, each judge is different and that is the way it is.

 

[Lady Duck Hunter]

Darren, No AKC does not have a Seminar booklet like HRC does.

As has been stated before, Judging is very subjective with the exception of the faults that will get you dropped in and of themselves.

I suggest you get a Regulations and Guidelines book from AKC (you can get if on the web if you want) and read it thoroughly, then come back and ask questions. There is a sample of the judges sheet in the book and a condensed list of faults - severe-moderate-minor. Each judge formulates his/her own method of assigning numbers for the various performances.

Sorry we can't be more specific.

 

[steve schreiner]

Nope, sorry Darrenlee, it just ain't that easy.

You can figure perfect is a 10 and passing is a 7. After that I'm all confused so I let the hunt test judges worry about it.

Howard , How do you score in a field trial ..? poor, fair, good, very good, excellent..? 2-4-6-8-10 ......same idea .... It is still all subjective....Not easy to explain the logic behind a system that is so vague....that is judging, not bean counting ..... 5 is a minimum score in each category ...you need an average of 7 for the 4 categories to qualify....Steve S

 

[Heelsit]

I just use check marks, not numbers. That's how I learned it under a guy named Steve S. when I apprenticed as a Master under him.

 

[captainjack]

Does anyone know where to find information on how the judges score an AKC hunt test? I know there are seminars but I would like to start learning about this now. There has to be a manual or video or something, right? Super Retriever post theirs at the degining of each show. 2 pt fault for a whistle 5 point fault for a refusal and so on.

If you want a book or video to show how to score a particular marking or blind series, you will be out of luck. In fact, if you ask seven judges what numbers they gave a dog for a particular series in each ability, you may get seven different answers. Hopefully, at the end of the day, they will all agree that the dog qualified or did not qualify.

IMO, the best you can do is to get a copy of the rule book (http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RHTRET.pdf) and learn about what the judges will be looking for and evaluating and then read the information on the AKC web site about the procedures for completing the score sheet. http://www.akc.org/events/hunting_tests/retrievers/score_sheet2005.cfm

 

[captainjack]

Nope, sorry Darrenlee, it just ain't that easy.

You can figure perfect is a 10 and passing is a 7. After that I'm all confused so I let the hunt test judges worry about it.

Howard , How do you score in a field trial ..? poor, fair, good, very good, excellent..? 2-4-6-8-10 ......same idea .... It is still all subjective....Not easy to explain the logic behind a system that is so vague....that is judging, not bean counting ..... 5 is a minimum score in each category ...you need an average of 7 for the 4 categories to qualify....Steve S

Not to attempt to answer for Howard, but for an FT you just need to score good, better, best... as the dogs are ranked against each other by their relative performance.

 

[Howard N]

Nope, sorry Darrenlee, it just ain't that easy.

You can figure perfect is a 10 and passing is a 7. After that I'm all confused so I let the hunt test judges worry about it.

Howard , How do you score in a field trial ..? poor, fair, good, very good, excellent..? 2-4-6-8-10 ......same idea .... It is still all subjective....Not easy to explain the logic behind a system that is so vague....that is judging, not bean counting ..... 5 is a minimum score in each category ...you need an average of 7 for the 4 categories to qualify....Steve S

I don't really put a numerical grade on a dog when I'm judging a field trial. I draw out what the dog did on a transparent vellum with the test drawn underneath it so it's the same drawing for every dog. I'll have notes on the dog, ie line manners noise etc there too.

I do keep a list of the dog's numbers at the back of my book and before the next dog comes back to the line I ask myself whether or not I want to call the dog back. I then put an A for good work, C for dogs I'd like to call back and a - sign for dogs who are on the bubble and a line for the dogs who I want to drop. If my co-judge and I have the same callbacks that's as far as it goes. On disagreements I look back to my judges sheet not my "letter grade." I usually like to get a few words in with my co-judge on dogs I put a minus sign on. At the end of the trial I don't use my letter grades but refer to my judges sheet to decide which dog is best, 2nd best etc.

Judging a trial is much easier than judging a hunting test. At a trial you're looking for the best dog work, you're comparing this job to that job and deciding which is better. At a hunt test you're deciding what a 4.99 is against a 5.01. I'll let bean counters decide that.

 

[Buzz]

I do keep a list of the dog's numbers at the back of my book and before the next dog comes back to the line I ask myself whether or not I want to call the dog back. I then put an A for good work, C for dogs I'd like to call back and a - sign for dogs who are on the bubble and a line for the dogs who I want to drop. If my co-judge and I have the same callbacks that's as far as it goes.

I like that idea Howard. Thanks.