[Vickie Lamb]

Good post, Ted. And it looks like your 3 major points have put you in better shape as a judge than many with lots more points. Keep up the good work. As an 8 point major (30+ points) and minor judge, I would like to add a few more things to your list.

Always be conscious of the presence and the movement of the sun; I'm sure this was included in your 'conditions' and just wanted to point it out further. Many times tests are set up in the afternoon of the previous day without this thought in mind and the sun provides sometimes impossible conditions the following morning; some judges go with their test anyway.

Draw good diagrams. This is a big one in my book, no pun intended. I have judged with many judges who just draw three lines to three birds, for example. After 40, 60, or 100 dogs, how can you really remember what each dog did? I've found it helpful to draw diagrams with significant terrain landmarks and etc. Also the gun stations. And notes when necessary. For example: Flyer fall very long, dog long hunt but tight in area, picked up 2nd.
Diagrams can help you remember many things about each dog that you might otherwise forget.

Be conscious of things like your shadow when signalling for birds as the day progresses.

I keep a tally sheet, using A, B, C, D, F, with + and -. This is NOT an end-all, but helps me to keep up with the dogs and overall general performance. However, this being said, a true standard for any test is not set until several dogs have run. I might pencil in what I think is a really good job or an average job, but those things are often not determined until several dogs have run. Once this is set, for me it remains constant throughout the test until it concludes. A couple of things: I would not recommend a tally sheet for anyone that might stray from being constant as the day progresses. Also, I do not use a tally sheet for placements or callbacks. The tally sheet helps give a count through the day of how many dogs have run, etc., without having to go through sheets, when a marshal is not keeping up with that information.

Be mindful of the time. This one can be tough.

Know the rulebook; you will often have to make split-second decisions that will affect the outcome of a dog's performance and you won't have time to consult the book.

Well, I've been typing a while, time to get some work done...LOL.

 

[Vickie Lamb]

I guess you'd have to say I signal like G-man, and with a white towel in the same way. And yes, I have a count between birds. I HATE birds/guns going off too fast as it certainly contributes to headswinging, birds not seen and therefore not marked and etc.

Yes, the checking and double-checking and talking about iffy dogs and checking the list and checking it twice is the way to go.

Any time something occurs with a dog that REALLY bothers you, discuss it with your co-judge at that time.

:?

 

[Vickie Lamb]

Oh, here is another one.

Be conscious of what the stations are doing. Like all of a sudden your middle gun has taken his shirt off 'to get some sun' and is laying back to soak in the rays. :roll: :x :roll: Or a gun has turned around and facing the other way to watch something interesting over the next hill...