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I thought I would start a new thread devoted to Marvin's perception of what makes a qualified and maybe good judge.
I will agree that consideration for the person and at what level of training they are with their dog does have some merit. My problem (along with many others) is that this is not the only, nor the best indicator of a good judge.
First and foremost a judge must have integrity. No amount of experience and success means anything without honesty and fairness. This is why some people are routinely "passed over" for judging assignments (and rightfully so).
Unfortunately Marvin only uses a dog and handlers colored ribbon count for measuring. How foolish. No accounting of super dogs trained or bought from others with marginal handlers. No accounting for handlers that train very marginal dogs to higher levels. No accounting for green ribbons that often are harder to come by in one region or on a particular weekend than some blue ribbons.
Look at all the dogs a pro washes out. Compare that to the Amateur owner that never washes out a dog, but, occaisonally gets a green ribbon.
As also been stated previously, some handlers have FC/AFC dogs that they have titled, yet they can't set up good tests.
Some folks only run a few trials per year, yet train and set up test daily.
Some have much experience with running dogs and judging at local club trials. Sometimes they even beat local "big time" dogs, yet this means nothing in your equation.
Being away five years, or even three years is an eternity in the ever- evolving world of field trials. I would rather be judged by someone that trains/competes regularly and gets a green ribbon from time to time than by someone with a pro trained dog that places yet lacks "retriever knowledge".
I sure wish more people would visit Marvin's site. Then I would have more time to run my dogs and perhaps be more "qualified" to judge since according to Marvin's Magical Formula I have no business judging AA stakes at all.
Remember, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and half of the story (or less) will often lead to a faulty conclusion.
I'm off to judge a trial I'm "barely" qualified for. :wink:
John
I will agree that consideration for the person and at what level of training they are with their dog does have some merit. My problem (along with many others) is that this is not the only, nor the best indicator of a good judge.
First and foremost a judge must have integrity. No amount of experience and success means anything without honesty and fairness. This is why some people are routinely "passed over" for judging assignments (and rightfully so).
Unfortunately Marvin only uses a dog and handlers colored ribbon count for measuring. How foolish. No accounting of super dogs trained or bought from others with marginal handlers. No accounting for handlers that train very marginal dogs to higher levels. No accounting for green ribbons that often are harder to come by in one region or on a particular weekend than some blue ribbons.
Look at all the dogs a pro washes out. Compare that to the Amateur owner that never washes out a dog, but, occaisonally gets a green ribbon.
As also been stated previously, some handlers have FC/AFC dogs that they have titled, yet they can't set up good tests.
Some folks only run a few trials per year, yet train and set up test daily.
Some have much experience with running dogs and judging at local club trials. Sometimes they even beat local "big time" dogs, yet this means nothing in your equation.
Being away five years, or even three years is an eternity in the ever- evolving world of field trials. I would rather be judged by someone that trains/competes regularly and gets a green ribbon from time to time than by someone with a pro trained dog that places yet lacks "retriever knowledge".
I sure wish more people would visit Marvin's site. Then I would have more time to run my dogs and perhaps be more "qualified" to judge since according to Marvin's Magical Formula I have no business judging AA stakes at all.
Remember, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and half of the story (or less) will often lead to a faulty conclusion.
I'm off to judge a trial I'm "barely" qualified for. :wink:
John
