There are more then a few Field Trial judges that haven't hunted. In recent years there seems to be an influx of some who have never hunted at the Hunt Test level of judging. (I can only speak for AKC)
I have judged, trained and socialized with some of these judges. For the most part most if not all of the better judges, who train thier own dogs and/or seek help from a professional trainer at least for a portion of thier dogs training show a high degree of the "art of judging dogs" . Some have followed in a spouses, parent or friends footsteps while they are hunting. If you train enough, sometimes years, have thrown your share of birds, have fired tons of popper shells from a shotgun, have been out in all kinds of weather, have handled birds not quite deceased and dispatched those birds in a humane way! Have set up tests in training showing a knowledge of wind, terain, bird placement, AND have set up the tests in training, then WHY on Earth should you not be allowed to judge!?
Conversely I have trained, hunted, judged with terrible people, when confronted with even the basic knowledge of the art of judging dogs, are a complete failure! They were for the most part hunters and former hunters. Thier tests lack soundness, are shallow, technocrat types who beat you up with the rulebook and play King or Queen for the day!
Everyone, including myself are complaining about the state of judging, perhaps we need to get some involved maybe who "don't have extensive experience hunting" but, have extensive experience training thier own dogs, setting up tests, shooting shotguns/blank pistols, working in all types of weather , all that resemble hunting. If you have fired a diversion shot with a 12 gauge shotgun while blowing a duck call, it seems to me not much different then a days hunt when some hunters "miss thier birds" ?
Earl
I have judged, trained and socialized with some of these judges. For the most part most if not all of the better judges, who train thier own dogs and/or seek help from a professional trainer at least for a portion of thier dogs training show a high degree of the "art of judging dogs" . Some have followed in a spouses, parent or friends footsteps while they are hunting. If you train enough, sometimes years, have thrown your share of birds, have fired tons of popper shells from a shotgun, have been out in all kinds of weather, have handled birds not quite deceased and dispatched those birds in a humane way! Have set up tests in training showing a knowledge of wind, terain, bird placement, AND have set up the tests in training, then WHY on Earth should you not be allowed to judge!?
Conversely I have trained, hunted, judged with terrible people, when confronted with even the basic knowledge of the art of judging dogs, are a complete failure! They were for the most part hunters and former hunters. Thier tests lack soundness, are shallow, technocrat types who beat you up with the rulebook and play King or Queen for the day!
Everyone, including myself are complaining about the state of judging, perhaps we need to get some involved maybe who "don't have extensive experience hunting" but, have extensive experience training thier own dogs, setting up tests, shooting shotguns/blank pistols, working in all types of weather , all that resemble hunting. If you have fired a diversion shot with a 12 gauge shotgun while blowing a duck call, it seems to me not much different then a days hunt when some hunters "miss thier birds" ?
Earl
