Level 2Exhibitor
How do you talk to a judge?
The answer
Talking to a judge can feel daunting at your first shows. Yet you don’t need a big speech: a hello, a clear question and the right moment are enough.
The aim of the conversation is to understand the judge’s assessment and improve.
MyDogShow tip: If you wish, ask the judge to comment on the judging when they are free: it is a great chance to learn.
Beginner: daring to have a simple exchange
1. Say hello and listen to the instructions
When you enter the ring, a “Hello” is enough. Stay attentive to the directions and concentrate on your dog.
The tip: there is no need to tell your life story as soon as you arrive. You will learn more by listening to what the judge is looking at.
2. Ask for a repeat if necessary
Didn’t understand the movement being asked for? Ask a short question rather than setting off at random.
To try: “Excuse me, would you like an up-and-back or a lap of the ring?”
Asking for clarification lets you show your dog under the expected conditions.
3. Choose the moment for your questions
Do not interrupt the examination of another dog. Ask the ring steward when a brief word might be possible.
A useful phrase: “I’d like to understand a comment about my dog. When can I ask the judge?”
Intermediate: getting a useful explanation
1. Start from a specific comment
If you have a judging sheet, read it before asking your question. Pick a point you want to understand.
To try: “You noted ‘movement to improve’. Could you say more about what you saw?”
A focused question makes a concrete answer easier.
MyDogShow tip: Ask whether there is a sheet detailing the judge's assessments: it may accompany the grade card and help you prepare your questions.
2. Tell the dog apart from its presentation
A comment may concern conformation, the condition on the day or the way the dog was shown. Ask for clarification without assuming everything can be fixed with training.
To try: “Does this comment concern his construction or the way I showed him?”
That way you will know better what you can work on.
3. Listen without justifying yourself straight away
“At home he walks really well!” is an understandable reaction, but it does little to clarify the day’s judging.
Let the judge finish, then rephrase: “If I understand correctly, my pace was too fast for him?” Thank the judge for the explanation, even if the result disappoints you.
Advanced: going deeper with tact
1. Link your question to the standard
To go deeper on a point, ask which elements of the standard guided the assessment.
To try: “Could you explain which points of the standard led you to this assessment?”
Keep the conversation focused on your dog. Avoid asking why another exhibitor’s dog “deserved its place less”.
2. Keep the exchange brief and professional
Prepare one or two useful questions. If the judge has to carry on with their duties, accept ending the conversation.
The FCI regulations govern relations between judges and exhibitors to protect impartiality. [1] In practice, stick to the instructions and the explanations of the judging; keep personal conversations for another setting.
3. Separate explanation from complaint
Asking “What did you see?” lets you learn. Demanding a new placing is a completely different procedure.
The official benchmark: at an FCI international CACIB show, the judge’s decisions on grades, awards and placings are final and not open to appeal. Complaints about the organisation or the way awards were made follow a separate procedure with the organisers. [2]
If you think you have noticed an irregularity, go to the secretary’s office quickly to find out the procedure that applies.
The MyDogShow mini-reflex
I say hello, I listen, then I ask a precise question at the right moment.
The result matters, but a well-understood explanation can also improve your next turn in the ring!