Understanding the judge’s reservations and comments

A critique is read as a whole

The judge must assess the dog against the standard for his breed. This text is the reference, and its interpretation must respect the dog’s functional health.

To read the comments, look for three elements:

The qualities recognised: what the judge likes.
The reservations expressed: what the judge finds less satisfactory.
The final result: grade, placing and any award.

An unfavourable remark does not cancel out the compliments that go with it. The FCI regulations in fact provide that an “Excellent” dog may have some minor imperfections when his qualities make up for them.

What does a “reservation” mean in the comments?

In this article, a reservation means a nuance or a less favourable remark: a point on which the judge tempers the assessment.

To understand it, look at what is described, rather than trying to guess straight away which grade the remark should correspond to.

Example of wording	How to read it
“Lovely expression”	The judge values the expression of the head.
“Would like more…”	The judge points to a characteristic they would like to see more marked.
“A little…” or “slightly…”	The judge qualifies the remark; its importance has to be put in the context of the standard.
“Presentation could be improved”	This refers to how the dog is shown; ask which exercise is meant.

These examples are for teaching purposes: they are not an official scale. A single phrase cannot automatically tell you how serious a fault is.

“Still needs to develop”: a guarantee for the future?

No. If this phrase appears in a critique, it describes an expectation of the judge. It does not guarantee that the dog will develop exactly as hoped.

The right approach is to ask which characteristic is meant, then follow its development with some perspective.

Careful: “reserve” can also mean an award

The RCACIB, or Reserve of the Certificate of Aptitude for the International Beauty Championship, is a separate award. It may be given to the second-best dog that has received “Excellent” among the eligible classes, according to the selection rules laid down. Awarding it is not compulsory.

An RCACIB and a reservation expressed in the critique are therefore two different pieces of information.

An example of how to read one

Fictional critique: “Lovely head, harmonious overall, would like more consistent movement. Excellent.”

You can take away the following:

Two qualities were appreciated.
One reservation concerns movement.
The overall assessment remains “Excellent”.

Before changing your training, try to understand whether the remark concerns construction, the pace of presentation or something else. The phrase alone doesn’t let you decide.

Beginner: three tips to start well

Highlight the qualities and the reservations in two colours. You will avoid reducing the whole critique to its least pleasant remark.
Get one term explained at a time. Ask what it actually describes on your dog.
Choose one precise question. For example: “When you mention movement, what point did you observe?” Ask it at a suitable moment, without interrupting the judging.

Intermediate: three tips to progress

Distinguish construction, condition and presentation. They don’t offer the same scope for improvement.
Compare several critiques. A recurring remark deserves more attention than a one-off phrase.
Link the comments to a video. Get someone to help you understand what is visible, without trying to redo the judging yourself.

Advanced: three tips to refine your analysis

Go back to the exact passage in the standard. The weight of a reservation depends on the requirements specific to the breed.
Avoid tallying compliments and faults. Three compliments and one reservation are not an equation that automatically gives a grade.
Record the context. Age, class, condition, presentation and comments allow a more useful comparison over time.

These nine tips and the reading examples are practical recommendations, separate from the official rules.