Level 3Experienced
I disagree with the judging: how should I react?
The answer
You thought your dog deserved better. The result comes in, and so does the disappointment. After weeks of preparation, it can be hard to accept.
You can try to understand the judging. But a disagreement over the assessment of the dog, a data-entry error and a procedural problem each call for different steps. Here are nine tips to react usefully.
Beginner — Understanding before challenging
1. Take a moment to breathe
Step away from ringside and let your dog rest. A few minutes can help you put together a precise question rather than a reaction in the heat of the moment.
The right reflex: keep exchanges courteous with the judge, the team and other exhibitors.
2. Reread the exact result
Check the grade, the placing and any awards. If a written comment is available, read it through again.
The practical tip: note what surprises you: a remark on movement, a mention of anatomy or the placing obtained.
3. Ask for an explanation
When the judge is available, ask for clarification without interrupting an assessment or demanding a new placing.
A useful phrase: “Could you explain the point that weighed most in your assessment?”
Understanding their reasoning can give you useful information, even if you still disagree.
Intermediate — Choosing the right step
1. Tell an assessment from an administrative error
“I think my dog should have won” is about the assessment. “My card says Excellent, but the published result says Very Good” may be a data-entry error.
The right reflex: compare your supporting document with the recorded result before asking for a correction.
2. Keep the documents
Photograph the card, the slip or the report you received. If you notice an incident, note the time, the ring and the precise facts.
The practical tip: write down what you observed, without attributing intentions to the people involved.
3. Check the rules that apply
At FCI international CACIB shows, the judge’s decisions on grades, awards and placings are final and not open to appeal. A simple disagreement therefore does not allow the result to be re-judged. [1]
Careful: a confirmation session (a French LOF procedure) follows a different procedure. Don’t automatically carry over the show rules.
Advanced — Acting on a verifiable problem
1. Report a procedural difficulty quickly
If your concern is about the organisation or the application of the rules, go to the secretariat or the organiser straight away.
Example wording: “I would like to report this and check which procedure applies.”
Whether it is admissible depends on the problem identified; calling something an “injustice” is not enough to establish an irregularity.
2. Follow the complaint procedure
Chapter 13 of the FCI regulations provides for complaints about the organisation and about how results are awarded. They must be in writing and handed to the organisers immediately, with a deposit equal to twice the entry fee. The secretariat must record them. [1]
Good to know: the deposit is returned if the complaint is upheld; otherwise, it goes to the organisers. [1]
3. Keep the correction separate from your personal review
MyDogShow tip: For an error in a recorded result, report it with supporting evidence to the body that records the results or to the show organiser.
For your preparation, then ask for an outside view of the comments and, if you have one, a video of your run.
Your aim: correct what can be corrected and take a concrete line of work from this day.
You can stay disappointed while still leaving with a better understanding of the result and of the steps open to you.