Judging Invitations - Open Shows
The first time I had the honour of judging was at Rottneros July 4, 1999.
In April 2000 I finished my ring secretary authorization. Sometimes I work as a ring secretary. I have enjoyed most to work with Elina Tan, Stefan Sinko and Åke Sjöström, from whose judging I learnt a lot.
On October 14, 2001, I passed the Central Test of the Swedish Kennel Club for exterior judge authorization. There were two parts, anatomy and rules & judging.
My results for both were well above average points. The course was supervised by the late Gunilla Fristedt.
I learnt a great deal from her, let alone all the attending breeders of various breeds, one of which opened up my eyes for Salukis.
To be accepted for the final 6-day-SKK preparatory course in May 2002 I needed approval from my breed club, the Cocker Spanielklubben,
which, I was told, was the most difficult step. However, I was placed 2nd out of 4 on some ranking list of the Cocker Spanielklubben, an insider informed me, it's all very hush-hush,
no information is obtained from the breed club, nor from the SKK. After passing the anatomy test you are supposed to receive an invitation to an interview for the 6-day preparatory course at the SKK.
I never got one and when I asked why I was informed by the SKK that they never give such explanations. So I drew my own conclusions where in my CV I fell short.
I assume it must have been WIDTH of dog interest. Which I don't have, I must admit. There is only one breed that interests me. A Swedish cocker spaniel judge told me,
before I sent in my application, that I had to write that I wanted authorization for 5 breeds, even if I was not the least interested in them.
This attitude is one of the reasons, in my opionion, why many of the cocker spaniels in Sweden today are so far from the standard, actually types that you NEVER see in the UK!
Judges, who breed other breeds, not cockers, but who are authorized to judge cockers, often lack the self-confidence - that comes with long-time-living with the breed -
to give each dog a righteous estimation. Instead they seem to judge the handlers.
Another sad effect, to the club and thereby the breed, is that, in order to get WIDTH some judge-wannabees throw themselves into short-term club commissions of trust,
using these commissions as a springboard for other careers. This does not seem to be the case in the UK nor in e g Germany, where breeders/judges are selected for honorary tasks
for work that they have already carried out for their breed. For years and years the same persons make sure that decisions that have been made are accomplished and followed up.
