Soli as you have quoted me let me make it clear that I did not intend to attack the judge. Do I like her judging? Mostly, no, yet I couldnt disagree with some things I see her do, but could argue with others. Frankly, I am not sure why she chooses to judge my breed as she really doesnt seem to like it at all, but that is fine as I no longer enter under her. Her comments about the girl handling GSD were totally out of order - surely you must agree that she could have been far more diplomatic. In my eyes it makes her come across as extremely arrogant, rude and condescending. Another example of this was when she decided to say in her critique that every puppy in both dog and bitch classes (10 in all) had incorrect coats - this in a breed where you are lucky to get a mature coat by the time the dog is 2 years old.

> But its purely for GSD's so doesn't necessarily mean that it will be the best dog at an all breeds show - might have been a surprise if it didn't win the breed (although it may have had an off day) but no reason to suppose that it would win the group at all.

The top dog in all breeds in Germany are called Seiger(or Seigerin-for bitches)in GSD's the dog isn't just chosen for his looks as dogs in this country are, they are also assessed as to their contribution to the breed & on their physical & mental ability, you will not see a GSD Seiger/Seigerin that doesn't have A stamp hips,(males haemophilia clear), Schutzhund III qualifications or higher(IPO etc plus they are gaited to ensure physical fitness, protection tested on the day(the bite) & their progeny & bloodlines should be an improvement on the previous generation, correcting faults etc. The males are limited as to the number of bitches they can be mated to.

I sent a BC to Germany, he became German Seiger as well as being an FCI champion & he too had all his Schutzhund etc qualifications

He was also BIS at the World Show(which was an all breed show) so ergo is was the "best dog in the world" Not my type as I prefer the Working GSD but he does have a super head & front plus a 150% character & temperament, he should have had a more experienced handler for the group

>he should have had a more experienced handler for the group

He would have done better with a more experianced handler, but there is no reason to say he should have had.  He was handled by what appears to be his normal handler (?) and who he is owned by (or is it just the parents who own) Either way, when I was 14, if I had ever taken a BOB 9
Now that would have been nice!) I would have wanted to take it into the group and not let some-one else take the glory.

Thats just me personally.  But then all though my showing, my grandad has always let me, if I win BOB (at open level) I take the dog in the group.  So what if he or my Dad could have got more out of the dog?  That went for my brother aswell! 

What an acheivement for such a young girl to get into the group at Crufts.  She deserved that experiance and I'm guessing the parents knew someone else could get more out of the dog, but who's to deny someone the chance to get in that ring?

I'm not even sure that anyone else could have got more out of the dog, to be honest. As we've said already, it's just such a different way of showing here. His young handler probably did as good a job as anyone in different circumstances.

M.

IMO......Zena was only putting in writing what we all saw and commented on at the time.  Sure it was harsh but at the same time it was an honest critique.  If you come to Crufts from abroard to exhibit then surely you do a little homework beforehand to find out how the British show scene differs from your own.  We all know that GSD's have a unique style of being exhibited both here and overseas.

>Sure it was harsh but at the same time it was an honest critique.

And certainly much more informative than the bland "Pleasing expression, correct tail-set, moved well" type of critique that's the standard fare!

Absolutely JG.....Informative critiques give people who didnt attend a picture of the dogs placed and the reasoning behind those placements.
I love reading Albert Wights critiques, always so very constructive, and you always know which breed he is commenting on.  How I wish I could do the same.

It doesn't and isn't always two opposites. There is a term known as middle ground.  I get the feeling sometimes these threads end up in a " I am right"  competition. Just my opinion though.

There doesn't have to be the, "soft fairy light critiques"  to the opposite of "getting in there giving someone a good pasting"   There is a constructive middle ground.

Albert Wight did our breed club open show a couple of years ago and reading the critique you could actually picture the dog. He gave sound constuctive comments without putting people off.

ZTA also did our breed a couple of years ago and I thought the critique was very clear and enjoyed reading it, she was straight to the point BUT even the experts at times can over do it