This article first appeared in the AKC Gazette.
Written by Marianne Sullivan
Judging is a straight forward task: you travel to the show, you judge the dogs, you go home. Yet many things make judging more difficult these days. There are fewer flights to choose from, higher airfares, increasing weather events, smaller clubs, older members and tighter budgets. It takes manpower and creativity to pull it all off! Who doesn’t have stories to tell about traveling or their time judging. Here are a few suggestions on how to make the judge’s experience a pleasant one.
At the top of the judge’s wish list is travel arrangements. How will the judge get from airport to hotel, and back to the airport, from the hotel to the show site and back? Communication is key; when will they be picked up, who is driving, and contact information. In case of flight delays or cancellations there should be a contact number that can be used 24/7. Give the judge a complete itinerary with who is picking them up, meal plans, and a hotel confirmation number. The hotel payment by the club is made prior to checking in. The last show of the weekend everyone is eager to get on the road, but check on your judge if he/she got out ok. It’s just a courtesy to touch base.
Second on the wish list is ensuring the judge is well fed. We all gotta eat! If the judge doesn’t have transportation is there easy access to a decent restaurant, preferably within walking distance. Some enjoy dinner with fellow judges or non-exhibitors, but not all judges want to be that sociable, so ask them their preference. A welcome bag is a bonus with some goodies in it, not just junk food, and water. A hotel with a nice breakfast also puts the judge in a good mood.
Clubs are small and money is tight so most specialty judges get expenses only. Reducing the stress of travel by meeting transportation and mealtime needs can really make a difference. So can a small but thoughtful gift, some give gift cards, like a Walmart gift card, or something personalized or useful. Give something appropriate to someone who is flying with one carry on bag! If it’s a gift card make sure it is to a store that is either online or local to the judge.
In our breed most of the specialties are clustered in the winter months when the dogs are in their best coats. So there are often judging conflicts when judges are asked to judge within such a small time frame. Clubs would benefit from lining up their judges further out, some invite a year or even less out from their shows. If they want knowledgable, entry drawing judges those are the popular ones and need to be scheduled well in advance. If the judge also judges other breeds clubs might have to invite a couple of years out, or even more.
Before asking, look up a judges schedule on AKC, check where they live and through Kayak or Google see what airfares and flight schedules are. That way there will be no surprises. Direct flights between cities are dwindling, enough connection time is important, and airfares have all gone up.
Another good idea is to swap services with another breed club. For example, a designated club member might do hospitality for your club and then you do something for them. Many do already, but share a show weekend with another club so that the tasks can be distributed among members from both clubs.
Several little details also make things nicer. Be sure to provide a marked catalog with the judge’s sheets. Let the judge set the time breaks between classes and varieties. If there is no cell service at the show site, arrange a way for waiting judges to know what is going on. And an experienced ring steward keeps the judge on schedule and able to concentrate on that fabulous entry you got!
