Judges checking dogs teeth in the show ring

In reference to the post last weekend about dogs at the Lanark show getting kennel cough.

Could we start a poll ?

There no hard and fast rule regarding judges doing this themselves, I've been to dozens of shows over the past 3 years and I'd estimate that only 50% of judges do it themselves.

From now on when I'm in the show ring I will tell the judges that I'll show my dogs teeth myself, if the judge aint happy I'll withdraw my dogs.

I'll second that,xxxxxxxxxx

I actually didn't know you were allowed to do it yourself!! I would prefer to do this also, will try next time I take him to a show

when I judged at CS (run alongside a Ch Sh) a couple of years ago, I had a large (and very nice) entry of Rotties.

Every exhibitor, without exception, offered to show their own dogs teeth - which was fine with me, no one tried to hide anything and I was given a very clear view from all angles.
I can fully understand concerns regarding transmission of bugs via judges mitts.

It is the norm for GSD specialists to have the handler show the teeth & when I am judging no matter what the breed I never open a dogs mouth myself. I was showing dogs when Parvo came to the UK following a well known all rounder judge by the incubation period(ie he came back to UK & dogs he had judged in the UK developed Parvo after the incubation period after he had judged them-one was a bitch of mine she recovered fortunately)

No judge should open any dogs mouth the handler should do this IMHO

At all the shows I've ever been too, Judges have always opened my dogs mouths to check teeth.

I've never thought of doing it myself although now with so many stories of KC about I think I will be doing it myself from now on !

I've only ever had one judge ask me to open my dogs mouth in over 20 years of showing!

As an exhibitor I would prefer to show the judge my dogs bite. In the limited time I have been showing I have never had any problems with a judge going over them or lifting the lips to see the bite.

As a judge asking an exhibitor to show a dogs bite there are some handlers who don't seem able to do it properly. Some people open the dogs mouth wide enough for you to see the back of the throat, and others obscure your view of the bite with there fingers.

I would much prefere to show mine as my cocker doesn't like smokers fingers near his mouth.

I've only been asked to show my dogs teeth myself twice (both by the same judge with different dogs at different shows) When I judge I always use an antibacterial wipe between dogs but in future I might start asking the owners.