Showing a very nervous dog

Do you see this much?

At the MC show today, I met up with a Basset Breeder. We were stood by her bench chatting. A dog was on the oposite and she was quiet clearly shaking and did not look happy. The owner was chatting round the side ignoring her. The dog was also going for other dogs walking past. Lucky the benching chain was short enough so she couldnt get near unless another dog approached her...

Anyways, in the ring this dog was clearly not happy, she was snapping if another dog came too close and would not let the judge tough her, was jerking away.

I heard the onwer saying to someone whose dog she snapped at "OOh shes never done this before" when quite clearly she had as I saw her snapping on the bench earlier.

The judge awarded her 4th out of 6 and he barely touched her The class was post graduate bitch.

Is it normal for a dog like this to placed higher than others? Seemed a bit weird.

When judging you judge on virtue and penalise faults depending on the detriment to the health.

Post graduate is not usually a very competitive class so the judge will not have seen the snapping and shaking just a timid dog. The other dogs may have had confirmation faults that in the judges opinion had a greater effect on the dogs health.


Did you enjoy your day?

I did thank you, it was an early start but worth it. Got to meet some people who showed me how to stack and gave me some good advice on the breed.

I got sniffs from the CC male winner when he was in the ring, he tried to escape to give me a cuddle so at leat I know Ishka doesnt have to be perfect

Didnt stay to see who get BOB so will have to look it up, bet it was the boy!

It was the boy! He was stunning but poor bitches never seem to get it

The dogs don't have to be perfect robots and especially minor puppy and puppy.

It is better in my opinion to see a bit of character.

Oh they do don't worry.

Nervousness and unwillingness to be gone over should certainly be penalised in bassets, perhaps in some breeds it would be more acceptable

Yes I thought so....from the breed standard

Temperament
Placid, never aggressive or timid. Affectionate.

I think it is unfair to show a nervous, unhappy dog, it must be a very long stressfull day for it. Showing should be an enjoyable day out for both owners and dogs.

Agreed and there are some very weak judges who will neither withold or dismiss from the ring, there is clear guidance from the KC on issues like this.

The purpose of breed showing is to demonstrate the worth of the breed specimen being show as a potential breeding stock member.