I know people complain about crooked judges and exhibitors.? I am not naive enough to think that does not happen.? It does and I have the sour grapes to prove it.? On the other hand, I have also shown under some awesome judges.? Judges who know what they like and are consistent in their judging.? Even if I don't have the dog they like, I will know better what to show to him/her the next time as they have shown they are consistent.? And, when I do have a dog they like and silly me gets in the ring with him/her, they don't look at me, they look at my dog.? As for the futurity system, I have again had the same experience.??There are judges I would show under and some I won't based on what I feel they like and their ring procedure.? Young dogs are silly and unpredictable.? Some judges handle them well and others don't.? My concern at that stage is that my dog gets a good experience in the show ring.? I have become more selective in my showing as I don't have the money to waste in entering every single local show, specialty or AB.??My feeling is this, do your homework.? Know your judges, know what they like and know how they operate.? Doesn't take a brain surgeon to see the political judges who?only put up certain handlers or dogs owned by certain owners.? If you think they don't?know the?dogs or owners or handlers, you are fooling yourself.??There are some great Judges out there.? Let's give them our entries and let the?political ones?get by with their paltry entries.? Who are these great Judges?? Well, do your homework.? Watch the judging and who they put up.??If the style/quality of the dog is consistent, regardless of who is on that dog, then you are looking at a judge that knows what they like.? If the Judge puts up every dog from a certain handler, regardless of the?quality of the animal, well that judge is not in my book. I don't know?how this subject line?came to this but it is good food for thought. Laura Thomas????????? -----Original Message----- From: Helen Franklin <helen@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: Carolyn Martello <marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 10:24 am Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Heads Up - misunderstanding I just love what Carolyn wrote: "...and hope and pray the Judge has "good eyes" and an "honest heart." and a "strong will." Carolyn marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx My interpretation: "good eyes" skilled enough to recognize the quality of the dogs exhibited "honest heart" ability to award recognition solely on what's best for the breed "strong will" not lead or influenced by anything other than ones own beliefs. (It is easy to be a follower and and do what's popular in the show ring, but more difficult to state not what 's been, but what you think should be.) Helen Franklin Put an A O E in the PED-I-GREE ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================ ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================