You Are in Charge As the judge, you have full authority over all persons in the ring. See Chapter 7, Sections 16 and 17, of the Rules for a review of the judge's authority.
With this authority comes the responsibility to be thoughtful and considerate. Be as systematic in your ring procedure from dog to dog and class to class as conditions permit.
You should avoid theatrical movements or making inappropriate comments to ringside. Be polite, but generally limit your conversation with exhibitors to instructions on positioning or gaiting the dogs.
If the age of the dog is required, ask the steward to check the birth date.
Check the Ring Before starting your judging, quickly inspect the ring you have been assigned. Determine how you intend to use the ring and look for unsafe conditions, whether it is a loose mat or a depression in the grass. If a condition can be corrected, it should be. Moving ring gates, etc., should be discussed with the Show Chairperson.
When judging in sunny weather, assemble the dogs so that the sun is to your back. Do not attempt to judge with the sun in your eyes. On windy days, if possible, line the dogs up facing into the wind so that the coats are blown with the grain of growth. It is difficult to evaluate a topline when the hair is blown straight up and backwards.
Be considerate of your ringside observers. Dont exclude them from the enjoyment of observation or the opportunity to learn by lining up and gaiting dogs where observers can not watch.
Assembling the Class Never start judging a breed before the time listed in the premium list. A good steward can be a great help in readying a class for the ring. A steward may tell you when the class is ready and what dogs are absent, but you are responsible for marking the absentees. Never ask your steward to page individual dogs or exhibitors on the public address system.
There will be occasions when exhibitors have ring conflicts and you may be asked to wait until the exhibitor can appear. There is no obligation for you to do this, but it is courteous to give an exhibitor five minutes grace. Ask your ring steward to inform the other entrants that there is a hold up and the reason why.
Carefully check for the presence of each dog in every class. Compare the armband numbers indicated in the judge's book with the armband numbers of the exhibitors. It may be helpful to make a small check or dot next to the number in the judge's book for entries present to avoid confusion. In marking dogs present or absent, always be certain that all armbands are worn correctly and the numbers correspond to the entries in the class.
Note: It is also essential to verify armband numbers in the Winners and Reserve Winners Classes, and of the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch in Best of judging. Mark absentees in each class
Disabled Handlers ASCA strives to provide the opportunity for all people of various backgrounds and capabilities to participate in its events. In the case of conformation judging, where decisions are based solely on the quality of the dogs, you may modify the regular judging procedure to accommodate a disabled handler.
If a modification of normal judging procedure is required, then you need only to determine that it would not inhibit the ability of other handlers in the ring to show their dogs. A disabled handler may compete using a cane, crutch, or electric-powered wheelchair. However, when gaiting the dogs as a group, you should ensure that a handler who cannot maintain a normal gait for the breed being exhibited, be placed in line where it will not interfere with the ability of the other dogs to gait properly.
Blind handlers may have a second person assist them in individual and group gaiting of the dogs. If the ring surface or terrain makes it difficult for the assisted handler to gait the dog at a normal speed, you may adjust where the dog is placed in line to give all handlers an equal opportunity to show their dogs. Blind handlers may have the second person assist in placing puppies onto tables. The primary function of exhibiting the dog is the responsibility of the handler and not the second person in the ring.
Change of Exhibitors A change of exhibitor is permitted at your discretion up until the time all dogs in the class have been individually examined and individually gaited. After that, no change of exhibitor is allowed.
Late Arrivals It is your decision to allow a late arrival into the ring. In the strictest sense, a late arrival may be allowed to enter the ring until the judge's book has been marked. However, many judges establish the cut-off point when all dogs have been individually examined and gaited. If a single class entry arrives late, it is your decision whether or not to judge the dog.
Rules and Breed Standards You are responsible for your own interpretation of the Rules and the ASCA Breed Standard in effect on the day of your judging assignment. If your decision depends on the exact wording of a Rule or the ASCA Breed Standard, do not hesitate to refer to these documents. You may also discuss the Rules or Breed Standard with the Show Secretary or Ring Steward but should not rely on their verbal confirmation. Investigate the answer to your question by examining the documents yourself.
Speed of Judging Delays and difficulties sometimes occur. While you should never rush an assignment, your officiating should be conducted with efficiency. Generally, a new judge will be somewhat slower in their job than an experienced judge, so clubs should take this into account when scheduling subsequent or concurrent events. As a Non-Regular or Provisional judge, it is your responsibility to inform the clubs that you may need some extra time to complete an assignment.
Conditions may cause your judging to take longer, include:
- judging the breed for the first time
- judging in a dimly-lit building
- inexperienced or no ring stewards
- emergencies such as weather or class conflicts
Take all the time needed to properly judge a class. At the same time, use efficient methods to keep to the schedule. A situation that significantly delays judging should be briefly noted in your judge's book.
Large Entries, Small Rings You may occasionally find yourself with very large classes. Keep only as many dogs in the ring as can be conveniently accommodated for individual examination and gaiting. Divide classes into roughly equal portions.
Divide a Best of Breed class that is too large for the ring by separating dogs and bitches, assuming the entry in each is roughly equal. Otherwise, divide the class into roughly equal groups.
In dividing a class, remember it is your responsibility to determine absentees. First have all the dogs assembled in the ring so that preliminary paperwork can be completed, then divide the class, calling dogs into the ring in catalog order. When judging very large classes with many sections, write down the armband numbers of the "keepers," and let them leave the ring while you judge the next sections. Tell the exhibitors you will be calling them back into the ring after you have completed all sections.
If a class is divided, it is permissible for a handler to take an exhibit into more than one section.
When judging divided classes, other than Best of Breed, you must select a minimum of four dogs from the first section and any number from succeeding sections. There is no point in keeping too many dogs from any section. You have only four ribbons to award. However, never leave yourself with only four dogs.
When judging Best of Breed at a National Specialty with a specified number of Premier Awards, keep at least that number of dogs from the first group and any number from succeeding sections. It is important that you keep and award an accurate number of awards to the Premier Dogs/Bitches. Do not forget that Best of Breed, Best Opposite Sex and Best of Winners will also need to be awarded in addition to the Premier Awards.
Judging The Dogs
Step confidently into the middle of your ring and ask that the first class be admitted to the ring. Stand and take a good look at the dogs both in motion and when standing. Observe outline, balance, style and type of the group as a whole before beginning individual examinations. Make a mental note of who the first and last exhibitors are so that you do not lose your place during the examinations. Perform your individual examinations and individual gaiting patterns, and when that is completed, have the exhibitor and dog join the end of the line. Repeat the process until all dogs have been individually examined.
Individual Examination of Dogs Examine every dog in approximately the same systematic manner, even if a poor specimen may clearly be out of the ribbons. Approach dogs calmly. Examine with gentleness of touch and with no sudden, surprising gestures. One satisfactory approach is to begin with the mouth and head, then systematically work down the neck, front, shoulders, body, and hindquarters. It is not necessary to determine soundness by forcibly raising and dropping front or hindquarters, leaning on the back or applying undue pressure on the spine or hocks.
Thorough and complete individual examination is not excessive examination. Do as much as necessary and no more.
Always judge dogs solely on the basis of their condition as they are presented in the ring on show day. Give absolutely no consideration to what a dog's quality may be at some future time, or what a dog's condition might have been were it not for some disease or accident. In reviewing a class, avoid excessive rearranging of a dog's coat, whistling, gesturing or baiting. However, do not hesitate to feel out a suspected fault beneath a highly groomed coat.
When judging Best of Breed, you may give Winners Dog and Winners bitch a cursory examination since they were judged in a more thorough manner earlier.
Evaluating a Dog's Mouth For sanitary reasons,many exhibitors prefer to open the dog's mouth themselves. However, you have full authority to insist on personally examining the dog's bite yourself.
Do not forget your personal safety. All dogs are not handled by experienced exhibitors. Do not kneel in front of a dog. To the extent possible, examine a dog's mouth, from the side. If personally opening the dogs mouth to examine bite and dentition, clean your hands between individual dogs so as not to spread anything potentially contagious.
Gaiting In the first class in which a dog is judged, you must individually gait and observe the dog going away, from the side and returning. Thereafter, either in evaluating that class or in Winners, regaiting is optional. Depending on the ring, weather or other conditions, you may have to vary the way in which the dogs are gaited. When mats are available, dogs should be gaited only on the mats. Gait all the dogs in a class in the same pattern. Regait only the dogs you actually need to see move again, using the same pattern.
Do not allow the dogs to be moved at excessive speed. Do not hesitate to tell an exhibitor exactly how you want a dog moved and controlled. Be sure your instructions to exhibitors on how to gait their dogs are clearly understandable.
It is not recommended that two dogs be moved on a down and back together. Not all dogs get along, not all handlers are equally experienced. Doing this endangers the dogs and exhibitors. A competent judge should be able to recall the movement of a particular dog long enough to compare it to the next dog moved.
Placing the Dogs As you examine and gait the dogs, sort them out and form decisions on exact placements. Some 
judges rearrange the dogs in a class as they are examined and gaited. In a large class, this is usually the best way to group the dogs you are considering.
Once you have individually examined and gaited all of the dogs in a large class, it is best to excuse those not under consideration for placement. There is no point in requiring an exhibitor clearly out of the ribbons to wait while the dogs under consideration are sorted out and final placements are decided. In a very large class, you may have to sort out dogs through two or three eliminations. However, never reduce the number of dogs under consideration in a class to only four, as one of the final four may become lame.
Once you have decided on the placements, indicate them clearly to the exhibitors, so that each dog placed will be taken to the proper marker. Mark your book from the armbands of the exhibitors at the markers and then hand out ribbons and prizes.
Designating Class Placements Be especially careful in pointing to your placements. Misunderstood placement indications can result in tangled leads, confusion, etc. The safest procedure is to realign your class, putting the four dogs to be placed in proper order at the front of the line. Do not make placements as the dogs are moving, unless the dogs have been put in placement order. In judging Best of Breed, you may mark the book before indicating the Winner. If you use this procedure, do not move the dogs again after marking the book.
Withholding Withholding an award or placement occurs when you are faced with a dog or bitch that fails in many essential characteristics of the breed, such as grossly lacking type, unsound, showing aggression or obviously sufferer from some illness. You have the clear authority to withhold any and all awards at any point in the judging process. You may award one placement in a class and no other placement, or you may withhold all awards. You may award class firsts and then withhold the Winners ribbon, and you may excuse any dog for lack of merit. The decision is yours alone based on the merits of the dogs. When you withhold or excuse, note the reason in the judge's book and initial your comments. Clearly and diplomatically explain your decision to the exhibitor(s) involved.
In Winners competition, if you feel none of the dogs are of championship quality, i.e., deserving of championship points on that day, you should withhold the Winners ribbon. This is also true for Reserve Winners. It is not appropriate to award a dog Winners or Reserve simply because it is the best specimen available on that day.
Impact of Withholding or Excusing You should not be concerned about the impact of withholding or excusing.
Winners and Reserve Winners Classes Regaiting in Winners and Reserve Winners classes should be kept to a minimum and limited to dogs in contention. Winners and Reserve Winners are two separate classes. Unless the Winner comes from a class of one, the judge's book must be marked and the ribbon and trophies presented to the Winner before judging Reserve Winners.
Best of Breed Judging After marking the judge's book, do not regait the dogs.
Non-Regular Competitive Classes Non-regular classes often involve puppies under the age of six months, Stud Dog, Brood Bitch, Veterans and Brace classes. The show-giving club has the option of awarding ribbons and prizes for first place only or for four places. The option selected must be indicated in the premium list. The winner of these classes is not eligible to compete for Best of Breed. A champion may occasionally be entered both in a single dog entry non-regular class and Best of Breed. In such cases, if the dog is defeated in the non-regular class, it may continue to compete for Best of Breed or for Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed. If there is a special event for Puppies, Veterans, Stud Dog, Brood Bitch, Brace, or Team Class, it is the responsibility of the show-giving club to advise the judge of the correct judging procedures.
Altered Judging ASCA is unique in offering regular Altered shows in which neutered and spayed dogs compete for championship points. Some of these dogs are neutered for medical reasons, others for the owners convenience and still others are champions whose breeding careers are complete but who are not ready to be retired from competition. This event is to be judged with the same care and consideration given to the intact dogs. These dogs, although neutered, still represent a breeding program and the potential of their sire and dam. You should adhere to the Breed Standard when judging these individuals and give them the same respect and consideration deserving of any breeding dog.
It is inappropriate to discuss with the exhibitor any reasons why the dogs have been neutered. The information is not relevant to your judgment on that day.