What Are The Dog Judges Looking For When Judging a Dog Show? See Next Three Blogs for Details of Westminster K.C. Dog Show!

This is a Lhasa Apso, all beauifully groomed and ready to be shown.

What is the Dog Show Judge looking for when he is judging the dogs?

First he or she is looking at how each individual dog compares to that breed's standard. There is a standard for each breed which outlines mostly physical components and sometimes contains remarks like, "Should not be . . . " Here is the Standard for the Lhasa Apso, which just happens to be the breed we have right now. This is the standard, verbatim, from the American Kennel Club by which each Judge is required to assess each Lhasa Apso:

A.K.C. Lhasa Apso Breed Standard (Non-Sporting Group)

Character
Gay and assertive, but chary of strangers.

Size
Variable, but about 10 inches or 11 inches at shoulder for dogs, bitches slightly smaller.

Color

All colors equally acceptable with or without dark tips to ears and beard.

Body Shape
The length from point of shoulders to point of buttocks longer than height at withers, well ribbed up, strong loin, well-developed quarters and thighs.

Coat
Heavy, straight, hard, not woolly nor silky, of good length, and very dense.

Mouth and Muzzle
The preferred bite is either level or slightly undershot. Muzzle of medium length; a square muzzle is objectionable.

Head
Heavy head furnishings with good fall over eyes, good whiskers and beard; skull narrow, falling away behind the eyes in a marked degree, not quite flat, but not domed or apple-shaped; straight foreface of fair length. Nose black, the length from tip of nose to eye to be roughly about one-third of the total length from nose to back of skull.

Eyes
Dark brown, neither very large and full, nor very small and sunk.

Ears
Pendant, heavily feathered.

Legs
Forelegs straight; both forelegs and hind legs heavily furnished with hair.

Feet
Well feathered, should be round and catlike, with good pads.

Tail and Carriage
Well feathered, should be carried well over back in a screw; there may be a kink at the end. A low carriage of stern is a serious fault.

Approved July 11, 1978

In the Lhasa standard, characteristics are mentioned. The term gay, used here means happy and assertive means the dog should hold his own ground. Then it goes on to state he should be "chary" of strangers: he should stand up for himself and be alert for those unknown to him. This refers to the guarding instincts of this breed.

The rest of the standard for this breed goes into physical detail.

The color often preferred was golden or lion-like and some judges will gravitate to this color still.

The Lhasa gait is very beautiful to watch as he strides around the ring. One judge used to say, "They present their pads to me as they walk away", because you could not see their feet otherwise.

So, each breed has its own standard and the judge is judging each breed to its own standard.

Next, the judge decides - and this is his or her own opinion - if this dog represents his standard better than the next dog of another breed.

Finally, the judge will be looking at how a dog behaves. Does he gait when asked by his handler? Does he ignore the other dogs and look like he knows why he is there? You will notice that some dogs are "born show dogs" and just naturally know why they are there! And they are there to win!

Hope you enjoy the Shows!