Well it depends if you are talking about dog showing or about life in general. Or does it ?
If you are unlucky enough to be caught on the wrong side of the law, and convicted for your crime in a court of law, you could say, that that decision is pretty much final. That’s unless you feel as though you didn’t get a fair hearing in the first place or a new piece of evidence has come to light, and you go down the road of an appeal.
Is it strange then, or maybe funny, that the same type of process and rules exist in the world of showing dogs.
Lack of sportsmanship, and general bad manners, seems to be creeping into our Sport or Hobby on a far to regular basis.
Maybe the increased costs, and added pressure that the exhibitor feels under, is a contributory factor, whereby they feel that they have to win in order to justify the costs of travelling to and entering dogs shows on the island of Ireland.
None of the above though, excuse any person from conduct that the majority see as being un sportsmanship like, and lack of manners shown towards any member of the show society, or fellow exhibitor or spectator.
Our blog here at Pedigree Dogs last Friday was a short reminder, wishing all those travelling to and exhibiting at the Mini Circuit shows at the week end, a safe journey, and enjoyable few days amongst friends. It then went on to remind people of the Dog Show Sportsmanship Checklist
In relation to Judges, dog show ones that is, none of them are infallible, they are only human, and as we all know humans make mistakes, none of us are perfect.
People that find themselves on what they consider the wrong side of a judgement, must always remember that, it’s just one persons interpretation of how well your dog conforms to the breed standard, and that’s it, nothing more, nothing less. Don’t forget after all, by making an entry you are asking for the judge’s opinion
If that’s not enough to pacify you, there is always an appeals process.
Now back in the real world, a solicitor or barrister, would advise their client that was going down the road of an appeal, to say nothing about the case publicly, as this may influence the case, and have the appeal thrown out of court. In other words don’t go shouting things from the roof tops or post anything relating to the instance on the social networks etc.
As in real life, maybe us dog show exhibitors should take the advice that our learned friends above would offer. Take a look at what is considered as being acceptable behaviour beyond the four sides of our show ring, man up, take the Judges decision as being final on the day, and if you still find it hard to sleep at night after being dealt this awful miscarriage of justice, take it down the right channels.
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