This week I have been running a series explaining the Rules and Requirements of AKC Master Hunt Tests for retrievers.  If you missed it you can click each link to access each post: AKC Retriever Master Hunter Test~The Basics; AKC Retriever Master Hunter Tests~The Test; and AKC Retriever Master Hunter Test~Scoring.

Several commenters asked about the judging and whether it is consistent or whether it is political.  It is a fair question so I thought I would write a bit about the judging.

In our sport the judges have a huge responsibility.  They set the tests and score the dogs.  Their determination of whether a dog passes or fails is the final word.

Before a person can even be a judge, he/she must take a seminar where they learn about the standards and requirements as set forth in the rule book.  This seminar taught by the AKC rep responsible for retriever tests.  Every so often the person must repeat the seminar so that they stay proficient.  Also there is a written test that is required at specific times set out in the rules.

Taking the class is not all a person must do before becoming a judge.  He/she must also have qualified a dog in the level they wish to judge at least every seven years and they must apprentice before they can become a judge at a particular level.

It is a big commitment to become a judge.  People do this as unpaid volunteers.  The days are long (think about judging 60, 90 or 120 dogs through three series over the course of two days in the heat or driving rain).  Our sport would be nowhere without the judges who make it possible.

But getting back to the question of whether the judging is consistent, for the most part I would say that it is.  Remember each test has two judges and they discuss a dog’s performance before deciding to drop or pass them after each series.  Most judges will explain why they dropped a dog right when the infraction occurs.  This is not required by the Rules, but is very helpful to the inexperienced handler.  If the handler has not received an explanation and wants one, most judges will take the time once the test is over if you ask them politely.

That being said, there have been a few occasions when our dogs have been dropped without a real explanation being given.  This has only happened a couple of times so we just will not enter our dogs under those couple of judges again (and for the most part they are no longer judging).

There are also a few judges that set up goofy scenarios and/or set-ups just meant to cut numbers.  Again, we avoid those few judges.  If our dog is running perfect, we might try it but tests are anywhere from 75-85 dollars and no sense throwing money away.

We run tests for fun.  We don’t mind a challenging test as long as it is fun.  I think most judges try to incorporate both.

If you have been following along, you know that Freighter will be trying his first Master test this weekend.  Best of luck to Hubby and Freighter.  I wish I could be there to cheer you on, but there is no way I am up to a long hot day in the field just yet.

Have a nice weekend!

14 thoughts on “AKC Retriever Master Hunt Test~The Judging”

  1. Freighter my paws are crossed and I hope you come back with a smile on your face :o) I agree with you, it’s a hard thing to judge a test or a show, it’s not easy to focus on every dog and at the end of the day you are covered with fur and slobber and whatnot. It sometimes is hard to accept a “failed” , but at the end they saw “a dog” and not “our dog” and the most judges act fair-minded. (although there are some “decision aids”, specially at shows, what reminds me of ice skating competitions, but at last beauty is in the eye of the beholder and even when I could cry and efurrything inside of me screams “ha! unfair”, it’s a competition and if I’m not able to lose, I neither can win)

  9. It sounds like a lot of hard work to be a judge, and it’s probably not easy either. I suppose it’s like umpires and refs in other sports…it’s difficult to make the right judgement call every time. But I’m glad to know that for the most part it seems like they are fair.
    Hope it went well with hubby and Freighter!

  10. I’m starting at the end and I already like this series. Great explanation. If you ask John you have to belong to ” the good old boy’s club” in order to pass any tests. He watch some pro’s dog do stuff that should of got them dropped but they carried them back each series. But then John’s dog does one thing wrong and he gets dropped. It seems like you can’t tick the pros off or the club would loose a lot of money if they don’t enter again but one person’s entry oh that doesn’t matter.

    1. An amateur with a Chessie no less. Gotta be perfect. 🙂 It is too bad when that happens. If we see a judge or judges doing that kind of thing, we avoid them. Luckily we are seeing it less and less.

      1. Hi Y’all,

        It isn’t just dog trials and dog shows, it’s any type of competition. When I was growing up there were certain people that I was told ahead of time I couldn’t beat. “Politics”. Once I did the impossible and beat a woman I shouldn’t have, even though I had the best performance and horse. She then tried to buy my horse. Fortunately my Dad wouldn’t sell it.

        BrownDog’s Human

  11. I’m glad you explained this and I’m glad there is some type of consistency in the judging. I always wondered about the hunt tests, because the rally tests I’ve stewarded at the stewards got paid, but I think that was from the club that was putting them on.

    1. Most clubs pay the help who are not club members. Our club is no exception. The judges on the other hand, may get a small token thank you gift, lodgings and meals, but otherwise they are volunteers.

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