As I've said, there's some proportion of dogs entered at shows that are absent for one reason or another. Other dogs entered may be excluded from competition and not be considered entered in the computation of championship points (about which I'll talk in the next part).
A judge may excuse a dog from further competition for any of a number of reasons. If in his opinion a dog is lame he may excuse it from the ring without consulting a veterinarian. The judge must note in his book "Excused - Lame" next to the dog's number. Showing signs of menacing or threatening behavior or if the judge cannot examine the dog, it may be excused with the note "Excused - Unable to examine" in the book.
Disqualification is for more serious matters which may affect the eligibility of the dog to be entered in future shows. Actual violent behavior and attacking anyone in the ring is grounds for disqualification. The judge will note "Disqualified" in his book and state the reason. A dog so disqualified may not receive any award that day and can't compete again until cleared by the AKC.
Universal grounds for disqualification are blindness, deafness, castration, or spaying. Males must have both testicles fully descended into the scrotal sac. The only exception to the last two is if a dog or bitch is competing in Stud Dog or Brood Bitch classes. Communicable diseases such as distemper are another grounds for disqualification. Even if the dog doesn't have the disease, if it has been exposed to it for 30 days prior to the show, it will be disqualified.
Apart from these, many breed standards list grounds for disqualification, usually for height, weight, or markings. A sample:
If a judge wants to measure a dog's height or weight, the show superintendent must have a set of wickets and a set of scales for performing the measurements. I'm not completely clear on this point, but I believe if a dog is disqualified three times on this basis, it's ineligible to be entered.
But woe to any exhibitor who attempts to alter a dog's appearance! Some clever boots sometimes try to mark in or out colors, put bands on teeth, or surgically insert missing equipment. Such subterfuges, if discovered, will not only result in a dog being permanently disqualified, but also earn the transgressor a long suspension and hefty fine.
Exhibitors have the right to protest as well. They can appeal in writing to the show superintendent or show veterinarian if they feel another dog is a danger to other dogs or people. In this case, the show veterinarian must examine the dog. Exhibitors may lodge protests inside the ring as well, so long as it is before all dogs have been examined and gaited. The judge is obliged to examine the dog for the particular condition alleged. If the protest is not allowed, the judge must note the nature of the protest and his findings. If upheld, the judge notes "disqualified" in his book or, in the case of alterations of markings, "Ineligible to compete,"
Actually, judges are not fond of tossing dogs out of the ring and would prefer to avoid it. Exhibitors know this and sometimes try to take advantage of this reluctance. My lovely bride was stewarding for the all-rounder judge Edd Embry Bivin the day he decided to measure all the Standard Schnauzers for height (males disqualified if over 20 or under 18 inches, bitches if over 19 or under 17 inches). When they saw what he was doing, a sizable number of exhibitors turned their armbands back in and left.