Who are these people who I sometimes blame and sometimes praise? How did they come to occupy their place in the show firmament and what qualifications do they have to be there? This section will try to answer these questions, leaving what judges do in the ring to later.
Anyone in good standing with the AKC can apply to be a judge. People under suspension from AKC privileges are ineligible, as are certain other classes of individuals, including but not limited to:
Otherwise, any qualified person is eligible. Judges come from all walks of life and include lawyers and jurists; physicians, veterinarians, dentists, psychologists, and professors (always called "Doctor"); retired military officers (always referred to as "Captain" or "Colonel"); groomers and kennel owners, former professional handlers, and lots of other professions, joined only in their experience (though some exhibitors would question their knowledge) in dogs. Some are young, some are quite elderly, some may be senile (also known as "emeritus judges").
Like orchestral conducting, there's something about judging that keeps people energetic. Melbourne Downing has been a judge since 1938 and Dorothy Nickles is well into her 90's. Both are still going strong. The great Afghan breeder and Hound judge Herman Fellton was in his late 80's when he died in the ring after tripping and hitting his head.
The judge is the final arbiter of the quality of the dogs presented to him. There's no court of appeal; all decisions are final. There is only one judge for the Variety Groups and Best in Show. On the odd occasion after the annual Westminster show, I get asked why there's not a panel of judges for Best in Show. They tried it once in the 1920's with a three-judge panel. The panel took an hour and a half to make its decision. The need to keep things moving along is the reason for the AKC placing its confidence in a single judge.
A new breed judge applicant is expected to comply with what is known as the 12-5-4 rule: 12 years of documented experience in the sport (owning and exhibiting), bred and raised at least 5 litters of each breed applied for (i.e. whelped and raised on the applicant's premises), and bred at least 4 champion dogs of each breed applied for.
The applicant must also show that they have knowledge of ring procedure by serving as a ring steward at least six times and experience in how to run a ring by completing at least six documented judging assignments at AKC-sanctioned non-pointed events like sweepstakes, matches, and futurities. The applicant must also view the AKC video of each breed requested and successfully pass an "open book" exam on anatomy.
An alternative means of approval is the "60 point' system. This uses a weighted scale of activities in each breed, including breeding, raising and owning; performance events with each breed, long-term ownership, professional handling experience, and club-related or other educational activities.
No one may apply for more than 13 breeds at a time - a sore point with publications like Dog News - so no one can apply for an entire Variety Group at one swoop. First-time applicants will usually get one or two breeds while former professional handlers will frequently receive more.
Applications are sent to the AKC and the name and address of the applicant, as well as the breeds applied for, are published on the Secretary's Page of the AKC Gazette. The fancy may write to the AKC about the applicant if so desired. The applicant is interviewed by an AKC representative and the request is reviewed by the Judges Committee and Board of Directors. If approved, the applicant is granted provisional status for the approved breeds and another notice will appear in the Gazette stating that the individual is now so approved.
At this point, the judge may accept (but cannot solicit) assignments. Oddly enough, provisional judges can be quite popular with show committees. Provisional judges are expected to pay for their own airfare and hotel and are paid at a flat rate of $3.00 per dog in their assignment. Since no one knows quite what they'll do, they tend to attract fairly good entries as well.
A provisional judge must complete five assignments in each breed requested. At least three of these assignments must be supervised by AKC Field Representatives, of which there's usually one per all-breed show. When the provisional assignments have been successfully completed, the judge can now apply for regular status, detailing the shows judged, their dates, and the number of dogs judged in each breed. If there's no adverse report from the Field Representatives, a third note is made in the Gazette stating that provisional assignments are completed and that the judge is now finally approved for the breeds listed.
After a year, a judge may apply for more breeds, but no more than the number for which they've already been approved. They may have experience owning, breeding, and raising these breeds, but more often the judge can qualify to apply by attending regional or national specialties of those breeds, attending breed seminars put on by national-club representatives and AKC institutes, judging sweepstakes and matches, or by observing in the ring a long-time judge of that breed.
Eventually, a judge so disposed may continue to pick up breeds until they're approved for all breeds within one of the seven Variety Groups. The judge is now eligible to judge not only all the breeds in the group, but the Group competition as well. When a judge has successfully completed five assignments judging a Variety Group, they are now eligible to judge Best in Show. Judges may also branch out into other groups and pick up all the breeds in those as well. A few judges, about 20 or so of the nearly 3000 AKC-licensed conformation judges, are eligible to judge all 150-odd AKC approved breeds.