THE NEWBIE JUST DO IT! by Carolyn Horowitz “Y ou should go for your license.” “You would make a great judge.”
Those were nice compliments that I heard from attendees at Judges Education seminars I’d presented on behalf of the American Man- chester Terrier Club. Despite two decades in the breed and a success- ful breeding program, judging was not something I seriously considered until the second half of 2020 as dog shows began to open up following the COVID-19 lockdowns. Since I wasn’t traveling abroad for work, I was going to more dog shows. I had always had an exit strategy as a breeder, but the “what next” question had also always been on my mind. Be- ing able to attend more shows made me realize howmuch I wanted to stay active in the fancy, and I assessed what I needed to do before applying to become a judge—match judging assignments. I was able to complete those in February and I started the New Applicant process inMarch. By June, I was approved for Permit status in Manchester Terriers. The process that seemed so daunting on paper went smoothly, with my appli- cation filed, tests taken, application published in the AKC Gazette , and an Executive Field Rep interview passed, all within a matter of months. By October of 2021, I had contracts for three assignments in Manches- ters, plus a Papillon Sweepstakes for 2022. It all happened so fast thanks to great support from the Judging Operations team and with encouragement from friends who are judges. I was now a new breeder-judge. The rules literally changed for me overnight. I was very familiar with
“IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST THANKS TO GREAT
SUPPORT FROM THE JUDGING OPERATIONS TEAM AND WITH ENCOURAGEMENT FROM FRIENDS WHO ARE JUDGES. I was now a new breeder-judge.”
the AKC’s Ethics Policies, etc., but the Basic Institute andWebinar series I’d attended last fall really drove home certain realities about judging in gen- eral, and about being a new breeder- judge who is still actively breeding and showing in a low-entry breed in particular. What do I do? How do I manage actual or perceived conflicts? I have lived in three states andworked with so many people in the breed over the last two decades. Manchesters are a small breed, and my husband and I started showing in California before moving east. I literally know every- one. I was aware that with a low-entry breed I could get Regular status with six assignments, regardless of en- tries… but I want entries. I want to be observed. So, I did the following:
• I reached out to several long- time judges who were still active breeders, and I received some very sound advice. • I reached out to people with whom I have actual conflicts (co- ownerships, puppies from me or back from breedings within the time limit, etc.) and I explained the rules to them. • I explained the rules to several people who thought they had conflicts, but did not. • I changed settings for tag- ging in social media based on Tim Thomas’ advice at the Basic Institute. • I started saying “no” to certain requests, to avoid new conflicts.
28 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2022
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