Conformation Judges

Congrats!! You have fulfilled the requirements to become a Judge, so what is next? In order to accept an assignment to Judge for an ASCA affiliate, you must first have your letter in hand stating that you have been approved to Judge at the level you have applied for. It is inappropriate to accept an assignment thinking that your letter is in the mail. Even if the assignment is 6 months into the future, you cannot accept, without the letter physically in hand. Your letter may say something to the effect of:

“Congratulations! Your application to become an ASCA Provisional Breeder Judge has been approved by the ASCA Board of Directors. Your name, address and phone number will be listed in the September-October issue of the Aussie Times as having fulfilled the requirements and you will now be able to accept Provisional level judging assignments.”

Accepting an Assignment

1. An ASCA affiliate may contact you by: A phone call, Instant Message, Text, or E-mail asking you to judge for their club.
2. It is common to get a choice of dates and shows. There are sometimes 3 shows in a day, and it is best to accept an assignment that you are comfortable with. If you are not a morning person, try to accept an assignment later in the day. If you have problems with severe heat, try not to accept assignments in summer months. The affiliate is counting on you to complete your assignment.
3. Do not accept 2 assignments on the same weekend in several different states, as airline delays/cancellations/etc. may cause you to miss one assignment or the other.
4. Always have a contact person from the club’s phone number, in case there are problems with flight delays, lodging problems, etc. It is hard to try to figure out who you can call in a strange city, and this will keep you safe.
5. Fill out and return Club contracts as appropriate. Some clubs use them, some do not.

Before any Assignment, do the following:

1. Familiarize yourself with the breed standard. All dogs are to be Judges not against one another, but against “The standard”. Always have it fresh in your memory prior to Judging.
2. Familiarize yourself with the Judges “Code of Ethics”. You are representing ASCA and your behavior will be under close scrutiny, before, during and after your assignment.
3. Re-read the ASCA Conformation Rules and Regulations. If there is something that goes happens in your ring, you are unsure of, do not be afraid to ask for a copy of the rules to refer to.

Upon Completion of Assignment

1. This period after the show, is usually set aside for picture taking. ‘
2. Exhibitors may come ask why you did not choose their dog, what they could have done differently, and other questions. Make sure you are diplomatic, and attempt to always say something nice about their dog. There are many people who are not breeders and they can be devastated that their dog is not chosen.
3. After Pictures, is usually time to socialize with exhibitors, always keeping in mind, that you are still a representative of ASCA.
4. Have your receipts ready to provide to the club treasurer, so you can be reimbursed for your expenses.
5. Make sure that you know when your flight is scheduled to depart and arrive to the airport in a timely manner to avoid missing your flight.
6. Always be courteous and professional, and have fun!