22/10/2025
This is a great read for those who want to appreciate what conformation championships are all about and the importance of not just winning but participating, that is if your real goal is to breed higher quality dogs !
Wise Words
With Louis Donald
Why critiques matter...
Ribbons end the class; critiques keep teaching long after the ring is packed away. When a judge adds a short oral explanation and clear written critiques, exhibitors, many of whom exhibited their dog with high expectations, leave with more than a placing. They leave knowing why their dog was placed where it was.
Good critiques do three things. They confirm priorities; they connect those priorities to the breed standard, and they point to next steps. A simple structure works well; name the key virtues, note the limiting faults, then state the reason for the placement. Plain language helps everyone, especially those new to the breed.
Oral remarks matter in the moment. They steady nerves, show consistency, and set the tone for the day. A few sentences are enough, outline what was rewarded and what cost a place. Written critiques matter after the show. They travel with the dog, they guide breeding choices, and they can be read without the noise of the ring.
For judges, critiques protect decisions. Clear notes show that choices were made against the breed standard, not the crowd. For exhibitors, critiques can turn disappointment into direction. If, for example, topline, croup, soundness, back strength, footfall or animation was the issue, that becomes a plan, not a guess.
