Judging Dilemma

If the terms of the confidential contract between a club and a judge are broken; then judging assignments can be lost.  This affects both parties; the club and the judge for future judging assignments.  One party may be viewed as breaking contract terms; and the other party may be viewed as canceling  judging assignments.  Either scenario can hurt individuals or clubs for future events. 

It also seems to cause unnecessary friction between clubs.  Blaming another club for choosing a replacement judge that has a future or past judging assignment with their club; is quite simply misplaced anger.  Put yourself in their position; due to uncontrollable circumstances they have to replace a judge and they have to act quickly.  They go to AKC and are told that there is a 30 day window with judging assignments.  The club looking for a replacement does not have access to the confidential contract between another club and a judge.  So they have no way of knowing that their contract terms are different from AKC's. 

These last minutes changes are posted outside the show rings before the competition begins.  Exhibitors have the option to pull their entry and have their money refunded.

I am surprised at how angry people can become with this situation.  Judging replacements is not something that happens often but it does happen.  So in some cases; the judge that stepped in last minute to help a club; loses a future judging assignment. 

The American Kennel Club might want to include in their advice with last minute judging replacements; that the judge check their past and future assignment contracts to see if  there are any time constraints and especially if they differ from AKC's. 

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)