This sections is for those who are thinking about
becoming a judge, but also contains information
useful to those who want to understand the breed
better.
It provides information on the AKC requirements for obtaining a judging license and the process for application and approval and provides more detailed information on judging the breed and education programs available to aspiring Bulldog judges.
The first thing you need to do is to familiarize yourself with the Standard of Excellence for the Breed as approved by the Bulldog Club of America and adopted by the American Kennel Club. This is essential to understanding what a Bulldog should look like and how a Bulldog should behave in the ideal.
Everyone should look at the Revised Illustrated Guide to the Bulldog Standard, a pictorial interpretation of the Bulldog Standard prepared by the BCA Judge’s Education Committee. This relates the words in the Standard to drawings that illustrate the Judge's Education Committee's explanation of the meaning of those words as approved by the BCA Council.
Many judges coming from other breeds find the Bulldog Standard difficult to apply in the show ring. A qualified mentor can be essential to learning to better understanding the Standard and learning to becoming a good judge of Bulldogs. The list of BCA approved mentors is provided to assist you in finding someone local who can guide you gaining familiarity with the breed and understanding how to related the words in the Standard to the real dog in front of you.
Both ringside mentoring and formal judge's education programs provide experiences that can assist you in developing "an eye" for the breed. The BCA web site has information on Education programs throughout the country. An exceptional opportunity is provided at the judge's education program at the BCA Nationals each year. In addition to a formal judge;s education program, you will have an opportunity to see several hundred dogs in the ring (and outside) and to discuss these dogs with BCA mentors in ringside seating.
For an opportunity at Division I shows, the list of shows on the Event page contains information where wither formal judge's education programs or ringside mentoring programs are available. Shows followed by a "®" symbol have ringside mentoring programs and those followed by a "■" symbol have a formal judge's education program associated with them.
It provides information on the AKC requirements for obtaining a judging license and the process for application and approval and provides more detailed information on judging the breed and education programs available to aspiring Bulldog judges.
The first thing you need to do is to familiarize yourself with the Standard of Excellence for the Breed as approved by the Bulldog Club of America and adopted by the American Kennel Club. This is essential to understanding what a Bulldog should look like and how a Bulldog should behave in the ideal.
Everyone should look at the Revised Illustrated Guide to the Bulldog Standard, a pictorial interpretation of the Bulldog Standard prepared by the BCA Judge’s Education Committee. This relates the words in the Standard to drawings that illustrate the Judge's Education Committee's explanation of the meaning of those words as approved by the BCA Council.
Many judges coming from other breeds find the Bulldog Standard difficult to apply in the show ring. A qualified mentor can be essential to learning to better understanding the Standard and learning to becoming a good judge of Bulldogs. The list of BCA approved mentors is provided to assist you in finding someone local who can guide you gaining familiarity with the breed and understanding how to related the words in the Standard to the real dog in front of you.
Both ringside mentoring and formal judge's education programs provide experiences that can assist you in developing "an eye" for the breed. The BCA web site has information on Education programs throughout the country. An exceptional opportunity is provided at the judge's education program at the BCA Nationals each year. In addition to a formal judge;s education program, you will have an opportunity to see several hundred dogs in the ring (and outside) and to discuss these dogs with BCA mentors in ringside seating.
For an opportunity at Division I shows, the list of shows on the Event page contains information where wither formal judge's education programs or ringside mentoring programs are available. Shows followed by a "®" symbol have ringside mentoring programs and those followed by a "■" symbol have a formal judge's education program associated with them.