Stay Calm

• Both the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC) have rules governing the dispute process between exhibitors and judges. Both clubs indicate that a judge's decisions are final in terms of dog placements, wins withheld, dismissals or excusals.
  
  Because there is no disputing the judge's opinion in the ring, it is best to take any ribbons that may have been awarded and then quietly remove the dog from the ring. Return to the grooming area without commenting about your dispute to anyone in order to calm down. Doing otherwise might constitute interfering with the judge doing his or her job or bad sportsmanship, either of which might lead to disciplinary action against the exhibitor.
  
  

Determining the Viability of a Complaint

• It is impossible for anyone to win every time he or she enters an event. Therefore, it is necessary to decide if the judge simply has different opinions on the merits of the dogs in the ring on that particular day or if the judge's conduct actually consists of misconduct.
  
  Misconduct might involve having a previous agreement with another exhibitor or professional handler to place a particular entry, allowing an entry that has been altered in appearance (outside of practices permitted by the standard) to be shown or judging an entry that has been deemed ineligible for entry under that judge.
  
  

Making a Formal Complaint

• If it has been determined that misconduct has occurred, the exhibitor must make a complaint, typically during show hours, to the event committee for UKC or to the AKC representative overseeing the event. The exhibitor will then be required to fill out a formal complaint using the official form provided by the Event Chairperson or by the AKC Representative. It may be necessary to pay a small fee to register the complaint.
  
  Once the complaint has been filed, the registry will determine if the complaint has merit. If the complaint is considered a viable one, then a hearing will typically be called for both sides to present their cases. This hearing will be conducted on the event grounds during the event hours for UKC. The Event Committee will conduct a Bench Committee inquiry on the day following the formal complaint at all AKC events. These inquiries are considered preliminary in nature and will be supported by the AKC if misconduct is found.
  
  

Alternatives to a Formal Inquiry

• It is often difficult to prove misconduct on the part of a judge. Conformation show rules are typically written to favor the judge over the exhibitor and, for this reason, it is unlikely that any action will be taken against a judge without undeniable proof of misconduct. However, it is possible to file an informal complaint with the registry sanctioning the event. It is important to do so in writing, as any written complaint will be made part of that judge's permanent file.
  
  As a final alternative, if the exhibitor finds him or herself in opposition to a judge, it is highly recommended that the exhibitor simply not make an entry under that judge. Not only does this tactic deprive the judge of pay for that dog (judges are paid per judged exhibit), but if the exhibitor expresses his or her concerns to the show committee that judge may not be invited back in the future.