T

herearenolongeronlyninecomponentsfrom
whichajudgemustselectfourtoprovehisor
herreadinesstojudgeabreed.Instead,a

prospectivejudgemayprovideanyexperiencesby
whichheorshehaslearnedsignificantinformation
onabreed.Theseexperiencesaredocumented
ontheapplication.Oneusefulandimportant
componentmayberingsidementoring.

PBGVCAhashadaringsidementoringprogram

inplaceforaspiringjudgessince1991.This
programbecamemoresignificantastheAKChas
discontinuedthecheck-off-the-boxmethodof
makingapplication.AKCwouldlikementoringto
bedoneatspecialtiesandnationals.However,the
opportunitytomentordoesnotendthere.You
mayshareyourexpertiseatall-breedshowswith
significantentriesoratyourhome.PBGVCAsendsa
listofapprovedmentorstotheAKCwhenrequested,
generallyonceayear.

IfyouareinterestedinbecomingaPBGVCA

mentorbyvirtueofyourexperience,knowledgeand
successinPBGVs,pleasesendyourname,address,
phone,e-mailandashortresume(75wordsorless)
confirmingandattestingtoyoureligibilitytothe
addressbelow.Breederjudgesareautomatically
approvedandneednotapply;however,attendance
atnationalsisexpected.Breederjudgesshouldalso
sendmeanoteagreeingtobeplacedonourlist.

Ifyouwouldlikeguidanceforyourmentoringin

theformofamentorcardandmentornotesthat
youmaycopyandgivetoastudent,pleasesenda
self-addressedstampedenvelopetomeandIwill
forward:KittySteidel,10040E.HappyValleyRoad
#229,Scottsdale,AZ85255.

AKC’sRulesforMentors.Aprospectivejudgemay

workwithaparent-club-approvedmentororabreeder
whohashadaminimumof12yearsexperiencewith
thebreed—breeding,exhibitingorjudgingthebreedin
conformation.Theremustbeadequateentriesinthebreed.
ObserverandmentormustcompletetheObserverForm,
andthatformmustbesubmittedwiththejudge’s
application.Judgesmustdoaminimumofthree
observations,includingtwomajorentriesforeachbreed
requested.Ajudgemaydoringsidementoringatashow
whereheorsheisjudgingaswell.

Thesearethecurrentrequirements*tobeonthe

PBGVCAapprovedmentorlist:
•BeamemberingoodstandingwiththePBGVCAfor

atleastfiveyears.

•Bearecognizedbreeder,notjustownerorhandler,ofat

leastfivePBGV’sthathavegainedchampionships.

•BeabletoarticulatehisorherknowledgeofPBGV

anatomy,formandfunction.

•Haveregularlyattendednationalsonceeverythreeyears,

andregionalsinhisorherarea.

•HaveattendedatleastonePBGV-sponsoredworkshopor

seminarinthelastfiveyears.

•Havetheabilitytoevaluatedogsinpositiveterminology

andwithoutprejudice.

•Bewillingtotraveltoeventsforthepurposeofmentoring

withoutfinancialreimbursementforexpensesincurred.

s

KittySteidelinvitescommentsonthisarticleoranytopicrelated
tojudgingPBGVs.Contactheratksteidel@aol.com.

32

www.pbgv.org

June2012

sSaberTails

sPBGVEducation

ByKittySteidel,Chair,PBGVCAJudgesEducation

JudgesEducation:

TheRingsideMentoringProgram

Thiswasourfirstmentorcard.Imaginethispagefoldedtofitabusiness
envelope.Thephotoswillchangefromtimetotime.Todaywehavea
movingdogonthereversesideofthelaminatedcardandadifferentdog
onthefrontshowingoutlinewithwordsfromthestandard.

*Requirementssubjecttochange.