Although this article is directed at the German Shepherd breed, this may also apply to the exhibiting of most other pedigree dogs.

Our show scene has for far too long suffered an acute lack of confidence in many judging decisions. Aggrieved exhibitors have generally suffered in silence. However, with the development of the internet during the last 20 years, criticism and anger is expressed much more freely and much more frequently. Despondency, disillusionment and frustration is now a greater and growing part of our show scene, resulting in a serious and continual reduction in our show entries with far too many disillusioned exhibitors, with many years of experience, giving up the GSD show scene altogether. The patently obvious lack of newcomers coming into our show scene simply and powerfully confirms the unwillingness of potential GSD exhibitors to accept and tolerate highly questionable judging decisions.

Even when there is genuine success it can be sullied by the strong climate of suspicion which is becoming prevalent at our shows and throughout our breed. The long term exhibitors are particularly vulnerable to allegations of “arrangements” when they achieve success, which can be hurtful and disappointing when the success is well deserved and genuine. There appears to be a relatively small group of people within our breed who see an “arrangement” in most major wins in our show scene. These people express their negative allegations under anonymous pseudonyms on internet forums which unfortunately offer protection to such cowards. Maybe a boycott of such forums would also help our breed. There is also the “GSD grapevine” which is alive and kicking with similar negative allegations arising from most shows.

Anyone involved may attempt to justify their actions to themselves by taking the attitude that others do it so why not them? The problem may be more widespread than any of us care to accept and there could be a mutual support system from those involved in any “arrangements”, whereby those not directly involved in a particular “arrangement” may defend any accused and call it sour grapes from the antagonists, while also reeling out every excuse and alternative explanation for the judge’s decisions. Honest folk may be drawn into supporting these explanations and excuses because they don’t want to accept the possibility of corruption or the possible dishonesty of someone they know and possibly respect. They may also want to introduce some straightforward damage limitation for our GSD show scene.

What should be explored, and explored very urgently, is precisely what can be done to make “arrangements” significantly more difficult. We need to take every step possible to improve confidence in our judges, their decisions and our show results.

I present my proposal - The “ALTERNATING JUDGE” system, which offers exhibitors and enthusiasts more confidence in the awarding of Championship/Challenge Certificates.

My proposal is that the Judge awarding the Championship/Challenge Certificates should be a different judge from the judge that has judged the individual classes.

This will mean that any attempt to make “arrangements” for top awards will be made much harder by having two judges involved in the process. Whilst this may not fully eradicate “arrangements” it will most certainly be a major deterrent and will, most importantly, also significantly raise the confidence of our exhibitors and enthusiasts in the awarding of our top accolades at our GSD shows, something which is urgently needed if we are going to attract more exhibitors and crucially retain most of our current exhibitors. It may also curtail many of the more slanderous comments posted on internet forums by the anonymous trolls. The GSD grapevine may even become much more positive about our show scene.

The manner in which each GSD Show implements this proposal could vary, depending how they organise the judging of the individual classes. For example, if they appoint one judge for their show, they can appoint a second ‘alternative judge’ to award the Championship/Challenge Certificates. If they appoint two judges to judge their show, one for each sex, the judges could swap over when it came to the awarding of the Championship/Challenge Certificates. If they have three or more judges for their show, they could have multiple possibilities open to them to ensure that a different judge awarded the Championship/Challenge Certificates than the judge of the individual classes.

It may be considered that a greater numbers of judges will add to the costs of holding a show. This may be true, however such marginal cost is more than justified by the perceived benefits and it also gives greater opportunities for more of our GSD Judges to be involved in our shows and for them to gain greater experience, particularly by regularly focusing attention on the necessity for absolute integrity of their judging decisions, which will benefit our breed show scene immensely.

This proposal may be somewhat difficult to implement within the Kennel Club show scene. Perhaps it may prove too radical for the Kennel Club to introduce the principle of the “alternating judge”, even though it should not affect their registration income and could certainly improve their Kennel Club shows. I see no such difficulties implementing it within our newly developing GSD show scene through the GSD League/WUSV Events. I sincerely hope the GSD League Council give this proposal serious consideration. Feedback from our GSD exhibitors and enthusiasts on this proposal would be very useful.

There is no doubt that we need to give some very serious consideration to other issues raised in this article, in particular the current method of selecting and appointing our Judges. Perhaps the "alternating judge" at our shows should be selected by a central authority.

We must address the genuine concerns of our exhibitors and enthusiasts if we are to obtain and maintain an attractive, exciting and substantially fairer GSD show scene here within Great Britain.