Yes, we have a problem, airing this out on a public forum. How about if people start airing their grievances about judges on this public forum, would that be OK with you?

Tail sets on point can change day by day, or even during the brace they are running, or even the bird they are pointing. While there are some dogs with bad tails I could not use, that is maybe 10% most, not the majority like you infer.

A dogs race can change daily. I've placed dogs in a trial that the next time I see them, I wonder if its the same dog. But to infer that most dogs running championships dont meet the "standard" is ridiculous; it just wasnt their day. If Babe Ruth struck out 4 times in a game, would you conclude he didnt meet the standard of a major league player?

Many dogs running championships are young dogs, they need to run to get experience. Everyone has become enamored with championships, the smaller trials have gone away. Michigan ran 5 championships this fall, and only 1 weekend stake. Add in the Brittany trial had an OSD stake, thats only 2 chances to get a young dog experience; an hour total of running. In the spring Michigan will run 2 more championships and by the time the weekend trials get going the birds will be on nests and hard to point. So where do the young dog get experience if you dont want to look at them in a championship?

I have a derby right now, I got what I wanted from her this fall. I'm not a points chaser, so its time to move her up as a shooting dog for more advanced experience. Obviously with the holier than thou Michigan attitude, she shouldnt be running in trials out there, then neither will my other dogs run. With this attitude, if I come to Michigan next fall to hunt, there is a strong probability I wont run in an trials so I dont hear the complaints my dogs dont belong. But if I do run, I can tell you which judges I wont run under.

When you take on a judging assignment, you agree to watch every dog for the full 30-60 minutes as if they are the dog that could win it all, even if you know they dont stand a chance. If you cant do that, or are looking to hook a dog as soon as possible dont take on any more judging assignments.