When working with a Shadow Apprentice:

You are still the Judge of Record.

You remain responsible for the official:

• Course.
• Timing.
• Scoring.
• Calls.
• Deductions.
• Decisions.
• Safety and management of the search.

The apprentice is there to learn how you perform those responsibilities.

That does not mean they should simply stand beside you and watch.

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Include the Apprentice in Course Setting

Course setting provides some of the best practical education available to a new judge.

Include your Shadow Apprentice in the process.

Rather than simply telling the apprentice where to put equipment, explain the decisions you’re making.

For example:

Why is this hide appropriate for this level?

Why did you choose this location?

Where do you plan to stand while judging?

What portions of the search area could be difficult to observe?

What natural distractions are present?

Are there safety or quarry considerations?

How will teams enter and exit?

What might you change if this were a different level?

The goal is to teach the apprentice to evaluate a search area from a judge’s perspective.

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Encourage Active Observation

During runs, encourage the Shadow Apprentice to watch more than the hide.

A useful exercise is to occasionally ask after a run:

“What did you see?”

Allow the apprentice to answer before explaining what you observed.

They might identify:

• A change in the dog’s behavior.
• Handler interference while the dog was in odor.
• A tight leash.
• Additional directional cues.
• Disruption of the search area.
• Loss of focus.
• An indication.
• A potential deduction.

If you immediately tell the apprentice everything you saw, they learn the answer.

If you ask them what they saw first, you learn something about their developing judging skills.

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Have Shadow Apprentices Practice Timing and Scoring

It is good practice for Shadow Apprentices to time and score in tandem with the Judge of Record.

The apprentice may use:

• A separate stopwatch.
• A practice scoresheet.
• Their own deduction notes.

You and the apprentice should independently evaluate the run.

Afterward, compare the results.

For example:

Judge of Record: 47.21 seconds, 2-point deduction.

Shadow Apprentice: 48.03 seconds, 1-point deduction.

Now you have several useful teaching opportunities.

Why was the timing different?

Did you start or stop your watches at different points?

Did you both observe the same behavior?

Did you agree that a deduction was warranted?

Why did you evaluate its severity differently?

Which deduction category applies?

This is considerably more educational than simply telling an apprentice:

“That was a 98.”

Remember

The Shadow Apprentice’s timing and scoring are practice only.

Your timing, scoring, and judging decisions remain official.

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Discuss Calls Quietly and Professionally

Apprentice education should never interfere with the exhibitor’s experience.

Judging discussions should occur:

• Quietly.
• Professionally.
• At an appropriate time.
• Away from exhibitors when appropriate.

Avoid extended discussions about a competitor’s performance where the competitor, waiting exhibitors, or spectators can hear them.

If the apprentice disagrees with your call, that’s okay.

In fact, disagreement can create an excellent educational discussion.

Ask:

“Tell me what you saw.”

Then explain what you observed and how you applied the rule.

The goal is not to teach apprentices that they must always see things exactly as you do.

The goal is to teach them to observe carefully, apply the rules, and support their decisions appropriately.