Pure Dog Talk

Ring Stewards: The Unsung Heroes of the Dog Show Kevin Ellingson, member of the Professional Stewards Association of Northern California, started ring stewarding in 2006 as a way to learn more about the sport while his wife was showing Cavalier King Charles Spaniels . Ellingson said a couple of the most important things he learned when he started stewarding were to “respect the judge's time and that judges are people too.” “Ring stewards are ambassadors to the dog show world,” Ellingson said. “For new exhibitors, stewards may well be their first contact with the sport.” From the PSANC website: “A good dog show steward makes the work of judging a dog show easier by relieving the judge of unnecessary details. By assembling classes promptly, one will be able to keep the judging on schedule and eliminate, to a large extent, delays between classes. Main Professional Steward duties: Hand out armbands and mark absentees Confirm with the judge the procedures that s/he wish to see carried out Assemble class