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| Mrs. Michele L. Billings (DECEASED) [162] Ft. Lauderdale, FL Initial Breed: German Shepherd Dogs Judge (etc.) Rating System: (instructions) This judge has been rated by 94 members
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| Date | Rtg | Display Name | Breed(s) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2013 | 3 | Mudpuppy | Keeshond | |||||
| Kind and gentle, but not particularly discerning in this breed. | ||||||||
| Apr 3, 2013 | 3 | DreamCatcher | Australian Shepherds | |||||
| I found her to be a pleasant judge. Good with puppies. Possibly political due to selection on the day. | ||||||||
| Nov 28, 2012 | 5 | Ktg | Chihuahuas | |||||
| Appears to be stern but is warm in the ring. Movement judge. Will show to anytime. | ||||||||
| Oct 10, 2012 | 5 | anonymous | Great Dane | |||||
| What a class act this lady is. Runs her ring expertly and knows what she likes. Doesn't seem to care who is on the other end of the lead. If you have a good mover she will like it. Seems to like bigger, balanced dogs reguardless of color. | ||||||||
| Aug 19, 2012 | 1 | Mel Burk | GSP | |||||
| Likes a good moving dog who shows well. Very gentle with dogs, speaks softly to them while examining. Could be a tad political, but I've seen worse. | ||||||||
| Jul 3, 2012 | 2 | anonymous | Toys | |||||
| Classy lady but cognitively not as sharp seems to forget if you are a dog or a bitch, erratic judging never know who what or where | ||||||||
| May 6, 2012 | 5 | Judy | Irish Red and White Setter | |||||
| Have found this judge to be fair, impartial in the breed ring. Knows and appreciates a good mover, likes a showy animal. Will put up an owner/handler for group. | ||||||||
| Jan 24, 2012 | 4 | none | working | |||||
| Seemed tired at the end of a long cluster, used a ramp - which was fine & made sound choices - easy with the dogs. I'd show under her again, especially if it is the first day of a cluster. | ||||||||
| Jul 18, 2011 | 2 | Anonymous | ||||||
| Sure looked like a handler judge this weekend.. Made her choices in a smallish Sporting group, all handlers, then went back and "pulled" the rest of the handlers for her cut. Owner-handlers were all shown the gate. | ||||||||
| Jun 12, 2011 | 2 | redstaff | Staffies | |||||
| I would bet she knows more about what is correct than what she chooses to use in the ring. Very disappointing to see popular dogs with generic looks/movement win big over very typey, correct in standard dogs. Shame. We really do need more judges to learn the ins and outs of the breeds they judge. | ||||||||
| Feb 20, 2011 | 5 | dawn | yorkshire terrier | |||||
| In a large group of pros and owner handlers at a recent National Specialty Mrs Billings ran a more than well organized ring, she also put up the dogs that she felt were best that day regardless of who was on the other end of the lead. It was truly a pleasure to show to her. | ||||||||
| Mar 25, 2010 | 5 | Gwynedd | OES | Expert! | ||||
| Ms. Billings definately knows what she likes in dogs. Will put up the best dog handler or not. Very gentle with young and older dogs alike. Nice to handlers from other countries takes time explaining what her directions are. | ||||||||
| Nov 19, 2009 | 3 | Rockland | Chows | |||||
| Likes handlers better than judging. When no handler is in the ring she can select the best exhibit. She is good with puppies and has a soft touch. Likes coat and movement. | ||||||||
| Jun 9, 2009 | 3 | Sapphires | Bernese Mountain Dogs | Expert! | ||||
| I have to recant my last statement about Ms. Billings. I was so wrong. This past weekend, I watched her put on a show between two prominent handlers in the ring and not even look back once at the owner handler's dogs even though she had put my dog up with a handler on him just 4 weeks prior. He handles better for me as he is a little reserved with a stranger so I know it wasn't the way I handled the dog. It was very obvious to all who watched as well. Now I am very confused about her judging and have heard from other professionals that this is normal for her. So sad. | ||||||||
| May 25, 2009 | 3 | Adrienne Freyer | Komondor | Expert! | ||||
| Very nice to show to. A thunderstorm started with in 5 minutes of breed judging. All 3 Kom puppies were very stressed. She was so patient & pleasant!! I wish all the judges were like this. | ||||||||
| Apr 20, 2009 | 3 | Sapphires | BMDs & PWDs | Expert! | ||||
| Found the right dogs and bitches even without the professional handler on them. I know I can count on her for an honest opinion of my dogs. She judges the dogs not the handler. | ||||||||
| May 29, 2008 | Standfast Spinoni | Spinone Italiano | ||||||
| Very gracious and kind woman, knows the breed standard - she talked to me post-breed ring - but she doesn't make her picks based on what she knows about the standard. | ||||||||
| May 24, 2008 | 4 | Pattie Zielke | Havanese | |||||
| Though she did not put up my puppy, she was consistent and seemed to me to like the smaller size end of our standard. Likes good side movement and proper silhouette. She wants the dog, even a puppy, to show well. Did not seem to appreciate puppy antics. | ||||||||
| May 2, 2008 | 4 | Blair Barrett | Boston Terriers | |||||
| Mrs. Billings is very pleasant to show to. She is strong on type and movement, seems to prefer males on the larger side and somewhat smaller, but not the smallest females. A well-presented, well put together "classic" Boston will do well under her. | ||||||||
| Apr 23, 2008 | 2 | Annette Gilliam | Parson Russell Terriers | |||||
| Although she has put up several of my dogs, she does not really know which is the most correct one. She likes big over small, which is more correct for our breed. She thought my bitch special was too small (12.25") and cute and should be in a pet home, even though she was the #3 bitch that year. | ||||||||
| Feb 24, 2008 | 4 | Alan Leff | Non Sporting | Expert! | ||||
| Mrs. Billings is one great dog lady! She was a great handler, and sets the standard as far as judging! | ||||||||
| Feb 23, 2008 | 3 | Elaine Summerhill | Greyhounds | Expert! | ||||
| In 2004, her judging led me to believe that one should NOT bring a hound with poor movement and that she would put class dogs up over specials if it deserved to win. I thought she was fair & knowledgeable and I traveled to show to her. Now, in 2011, I have to write that she still seems to like good movement but will award a dog with poor movement if it has huge side gait. In my most recent experience with her, she put up the biggest dog for breed and the biggest bitch for BOS & BW in the ring. Both had huge side gait, but with their size, they would move bigger than anything else in the ring. I was disappointed in her "Select" dog, as the dog has inefficient movement but, again, huge side gait. I could follow her choices. I've downgraded my previous rating of 5 to 3. | ||||||||
| Feb 16, 2008 | 2 | anon | various | Expert! | ||||
| Probably knows better than she judges. If you want someone who makes a pretty picture and runs her ring well, then she is the ticket. Another of those whose hype is not lived up to. | ||||||||
| Jan 13, 2008 | 5 | Joseph B Gentzel | Great Pyrenees | Expert! | ||||
| What all judges should aspire to achieve. The best and very consistent. If I disagreed with this judge, I would look at myself very carefully before I was critical of her. Judges dogs and not handlers. If I would make any suggestions, I would like her to look to the elegance of the male specials a bit more, but she likes a big dog well put together. 2/01/2009 People were saying she was having a bad weekend this weekend. Maybe so, but on her worst day, she is still better than most of the rest. You are on the right track if Ms. Billings likes your dogs. A real pleasure to have her judge your dogs. | ||||||||
| Nov 5, 2007 | 5 | DicoryDox | Malamutes | |||||
| Very pleasant to show to. Was very gentle with my puppy. Kind to all exhibitors. Has a very good working knowledge of the standard. Movement is key as is type. Would definitely show to again. Very good 1st ring experience for my 6 month old pup. | ||||||||
| Aug 23, 2007 | 5 | WOW Pomz & Pinz | various Toy Breeds | Expert! | ||||
| I think one of the judging greats!! She really knows her standards top to bottom and always finds the best dog with a beautiful balance of type and structure/movement. She wants the whole package and will not accept beauty without soundness. I really admire her knowledge, honesty, demeanor and the professionalism with which she runs her ring. | ||||||||
| Jul 28, 2007 | 3 | jrmom | Boston Terrier | |||||
| Excellent judge and knows a good Boston!! | ||||||||
| Jun 21, 2007 | 5 | PrimeBlu | Silky Terrier | |||||
| Very thorough and professional. Knows our standard completely. Has the courage to put up the best dog. Good movement is essential. Will always show under this judge. | ||||||||
| Mar 13, 2007 | Rosestones | shelties | ||||||
| Yes I agree she seems to know type in our breed which is not always easy. She does love movement and does prefer mature looking. | ||||||||
| Mar 9, 2007 | 5 | El Solo Shelties | Shetland Sheepdog | |||||
| Very pleasant-seems to know type. Prefers a mature dog with adequate movement. Type seems more important than size | ||||||||
| Jan 28, 2007 | 3 | Marauder Kennels | Rottweilers | |||||
| Pleasant to show to. Loves movement-gave RWD to puppy. | ||||||||
| Jan 4, 2007 | Dawn Thompson | |||||||
| Has put up natural eared Danes. | ||||||||
| Jan 4, 2007 | 4 | VICTORY GERMAN SHEPH | GSDS | |||||
| Have found this judge for the most part to be fair, impartial in the breed ring. Knows and appreciates a good mover, likes a showy animal. Good judge | ||||||||
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