AKC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 BBE GROUP JUDGES
DANIEL J. SMYTH, ESQ. BRED-BY-EXHIBITOR HOUND GROUP JUDGE
4. What were you thinking or feeling mo - ments before you stepped into the center of the BBE Group ring? As most judges do, I wanted to make a fair and open-minded decision in determining the quality of the dogs being presented. At that point, all other concerns become unimportant. 5. Was there a heightened energy coming from the dog and handler teams? Did you feel the energy of the spectators? How could there not be, as the handlers beamed with their own sense of pride and ac- complishment, presenting the top owner-bred dogs in its breed at the show—which hap- pened to be theirs. The spectators obviously had their favorites and made that well known. Everyone seemed vested in the outcome. “These are the best of the best, which means the judge has a daunting task in determining the top Bred-By dogs in the Group.”
1. Can you describe your reaction to receiving an invitation to judge the Bred-By-Exhibitor Hound Group at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin? I was extremely honored to receive this invitation. Having been judging for 30 years, I was extremely happy that I was assigned to do the BBE Hound Group. My original breeds were the Basset Hound and the PBGV, and the Hound Group was my first Group. Having been a hound breeder, I knew the hard work so many breeders of all breeds put into developing and im-
proving their lines, and the sacrifices made by all breeders in this pursuit. The breeder showing their owner-bred dog is the epitome of our sport, and each one of them deserves the pride they feel. Each entry is so important to the person holding that lead and represents their years of accomplishment. 2. What does it mean to judge this event at the only all-breed show organized directly by the American Kennel Club? The AKC National Championship drew 5,700 entries this year. These are the best of the best, which means the judge has a daunting task in determin- ing the top Bred-By dogs in the Group. The AKC brand is well known and trusted worldwide, and the honor and challenge of taking on this task is formidable. This is the heart of our sport at its finest, and must be taken in that regard. 3. In your opinion, how does this show differ from other AKC events? It is the annual Olympics of our sport, the Academy Awards of our industry and the opportunity to assess what our breeders have done by their hard work, sacrifices, and diligent study of their breeds. All shows are a form of that, but no other show attracts the guaranteed attendance of so many top- quality dogs in all of our recognized breeds.
172 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2024
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