WORKING GROUP JUDGES Q&A
met were wonderful. Finally, in 2018, I had the ultimate honor of judging the Alaskan Malamute National here in the US in Orlando, Florida. I can’t begin to describe what an experience that was! In addition to Alaskan Malamutes, I have also owned and bred Schipperkes since 2000. I had the Number 10 All-Breed Bitch in 2007 and a Top 10 stud dog in 2016, as well as a top- producing brood bitch. Currently, I have two Schipperkes as housepets, and my son, Klynn, lives with a 10-month-old Alaskan Malamute puppy. Klynn participated in Junior Showmanship as a youngster, and has shown a number of Alaskan Malamutes. He recently handled his 9.5-year-old bitch, Kendra, to her Bronze Grand Championship. They also won numerous Best Veteran in Sweepstakes at local area specialties during these competitions. Needless to say, he is a proud owner and he loves his Malamutes! My educational background includes a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from New York University, and a Masters Degree in Social Work from Hunter College School of Social Work. I hold a license as a Clinical Social Worker, and worked for many years for the City of New York in the field of Child Welfare. I have addi- tional experience working in Residential Treatment Centers with adolescents, Child Protective Services, and with mentally ill adults. I retired in 2010 from a Catholic agency as a Program Director for seven community-based group homes, and was also the Clini- cal Director for the agency’s Residential Services. One year after my retirement, I returned to work as a Clinician for a community- based mental health agency, providing services to children and their families. During my final year, I also did psycho-social evaluations for Family Court, providing clinical impressions and recommenda- tions for child custody cases, as well as to evaluate the safety of a child’s living situation. I continued to work there until I officially retired in 2019, and relocated to New Jersey to be closer to my son. I have promised myself that my days of working are definitely, and forever, over! I am active and try to remain busy. I love to travel and have been all over the world. My most recent and unforgettable trip was a safari in East Africa. I belong to four all-breed kennel clubs, enjoy going to local shows as a spectator, and I co-own several Malamutes with trusted friends. I enjoy decorating my newly purchased home, taking walks along the Delaware River with my dogs, and going to an exercise class three times a week. I find Tuesday afternoon movies relaxing, as well as reading a good book or one of the many dog publications that I receive. But best of all is when I have the opportunity to judge a good dog. I love it when I find one that takes my breath away! As I sit by my window, watching the snow fall, I think, “What a perfect day it is to write about the Working Group; so many breeds that have performed their duties hauling, herding, and guarding in snowy terrain.” Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a judge? I live in New Jersey, and I’ve been an animal lover since early childhood, having grown up with a family dog of unknown origin as well as a rabbit, parakeet, and several turtles. I developed an interest in horses as a teenager and worked gratis at a stable in the Bronx (yes, the Bronx!) in return for free rides. My first Alaskan Malamute came to live with me at the end of my college days, and the excitement of watching Westminster on TV introduced me to the world of dog shows. I finished my first AKC Champion at the Mid East Area Specialty in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1976, and to date, I have approximately 50 Champion Malamutes and Schip- perkes combined. Many of my dogs are also Grand Champions, Specialty Winners, Group Placers, and ROMs. I have been fortu- nate to also sell puppies to Performance homes, where they have titled in Agility, Obedience, and Rally.
I began judging in 2000 during the days when it was one breed for one breed. This was a lengthy process, and I was finally, offi- cially, approved for the Working Group in 2015! What is my original breed? What is/was my kennel name? I come from Alaskan Malamutes (Owyhee is my kennel name), dat- ing back to 1966, and I understand and appreciate the qualities possessed by this breed that allowed them to survive and flourish in the harshest of conditions: The glorious, harsh, thick double coat; good bone; the proper large, well-furred snowshoe foot; an oblique eye; powerful, purposeful, sound movement; moderate size; and confidence all come together to make the perfect heavy- hauling sled dog. The Alaskan Malamute is truly an awe-inspiring creature of strength and survival. But let me not digress, because awe-inspiring can be applied to many—if not most—breeds in the Working Group. Can I list a few of the notable dogs I’ve bred? Any performance or parent club titles? This is a difficult topic for me. My purpose in breeding is to try and outdo myself. Having the big winner has never been my goal. The majority of my dogs have been owner- handled, and many have finished from the Bred-By Class. I must like what I see when I look outside in my backyard. Breeding a dog better than the last one, and, if not better, then at least equal is what I strive for. Of course, I have had dogs that I have loved and appreci- ated for different reasons, and some have had very nice credentials. My first show dog finished at a very large specialty entry in Har- risburg, Pennsylvania, in 1976. I have had WD at the National with CH Cupsaw Mtn’s (my early kennel name) Lookin’ Good Tu. His litter sister, CH Cupsaw Mtn’s I’m Good Tu, “Tootsie,” was the #1 Malamute Puppy in 1982, the Dam of a Specialty-Winning Bitch, and a multiple Group-Placing Dog and Top 20 Contender, CH Owyhee’s Ice Coal. “Coal” was a substantial, powerful-mov- ing dog with a great front, heavy bone, and gorgeous feet. When I think of super athletic, effortless movement (correct fronts have been key in my breeding program); CH Owyhee’s Dressed to Kill, aka “Tuxedo,” is at the top of my list. It gave me great pleasure just watching him move around my yard with power and grace, and I am looking forward to using his frozen semen in the near future. GCH Owyhee’s Monday Night Football ROM, aka “Tackle,” a smaller dog who oozed breed type, and again, possessed effortless, ground-covering movement, was another wonderful dog. His lit- ter sister from a repeat breeding, GCHB Owyhee’s Bar-Vic’s Girlz Gone Wild, aka “Kendra,” was the #13 Malamute in the country. Kendra had two outstanding attributes. She was loved by all for her exceedingly sweet and kind temperament, and her exceptional movement was unanimously admired. I have had numerous #1 Area dogs, a Grand Sweeps winner at the National, as well as dogs that have earned their ROM by virtue of the number of AKC champions sired or whelped. And although I can’t take credit for all of the hard work, I have bred several dogs that have done very well in perfor- mance events. One who comes to mind is MACH Owyhee’s Spirit Into The Night, aka “Layla,” who was 4th at the 2015 Westminster KC Master Agility Championship, Double High in Trial winner in 2015 and 2017 at the AMCA National Agility Trial, Distinguished Therapy Dog, and so much more. To date, I have 48 Alaskan Mala- mute champions… with a few more on the way. But they all have to pass my backyard test first! What are the qualities I most admire in the Working breeds? I thoroughly enjoy judging all of the Working Dogs. As a Group, they exhibit strength, courage, endurance, loyalty, and pride. Each and every attribute is to be admired. This group of dogs has a pur- pose; and intelligence helps them fulfill their purpose. Understand- ing correct structure is important when judging this Group, and finding the dog that possesses proper front assembly, correct length of neck, required rear angles, proper tail set, and sound movement is rewarding for a judge.
158 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2022
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