Judges Bios - Summer Cluster 2023
Dr. Donald Sturz - NY, USA
Dr. Donald Sturz began participating in the sport of dogs as a child. He was ranked as the number one Junior Handler in the U.S. for three consecutive years. Dr. Sturz has bred, owned, and handled All-Breed and Specialty Best in Show winners and nationally ranked dogs in a variety of breeds, most notably Golden Retrievers, Miniature Poodles, and Pembroke Welsh Corgis. He currently owns a French Bulldog and a Bull Terrier.
Dr. Sturz has adjudicated at major all-breed and specialty shows worldwide, including ten times at the Westminster Kennel Club show and Best in Show at Westminster in 2022. In 2020, he was voted Judge of the Year at the Purina Pro Plan® Show Dogs of the Year award ceremony.
He currently serves as the President of the Westminster Kennel Club and is Vice-President of the Poodle Club of America. He is a member of the Westchester Kennel Club and the Bull Terrier Club of America. He was honored with ROM judging status by the Bull Terrier Club of America.
Dr. Lucie Paradis - QC, Canada
Breeder Pembroke Welsh Corgi since 1978 under Joska kennel perm reg
I graduated from veterinarian school in Montreal in1977, I am semi retired and still practice in Quebec city in small animal practice, at Clinique Maguire Médecine Vétérinaire, wich I just sold to my ex partner Marie-Christine Lefrançois, dmv. The Clinic specialize in reproduction, we have a 60% dogs 40% cats practice.
I owned my first Corgi in 1978 from Polruan kennel (Rosalie Harvie), who was my mentor in the breed.
I have bred many canadian and american champions, have done obedience, rally and recently in agility.
I am not breeding as much these last years, but still own 6 Corgis.I coown also 3 whippets with Forgetmenot kennel (Joanne Boudreault). I also have bred 2 litters in the past of English Cocker Spaniel.
I began judging in 2000, and I am All Breed since 2017.
I love judging, travelling, meeting new friends, and seeing some very nice dogs all over the world. It gives me faith in purebred breeding.
My husband Sylvain Deschamps loves to show our dogs. He is working as an event manager in a foundation Cité-Joie, wich provides camps for handicap people.
I have a son 41 years old , Samuel, an ingeneer, and 2 beautiful granddaughters 12 & 14 years old, Alicia & Olivia.
My hobby is riding, in the hunter ring, and I am still showing here in our province, and in winter in Florida. So horses and dogs are my passion.
I have been in the past on the Discilipline Committee, and also on the Appeal Committee. I am now member of the Registration committee at CKC.
I am very happy to have been invited to judge at your shows.
Ekarat Sangkunakup - Thailand
Ekarat Sangkunakup of Thailand, began his involvement with American show dogs in 1982.
Best known in the United States for his top winning Chow Chows and Dobermans. He has also had top winning Pomeranians , Shih Tzu , English Pointers, Smooth Fox Terriers, American Cockers, and Golden Retrievers.
Proudly exhibiting under the United prefix, obtaining numerous Championships across the world. United Chow Chows were the first Thai bred dogs shown competitively in the US, and remain the premier representative of Thailand for their excellent quality, in America, and abroad.
Chow Chows bred or owned by Mr. Sangkunakup have amassed over 550 All-Breed Best in Shows, over 800 All-Breed Best Baby in Shows worldwide. In addition, over 200 Best in Shows with other breeds owned and shown over the last twenty years.
United Kennels has had more than twenty different dogs hold the #1 position both in the US and Thailand. United Chows have ranked #1 Chow Chow in the breed more than twenty times in Thailand, and extremely successful in the United States and Asia, having become the #1 Chow in various countries.
Recognized throughout the world for his in-depth knowledge of canine structure and breed type.
The core of his philosophy as a breeder/judge, the preservation of the breed standards and type, ultimately depends upon the collaboration and education of dog breeders worldwide. Breeding and judging according to the standard is of the utmost importance to maintain the integrity of the breeds, and promoting continuous education for the purpose of the Preservation Breeder.
The first SouthEast Asian Judge to have judged Nationals in many countries including the United States and Canada. The first Thai Judge to have judged at the World Dog Show.
Licensed All Breed Judge
Award Challenge Certificates and CACIBS at CC/CACIB at all breed Champion Show levels by The Kennel Club Association of Thailand and FCI International Dog Shows, everywhere dogs are exhibited.
As an all breed judge, with assignments around the world including in the U.S.A , Canada , South America , Russia , Scandinavian, Europe , Australia , New Zealand , Asia as well as his native Thailand .
Actively pursuing his judging career domestically and abroad, he continues to campaign his outstanding Thai bred dogs in Thailand and the United States.
Gerardo Bernard - Mexico
Gerardo Bernard, graduated with a degree in marketing and business administration, has been involved in the dog world since he was 12 years old. His interest in dog shows began with his aunt, with Labrador Retrievers and German Shorthaired Pointers. He competed as a Junior Handler right from the time he first started in the dog world and between 1999 and 2003 he was in the Top 4 Junior Handlers in Mexico. As a Junior, he handled Labrador Retrievers, American Cocker Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers, Golden Retrievers and Dobermans.
Along with his aunt, he has bred Labrador Retrievers and German Shorthaired Pointers under the FCI registered kennel name: “ALGERLAND”. He has also owned a Weimaraner and a German Wirehaired Pointer.
He has exhibited dogs and has made up, Grand Mexican, American, Grand American, International, Pan-American, Latin-American and FCI-World championships. He has also placed his dogs as number 1 in the group (FCI group 7) in Mexico for several years.
In 2003 Gerardo was granted his Judge’s license from the Federación Canófila Mexicana, A.C. He has assisted Judge’s seminars, handler’s seminars, training seminars and grooming seminars both in Mexico and in the USA; and has been part of the Junior Handler seminar given by the Federación Canófila Mexicana, AC and speaker of different lectures in judge’s seminars.
Gerardo works at the Federación Canófila Mexicana, A.C. in the dog shows department, and is involved with the activities for the youngsters in the country (Seminars, junior handlers, and workshops of kids). He was appointed, by the FCI, as one of the founding members of the FCI Youth. Initiative proposed by FCI’s present to encourage children, youngsters, and young adult to participate in cynological activities around the world. He is teacher at the FCM Veterinary School in the subject “Dog Show Judging”
He has judged shows in different states in Mexico, and judged in the USA, in Central and South America, Asia and Australia.
Joe and Janet Lobb - ON, Canada
CKC All Breed Judges, Joe and Janet Lobb live in a small village about 2 1/2 hrs west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We have two grown children, a daughter and a son, a son-in-law and two beautiful young Grand Daughters.
Now both retired, Janet enjoyed a 30 year career as a Data Base administrator for a Window and Door Manufacturer. Joe was involved in the Farm Equipment industry in Sales and Territory Management for over 45 years.
As far as Dog Show involvement, we are ‘Life’ members of the Canadian Kennel Club and belong to the ‘Canadian Dog Judges Association’. We were founding members of the Bluewater Kennel Club which existed for over 35 years. We are also currently members of the American Fox Terrier Club and German Shepherd Dog Club of Canada.
We have limited our breeding and showing due to our involvement in dog judging and try to attend major Dog Show Events and Specialties in the U.S.A. and Canada for education & observation purposes. We are also quite interested in All Livestock exhibitions and try to attend these events as much as possible.
Janet started judging (1996) a few years earlier than Joe and is CKC licensed for ‘All Breeds’
Joe continued to show dogs for others for a couple more years due to some handling commitments, before jumping into the ‘Judging ring’ (2002) but is now also CKC licensed to judge ‘All Breeds”.
We started “in dogs” in 1974 with a Doberman dog of show quality. Our first litter was whelped in 1977 under the ‘Dobenhaus’ prefix. We were always a small kennel breeding only one litter per year. There have been many champions along the way from all litters, with many highlights. These include, Best in show, group winners, best in show puppy awards, several “awards of merit” at National specialties, best of winners at the Canadian national and “best in show” at the Doberman Pinscher club of Canada National Specialty in 1991. All of these dogs were breeder/owner handled. We also bred and owned the top producing female in Canada in 1990, with 7 champions finished that year, which in turn made us the Pedigree Pal Breeder of the year for Dobermans in Canada.( tied that year with Wrath/Liberator) In the late 1990’s we were also co-breeders of Canada’s Top Doberman.
In 1988 we added the smooth fox terrier breed under the” FauxPaw” prefix to our kennel. We started with a Ch.Tarb the Brat granddaughter, who gave us multiple Canadian and American champions in her two litters. We have had Canada’s ‘top smooth’ on several occasions, and dogs that were either owned or bred by us have won the Canadian National Specialty three times. A particular win of note would be AOM at the American National (Montgomery) in an entry of one hundred and sixty seven.
Over the years we have had many excellent dogs of other breeds in our household and in our charge, some of which we owned and some we handled for other breeders and owners.
We handled professionally,(Joe primary and Janet more as assistant and backup) for twenty-five years. This consisted of some of Canada’s top or top ranked dogs …. Handled breeds of note were Dobermans, Bernese Mtn dogs, Boxers, Australian cattle dogs, German Shepherd, Bouvier, Collies, Smooth fox terriers, Wheatens, Pugs, Chins, Setters, Springers, Goldens, Labs, Greyhounds, and two B&T Coonhounds,(both owner handled BIS winners.) We also owned, exhibited and are involved with the German Shepherd breed and handled at many Specialty events in the earlier years and now active members with the National club for GSD.
All Breed Handling highlights would include winning All Breed BIS and Specialty BIS( incl National events) with many of the above mentioned breeds. Joe piloted a Canadian bred Bernese Mtn. Dog to Best in Show at the American National Specialty as well.
Margaret Jones - BC, Canada
I am a retired Health Care Administrator who has been showing and training dogs since 1965, when I obtained my first Irish setter. Since then my husband and I have shared our home with Irish Setters, Cairn Terriers, Boxers and a number of different breeds including, Doberman Pinschers, a Great Dane, Afghan Hound and a Tibetan Mastiff.
As a small breeding kennel we raised and bred Irish Setters, Boxers and Cairn Terriers under the Kian Prefix and exhibited them to Group, Specialty and Best in Show wins.
We gained top Dog Awards and many Obedience titles with our Irish Setters and Boxers. Cairn terriers do not excel in the Obedience ring but they love to work at Rally, Scent detection and Earth sports.
As an All breed Judge I have been privileged to judge many times at All Breed and Specialty shows in Asia, Australia, Europe, South Africa, South America, U.K., Canada and USA.
I am a Life member of the Canadian Kennel Club and served as a Director of the Canadian Kennel Club Board from 2003-2011. During that time I served on several Committees and Co-Chaired the CKC Charity Dog Show
I am Past President of the Canadian Dog Judges Association and Immediate Past President of the BC All Terrier Club, Cairn terrier Club Canada, and Tyee Kennel Club.
I am still actively involved with local and National Breed Clubs.
Rhonda Silver - OR, USA
To follow…
Regina Bryant - CA, USA
To follow…
Judges Bios - Summer Cluster 2022
Tanya Ahlman-Stockmari - Finland
Tanya and Harto met for the first time in 1978 at the yard of the Turku mental hospital. It was six o’clock in the morning and they were on their way to the Moss dog show in Norway. Tanya and Harto were married 1987 in Stockholm at the church of the finnish ministry on their way PMV-87 show in Norway which naturally became the destination of their honeymoon.
Dogs play a role in every part of Tanya’s and Harto’s life. They live with their daughter Nora in Koski TL. Tanya is a kindergarden teacher and Harto has master’s degree in economics. Their activities include going to art and antique auctions in addition to their dogs. Harto is also making a genealogy study and goes horseback riding with Nora. Tanya is involved in governing the kennelpiiri of Varsinais-Suomi and is a regional trainer. She is also an enthusiastic sports follower and has also
been the show director of Varsinais-Suomi kennelpiiri.
Harto began breeding Australian Terriers in 1972 with the kennelname Sassatown. Harto’s first dog was Suvisalon Pamela. Behind the current litters there is a line of 10 generations of his own bitches. In addition to Australian Terriers Harto breeds Scottish Deerhounds and Poodles.
In Tanya’s childhood home there was a Miniature Pincher from kennel Söpölä which was bred by Tanya’s aunt Kirsi Salminen. Tanya used to take her aunt’s dogs into shows and play around with them. Tanya has bred Pomerians like Kirsti. “We brought white, black&tan and multicolored Pomerians into Finland, but we gave them up because of their tendency to bark so much”. After the Miniature Pincher she had a medium sized p&s Schnauzer from kennel Miha. Tanya’s kennel is named Stranger’s after the famous old song “Strangers in the night” by Frank Sinatra. Like Harto, Tanya also breeds Australian Terriers.
Both Tanya and Harto have also always had so called rescue-dogs. (rescue-dog means a dog that has been given away for one reason or the other and has been given a new home thus saving it’s life) Tanya has a real knack in finding them. They’ve had eg. New Foundland -dog, Norwich Terrier, long-haired Wienerdog, Whippet… rescue-dogs all.
“Our daughter Nora insisted in having a Poodle for herself, so three years ago at Valentine’s day we brought home a medium-sized apricose-colored Poodle”. Now our home is a home for several white, apricose and black Poodles ranging from medium to toy-sized.
Harto wanted to expand his 20 years show, breeding and association activity experience. He became a judge in 1989. As for Tanya it was a natural step forward in her dog breeding career. They were probably the first married couple who graduaded from the same judging course. In addition to judging he has also been the chairman of Australian Terrier -club and an expert member for the breeding committee for two seasons. One season as the chairman of Finnish Pekingese club, two years in the board of Terrier organization and in various show committees. Harto was the first Australian Terrier breeder to be given the Vuolasvirta award and he has also been awarded Turunmaa kennel association’s silver medal, Finnish kennel club’s pennant and SUKOKA breeder’s award for being the first person to breed Australian Terriers in Finland.
Tanya has been a member of board in the Australian Terrier club, chairman of the breeding committee and a member of board and
a judge-member of Finnish Pegingese club. In addition Tanya has been a judge-member of breeding committee of Bichon Frise club of Finland and has been involved in several show committees. Tanya has been making Aussilehti, Pekelehti, year books and the membership publication of Turunmaa kennel association among others. Also Tanya has been awarded Turunmaa kennel assosiation’s silver medal as well as the silver medal and pennant of Finnish kennel club.
Michael and Patricia Lanctot - Ontario
We have been breeding Labrador Retrievers under the Ebonylane prefix since 1974. Our kennel name became permanently registered with the Canadian Kennel Club in 1979. Dogs bearing the Ebonylane prefix can be found in virtually every corner of the world.
We are very proud to have been named “Pedigree Pal Breeders of the Year” in 1991. Our Motto has always been to breed dogs with type, temperament and trainability. To this end we have produced over 100 champions, many of which are in hunting homes and top ranking in obedience trial competition. There are many Ebonylane seeing eye dogs, dogs that are used in drug detection, as well as search and rescue. First and foremost we would like to believe that all our Ebonylane dogs are valued family companions.
In 1984 our breeding ranked Top in Breed competition in both Canada and the United States – Am.Can.Ch. Ebonylane’s Buccaneer Gold in Canada and Am.Can.Ch. Ebonylane’s Yellow Poplar in the USA. The dogs were both out of Am.Can.Ch. Ebonylane’s Cotton Candy. Their sires were litter brothers – Am.Can.Ch Ebonylane’s Aslan (top champion producing sire of all time) and multiple Best in Specialty winner Am.Can.Ch. Ebonylane’s Midnite Bandit.
We have been members of the Canadian Kennel Club since 1974. We were founding members of the Labrador Retriever Club of Canada and the Atlantic Labrador Retriever Club. We are both Life Members of the Labrador Owners Club, Hochelaga Kennel Club, Honourary Life members of the Chateauguay Valley Kennel Club as well as members of the Cornwall Kennel Club, The Canadian Dog Judges Association and the American Dog Judges Association.
We were both approved to judge at Championship shows by the Canadian Kennel in 1994 and are now both licensed to judge All Breeds. In addition to all the provinces of Canada, we have judged in Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, China, Columbia, Holland, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Thailand and 19 states of the USA.
In our other lives, Pat is a retired Paramedic. Mike is a retired CN railroad Field Manager of Claim Services for the Atlantic Provinces and has recently retired again from owning and operating his own personal computer business.
Over the years we have been very fortunate to enrich our lives with our dogs and the people we have met through them.
John and Colette Muldoon - Ireland
Colette judges all breeds and Groups at international level. She has judged many times in most European countries and Australia. She serves on the Judges Committee of The Irish Kennel Club and is Secretary of an all Breed Championship Show; Secretary of Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club; President of Bichon Frise, German Spitz, and Dogue De Bordeaux Clubs; and Chairman of Yorkshire Terrier Club. She has been involved with show dogs over 30 years, and has many Champions in several Breeds. Currently she has Samoyeds, Bichon Frise, and Yorkshire Terriers. Colette was approved as an ALL BREEDS judge in November 2009.
John judges all breeds at international shows. He has judged all over Europe, and has returned many times to all the shows he judged. John has been involved in showing over 30 years now. His main breeds are Bichon Frise, Samoyeds, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, German Spitz and Tibetan Terriers.
Brenda Wilson - British Columbia
Ms. Brenda Wilson has bred, owned and exhibited Golden Retrievers, German Shorthair Pointers, Labrador Retrievers, Old English Sheepdog, Flat Coat Retrievers and Pugs. She has been judging since 2007.