2009 AKC National Obedience Invitational

Judges – H. Edward "Ed" Whitney

While sailing on Long Island Sound in 1971, Ed Whitney and his wife, Barbara, started to think about having a companion that could accompany them on their summer cruises. They read an article by Walter Fletcher, in the New York Times, about a Portuguese Water Dog, a dog used by the fishermen in Portugal. The description in the article seemed to be exactly what they were looking for. The article informed them that the first litter of Portuguese Water Dogs had been born June 17 of that year in New Canaan, Connecticut. Ed and Barbara’s dog career started when they purchased a dog from this litter. They soon added Kerry Blue Terriers.

While cruising up and down Long Island Sound, the newfound companion had to go ashore for various reasons. Ed noticed that his dog paid little or no attention when he called him, so Ed enrolled them in obedience. Not only did Ed enjoy the experience, he loved being able to show all his sailing friends how “obedient” his companion was.

Soon after, Ed and Barbara established Spindrift Kennels. This kennel produced the first two American bred Portuguese Water Dog AKC Champions in the breed, the first two UDs, CDXs and CDs in the breed, the first Champion – UD in the breed, and is the foundation stock of many Portuguese Water Dog kennels in the United States. In Kerry Blue's, Spindrift Kennels produced two generations of Champion – UD Kerry's. They have continued to put various other titles on their Portuguese Water Dogs and Kerry Blues.

Ed currently is and has been a member of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, the Nutmeg Portuguese Water Dog Club, the United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club, the Empire Kerry Blue Terrier Club, the Obedience Stewards Club, the Suffolk Obedience Training Club and the PortChest Obedience Training Club.

Ed was approved as an AKC Obedience judge on February 1988 and a AKC Rally judge in January 2005. He was honored to be the first approved Portuguese Water Dog Water Trial judge in 1991 and worked on the committee that set the rules and regulations for Portuguese Water Trials. Ed judged the water trial at the First National Specialty held in 1992.

Ed would like to thank everyone involved in organizing and working at this prestigious event, and he considers it an honor and a privilege to have been asked to participate. He wishes all of these exceptional exhibitors the best of luck and looks forward to an exciting, enjoyable judging assignment.