The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2017 AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17, 2017.
The 2017 event will showcase the top national and international canine athletes and will also include popular attractions such as the Best Bred-by-Exhibitor competition, the AKC National Owner-Handled Series Finals, AKC Meet the Breeds® and the NADD/AKC Dock Diving National Championship. The show will once again take place alongside the AKC Agility Invitational and AKC Obedience Classic, with junior events in each sport.
New to the championship weekend, is the 2017 AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy Stakes. Puppies ages 6 months to 18 months are eligible to compete for the titles of AKC-Royal Canin® National Breed, Group and All-Breed Puppy of the Year, and prize money. All AKC-recognized breeds are eligible to enter.
Heading the panel as Best in Show judge for the 2017 National Championship is Mr. Roger R. Hartinger of Cincinnati, Ohio and Mrs. Paula Hartinger of Cincinnati, Ohio will judge Best Bred-by-Exhibitor in Show.
“We have a most knowledgeable group of judges and we are very pleased to have Roger and Paula heading up the panel this year,” said Show Chairman Dennis B. Sprung.
The National All-Breed Puppy Stakes will be held on Friday, December 15th. Best in Show at the inaugural AKC/Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes will be judged by an elite panel of three All Breed Judges: Mrs. Paula Hartinger, Mr. Roger R. Hartinger and Dr. Steve Keating. These esteemed judges will determine the winner to be crowned the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed (Puppy/Junior) of the Year.
Judges for each of the seven variety groups and the Miscellaneous Classes are:
SPORTING – Mr. Robert Stein – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
HOUND – Mr. Dana P. Cline – Greenwood, South Carolina
WORKING – Mr. Ronald H. Menaker – Jupiter, Florida
TERRIER – Mr. Robert E. Hutton – Louisville, Kentucky
TOY – Mr. Desmond J. Murphy – Monroe, New York
NON-SPORTING – Mrs. Toddie Clark – Decatur, Tennessee
HERDING – Ms. Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine – Ann Arbor, Michigan
MISCELLANEOUS CLASSES – Mrs. Paula Hartinger – Cincinnati, Ohio
BEST JUNIOR HANDLER – Mr. Houston Clark – Decatur, Tennessee
JUNIOR PRELIMS – Valerie Nunes Atkinson and Tammie Sommerson-Wilcox
Judges for the seven Bred-by-Exhibitor variety groups are:
SPORTING – Mrs. Sydney Good – Osprey, Florida
HOUND – Dr. James Edwards – Danbury, North Carolina
WORKING – Ms. Sandy D’Andrea – Lockport, NY
TERRIER – Ms. Pamela Bruce – Etobicoke, Ontario
TOY – Dr. Steve Keating – Dallas, Texas
NON-SPORTING – Mr. Robin L. Stansel – Clayton, North Carolina
HERDING – Mr. James A. Moses – Wentzville, Missouri
Breed and group judges for the AKC-Royal Canin Puppy Stakes are:
SPORTING BREEDS – Mr. Douglas Johnson – Bloomington, Indiana
HOUND BREEDS – Mrs. Patti Widick Neale – Alachua, Florida
WORKING BREEDS – Mrs. Roberta Davies – Brimfield, Massachusetts
TERRIER BREEDS – Mrs. Delores Burkholder – Rockton, Illinois
TOY BREEDS – Dr. Geno Sisneros – Glens Falls, New York
NON-SPORTING BREEDS – Mrs. Linda Tilka – Madeira Beach, Florida
HERDING BREEDS – Mr. William Stebbins – Port St. Lucie, Florida
SPORTING GROUP – Ms. Pamela Bruce – Etobicoke, Ontario
HOUND GROUP – Dr. Kenneth Levison – Tucson, Arizona
WORKING GROUP – Dr. Thomas Davies – Brimfield, Massachusetts
TERRIER GROUP – Mr. Desmond J. Murphy – Monroe, New York
TOY GROUP – Mrs. Marcie Dobkin – Poway, California
NON-SPORTING GROUP – Mr. Desmond J. Murphy – Monroe, New York
HERDING GROUP – Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia – Roswell, Georgia
BREED JUDGING:
Sporting Group: Breed Assignments:
Ms. Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine Retrievers (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling), Retrievers (Chesapeake), Retrievers (Curly-Coated), Retrievers (Golden)
Mr. Dana P. Cline Retrievers (Labrador), Weimaraners
Mr. Jamie Hubbard Spaniels (American Water), Spaniels (Boykin), Spaniels (Clumber), Spaniels (Cocker – ASCOB), Spaniels (Cocker – Black), Spaniels (Cocker – Parti Color), Spaniels (English Cocker), Spaniels (Field), Spaniels (Irish Water), Spaniels (Sussex), Spaniels (Welsh Springer)
Dr. Steve Keating Pointers (German Shorthaired), Pointers (German Wirehaired), Pointers, Vizslas, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, Wirehaired Vizslas
Mrs. Ann F. Yuhasz Brittanys, Lagotti Romagnolli, Retrievers (Flat-Coated), Setters (English), Setters (Gordon), Setters (Irish), Setters (Irish Red & White), Spaniels (English Springer), Spinoni Italiani
Hound Group: Breed Assignments:
Ms. Pamela Bruce Afghan Hounds
Ms. Kathy A. Forbes American English Coonhounds, Basset Hounds, Beagles (Both Varieties), Black and Tan Coonhounds, Bloodhounds, Bluetick Coonhounds, Foxhounds (American), Foxhounds (English), Harriers, Norwegian Elkhounds, Plott Hounds, Red Bone Coonhounds, Treeing Walker Coonhounds
Mr. Robert E. Hutton Ibizan Hounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Portuguese Podengo Pequenos, Scottish Deerhounds, Whippets
Mr. Bill Sahloff Borzoi, Greyhounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Otterhounds, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéens, Salukis
Mr. Robert Stein Cirnechi dell’Etna, Dachshunds (All Varieties)
Ms. Marcia P. Tucker Basenjis, Rhodesian Ridgebacks
WORKING GROUP: Breed Assignments:
Mr. Edd E. Bivin Boerboels, Dogues de Bordeaux, German Pinschers, Komondorok, Mastiffs, Neapolitan Mastiffs
Mr. Houston Clark Akitas, Cane Corso, Chinooks, Giant Schnauzers, Great Pyrenees, Saint Bernards, Standard Schnauzers
Mr. Dana P. Cline Newfoundlands, Portuguese Water Dogs
Mr. Bill Sahloff Bullmastiffs, Great Danes, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Kuvaszok, Samoyeds, Tibetan Mastiffs
Mr. Robin Stansell Bernese Mountain Dogs, Black Russian Terriers
Mrs. Cindy Stansell Alaskan Malamutes, Leonberger, Siberian Huskies
Mr. Robert Stein Boxers
Ms. Marcia P. Tucker Anatolian Shepherd Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers
TERRIER GROUP: Breed Assignments:
Ms. Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine Fox Terriers (Both Varieties), Bull Terriers (Both Varieties), Irish Terriers, Kerry Blue Terriers, Lakeland Terriers, Miniature Bull Terriers, Scottish Terriers, Sealyham Terriers, Standard Manchester Terriers
Mr. Houston Clark Miniature Schnauzers
Mr. Desmond J. Murphy American Staffordshire Terriers, Border Terriers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Glen of Imaal Terriers, Parson Russell Terriers, Rat Terriers, Russell Terriers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers
Mr. Robert Stein Airedale Terriers, American Hairless Terriers, Australian Terriers, Bedlington Terriers, Cesky Terriers, Skye Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Welsh Terriers
Mrs. Ann F. Yuhasz Cairn Terriers, Norfolk Terriers, Norwich Terriers, West Highland White Terriers
TOY GROUP: Breed Assignments:
Mr. Edd E. Bivin Chihuahuas (Both Varieties), Toy Fox Terriers
Ms. Pamela Bruce Japanese Chin, Pomeranians, Pugs
Mr. Houston Clark Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chinese Cresteds, Havanese
Mrs. Toddie Clark Brussels Griffons, English Toy Spaniels (King Charles & Ruby), English Toy Spaniels (Blenheim & Prince Charles), Maltese, Shih Tzus, Silky Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers
Dr. James Edwards Affenpinschers, Miniature Pinschers, Papillons, Pekingese, Toy Manchester Terriers
Mr. Robert E. Hutton Poodles (Toy)
Ms. Marcia P. Tucker Italian Greyhounds
NON-SPORTING GROUP: Breed Assignments:
Mr. Edd E. Bivin Finnish Spitz, Lhasa Apsos
Ms. Marcie S. Dobkin Chow Chows, Coton de Tulear, Schipperkes, Shiba Inu, Tibetan Spaniels
Mr. Robert E. Hutton Poodles (Miniature), Poodles (Standard)
Mr. Desmond J. Murphy Bichon Frises, Dalmatians
Mrs. Inge Semenschin Boston Terriers, Chinese Shar-Pei, Keeshonden, Tibetan Terriers, Xoloitzcuintli
Mrs. Cindy Stansell American Eskimo Dogs, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Löwchen, Norwegian Lundehunds
HERDING GROUP: Breed Assignments:
Mr. Edd E. Bivin Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdogs, Belgian Tervuren, German Shepherd Dogs
Ms. Pamela Bruce Australian Shepherds, Bearded Collies, Beaucerons, Bergamascos, Canaan Dogs, Entlebucher Mountain Dogs, Finnish Lapphunds, Icelandic Sheepdogs, Norwegian Buhunds
Mr. Dana P. Cline Collies (Rough), Collies (Smooth), Polish Lowland Sheepdogs, Shetland Sheepdogs, Spanish Water Dogs, Swedish Vallhunds
Mr. Jamie Hubbard Australian Cattle Dogs, Border Collie
Mr. Sam McDonald Bouviers des Flandres, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Old English Sheepdogs, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Pulik, Pyrenean Shepherds
Mrs. Cindy Stansell Briards
Mrs. Ann F. Yuhasz Berger Picards, Miniature American Shepherds, Pumik
*Panel subject to final approval.
About Best In Show judge Roger R. Hartinger:
Roger R. Hartinger Cincinnati, Ohio, has been involved with dogs since early childhood. His family owned a German Shepherd Dog and a Wire Fox Terrier. While at college, he obtained a Great Dane, a breed he continued to own after marriage.
Mr. Hartinger first bred and exhibited Standard Schnauzers, most of which he finished to championships, and later bred Lakeland Terriers. He began exhibiting in 1965, and both he and his wife, Paula, were AKC Licensed Handlers.
Mr. Hartinger is an all-breed judge who ranks his Working Group assignment at the first AKC/Eukanuba show among the highlights of his judging career.
A lifetime member of the Clermont County and Cincinnati kennel clubs, Mr. Hartinger has served both organizations as president and show chairman. He is a board member of the Dog Judges Association of America and a founding member of the OKI Dog Judges Workshop. Mr. Hartinger has held memberships in many other clubs, including the American Miniature Schnauzer Club, the Buckeye Associated Specialty Clubs (past president), and the Standard Schnauzer Club of America (past president and show chairman).
Mr. Hartinger served as an AKC delegate for 15 years. He served as chairman of the nominating committee among other committee appointments. He thanks his wife and all-breed judging partner, Paula, for having a profound influence on his life.
About Best Bred-By-Exhibitor judge Paula Hartinger:
Mrs. Paula Hartinger of Cincinnati, Ohio, has been judging for over 40 years and is approved for all breeds. She and her husband Roger have been involved in pure-bred dogs for more than 60 years, first starting with Great Danes. In the 1960’s they started exhibiting and breeding Standard Schnauzers, finishing many champions. She also bred Lakeland Terriers, and owned and exhibited some other breeds which she finished.
Also, as a professional handler, she showed and finished many breeds. She began judging in the mid-70’s, and has since judged shows in all of the 50 States and in more than 20 other countries. Those include AKC/Eukanuba and Westminster multiple times, plus World Shows, and other notable shows in the US and around the world.
Her involvement in the dog sport includes a great deal of activity in All-Breed and Specialty Clubs, and also in judges’ education. She has served as show chairman for the Clermont County Kennel Club, Standard Schnauzer Club of America National Specialty, the Standard Schnauzer Club of Cincinnati Specialty, and as an officer or board member of other clubs, including Secretary for all breed clubs and the Dog Judges of America. She is a lifetime member of two All-Breed clubs.
The Brevard Kennel Club, the Central Florida Kennel Club and the Space Coast Kennel Club of Palm Bay shows will precede the National Championship at the Orange County Convention Center on Dec. 12-14, 2017 and a day of specialty and group shows will be held Dec. 15, 2017.
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