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  The Best in Show judge for 2007 is Dr. Robert A. Indeglia of Narragansett, Rhode Island.  Judges for each of the seven Variety Groups in 2007 are: Sporting - Mrs. Jeannette McGinnis of Upland, CA Hound - Mr. Michael J. Dougherty of La Mesa, CA Working - Ms. Jean Fournier of Calhoun, GA Terrier - Dr. Richard Meen of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Toy - Mr. R. William Taylor of Havelock, Quebec, Canada Non-Sporting - Mr. Richard L. Bauer of Fort Lauderdale, FL Herding - Mr. Eric J. Ringle of Fort Lauderdale, FL  Judges for the 165 Breeds and Varieties eligible for competition in 2007 are:  The Junior Showmanship Finals judge for 2007 is Mr. Nicholas P. Urbanek of Glenshaw, PA. The Junior Showmanship Preliminary judges for 2007 are Mr. Peter C.J. Martin of Barrington, IL and Dr. Robert W.T. Myall of Portland, OR.   Competition at The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is held in three different levels. At each level, each competitor is judged in comparison to that breed's STANDARD. The STANDARD is a written description of the ideal specimen of that breed. Generally relating form to function (i.e., the original function that the dog was bred to perform), most standards usually describe general appearance, movement, temperament, and specific physical traits such as height and weight, coat, colors, eye color and shape, ear shape and placement, feet, tail, and more. Some standards can be very specific, some can be rather general and leave much room for individual interpretation by judges. This results in the sport's subjective basis: one judge, applying his or her interpretation of the standard, giving his or her opinion of the best dog on that particular day. Standards are written, maintained and owned by the parent clubs of each breed.
The first of those competitions is in the BREED. There, one judge officiates over an entry that consists of dogs of only one breed. The entry may be only a few dogs or it could be many dogs (more than 40). The judge examines the dogs and ultimately selects one dog as BEST OF BREED (BOB) or BEST OF VARIETY (BOV) and one dog as BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX (BOS). Depending on the number of dogs in the entry, they will also select a number of winners of AWARDS OF MERIT.  Only the dog awarded BEST OF BREED or BEST OF VARIETY advances into the next level of competition, the GROUP. Only the breeds and varieties recognized by the American Kennel Club are judged in the show.
Those are divided into seven different groups (SPORTING, HOUND, WORKING, TERRIER, TOY, NON-SPORTING, HERDING). The BOB or BOV winner advances into its appropriate group.
There, the GROUP judge examines all the dogs and chooses four placements, 1st through 4th. As before, only the Group winner advances. This takes place in each of the seven groups so that there are seven Group winners that advance into the final round of competition, BEST IN SHOW. There, the judge selects one final winner for the ultimate prize, BEST IN SHOW.  At Westminster, the breeds of the Working, Terrier, Toy and Non-Sporting Groups are judged during the day on Monday, and those groups are judged that evening starting at 8 p.m. The breeds of the other three groups, Sporting, Hound and Herding, are judged during the day Tuesday. Those groups are then judged that evening. The seven Group winners from Monday and Tuesday then meet at the end of the evening on Tuesday to determine BEST IN SHOW.
USA Network televises the Group competition both nights and the Best In Show finale on Tuesday night. |
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