Meet the 2026 Westminster Judges
BY JESSICA BRAATZ
After the spectacular success of Westminster’s return to Manhattan in 2025, we could not be more excited for next year’s show. 2026 marks The Westminster Kennel Club’s 150th anniversary, and to honor this historic milestone, we’ve assembled a panel of exceptional judges. These judges are historical forces within Westminster. Their history spans decades and all facets of the sport, from breeders to exhibitors to handlers, with some having even won the coveted title of Best in Show themselves. In just six months, they’ll stand on the iconic green carpet to crown the ultimate victor and make countless dreams a reality. As we approach this landmark anniversary, we asked our judges to reflect on their own Westminster history, offering a glimpse into their world and stories while exploring what Westminster means to them.
Best in Show: Mr. David Fitzpatrick of East Berlin, Pennsylvania
Our Best in Show judge, Mr. David Fitzpatrick, is up first, with this year marking his 55th consecutive year as a member of the dog fancy. He grew up obsessed with all things dog, but could not have one himself as a child. Then, his knowledge of dog shows extended to watching Westminster on television and finding Popular Dogs magazines in his aunt’s garage. Still, he was fascinated long before attending his first show. At 14, though, he began working part-time for a local Delaware handler and breeder, and she took him to shows as often as he could get away. Soon, he was hooked for life.
Throughout his time in the dog world, he has been a pioneer. Pekingese handled by, bred by, or owned by David have had the honor of winning Best in Show at Westminster in 2012 and 2021, as well as Reserve Best in Show in 2023. For him and his dogs, Westminster has always been the pinnacle, and all practice and efforts were to prepare for it. He brings his extensive knowledge of his breed and countless others to his 2026 Best in Show judging assignment.
When asked what he looks forward to the most with his assignment, he responded, “The challenge of evaluating seven outstanding specimens sent forward by experts is the job at hand. It is quite an honor and privilege to be a part of the sport’s history by judging at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and I want to live up to the responsibility, yet still enjoy the moment.” For David, Westminster is made of memories, and he treasures the gathering of great dogs, people, and the dog-loving public, all brought together annually.
When he looks back at his years of Westminster history, other than his own dog’s successes, the memory he recalls most fondly is the Yorkshire Terrier, Ch. Cede Higgins, winning Best in Show in 1978 under Mrs. James Edward Clark. “That little dog commanded all the attention and stole the show! It was very exciting, and I still get goosebumps thinking about it.”
Hound Group: Mr. Michael Canalizo of Mill Neck, New York
Like many of our treasured fanciers, Mr. Michael Canalizo’s experience in the dog world began as a family affair. His introduction to the sport started when his parents visited the Grandeur Kennel of Sunny Shay in 1961, soon after Ch. Shirkhan of Grandeur won Best in Show at Westminster in 1957. While looking at puppies, his father, Jim, asked Sunny whether he should buy a show potential puppy. Without hesitation, Sunny replied, “Buy the show dog. You’ll see the world!” They did, and the rest is history. Both of his parents went on to be successful breeders, then Group and Best in Show judges, which certainly took them around the world. His mother, Lee, would judge at Westminster three times, including the Hound Group in 1994.
Michael dove into the sport and handled professionally until he took over as the private kennel manager of the same Grandeur Afghan Hounds in 1978. After decades of handling, he transitioned to judging in 2000, then to working for the American Kennel Club from 2005 until 2016, when he returned to judging once more. He attended his first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 1963 and has since been a spectator, exhibitor, or judge for 62 of the last 63 years, missing the show only once in 2005. Regarding his Hound Group judging assignment this year, he “will savor the history I have with Westminster. I know the quality of the dogs will be unmatched. I will relive my last time on the green carpet, exactly 30 years prior, winning the Hound Group in 1996.”
In addition to his Group win, Mr. Canalizo has won several Group placements and treasures the memory of watching his mother judge the Hound Group in 1994. Tradition, for him, came in the form of a familiar friend. “For as long as I can remember, I always set up at the top of the ramp to catch the cool updraft and be next to a great friend, Bobby Fowler. We stood side by side when the anthem played every year. I cried like a baby the year after Bobby passed, when he wasn’t there with me.”
Toy Group: Mrs. Charlotte Patterson of Destin, Florida
Mrs. Charlotte Patterson began her journey in the dog world in 1969, after purchasing her first well-bred female Pug. At the encouragement of her Pug’s breeder, she soon attended her very first dog show, the National Capitol Kennel Club, in the armory in downtown Washington. She spent the day touring the benches, and as the saying goes, she was hooked.
Since then, Charlotte has had an admirable career within the dog world, breeding her first litter in 1972 before eventually becoming a professional handler. In 1990, she began her transition into judging and has judged at The Westminster Kennel Club seven times. Reflecting on her assignments, she said, “The experience of Westminster is hard to describe in a few words, and the honor of judging there is a memory to be treasured. To have the opportunity to judge the best, meet and talk with dog show icons, and hope your decisions make our sport better—what a gift!”
With so many incredible Westminster memories and judging assignments, it was hard to pick a favorite, but Mrs. Patterson said her first assignment in 2001 immediately came to mind. Then, she stood in the ring at this beloved show, with the National Anthem playing and her husband watching proudly. Later that day, as she presented an exhibitor with a breed ribbon, a commotion erupted outside the ring. The owner was so excited that he fainted!
When asked about her favorite Westminster tradition, she remarked, “No trip to Westminster is complete without a visit to Macy’s, a hot dog from a street vendor, and watching every exhibit compete in the Groups. Great stuff and great memories.”
Non-Sporting Group: Mr. Eugene Blake of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Mr. Eugene Blake’s journey with dogs began in 1951 at The Pink Poodle Shop in Houston, Texas, where he worked as a dog bather for Hazel Hamm. It wasn’t until 1955, however, that he was first introduced to the world of conformation, accompanying Hazel and her Maltese to a local show. He was instantly mesmerized by the entire experience, and it was his first time being introduced to so many different purebred dogs. Looking back on this day, he said, “As I watched Best in Show, I decided I wanted to learn everything I could about the sport. I wanted to know why and how that judge was able to pick just one dog as the ultimate winner of the day.” And since then, he has. Eugene’s career in dogs is remarkable, spanning decades and all facets. He worked as a professional handler for 33 years before ultimately transitioning to judging in 1990.
His history with Westminster is extensive, having judged at the show three prior times, including the Hound Group in 2022. Then, he awarded first place to the Bloodhound that would ultimately win Best in Show. For Mr. Blake, the show is an opportunity to visit with so many people and friends from around the world, as Westminster attracts the very best breeders, handlers, and exhibitors every year. He always arrives when the show begins, so he has the entire day to enjoy the judging and people. In judging the Non-Sporting Group for 2026, his greatest desire is to do the best job, to the best of his ability. He will select the very best dogs, judged against their AKC breed standard.
Mr. Blake’s favorite Westminster memory is of his first trip to the show in 1960. “The first time in New York City is exhilarating by itself—add in Westminster, and now you have memories that last a lifetime. I have two other favorite memories. The first is winning the Hound Group in 1973 with an Afghan Hound, Ch. Khayam’s Apollo, judged by Mr. Joe Tacker. The second is finishing a Miniature Poodle in 1979, judged by Mr. Frank Sabella. Mr. Sabella won Best in Show at Westminster in 1973 with a Standard Poodle, Ch. Acadia Command Performance.”
Herding Group: Mrs. Sheree Moses Combs of Wardensville, West Virginia
Mrs. Sheree Moses Combs has always loved animals and grew up with quite the menagerie, consistently owning a German Shepherd, often along with another breed. Her parents were German, and her first introduction to dog sports was through Schutzhund as a teenager. She was also the stereotypical science research geek, with a particular interest in genetics, which led to her breeding her first litter of GSDs at 17. When she went to college and didn’t have much time for training, she attended her first conformation show, and her hobby quickly became an obsession.
Eventually, she pivoted to showing dogs for other people, met her ex-husband, and was blessed to have the opportunity to be involved with the best dogs and clients, many of whom were very successful at Westminster. Throughout her handling career, she still maintained her own breeding program, which is closest to her heart. She has bred over 250 champions, including Ch. Kaleef’s Mercedes, and it was an unbelievable thrill to watch Mercedes win Reserve Best in Show at Westminster in 2024.
With her 2026 Herding Group judging assignment, Mrs. Moses Combs looks forward to the opportunity to see the very best dogs of the group. On the carpet that night, she will relive her favorite Westminster memories. Immediately coming to mind was watching Mercedes with her family, especially her daughter, and seeing the absolute joy on Cynthian’s face at her win. So much more than a show dog, Mercedes has been a pet and companion first. While all of her dogs are family, Mercedes has been so special to Sheree because Mercedes’ great-grandmother, Tenacity, was her heart dog, and she still sees her when looking at Mercedes.
When reflecting on one of her Westminster traditions, Sheree said, “No trip to NYC is complete without a bagel from at least one deli!”
Sporting Group: Mr. Douglas Johnson of Bloomington, Indiana
Mr. Douglas Johnson grew up surrounded by dogs, working at a vet clinic cleaning runs and walking dogs. One weekend, though, a Clumber Spaniel came to stay, and he found himself immediately taken with the unique breed. After some research, he found a local breeder and mentor who got him involved in showing. And, the rest, as they say, is history!
Since then, he has bred more than 250 AKC Champions, including two Westminster Best in Show winners. He currently balances his breeding program while also judging all over the world. This will be his seventh Westminster judging assignment, and he is keenly aware of the honor and privilege of being invited to judge at the show. Of his assignment, he is most looking forward to the challenge of judging a competitive group of excellent Sporting dogs. He has a unique history with the Sporting group, having bred three previous group winners, and also judging it once before in 2019. He understands very well the level required to win it, and the bar will be set high.
Stump’s Best in Show win in 2009 is the highlight of Mr. Johnson’s Westminster memories, considering Stump’s record-setting age and triumphant return to the Best in Show ring. Of that evening, he said, “It was exciting to win the show with such a wonderful example of the breed, and to share it with amazing owners and handlers was a dream come true. Considering how rare Sussex Spaniels are, with fewer than 30 born most years, to see your work acknowledged at this show is the ultimate honor.”
His tradition is to bring his best, whether showing or judging. “You must bring your A-game!” And he knows that on that night, the breeders will bring their best, and it will be exhilarating to judge on the floor of Madison Square Garden.
Working Group: Mrs. Sioux Forsyth-Green of Pinehurst, North Carolina
Mrs. Sioux Forsyth-Green is a third-generation dog handler on both sides of her family. Her paternal grandfather brought Scottish Terriers and Dachshunds from Scotland, while her maternal grandmother had Airedales. She was going to dog shows while still in the womb and handled her first dog to its championship when she was only three years old. You could say dog shows are in her DNA.
After a successful career in conformation, Sioux was approved to judge her first six breeds in August 2016. Now, she is looking forward to her third judging assignment at Westminster, judging the Working Group on the floor of the iconic Madison Square Garden. Mrs. Forsyth-Green loves everything about Westminster, including the city, the pageantry, and the quality of the dogs she will have the privilege to judge. Her annual tradition is to come to New York City early with her husband so they can “enjoy a wonderful meal and at least one Broadway show.”
You could say that Sioux’s love for the show is in her DNA, too, as her parents are the only married couple to have both won Best in Show at Westminster. While Sioux has decades of Westminster memories, her most treasured was watching her father win the Hound Group in 1981, the year her parents retired from being professional dog handlers.
Terrier Group: Mrs. Polly Smith of St. Stephens Church, Virginia
Mrs. Polly Smith was first introduced to dog shows by her grandparents’ neighbor, who raised and showed Chow Chows. Growing up, she had the fun of playing with their dogs and pretending to train them for dog shows. She didn’t begin showing dogs seriously, though, until after college, when she started with a German Shepherd. In the ‘60s, Polly, along with her late husband Dr. Robert Smith, started breeding and showing American Foxhounds under the Hazira kennel prefix. Hazira produced numerous champions, Best in Show winners, and Best in Specialty winners over several decades. They also bred Beagle and Welsh Terrier champions.
Polly was a founding member of several kennel clubs, including the American Foxhound Club, Middle Peninsula Kennel Club of Virginia, Potomac Hound Club, Nashville Dog Training Club, and the Brandon Kennel Club. As an AKC licensed All-Breed Judge, Polly is one of the American Kennel Club’s most treasured assets and is constantly in demand.
Mrs. Smith has competed, stewarded, and judged at The Westminster Kennel Club on numerous occasions, including judging the Hound Group in 2017. This year, she most looks forward to the excitement of seeing the best Terriers in the country in one ring and having the pleasure of judging them. Of her many Westminster memories, her favorite is showing their American Foxhound for the first time at the old Garden in 1963. And no trip to the city is complete, for her, without “lunch on Sunday with good friends.”
Junior Showmanship Finals: Mr. Michael Faulkner of Center Cross, Virginia
As a third-generation fancier, Mr. Michael Faulkner has been involved in the sport his entire life. His passion for dogs has carried him across every facet of conformation, from Junior Showmanship to professional handler, now breeder-owner-handler, judge, and mentor. Throughout his 30-year-long judging career, he has balanced an impressive and extensive breeding program, breeding and handling multiple Best in Show and National Specialty winning Golden Retrievers, currently under the Woodspoint/Verdoro prefixes. Additionally, Mr. Faulkner has owned and bred champions, group winners, and specialty winners in the following breeds: Pointers, Field Spaniels, Flat-Coated Retrievers, English Springer Spaniels, Black & Tan Coonhounds, and Pugs.
Mr. Faulkner is no stranger to the green carpet and has had many successes on both sides of the ring, as a judge and exhibitor. In 1994 and 1995, Michael piloted the Golden Retriever “Meg” to back-to-back Best of Breed wins at The Westminster Kennel Club, placing third and second in the Sporting Group. He has had the distinct honor of judging numerous breeds at Westminster, along with the Herding Group in 2024. He has fond memories of his first Westminster Group judging assignment as well, taking to the Garden floor in 2006 to judge the Sporting Group. Notably, that year marked both his and current Westminster President Dr. Donald Sturz’s first Westminster Group judging assignments.
This year, he is honored to select the Best Junior Handler. As a former Junior Handler himself, he sees this assignment as an opportunity to pay it forward and can think of no greater honor. With each judging assignment, he treasures the gathering of breeders, handlers, exhibitors, and spectators from around the world who unite in support of the history and significance of The Westminster Kennel Club. He is proud to now serve as a Member of the Club and carry on its storied legacy. Despite Mr. Faulkner’s lengthy association with Westminster, one memory stood out as his most cherished: “Years ago, sitting in a totally empty Madison Square Garden, high in the stands with my dear friend, pondering our first Group judging assignments.”
Junior Showmanship Preliminaries: Ms. Valerie Nunes-Atkinson of Temecula, California
Ms. Valerie Nunes-Atkinson was first introduced to dog sports at the age of seven, when her father bought a German Shorthaired Pointer to serve as both his hunting partner and family companion. Later, a couple who had purchased a puppy from their first litter introduced the family to conformation, and when Valerie was nine, they took her to her first show. That was the beginning, and it quickly took on a life of its own, becoming a family event they enjoyed together. Since then, she has taken over her dad’s breeding program and embraced it wholeheartedly while also balancing handling professionally and judging Junior Showmanship.
In 2020, Ms. Nunes-Atkinson had the honor of judging Best Junior Handler at Westminster, an experience she enjoyed immensely. This year, she is excited for the opportunity to judge the Preliminaries, confident that it will be just as challenging as Westminster always brings the best of the best. She will also relive her own Junior memories, including winning Best Junior Handler at age 15 with a dog she had never shown before.
Her favorite memory, though, was winning Best in Show with her home-bred dog CJ, who can be traced back to her very first GSP Heidi. Other memories include her first Best in Show win at Westminster with Carlee in 2005, winning the Hound Group in 2018, and the Sporting Group in 2021, along with commentating for FOX in 2023.
No trip to Westminster is complete for Valerie without great food, Broadway, parties, and visiting with friends she doesn’t often get to see. Of this year’s assignment, she said, “The return to Madison Square Garden is so sentimental. It brings me back to that 10-year-old girl who made her first trip to New York to compete in Junior Showmanship and watch all the beautiful dogs. It was then that my dreams were born. Someday, I wanted to be in that center ring.”
Junior Showmanship Preliminaries: Mr. Jason Hoke of Madison, Wisconsin
Mr. Jason Hoke is a second-generation dog man. While originally starting with German Shepherds and Great Danes, he has also bred Pekingese, Wirehaired Dachshunds, and Maltese. In addition to judging Junior Showmanship, Mr. Hoke also judges the Sporting, Hound, Toy, and Non-Sporting Groups, as well as some breeds in other groups. His judging career has taken him around the world, affording him the honor of judging in 42 countries.
Jason has attended Westminster since the 1980s and has had the privilege of judging at the show four prior times. This year, he looks forward to judging the Junior Showmanship Preliminaries as his own conformation journey began in Juniors. Judging the event that first fostered his passion for the sport is a distinct honor and sure to bring back cherished memories.
Beyond his time spent judging, Mr. Hoke has served as the Westminster Broadcast Analyst for FOX Sports for nine years, covering both the daytime and nighttime broadcasts. Drawing upon his knowledge of the dog world and sharing it with the public has been gratifying and an opportunity he looks forward to annually. When asked about his favorite Westminster memory, he spoke of his biggest win in the Maltese ring. Then, he had the thrill of winning Best of Breed over the top-winning Maltese of all time. Every year, Jason takes the time to pause, step onto the green carpet early in the morning, and listen to the National Anthem, soaking in the moment before the show begins.
