AKC judges and German line dogs - Page 1

For poops and giggles, I plan to enter my solid black working line male in an AKC conformation show. (Dont laugh, Im having fun!)

 I have 6 judges to choose from (6 diffrent shows in 2 weekends) Does any one know of these judges and is one fonder of the German lines than another?

Mr. James E Noe
Mr. Christopher Tilghman Neale
Mrs. Christina Hubbell
Ms. Charlotte Clem McGowan
Ms. Joyce A Vanek
Mr. Norman B. Kenney

Thanks in advance :)

JoAnn Letcher
vonhartwin.com

I'm not familiar at all with conformation showing, especially with the AKC.

I just wanted to wish you luck.  Please report back and let us know how it went.  I've always been tempted to show my girl, on a lark more than anything.

Have fun! That IS what's important. Sorry, can't help you on the judges.  Let us know how it goes. Have you been to any handling classes?  They are really helpful. 

dogladyj, I showed AKC for a lot of years. Finished a few  GSD Champions.

In the all breed shows, it has absolutely nothing to do with your dogs. You need to understand going in that most of these judges have never owned, bred or have knowledge of the GSD.

They put up the handler. I showed my V rated bitch  (www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/582834.html) in a 4 day cluster last year. We got reserve one day.

The same handler went winners every day, on the third day it was with a young female with a floppy, down  ear.. You will find out pretty quick that the dog really does not matter in AKC. The judges reward the handlers who show up every week. And like I said, I have shown AKC for 30 years, know how it works. So it's not sour grapes, just reality.

Best to you and your dog,
Rik

Have absolutely no clue what they will do with a non-american line GSD but here is what I know about the judges.  The only one I would personally avoid is Norm Kenney.

James Noe - Collie breeder.  Likes expression and movement.
 
Christopher Tilghman Neale - Had Siberians and wife has/had afghans.  Looks for sound structure and movement.

Christina Hubbell - Not sure what her breed is.  Will put up a big dog.  Likes a typey head.

Charlotte Clem McGowan - Not sure what her breed is.  Likes a balanced dog and a free-stacking dog (but perhaps not so much in GSDs).

Joyce Vanek - longtime Portugese Water Dog breeder.  Likes movement and is good with puppies.

Norman Kenney - Not sure of his breed.  He is on my DNS (do not show to) list.  I have found him to be rude and obnoxious.

Hi You might go with Victor Noe,,,He is a good judge...Maybe...My trainer says he is..

ps, You know I don't know any thing about the akc crap,,,honey,  was not Victor Noe...he is from Germany...

Thank you everyone. yes we have been taking conformation classes with my local all breed club but no one involved has knowledge of the judges when it comes to GSD's.

I wish I had the money to enter all 6 days. Even if we came in dead last every day I would still be proud of my beautiful boy. He is confidant & strong with an A1 temperament. He is georgus in my eyes and I bet we turn a few heads there as well.

Psycht- thank you so much for taking the time to help- now I have a bit to go on! I missed the deadline to show under James Noe & Christopher Tilghman Neale so that helps narrow my choices.

Thanks for the well wishes- the show is Aug 26-29
deadline is Wednesday so I will have to decide by tomorrow.

JoAnn Letcher
vonhartwin.com

you know, i was also thinking the same thing, show my shep in AKC for the fun of it, i have a german showline,
 

 i would be very intrested to see how you do..

Make sure you let us know how that went. It should be interesting to hear the judges comments. More likely than not you might be told that your dog does not belong in a show ring with American show line dogs because the standards for conformation - breed standard aside - are interpreted differently. Even if your dog might have placed first among other WL dogs, or even German SL, my guess is he'll place fairly low in an AKC show ring. It's not that your dog is worse. It's like showing a Fjord pony in a show for Arabians even though the pony could work the flashy, hot-blooded guys into the ground.