Meet the Judges

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DOROTHY N. COLLIER of Sapphire, North Carolina knows well the world of dogs. Mrs. Collier was born and raised in Greenwich Village.

Involved in the sport of purebred dogs for more than 40 years, her first breeds included a Maltese, Old English Sheepdogs, Dobermans and a Pointer. In 1969, she acquired her first Komondor. Over the next 15 years, her Summithill Kennels produced four Best in Show winners, specialty winners, top producers and 25 champions; she bred or owned every one of the top-ranked Komondors in the country from 1974 to 1984, rightfully earning her a position as an expert in the breed.

Many of today’s Komondors go back to her original stock, even though she stopped her breeding program in 1982 when she became an AKC-approved judge. Today, she is licensed to judge the Working Group and the Herding Group, and has officiated at shows all over the world.

Cathy Daugherty began breeding and showing in 1978. She started with Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs and eventually acquired Belgian Sheepdogs. Her world-renowned Bel-Reve breeding program produced many national and international champions including several World Champions.

Mrs. Daugherty began judging in 1995, and presently, judges AKC Herding, Working and Hound groups as well as 21 Sporting breeds. She has judged all over the US as well as Canada, Argentina, Belgium, China, Spain and most recently Japan and Italy.

As a breeder and a judge, she is a firm believer in the preservation of purebred dogs and the various tasks for which they were created.

Cathy holds a Masters of Science in Immunology and Microbiology and has worked for 25 years for the State of Connecticut as an Infection Control Practitioner.

Ms. Kathleen J. Ferris started showing and breeding Scottish Terriers in 1972. She competed in Juniors and was mentored by several Terrier Professional Handlers.

After graduating with a BA in Political Science, Kathleen worked as a Personnel Manager in Manufacturing before deciding to become a professional dog handler.
She has had great success specializing in Terriers, showing many to Best of Breed and Best In Show including the number one Terrier.

Ms. Ferris now owns and manages her family's large boarding and grooming facility in Pennsylvania and is still a breeder/owner/exhibitor of Scottish Terriers.

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Mrs. Stephanie S. Hedgepath has been showing dogs since 1969. As a breeder/owner/handler, she has exhibited German Shepherd Dogs, Brittanys, Pointers, Golden Retrievers and Irish Setters.

Stephanie judges the Herding, Sporting, Toy and Non-Sporting Groups all over the United States, Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Jamaica, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, China, the Philippines, Mexico and the United Kingdom. In 2011, she had the honor of judging the Welsh Corgi League National show (Pembrokes) in the UK and in previous years both the Cardigan and Pembroke Nationals in the US.

To this day, Mrs. Hedgepath still breeds and shows her dogs.

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Mr. Kenneth Kauffman started with one Cairn Terrier in obedience in 1977. His successful breeding program, under the Brehannon prefix, has produced over 30 champions. Ken is still actively breeding and showing Cairn Terriers.

He began judging over 25 years ago and is approved for the Terrier Group, Junior Showmanship, Best In Show and 18 Toy breeds.

After 40 years, Ken retired as an art professor at Girard College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and currently lives in a historically designated, 150-year-old farm house with his partner of 28 years.

Mr. Richard Lopaschuk began in purebred dogs in 1966 with German Shepherd Dogs in the obedience ring and graduated to conformation a year later. Over the next 53 years he has successfully bred many champion German Shepherd Dogs, Miniature Schnauzers, Cairn Terriers, Papillons, Wire Fox Terriers and Pointers. He and his wife still breed and exhibit Papillons.

Richard started judging in 1989 with the Terrier Group and is now an All-Breed judge in Canada. He has also judged internationally in Australia, BIS Melbourne Royal, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and the United States.

Mr. Lopaschuk is a Life Member of the Canadian Kennel Club and was on the Board of Directors of the CKC for 14 years.

A retired Government of Canada employee and is now working at his own business as a Water Management Consultant.

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Licensed for All Breeds.

Mr. Joe C. Walton began exhibiting Shih Tzu under the Shen Wah prefix in the early 1970's. He has successfully finished more than 80 champions and his wins have included many National Specialties, Toy Groups and Best In Shows.

Mr. Walton began judging in 1987 and is licensed to judge the AKC Sporting, Hound, Terrier, Toy and Non-Sporting Groups, as well as, 20 Working breeds. His assignments have been in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, China and Taiwan.

He has also judged many local and national specialties in other breeds, including The Tibetan Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Chihuahua, Soft Coated Wheaten, Kerry Blue Terriers, Otterhound and the American Foxhounds National Specialty.