trophy donations

Judges

What would a dog show be without our judges? Representing decades of dog knowledge among them, our judges hail from all across the country.

Event Judge Name
BOB/Intersex, Brace, Team Martha Lageschulte
Dogs Kimberly Meredith
Bitches Tina Leininger
Sweepstakes – Puppy & Veteran Neal Henderson
Sweepstakes – Working Beth Tallentire
Futurity Brandy Burke
Obedience Cathy Caballero
Rally Walter O’Brien
Agility Bonnie McDonald
Junior Showmanship Jan Cherne
4-6 mos Puppy, Pee Wee Jan Cherne
Weight Pull Robin Clark
Martha Lageschulte

Martha Lageschulte

Intersex Judge

I got my first Samoyed in 1985 and was enthralled with the beauty, sweetness, and sense of humor of the breed.  I was introduced to the conformation ring and was hooked on showing at my first match.  I have had occasional litters under the Starquest prefix, and have finished numerous dogs, winning multiple BISS, HITs, sweepstakes, agility, rally and obedience titles.  At the National level, my dogs have won numerous top honors in both conformation and performance.

I really enjoy working with the dogs in conformation, performance, and therapy programs.  It is very rewarding to have beautiful dogs think through exercises in obedience and agility, and then watch how wonderful their temperament soars with children as a therapy dog.

I have been active in the SCA as a member of the BOG and serving on several committees.  I have also been very active in the Denver Samoyed Association – as an officer, board member, and holding many committee chair positions over the years.

I am employed with Ball Aerospace as a technical illustrator, working on ads, trade show graphics, and 3D renders and animations.

I want to thank the members for awarding me this prestigious assignment: I am very honored to judge our beautiful breed at the National.  Good luck to all!

Kimberly Ann Meredith

Dogs Judge

Kimberly has been continuously involved in the sport of purebred dogs since 1972. A breeder-exhibitor of Alaskan Malamutes, she has bred over 60 champions, including multiple all breed Best In Show winners as well as multiple National Specialty winners in a limited breeding program. She has also owned, shown and bred Doberman Pinschers for the past 25 plus years. In addition to exhibiting Alaskan Malamutes and Dobermans, she has owned and exhibited Akitas, Bernese Mtn. Dogs, Lhasa Apsos, Clumber Spaniel, Bassett Hound and Whippets. She is a proud owner of a new French Bulldog Champion that finished his championship in 4 shows at the US National specialty and has completely stolen her heart.

Kimberly judges Best In Show, Jr. Showmanship, the Working, Sporting, Herding, Hound, Non Sporting and Toy groups. She has been honored to judge at many of the countries top shows, including Westminster Kennel Club nine times, the televised AKC National Championship Show and the televised National Dog Show.

She has judged the Alaskan Malamute Club of America, the Akita Club of America (3 times), the Golden Retriever Club of America, the Portuguese Water Dog Club America, the Siberian Husky Club of America, the Border Collie Society of America, the Newfoundland Club of America, the Leonberger Club of America, the Bernese Mtn Dog Club of America, The Bullmastiff Club of America, the Clumber Spaniel Club of America, The Cirneco dell Etna Club of America,  the Dog De Bordeaux COA and the Leonberger national specialties. She has judged abroad in France, Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Finland, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, Japan, Denmark, China and Korea.

She is honored to announce the Westminster Kennel Club televised day time commentary for Fox Sports.

In addition to judging and showing her dogs; she enjoys outdoor sports, collecting and restoring antiques and gardening.

Tina Leininger

Tina Leininger

Bitches Judge

Tina’s first Samoyed adopted her family in 1987 as she and her husband Bob were starting their family. It was their breed of choice due to their beauty and heritage of being a known family dog. She alternated weaving in Samoyeds and three children, of which one junior handled.

Tina worked for a professional handler and in 1990 the conformation bug hit. Their foundation breeding to BIS BISS CH Moonlighter’s Grandstander aka Stanley brought to them multiple champions, of which was their first bred-by champion and a multi-group placer/group winner – CH WhyteWynd’s King of Currumpaw aka LoBo. LoBo went on to produce their first Samoyed to rank in the top ten who was a multi-group placer, group winner and BISS winner – BISS CH Moonsong’s Quintsns of WhyteWynd aka Quinton thanks to a breeding with Moonsong Samoyeds.

Health of the breed is of utmost importance, hence the participation of Tina in the founding implementation of health clinics at SCA nationals in collaboration with SCARF.  Combined in their breeding program, health with the SCA standard as priority, they have produced champions in the US and overseas, and top working dogs in agility, weight pull, sledding, etc.

As years added up, in 2017 Tina decided to start the next chapter in the love and preservation of their breed by mentoring and judging. She has since added several more AKC breeds to judge and most recently she judged the ISSDC Shiloh Shepherd regional specialty, which is held in conjunction with their National.

Besides showing their dogs, Tina enjoys time with her grandchildren and helping Veterans for the freedoms we have.

She is honored to be invited to judge at this year’s National and cannot wait to see all the lovely girls.

Neal Henderson

Sweepstakes-Puppy & Veteran Judge

I would first like to thank the show committee for inviting me to judge this year’s Sweepstakes classes.  I am very honored to have been asked and know I will enjoy this assignment immensely.

I have been a member of SCA since 1992.  I have worked on two very successful National Specialities as well as several regional Specialties in both California and here in Pennsylvania.  In addition to the SCA, I am a member of the Antietam Creek Samoyed club, the Harrisburg Kennel Club and the Susquehanna English Springer Spaniel Club.  I now live with one Samoyed named Beacon and two English Springer Spaniels named Carson and Charlotte.  Yes, I am very much a dog nut.

I got my first Samoyed from Sanorka Kennels for my 11th Birthday and Samoyeds have been part of my life ever since.  A second Samoyed I found in Killington, Vermont at Whitecliff Karu kennels.  This new male puppy was my first show dog, and I learned a lot showing him.  I would go to dog shows whenever I could.  I went to handling classes and match shows.  In doing so, I met a lot of awesome people and became very active in the aforementioned dog clubs.  I was honored to have been elected to various boards of these clubs including the SCA.   I have judged at local and not so local regional Specialties in the sweepstakes classes and am now so humbled to be asked to judge at this year’s National Specialty. 

I am looking forward to seeing all the great puppies and veterans from all regions of our great country.  I love this breed with all my heart and I thank you for this Samoyed Sweepstakes 2024 assignment!! 

Beth Tallentire

Sweepstakes-Working

What an honor it is to be invited to judge Working Sweepstakes at the 2024 National. I will be excited to see all the wonderful quality Samoyeds in the ring, and to get my hands on them will be the thrill of a lifetime!

A little about me, I saw my first Samoyed in Lafayette, LA in 1979. I thought it was the most beautiful dog I’d ever seen. I knew someday I would own one. After a tragic accident that left me a widow, I decided to move back to PA to be close to family and friends. I decided that I needed a puppy and I have been owned by Samoyeds since 1981. 

I originally joined the SCA in 1987 and have been breeding under the kennel name of Sizzlin’ Samoyeds. I have chaired and served on several National Specialty Committees and I have been a Ring Side Mentor. I also helped several rescue groups over the years by evaluating dogs, transporting dogs and doing home-checks. I am extremely proud to be the recipient of the AKC Sportsmanship Award in 2018 for my dedicated service as Recording Secretary.    

I currently own two Samoyeds. I have enjoyed many activities with my dogs, such as: sledding, scootering, carting, pack hiking, obedience and therapy work. I have earned therapy, obedience, working and championship titles on my dogs through the years. I love the diversity of this breed!! 

Good luck to all … everyone will be going home with the BEST dog !!!

Brandy Burke

Futurity Judge

I am originally from North Carolina but moved to Arizona in 2022. In 2004 I started working as a veterinary assistant and have continued in this field ever since. Dogs are a passion of mine and I dedicate most of my time to them both at work and at home.

I have been involved with owning and handling Samoyeds my entire life. I grew up competing in breed and juniors and getting the experience of handling a variety of breeds. That time was spent learning everything I could from breeders and handlers. 

In 2003 I acquired the foundation bitch that would be the start of my own breeding program. I continued using the Doubletake name that started with my mom. Over the years we’ve produced group winners, BISS winners, multiple champions, and big wins at the National. My dogs and I also compete in a variety of performance events when we get the chance. Over the years we’ve competed in agility, rally, dock diving, herding, and weight pull. 

Cathy Caballero

Obedience Judge

I was raised in a family that always had a dog, but my formal training began when my husband and I adopted 2 lab puppies from the Heart of Lab Rescue in 2001.  I began attending basic obedience classes with Joyce Morgan, a longtime judge, exhibitor, mentor and dear friend. I was quickly bitten by the show bug and never looked back! I have had the honor of building strong partnerships and competing with the most amazing dogs, most of whom are now at the Rainbow Bridge. I have earned multiple titles in obedience, rally, agility, and dock diving with all of my dogs, attending multiple National Championships in Rally and Agility. My Novice A dog, Olive, has the distinction of being the very first veteran Dock Diving National Champion that the AKC recognizes!  I am grateful for how each has enriched my life, and because of them, I became an obedience/rally judge and instructor at my own facility.  

I am currently competing in Rally, Obedience, and Agility with my two young labs, Desi and Kallie. They are excelling in everything they do! We hope to do more formalized field training in the Fall. These girls are already attending large, National events and are handling those events like seasoned professionals! I look forward to our future!

Walter O’Brien

Rally Judge

Walter began participating in both Conformation and Obedience with his first Pembroke Welsh Corgi in 1996.   He first started showing in Conformation but soon became very interested in the Obedience as both a competition and an aid to being the leader of the pack.     

Walter’s work-related travels through the years have given him the opportunity to exhibit throughout the country.  In 2001, in Flagstaff, Arizona, he discovered Rally during the Flagstaff Kennel Club shows and it was the beginning of a rewarding journey.  The journey was not always smooth; as he says “I really wasn’t very good at it at first” but that was only temporary.  He finally decided to just enjoy the sport; he needed a good instructor and the dedication to putting in the work needed to be a better exhibitor.  When Rally became a regular titling event in 2005, Walter figured it all out and by May 2005, he showed the first Pembroke Welsh Corgi to earn the Rally Advanced Excellent title, CH. Triad Foreign Affairs CD RAE3 HT.

Walter began teaching Rally in 2006 for the Macon Kennel Club when his work took him to Warner Robins, GA and he taught there for almost 10 years.  During the many years of teaching Rally, he began to utilize his engineering background to expand his love and knowledge of Rally.  During that time, he also was able to build on Rally to earn CDX titles on multiple Pembroke Welsh Corgis.   While he enjoys the challenge of the Obedience ring, his heart always drifts towards the Rally ring.

Walter showed the first Pembroke Welsh Corgi to earn the AKC Rally Championship or RACH title in 2018, RACH Peri Lane With a Twist CDX PCDX BN GN RM6 RAE4 CGC TKN, and has earned a RACH with a second Pembroke Welsh Corgi as well ,CH RACH Foxwood Sunflower At Brista CDX PCD BN GN RM2 RAE2 CGC TKN in 2020.  Along his journey he has titled 6 other Pembroke Welsh Corgis to Rally titles including his first CDX Dog, CH. Triad Celestial Love CDX RAE.

Walter resides in Fort Worth, Texas and works as an Aerospace Engineer.  He is a member of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America, the Atlanta Kennel Club, the Lone Star Obedience Club, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of Southern California, and the North Texas Pembroke Welsh Corgi Fanciers.

Walter is honored to have been chosen to judge at the Samoyed Club of America National Specialty.  He wishes all the teams the best of luck!

Janet Cherne

4-6 mos Puppy, Pee Wee

I became interested in showing dogs in the early 80’s and haven’t looked back. I got my first show Samoyed in 1984, Ch. Trailblazer’s Woodland Elf, CD – “TAMI”, and we completely enjoyed life with her. Our activities included conformation, obedience, and pet therapy, yet day to day with TAMI was always the best. My interest in judging developed in the early 90’s and I was A.K.C. licensed in 1998.

My judging has taken me around the country judging at All-Breeds and Samoyed Specialties, as well as at the Samoyed National Specialties. My husband and I enjoy another breed, Australian Shepherds, and currently have 1 Samoyed and 1 Aussie of which are both retired from showing so they enjoy life doing whatever comes their way. My judging of Aussies has taken me around the U.S. judging at all-breeds and ASCA shows, as well as in Germany.

I enjoy working with the young up ‘n coming stars in our sport so let’s have a fun time!!

 

Bonnie McDonald

Bonnie McDonald

Agility

Bonnie McDonald has been actively involved in the sport of Agility since 1992, competed internationally (member of 5 AKC EO Teams, 14” Sheltie 1x, 26” BC 3x, GSD 1x) and at the finalist level & placing in USDAA and AKC Nationals and The Invitationals placing in the top 4 multiple times with different dogs. She has had the #1 sheltie, #1 BC, #1 GSD & #1 Belgian Malinois in AKC Agility (some multiple times). Bonnie holds Agility Championships (65+ MACH & PACH, 10 ADCH & PDCH, 2 Silver & 2 International Agility Grand Championships, plus other odd assorted organizations Championships). She has 4 AKC AGCH including the first AGCH in Florida and the first Belgian of any type in AKC (pictured to right). Other AGCH, Sheltie Hope, BC Faith & GSD Ahron.

In addition, Bonnie continues to compete in multiple venues Titling multiple dogs in Obedience (through UD), Herding (through HX) and was active in IPO sports until 2020.

Scent Work is a true passion for Bonnie. She worked with both a Sheriff Narcotic and Cadaver training unit and certified her own GSDs in addition to working with an SAR training group studying scent and recovery with two different dogs. Bonnie has been tracking, both IPO & AKC style and working on trailing using lost articles since the mid 1980’s. She utilizes a system like no other developed by her using police and military training techniques she has studied over the years. She has dogs titled through the top level in AKC & multiple other Scent Work venues and many students who have accomplished the same. Her dogs include 2x Detective GSD Ahron & Detective Kizzy (BC) & Ice (Malinois)

50 years of experience teaching others to train their dogs combined with her prior knowledge gained training & competing with her horses (3 day eventing, hunter jumper & dressage since the age of 6.) have given Bonnie a strong & competitive foundation to pass on to those that entrust her with their dog’s training program. She continues to actively train & compete with her own dogs.

Bonnie & her husband Bill own & operate Sonlight Ranch & K9 Event Center in Brooksville, FL, USA. They host numerous events yearly. They are both AKC Farm Dog Judges, CGC & Trick Dog Evaluators & Temperament Test Judges offering these opportunities at Sonlight Ranch as well. They are Christians and believe in these principals, practicing these in their personal and business lives.

Bonnie is also a certified scuba diver, fixed wing pilot land and sea, musician, artist, photographer, retired Army helicopter pilot, mother to two sons and grandmother to three boys. She is a retired CCRN & was a firefighter paramedic prior to entering the Army. Dogs and dog training have been a constant her whole life since 1968.

Robin Clark

Weight Pull

I have owned and bred Samoyeds since 1996. Before that, I owned and showed Great Danes. Growing up, I owned, trained, and showed horses in various events. As you can see, I’m downsizing from horses, to Great Danes, to Samoyeds. However, I think I’ve found the size I will stop at. I have competed and finished titles in conformation, obedience, rally, agility, weight pull, coursing, nose/scent work and herding with Samoyeds. I am a part of the Working Samoyed Committee, as well as other SCA committees, and strongly support their work. I serve as judge at several weight pulls each year, in various organizations. My dogs and I have participated in excursion sledding and dog sled racing which is where our heart lies. Further, I have done therapy work with Samoyeds in hospitals and nursing homes. I consider myself committed to and convinced of the versatility of our breed. I work hard to promote and preserve it with each of my dogs. Preserving the working abilities and work ethic in our breed is essential to preserve the breed we all love.