2025 Montgomery County Kennel Club: Best in Show & Best Brace in Show – Richard W. Powell

2025 Montgomery County Kennel Club: Best in Show & Best Brace in Show Judge – Richard W. Powell

1. Can you describe your reaction to receiving an invitation to judge Best in Show at the 2025 Montgomery County Kennel Club All-Terrier Show?

Richard Powell: The invitation came as a great surprise. I was taken aback, but thrilled!

2. What does it mean to head the judging panel at one of the most important Conformation shows in the world?

Richard Powell: It means that Terrier people from all over the world will be watching. Pretty scary stuff.

3. In your opinion, how does this show differ from other AKC events?

Richard Powell: It is different from any other AKC event because it is an all-breed show limited only to Terriers.

4. What were you thinking or feeling moments before you stepped into the center of the BIS ring?

Richard Powell: I was excited. Thrilled that it wasn’t raining, and I was looking forward to judging 30-odd beautiful Terriers. First was the Brace class and I think this was a good way to “get into the rhythm of it before the Terrier Group.”

5. Was there a heightened energy coming from the dog and handler teams? Did you feel any excitement from the spectators?

Richard Powell: Yes, there was a lot of heightened energy coming from the handlers and their charges; this is really competitive. Also, there was a lot of spectator appreciation for all the dogs, which I thought was great.

6. How challenging was this assignment? Can you share your selection process?

Richard Powell: It was very challenging. When you have a ring full of dogs that has each been sent in by an expert means that the quality is exceptional. So, with time constraints, it is only possible to pull out a few. Not being able to pull more out, possibly, was the hardest part.

7. Do you have a word or two about your Best in Show winner?

Richard Powell: The four I ended up with were beautiful. They were of great quality and all moved and showed well. Tiny things separated the fourth, third, and reserve placements, but on the day, the winner, a Scottie bitch, blew everyone else away. She was a joy to go over. She was in beautiful condition, and on the down and back, around the ring, didn’t put a foot wrong. When she was asked to spar, she was perfection. I had no hesitation in making her Best in Show.

8. A dog show of this magnitude is a monumental undertaking. Is there anything you’d like to say to Montgomery’s Officers and Members? To the Breeders and Exhibitors?

Richard Powell: The officers and members have to be congratulated on a brilliantly organized event. This is, of course, the culmination of a glorious week of shows. Morris & Essex, Hatboro, and Devon are held before Montgomery County, and each club has to be mentioned here for organizing such great shows with huge entries. To the breeders and exhibitors, this is the most looked forward to week in our year; it is our Christmas in October! If any handler’s assistants are reading this, I would like to say a big “shout out” to them. They go without a lot of sleep, and work so hard this week to make the dogs look so beautiful.

9. Are there specific ways in which this show furthers the cause of purebred dogs?

Richard Powell: This show furthers the sport of purebred dogs by bringing Terrier people together from all over the world. The World Dog Shows, Westminster KC, and Orlando do it, but Montgomery County is really where all of us Terrier people get together to talk about breeding, etc.

10. In your opinion, what does the future hold for the Terrier Breeds in America and around the world?

Richard Powell: This is difficult to answer. Terrier entries in general around the world are dwindling. On a few occasions, such as this weekend, Great Western, Palm Springs, and Orlando, one can still see great entries in the Terrier breeds, but now there are very few breeders. There are an awful lot of talented young people who are involved in these breeds, so we can only hope!