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Juan Miranda reflects on his historic role as a judge at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and the evolving world of dog shows.
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Juan Miranda: Judging at Westminster is an act of responsibility and integrity. In my opinion, judging this prestigious event is the reward for consistency, perseverance, and an impeccable career in the world of dogs. This is the second time I have had the honor of judging. At 36 years old and with 18 years of experience as a judge, receiving this invitation was just as exciting, if not more so, than the first time. It is something you dream of as soon as you become involved in this sport – aspiring, one day, not only to compete and win but, after competing, to have the privilege of judging at the most prestigious event in dog show world.
Juan Miranda: This time, I had the privilege of judging 18 breeds from the Hound Group. It was truly satisfying to evaluate each of these breeds, as this is the Group to which I belong. While I love all the Groups, my heart holds a special place for this one, in particular. I had the honor of putting my hands on extraordinary dogs, worthy representatives of their respective breeds, some of the finest I have ever seen in their breed around the world. I was delighted to see that among my winners, some reached “the top 8” and placed on the podium.
Juan Miranda: I believe that 2024 was a year full of challenges and significant changes. One very important factor today is the influence of social media, and I say this with experience as it is my field of work. Social media has transformed the way we view dog shows in every possible way. This is a broad topic that could be discussed at length. For me, 2024 was the year in which I traveled and judged more than ever in my life, around the globe. I was present on five continents and judged some of the most prestigious dog shows in the world.
I also believe that 2025 will bring highly anticipated shows, such as this year’s return of Westminster to February, back to the snow in Manhattan – something everyone had been eagerly awaiting. For true dog lovers, it touched our hearts just to think about it, and to experience it as a reality was a great satisfaction for all of us involved in this sport, regardless of nationality.
Meet the Judges
Sharon Ann Redmer reflects on judging Herding breeds at Westminster 2026, highlighting breed function, type, and standout winners.
