Mr. John D. Arvin

AKC Licensed – Lure Coursing and Conformation ASFA Licensed All-Breed Lure Coursing Mr. Arvin has owned Rhodesian Ridgebacks since 1985. In 1993, he started Mystic Isle, typically breeding one litter approximately every eighteen months. He has owned and bred top Lure Coursing Ridgebacks, as well as owner-handling those same dogs in Conformation competition. He served on the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States (RRCUS) Board of Directors from 1996-2002, founded the highly popular RRCUS Owner-Handler Award program in 1994; is a founding member of the Greater Valley Forge Rhodesian Ridgeback Club (since 1990), serving in several different offices for the club - currently as Vice-President. He enjoys Lure Coursing and actively participated in RRCUS gaining recognition in ASFA Lure Coursing.

He achieved his AKC license in Ridgebacks in 2007 and is approved for the Hound Group. Mr. Arvin has judged the Rhodesian Ridgeback National Specialty and Regional Specialties, and Regional Specialties in Borzoi, Pharaoh Hounds, Ibizan Hounds, Basset Hounds, and multiple supported entries in a number of other hound breeds.

Mr. Arvin started Lure Coursing in 1986 with his first Rhodesian Ridgeback, Woody. He is a licensed judge in both AKC and ASFA. He has judged the AKC NLCC twice, was ranked in the Top 3 ASFA judges from 2017-2021, and was the No. 1 judge in ASFA in 2020.

Mr. Arvin’s Rhodesian Ridgebacks have won a total of 20 Bests in Field over his career and have been ranked in the Top 10 Ridgebacks 17 times.

He is retired from a career in Nuclear Power, serving as an Electrician in the US Navy from 1979 to 1984, and retiring from the Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Station in 2016 after having served as Electrician, Quality Receipt Inspector, and Nuclear Engineering Analyst.

He resides in Barnegat, New Jersey, with his Ridgeback Enzo.