Ms. Melanee Clark

Melanee Clark I've been involved in this sport since the 1980s, and it's been the constant thread through my life ever since. Under my Stellar Kennels prefix, I've been blessed to have raised and shown top-winning dogs in three breeds over the years: Shetland Sheepdogs, where I got my start; Papillons; and now Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, the breed I focus my breeding program on today. While I'm no longer actively breeding Shelties or Papillons, both breeds still hold a special place in my heart. Working across breeds with such different types, structure, and purpose has given me a depth of hands-on breed knowledge that I bring into every ring I judge.

Before becoming a judge, I spent a number of years working as a professional handler, showing a wide variety of breeds. That experience shaped how I judge today: I judge every entry against the Breed Standard, and I take seriously my responsibility to never favor a handler because of who they are. In addition to Conformation, I'm approved to judge Junior Showmanship.

I'm still an active exhibitor myself, which keeps me firmly grounded in what it's like to be on the other end of the leash. I know the frustration of being moved through—or dismissed—by a judge who seemed to have already made a decision before ever putting hands on my dog. Because of that, I'm committed to giving every dog a full, fair, and attentive evaluation. I believe every exhibitor deserves the ring experience they traveled and prepared for: my full attention on gait, structure, and presentation, without distraction from whatever else is happening in the rings around me. When you're in my ring, you can expect a judge who is thorough, courteous, and genuinely glad to be there. Judging is a privilege to me, not a chore, and I extend respect to every person and every dog that walks in, win or lose. Outside of Conformation, my dogs and I stay active in Agility, Dock Diving, and Fast CAT, and we work in the field as well. That variety keeps me connected to dogs bred and built to function—not just to move well on a mat—and I think it makes me a better judge for it.

If you're looking for a judge who brings deep breed knowledge and an unwavering commitment to fairness and sportsmanship, I'd love the opportunity to judge for your club.