Insights From Dr. Donald Sturz: 2025 AKC National Championship Sporting Group Judge

Insights From Dr. Donald Sturz: 2025 AKC National Championship Sporting Group Judge

1. Can you describe your reaction to receiving an invitation to judge the Sporting Group at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin?

Dr. Donald Sturz: An invitation to judge a Group at the AKC National Championship is a huge honor.

2. What does it mean to judge a Group at the only all-breed show organized directly by the American Kennel Club?

Dr. Donald Sturz: The Sporting Group is where I began with my family’s Golden Retriever, so I feel very at home in this Group.

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

Dr. Donald Sturz: In 25 years, the AKC show has become a really important and necessary event. It has become one of the more iconic events in the sport largely because of its sheer size and the kinds of entries you can expect to find.

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

Dr. Donald Sturz: The AKC show committee team and the production crew did a great job of preparing the judges, so that took some of the anxiety away. (Even the most seasoned judges should be feeling butterflies in these moments.) I didn’t view any of the Sporting breeds during the day, so there was anticipation for seeing who was there—which was a lot of fun.

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

Dr. Donald Sturz: Absolutely! After I’d made the cut, I could feel the excitement and the tension. I actually said to the handlers, “Now, everybody, take a deep breath and take it easy… you’re just going to go around nice and slow.” I think they just needed that moment.

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

Dr. Donald Sturz: Sometimes you get a Group and you can kind of see the four placements quickly and easily. In this case, the assignment was challenging, in a good way, because of the depth of quality. So, I had to be brutal. There were dogs that didn’t make the cut that I’ve given Groups to, or placed in Groups.

For me, there are two stages to judging: the evaluation first and then the sorting. You evaluate the dog’s individually, looking for the dog that “rings the most bells.” I try to be virtue-focused, and in this case, there were a lot of dogs with a lot of virtues. The sorting came down to fine details. When I made my cut, I was very clear in my mind why I was keeping the dogs I was keeping.

7. Do you have a word or two about your Group winner? About the dogs that placed?

Dr. Donald Sturz: For me, it all came down to specific details like the shape of the eyes or the size and set of the ears—or the way of going.

• Group One: The Gordon Setter is a dog of such beautiful type and construction. His head has just the right proportions; much deeper in profile than the other setter breeds. He has beautiful bone and body substance, but is still athletic. He was in perfect body weight, in good muscle, and in impeccable condition. On the go, he was just so smooth and fluid and easy. He was presented so beautifully, and I have to acknowledge the handler for the way in which this dog’s coat was put down; it was very clearly done in a fastidious, hand-work way, as opposed to taking shortcuts. I appreciated that.
• Group Two: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a breed with a distinctly wedge-shaped appearance to the head, and this dog really impressed me in head and eye. I loved his proportions too, and his bone and body substance for his size. I appreciated his character and his way of going, with a springiness and a lightness to it. And his tail carriage embodies what I envision for a Toller, waving as the dog works along the shore. I felt he really embodied the breed doing the job it is supposed to do.
• Group Three: The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an incredibly handsome dog with a lovely head and eye, and beautiful body substance. He was in incredible condition, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he is a working retriever; he was in that kind of muscle. His coat texture was impeccable and I appreciated that I could evaluate the oil in the coat. With some breeds it can be very tempting to “go glam” at the dog show, but in this case the coat is a life-or-death feature of a breed that’s intended to retrieve all day in icy waters. This Chessie’s coat really impressed me and so I rewarded that.
• Group Four: The Lagotto Romagnolo is a dog you need to get your hands on to really assess head properties, and I was happy to find all as it should be: strength of skull and proportion of muzzle. This was another dog in great condition and with beautiful coat texture, which is not always easy in a breed with this type of coat. I also valued his angles fore and aft and his efficient movement, which is not always easy to get in a square breed; this is what probably impressed me the most. And I loved this dog’s character. He had an almost clownish presence, which I really enjoyed.

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

Dr. Donald Sturz: This show helps in a number of ways. First, it provides a very positive, forward-facing interaction with the public. Anything we can do to engage the public and educate people about dog breeding and dog ownership is essential, and this event does that extremely well. The TV broadcast serves a great purpose too, as it is intended for the broader public at home. It gives us another way to share a positive view of the sport and the importance of having dogs in our lives.

In terms of those of us already in the sport, this show is also a wonderful educational opportunity. I know that, as a judge, I’m still learning. When you get an entry in a breed you don’t often see in large numbers (or even a breed in which you do get those larger entries) you’re testing your own knowledge of that breed, and maybe coming through with questions that require more homework.

9. A dog show of this magnitude is a monumental undertaking. Is there anything you’d like to say to the AKC staff and the show’s sponsors?

Dr. Donald Sturz: As participants, it can be hard to know all that goes on behind the scenes at a dog show, not only at a big event but also during the typical dog show weekend. Because I know what it takes to put on a large event with lots of moving pieces, I would simply say, “Thank you and congratulations to the American Kennel Club on your amazing event—and keep doing what you’re doing.”

10. Now that it’s over, what are your thoughts on the 2025 show year? Any thoughts on the year ahead?

Dr. Donald Sturz: I can only speak to what I’ve experienced in my area, but at the shows I’ve attended in the last sixth months, both as a judge and as an exhibitor, I’ve seen steady attendance. I’ve gone to shows and seen lots of new people, so I’m optimistic. The challenge is with keeping them engaged and interested. It’s less about attracting new people and more about retaining the people who come onboard. That is what will ensure the future.