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Interview with Dr. Jerry Klein, the 2023 WKC Dog Show Breed Judge. Read about his experience with judging at the prestigious dog show.
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Dr. Jerry Klein: Westminster KC has been a lifelong dream since I was in high school. Showing there was an achievement and a goal, but judging is a great honor and a dream come true. I have been fortunate to have had that dream come true on three separate occasions.
Dr. Jerry Klein: I was asked to start with the “Bullie” breeds. The numbers were moderate to small, but as expected at a show of this caliber, quality was good. My White Bull Terrier bitch seemed like a photograph from an old picture book that I owned years ago. I loved her as she wasn’t overdone, but I wasn’t sure others would share my enthusiasm.
Judging is a “mind” game. You use your brain and your senses to compare a living, breathing animal to a piece of paper (the Breed Standard), whose use is to describe how a particular breed should look, act, and move. And do it in about 2-3 minutes. Your brain is doing the job, but every once in a while the heart sneaks in… and so it was on two occasions on this day: in the judging of Wire Fox Terriers and Kerry Blue Terriers. The other dogs were fine. Even more than fine. I just happened to have a couple of “moments.”
Dr. Jerry Klein: I think the show was incredible. I hope the people of New York embrace it as much as they used to embrace Madison Square Garden.
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