Elizabeth “Beth” Sweigart, 2025 AKC National Championship Terrier Group Judge, shares insights on judging at the prestigious show.
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Elizabeth “Beth” Sweigart: When I was invited to judge the Terrier Group at the American Kennel Club National Champion in conjunction with Royal Canin, of course I was thrilled.
Elizabeth “Beth” Sweigart: Judging at this show is a rare opportunity to see the best of the best in every breed, so to judge the Group is indeed an honor, a privilege, and also a responsibility.
Elizabeth “Beth” Sweigart: The AKC National Championship differs from all other shows simply in its scale. It is probably the largest gathering, both in numbers and shear space, of purebred dogs, certainly in this country and maybe in many others. It offers many points of interest for the casual observer as well as the dedicated dog show enthusiast, from Performance Events to Conformation Events, and anything you could want to buy for your dog or could be remotely considered related to dogs. There is something here for everyone.
Elizabeth “Beth” Sweigart: There is always great anticipation before judging an event like the AKC National Championship. One wonders if the dogs you like will have won or if there will be a new one who catches your eye. Once you start judging, though, all that falls away and you start to get on with the job at hand!
Elizabeth “Beth” Sweigart: I was fortunate to have a ring of beautiful terriers, which made my job difficult—but in a good way!
Elizabeth “Beth” Sweigart: I perhaps had one of the finest Groups of terriers assembled in the year 2025. The quality in the Group was so deep that many of the dogs that did make the cut were dogs that had won Groups and Bests in Show at other venues. Almost every dog in the ring was presented in impeccable condition.
Elizabeth “Beth” Sweigart: Judging a Group of this quality is always daunting, but in a good way. Of course, I was familiar with many of the dogs in the Group, but some of the ones I have never judged before really impressed me. It is difficult to make a cut in a Group like this because it necessitates excusing some dogs that would be Group winners in many of the Groups that you’ve judged throughout the year. My final four placements, I thought, were all dogs of very high quality, meeting their requirements of their respective Breed Standards.
The Miniature Schnauzer, which I awarded Group One, is a dog I have judged before and placed highly. I think he is an excellent representative of his breed, and on the night, he showed to his best advantage. He was in great coat and condition, and handled the big ring very well. Second to the Wire Fox Terrier, a dog which I have also judged before and I think is very correct in almost every way for his breed. Third to the Sealyham Terrier, looking the part and carrying herself smartly. She has matured well since I had first judged her. Fourth was awarded to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier who I thought represented his breed very well, checking all the boxes for what you would want in a Staffy: lovely head and expression, great balance, and beautiful condition.
Elizabeth “Beth” Sweigart: This show, and a few others, namely Westminster and the National Dog Show in Philadelphia, is presented on television to a national audience. This, to me, is priceless to the support of purebred dogs because it introduces to the general public the dog fanciers’ love for their breeds, their individual dogs, and for the sport which entails preserving our beloved breeds.
Elizabeth “Beth” Sweigart: I would like to thank the American Kennel Club, Royal Canin, and the entire AKC staff who worked diligently and long hours to make this show a success. It is a monumental undertaking, and to any observer it looked like it went off without a hitch.
Elizabeth “Beth” Sweigart: The 2025 show year was certainly fraught with ups and downs in the dog world and in the whole world. Let’s hope that 2026 will go along well and we will support one another in our endeavors, and that we all have a successful, healthy year to come.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
