Eugene Blake reflects on judging the Non-Sporting Group at Westminster 2026, covering his selections and placements.
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Eugene Blake: I was very excited and very honored.
Eugene Blake: That’s a tough question because of the fact that I’ve been in this dog game for 70 years. To be recognized as being a selected judge, a Group Judge, at Westminster is an honor.
Eugene Blake: No, no. When I started in dogs, I didn’t even think about that. Judging was not on my mind. I was 18 years old when I first got involved with dogs, and the way I got involved was that I used to drive a delivery truck for a drugstore in Houston, Texas. I worked there with another guy who asked me, “Gene, would you like to have a part-time job?” Well, I didn’t have anything else to do, so I replied, “Yeah.” He said, “There’s this lady over here at the French Poodle shop who needs someone to bathe dogs. You ain’t got to like dogs, all you gotta do is pretend you like dogs ‘cause she really needs somebody.” Well, I liked dogs, but I had never seen a purebred dog in my life. I was raised in the country where we had hunting dogs that stayed underneath the house. Anyway, I applied, and Hazel Hamm gave me the job. I started in September and worked there from 8 to 12. I would bathe some of the dogs, and then dry them before hustling over to the drugstore to work from 2 to 10. Any time I had a delivery over that way, I would go back and look at the dogs as they were being finished. I was just fascinated to see all the dogs I had never seen before.
Eugene Blake: I like to let people know that I judge dogs to the Breed Standard. I’ve studied dogs to judge them to the Standard, and that’s how I make my decisions. What I was thinking about doing is what I think about doing every time I walk through a gate at a dog show; that is, to find the best dog in that ring according to the Standard.
Eugene Blake: Well, the spectators don’t really enter into it. I mean, they applaud and stuff like that, but that’s not a part of my decision. My decision is to just try to allow the exhibitor, the handler, to present the dog to the best of their ability… and I’m going to see if I can find the best dog in the ring.
Eugene Blake: It was challenging in a way, but you’ve got to realize that I had judged half of those dogs in the ring before, in a Breed ring or in a Group ring, or even in a Best in Show ring. So, it wasn’t that challenging to me because I had a goal, and I have a system that is not a guessing game, and that worked for me. I knew what I was looking for, and when I found it, I used it.
Eugene Blake: The Group winner was the Lhasa Apso, a dog that I have judged before. I thought he was an excellent example of the breed. It was a decision that I was very, very comfortable about making.
Second place, the Schipperke, was a lovely bitch to the Breed Standard. She was balanced, and I thought she was in bloom to the point that she was everything I think a Schipperke should be.
Third place was the Chinese Shar-Pei, which was a lovely bitch. I thought she was a good example of the breed from head to tail: balance, great coat, and a great show dog.
Fourth place was the Xoloitzcuintli, which I thought was a very nice dog as well. When the handler first started showing the dog, she would let him get way out in front of her so that I could see her more than I could see the dog. I talked to her about that… and on this night, she was with the dog all the way around the ring.
Eugene Blake: Yes, it does, because if you look around New York City, all you see is Westminster on all the billboards and on all the commercials. And what they do with the winners, having them on TV, is going above and beyond the dog show itself. What they do to put on and publicize this show is unbelievable.
I went to my first Westminster in 1962, and this one, in my opinion, was the best one. Quite different than it was when I was a handler at the old Garden. I don’t know the total number of people who were there this year, but the spectators on Tuesday were amazing. (I couldn’t go on Monday because of my Group assignment.) I think a lot of people learn a little bit more about dogs when they go to Westminster. My two daughters and my granddaughter were there with me this year, and they talked about how much they learned about dogs that they didn’t know before.
Eugene Blake: I have judged all over the world at a lot of shows. I have judged at Sydney Royal, which is huge, but it’s nothing compared to Westminster. To me, Westminster is the cream of the crop, and as I’ve said, what they do to put on Westminster each year, even when it wasn’t at Madison Square Garden, is amazing. I cannot believe the work they put into the show for it to be successful, and I don’t think there is anything they could have done this year to make it any better. I think it was amazing.
Eugene Blake: That’s a tough question because of the fact that I look forward to Westminster every time. The first time I went as a spectator, and I’ve gone as a professional handler and as a judge. I don’t know a time that I have missed, so the show means everything to me.
One last thing: A lot of people call me a “legend” because of the fact that a lot of people come up to me and ask me questions, but I would like to mention the person in the dog game that I have known the longest.
Denny Mounce used to live in River Oaks, which is a real rich suburb of Houston. Denny used to go to the movies, and she would call the maid to come pick her up. One time, the maid told her, “I ain’t got time to pick you up. Get that boy down at the drug drugstore to bring you home.” I was 18 years old and Denny was eight, and I used to take her home in the panel truck of the drugstore before I ever started working with dogs. Well, she’s going to shoot me for saying this, but Denny celebrated her 80th birthday last year, and the last time she and Peggy came to the show, we laughed and talked about me taking her home from the movies. I was so sad when they retired. We are losing a lot of our older judges, and that’s the reason why I hope I can go on as long as I can, because the dog game is my life. I don’t know whether I would have a life if I wasn’t involved with dogs. It’s my passion—along with Julie Mueller who is my soulmate. I’ve enjoyed all the time we’ve spent together at dog shows.
Meet the Judges
Sharon Ann Redmer reflects on judging Herding breeds at Westminster 2026, highlighting breed function, type, and standout winners.
