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Richard Powell shares his excitement about judging Westminster, highlights top dogs, and looks forward to an exciting 2025 dog show season.
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Richard Powell: It means everything to be invited to judge at Westminster. It is such an honor to judge there. The top dogs in each breed are invited, so the quality of the entries is superb.
Richard Powell: This year, there were quite a few absentees which, I think, was due to the weather. Only one Dandie Dinmont Terrier was entered and only one Rat Terrier showed up. Cesky Terriers had three, which were all typical of their breed. American Hairless Terriers were of good quality, but are still not terribly consistent. But I was pleased with the winners. American Staffordshire Terriers were very pleasing in type and soundness, with the winners of Best of Breed and Best of Opposite being brother and sister.
In the afternoon, I judged some Sporting dogs. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers had a nice entry of very good ones, all in lovely coat and condition. Barbets also had a very good representative group of some really nice dogs. These, for a numerically small breed, were quite consistent in their make and shape and movement. The Curly-Coated Retrievers didn’t have a huge entry, but all were very typey, sound dogs in lovely condition. I was pleased with the Wirehaired Vizslas. For a numerically small breed, they were consistent in type and movement.
Best of Breed and Best of Opposite, I felt, were exceptional, with the winning bitch just excelling in her wonderful coat. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffons were excellent in type and all had great weather-resistant double coats. One bitch I really loved, but I think she would have preferred to be hunting in the field than being at the dog show! The Brittanys were last to be judged and had the biggest entry of my assignment. This breed is always exciting to judge because, overall, the quality is very good. The day’s entry was no exception and I felt the winners were outstanding. This breed is a functional working gundog which hunts with horses, so they have to be able to move! The winners, I felt, were not only beautiful, they were in great condition and were the soundest on the day.
Richard Powell: My thoughts on the show scene so far this year is that there is a lot of negativity at the moment, but I feel quite positive. I am off again in a week and a half’s time, and the shows I am going to have huge entries.
Richard Powell: The talent in the ring was amazing. I think it is going to be an exciting 2025 for the dog world.
Meet the Judges
Sharon Ann Redmer reflects on judging Herding breeds at Westminster 2026, highlighting breed function, type, and standout winners.
