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Sporting Group Judge Doug Johnson shares insights from the 2026 Westminster Dog Show, highlighting top dogs and judging challenges.
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Doug Johnson: Actually, it was kind of a big moment to get that letter and realize that I was being included in something historic, something really meaningful and purposeful. It meant a lot to me.
Doug Johnson: There’s an extra, added excitement to judging a Group at Westminster. This was my second time doing the Sporting Group, third time doing a Group overall. It’s hard to describe how exciting it is to work in that space. The iconic Madison Square Garden, the green carpet. Anybody who’s invested in the sport knows the venue, they know the show site, and they know the importance of the show to the overall sport—it’s sort of an iconic show of the world. So, there’s an extra privilege involved in that, and one that you just don’t take lightly.
Doug Johnson: Of course not. I started in very rare breeds, so first-generation dog person. I never dreamt where this sport would take me. I have had a wonderful trajectory in the sport, and I don’t take any of it for granted. It is humbling. In this sport, you must acknowledge the privileges you have and the privileges the sport of purebred dogs has afforded you. And this assignment is, without exception, one of the greatest privileges.
Doug Johnson: Oh, I was terribly excited to do it. The Sporting Group was first up on the second night, so the show was already halfway through and there were some anticipatory nerves. I was interested to see who made it through the Breed judging, what the level of quality was going to be, and how I was going to run the ring because of the camera and the timing. It’s a little bit different, so there were several things going on in my mind, but there was also a clarity to dispel any preconceived notion of where I was going to go or what I was going to do, or who thinks I might do something, and then I just judged from the heart, using my brain to really find and sort the best animals that I could find.
Doug Johnson: Oh, yes, the crowd’s enthusiasm and the noise level were apparent. You could feel it. The dogs were a little jived up, controlled chaos in some instances, where the handlers and the noise level kind of made the dogs get a little crazy, a little more exuberant than they might otherwise be. But everyone was there doing their job and doing their thing. Those dogs were harnessed and collared, and that energy was harnessed into putting on a really good performance. I think, at the end, there was a very steady, methodical process to get everybody working how they should, and to give everybody a minute to collect themselves and calm down before the final go-round… before I started to sort my final placements. Everybody got kind of a breather, and it all worked out in the end.
Doug Johnson: This was extremely challenging. The Sporting Group was deep. In my opinion, it was stronger than the first time I’d judged the Group. I was grateful to the judges who sent me dogs of such incredible quality. That makes it more difficult to slice off the upper echelon of the Group to bring out for final consideration. The final four who ended up making the ribbons are dogs that exemplify the ideals of their breed’s standard. They are four dogs that, I think, will stand the test of time to define their breed by make and shape, by condition, and by all the breed elements required to make those dogs really worthy.
Doug Johnson: On that night, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was awarded First place. In my opinion, he was the hardest dog in the Group. He was defined and showed amazingly well. He has an amazing density of coat, which is paramount for the breed. He’s got a beautiful silhouette, a fabulous head, not a lot of lip—tight lip, tight eye, flat skull. He is very balanced. This is a breed that is active, strong, and very willing to work, and he was doing that with his handler all night long; up and ready at any turn to be prepared to do his job. He’s a hunter-gatherer, and he certainly did an amazing job holding up in that Group ring. He was the one to beat that night. I can’t say enough good things about this dog. He gets better and better. He was in top form and well deserving of First place.
Second place was the Pointer, coming out of retirement for this show. It was a pleasure to see her. She’s a series of gentle curves, a gorgeous headpiece, good size. She has a beautiful tail and a strong topline. She’s as sound as the breed comes. I would make her a template example of the breed. She’s as good a Pointer as I have ever seen.
Third place to the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. This is probably the best Toller I have ever seen. I have always loved this dog. I was thrilled that he made it through to me. Shown in peak condition, hard as a rock, good muscling, excellent coat. He has the classic headpiece for the breed, sound as can be, great tail carriage, strong and clean coming and going. I couldn’t ask for more from him.
And then Fourth place, one of the newer, younger faces, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, a breed I have admired for 25 years. I think it’s the strongest, most-improved breed in the Group in terms of quality. This bitch is excellent. I think she is as good a bitch as I’ve ever seen in the breed. Shown in good muscle, proper coat, good bone for size, great head. This is a medium-sized animal; her size is ideal for me. She is strong, sound, great side gait, and I think she is a testament to where that breed is today. That the breed has come so far to be that competitive, on that level and at that dog show, is a testament to the breeders who have made such vast improvements on the breed. I was happy to be able to acknowledge her, and in doing so, acknowledge all those breeders who have worked so hard to make those improvements in a breed that we’re not used to seeing at this level of quality. So, kudos to them.
Doug Johnson: Oh, just so many. I mean, this show is really iconic in its outreach to the public. This is what most lay people identify as “the dog show.” They’ve all watched it, and they’ve watched it year after year after year. So, the advantages of the platform that The Westminster Kennel Club has offered all of the dog breeders in the country, and even the world, is unmatched. It’s iconic in that regard, and it’s a great platform for every breed. I know from experience, having won Best in Show there twice with dogs that I have bred, that your phone rings for six months or longer afterwards. There are still people coming to me for dogs who watched my dog go Best in Show in 1996. It’s still referenced in their search for a breed. That tells you the impact the show has on the lives of Americans; that it is the go-to place to witness a variety of animals in one sitting. Westminster is irreplaceable in the tapestry of our dog show sport.
Doug Johnson: I’m very grateful to have been included. Everything was done to perfection and really exceeded any expectation this year, in particular it being the 150th. They all seemed to dial it up a notch. It’s a beautiful show, it’s well planned and it’s well thought-out. It’s generous in its portrayal of the sport of purebred dogs, and it’s really something we should all be thankful for. I’m just happy to have played a small part in the history, in the memory of this wonderful, iconic event.
Doug Johnson: I have a long history with The Westminster Kennel Club, having attended for 35 years and being a two-time Best in Show winner as a breeder in breeds of obscurity. So, I have great fondness for the platform and have great reverence for the platform. I know the position that Westminster holds in dogdom as the greatest dog show on the planet. I have nothing but respect and complete and total admiration for the event—always. It’s, honestly, the greatest dog show in the world.
Meet the Judges
Sharon Ann Redmer reflects on judging Herding breeds at Westminster 2026, highlighting breed function, type, and standout winners.
