Members
Listen to this article
4 min
The Weekly Brief
The best of SHOWSIGHT editorials, weekly wins, and breeder commentary — delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning.
Karen Fitzpatrick: This was my very first time having the incredible honor of judging at Montgomery County Kennel Club, and what an experience it was!
I have been attending Montgomery as an exhibitor for over 25 years, with the thrill of winning Best of Breed several times over those years. Montgomery has always held a very special place in my heart, but being on the other side of the lead was something entirely different.
For the first time, I attended all four days with the opportunity to simply spectate, observe, and soak it all in. It was wonderful! To be able to watch so many beautiful terriers, visit with friends, and truly appreciate the quality of dogs presented throughout the weekend was an experience I will never forget.
There is simply nothing quite like Montgomery, and having the privilege of judging my heart breed there made it even more special.
Karen Fitzpatrick: I have had the pleasure of judging terriers at many different venues, but never have I had the privilege of judging such a wonderful number of Border Terriers in one place. For someone who has dedicated so much of her life to this breed, it was truly a remarkable experience.
I had a lovely lineup of specials, and as I went over each dog, I was looking for something very specific. I wanted to find the dog I would want to breed to, or the one I would love to take home myself. That has always been my philosophy, whether I am breeding, exhibiting, or judging. And I found him!
He possessed the breed type, movement, and structure that I personally value so highly. He was the kind of Border Terrier that reminded me exactly why I fell in love with this breed so many years ago.
When you have spent a lifetime studying, breeding, and loving a breed, there is something incredibly rewarding about putting your hands on a dog that embodies what you believe a Border Terrier should be. That, to me, is what judging is all about.
Karen Fitzpatrick: How do you possibly put Montgomery into words?
I don’t think you can truly appreciate the sheer number and quality of terriers gathered in one place until you experience it for yourself. Whether you are a breeder, exhibitor, aspiring judge, or simply someone who loves terriers, Montgomery is an experience you absolutely cannot miss.
There is no better place to study breeds, appreciate the differences among them, learn from longtime breeders, and see some of the finest terriers in the world.
But Montgomery is so much more than a dog show. It gets into your heart, under your skin, and into your blood.
I always say that by the middle of September, I can literally smell Montgomery coming! I don’t know if it’s the change in the weather, the crispness in the air, or just the anticipation of another wonderful weekend, but something happens every year. I can feel it coming, and I simply cannot wait to get there.
It’s uncanny, really, how a dog show can become such a part of who you are.
Montgomery isn’t just a show you attend. It’s a show you feel. And once you’ve experienced it, you’ll understand exactly what I mean. There is a reason they call it “The Greatest Terrier Show on Earth!”
Meet the Judges
