Pamela Bruce shares her experience judging the 2024 AKC National Championship Terrier Group, highlighting top dogs and memorable moments.
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Pamela Bruce: I am extremely appreciative and honored to be asked back to this event – especially to assess my own Group!
Pamela Bruce: It is an incredible responsibility, as it is a show of both great quality and numbers.
Pamela Bruce: It is a breeders’ event and the quality of each breed is deep – almost impossible to make choices in such quality and depth. At this event we end up walking dogs out of our ring in every class that we truly appreciate and would be thrilled to have again in our ring another time!
Pamela Bruce: I am never nervous, but this time I was “pumped” to just get going and see which dogs were sent back to me to evaluate. Just before we started, as the music was playing, I was excited and was actually dancing.
Pamela Bruce: In this Group (as at Montgomery County Terrier Show) I felt the energy was high by the teams before me. I cannot see the spectators because of the lighting, and I rarely if ever hear them as I am focused on the dogs in front of me. I honestly do not even look up at the handlers often, as I am so focused on the brief moments with the dogs themselves. It’s often not until the final cut that I pay closer attention to the teamwork.
Pamela Bruce: To be honest, this was the most challenging assignment to date, as I did not have enough spots available in my cut and I walked dogs out that I loved. With the internal pressure of evaluating each dog while trying to stay on task, I missed pulling a dog I intended to cut. I have only done this one other time in 25 years, but it happens when my brain is working overtime. I try my best to enjoy the assignment and make it pleasant for both the dogs and their exhibitors, but in reality, with the excellent quality in my ring, I have an almost impossible decision that has to be made efficiently on the day.
Pamela Bruce: General Comments: I was truly honored to judge the Terrier Group for the 2024 AKC National Championship Show. Thank you to the AKC and Royal Canin for this wonderful experience! Thank you to the Breed judges for sending such quality representation to the Group ring!
The overall quality of the Group was excellent. I had not seen many of the Breed winners before, so looking at them with fresh eyes was a real treat. I owe an apology to the Manchester Terrier and their exhibitor, as I had meant to pull them but realized at the end that I did not have them in my final selection. There were several others that I wished I was allowed to include in a larger cut. The young lady and her Rat Terrier were an awesome team. I wished I had room to keep them as well. They will be a duo to watch out for!
The dog I am most looking forward to seeing in the future is the handsome Smooth Fox Terrier! He was clearly an immature exhibit in my final few but, to me, the Breed Standard personified. I anticipate he will have an incredible career and hopefully become an asset to the breed, as he IS the entire package!
Welsh Terrier: A mature dog, in lovely condition. He was compact, sturdy, and held an excellent outline. He demonstrated a great mindset. He was calm yet assured and owned the ground beneath him. His handler guided him flawlessly and seemed to just fade into the background – allowing the dog to be in the spotlight. They were a pleasure to award. I realized afterward that he was one of two handsome Welsh dogs I had awarded in the past and had looked forward to seeing in my ring again.
Norwich Terrier: A handsome, balanced, sturdy, masculine dog of good bone and substance, he was “rounded in all the right places.” He was spirited and had a wonderful foxlike expression. He was presented in a flawless, wiry yet natural-looking coat, with an excellent mane. He was in perfect weight and in rock-hard muscle condition.
Airedale Terrier: As an Airedale Terrier breeder, I am most critical evaluating my own breed. It was an internal struggle, as this dog easily could have won this Terrier Group. He was presented to absolute perfection. He was alert, and on his toes, yet his handler kept him cool and calm (in a challenging setting for this breed to navigate). He is a moderate, balanced dog with a hard back and short loin, and he has great leg under him. He has all the hallmarks of the breed not often seen in one package. He moves in one piece while holding an excellent shape and outline. He has a wonderful brick head and a correct, harsh, red grizzle coat! He IS a King!
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: A moderate, feminine, alert, and well-coordinated exhibit, her abundant coat was soft yet had proper gentle wave. She clearly understood her task at hand and enjoyed every moment in the ring with her handler as she displayed a self-confident and happy mindset.
Pamela Bruce: THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR SPORT. It is SO greatly appreciated!
Pamela Bruce: YES! ALL dogs are allowed to be entered from all over the world and from every aspect of our sport—excellent breed representation at every level and fabulous for the public to attend and to watch on AKC.TV, and again on regular TV at a later time!
Pamela Bruce: The final BIS line-ups were just amazing! The final AKC BIS award (which was also top dog all breeds) is an excellent ambassador to our sport! I wish everyone great success in the whelping box and in the rings—and pure enjoyment in 2025 and beyond.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
The AKC has released the judging panel for the 2026 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin in Orlando this December.
