2011 National Specialty Conformation
Judge
Maija Heinilä (Milkcreek Kennel, Norway)
website
Maija Heinilä (formerly Ånestad) originally comes from
Finland, but has resided both in USA and in Norway where she now lives with
her children. She has a small Bernese Mountain Dog kennel called "Milkcreek"
and has bred Bernese for 21 years now, though very sparingly with only one
or at the most, two litters a year. Dogs from Kennel Milkcreek have champion
titles from 25 countries. Some other highlights pertaining to Milkcreek-puppies:
BIS in Luxembourg International Show, Europa Winner 2002 , Best in Show
Breeders in Nordic Winner 2002, Brussels winner 03, Several Norwegian
Winner-titles, Several Nordic Winner titles, Bundessieger 02 - Germany,
Bundessieger - Austria 05, Europe -winner 02, BOB or BOS in Specialties in
England, Germany, Nederland, Hungary, Norway, Slovakia etc. Best of Winners
in US main specialty with over 350 entries. Club Winners in Obedience in
various classes in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000. Maija is authorized to judge 36
breeds, but the Bernese is closest to her heart (of course!). She has judged
in following countries, most several times: (* signifies at least one BMD
Specialty) • Switzerland (100th year jubilee for Bernese Mountain Dog) * •
Norway • Finland* • Denmark * • Belgium* • Hungary* (tenth year jubilee for
the club) • Spain • Russia* • USA * • Poland* • France * • Sweden • Italy *
•Germany •Ukraine* •Great Britain (25th jubilee show for the
Northern BMD club)*
Sweepstake Judge
Gina McDonnell
(Maitland Kennel, Canada)
website
Gina McDonnell spent most of her teenage years living in
Switzerland where she first fell in love with the Bernese Mountain Dog.
Soon after her return to Canada she purchased her first Bernese, by 1983 she
was breeding and exhibiting Bernese quite successfully under the kennel name
of Maitland. She has had many Specialty winners, Best in Show winners and
Top Bernese in Conformation points in Canada over the years as well as a Top
Producer of Bernese. Gina has also bred Australian Cattle Dogs and now
breeds Australian Kelpies and Dorper sheep along with her beloved Bernese on
her farm in mid-western Ontario that she shares with her partner Bob and her
twin sons, Steven and Kyle. Over the last few years she has been less active
in the conformation ring and has concentrated more on the herding arena. She
is a CKC herding judge and was on the CKC Herding Committee. She put the
first CKC herding title on a Bernese Mountain Dog. Gina has attended all
breed conformation shows in Switzerland, has judged Group 3 at Sanctioned
matches, junior handling at a Bernese show in England, the Sieger Show for the BMDCO in conjunction with their
2006 Specialty, and is a
member of several breed clubs in Canada and the USA and has held various
positions in these clubs over the years.
Sieger Show Judge
Joanne Gerow (Indian Hill Kennel, USA)
Joanne Gerow’s love for Bernese
Mountain Dogs was sparked in 1989, while attending a dog show. Unfamiliar
with the breed, she approached a woman walking with two of the most
beautiful dogs she had ever seen. “ They are Bernese Mountain Dogs from
Switzerland”, she was told and the decision to make these dogs part of her
life was instant. After researching for many months, Joanne brought home a
female puppy in January of 1990. CH JoVal’s Skys The Limit V Bev’s became
the foundation of the Bernese Mountain Dogs of Indian Hill. Joanne has
consistently bred top quality dogs over the past 21 year, including CKC, AKC,
BISS Indian Hill’s Infinite Justice (Uppy), Best of Breed winner of the 2003
BMDCA National Specialty and multiple specialty winner, world renowned AKC/INT/NORDIC/BISS
Indian Hill’s Showtime V Keilissa (Chomper), AKC/CKC/INT/MULTI CH Indian
Hill’s Blizzard of Oz, Indian Hill’s Velvet Revolver, Best in Futurity, 2008
BMDCA National Specialty and most recently, AKC/CKC CH Indian Hill’s
Unleash the Dragon, Best Jr. in Sweeps, 2010 BMDCA National Specialty.
Joanne began judging in 2008 and
has officiated supported entries and specialties. She has traveled to Europe
and guest judged in Germany and attended and exhibited at the World Dog Show
in Stockholm Sweden. Ms. Gerow has visited kennels internationally,
providing her with much insight to the breed worldwide. Joanne believes
judging carries a monumental responsibility to the breed and holds this near
to her heart.
Joanne lives in the Catskill
Mountains of New York with her husband, children, horses and Bernese
Mountain Dogs. She is a New York State Peace Officer, employed with The
Town of Liberty New York where she enforces animal control and animal
cruelty law. In her spare time, Joanne loves dog shows, music, boating,
landscaping and traveling.
All Breed Draft Test
Judges
Peggy Flockhart (Canada)
Peggy Flockhart lives outside Elora, ON. She first got
involved with dogs in 1977 when, she entered the College Royal Dog Show.
Since that time, she has been an instructor for family dog training
programs, and has taught workshops in water rescue, draft work, rally
obedience. She and her dogs have participated in obedience competitions,
rally obedience, water rescue tests, draft tests, agility, flyball, and
therapy work. For 'down time' Peggy likes to head off into the nearest
parklands and hike with her dogs.
When watching teams working, she like to see a happy,
willing partnership between handler and dog while working towards a specific
goal. A team that works smoothly together while performing to a standard is
the best reward for a judge! She can fully appreciate the dedication and
commitment involved in training with our dogs, and looks forward to seeing
the teams involved in the draft test.
Rick Connell (Canada)
Rick Connell first became aware of the Bernese Mountain Dog breed when his
cousin brought a male back with him from Switzerland in 1989. Rick and his
wife Heather started investigating the breed and it took over a year and a
half before they received their first Bernese "Bronson". Bronson sold them
on the breed to the point that they even went to Switzerland. Returning home
they started socializing Bronson, and he won the Best in Sanction Match at
the KW Kennel club show in Kitchener, Ontario. This was Rick's introduction
into the world of confirmation, Obedience and Drafting.
Over the years, Rick has found that he enjoyed the interaction of the dog
and handler working as a team in Drafting, and this has been his focus of
late. Working with this breed, doing drafting work shops, training and
eventually judging has given him great pleasure watching the teams working.
Allan Maniate (Canada)
Allan Maniate has been a Professional Dog Trainer for over
20 years. He teaches Draft work (carting), Water rescue, Conformation,
Junior handling and several other types of training. All training is done
with positive reinforcement. Allan is a Canadian Kennel Club recognized
Draft Dog Judge and a Water Rescue Dog Judge. Allan is the proud owner of
Newfoundland dogs who not only are cherished members of the family, but
these dogs have (or will have) working titles. Allan is a Charter member of
the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers and is a Charter
member and President of the South Eastern Ontario Region of the Newfoundland
Dog Club of Canada. He is a member of the Newfoundland Dog Club of Canada
and a member of the Canadian Kennel Club.
Obedience and Rally
Judges
Paul Oslach (Canada) ~ Specialty &
All-Breed Obedience Trials Judge ~ 4 June
One day I wandered down to the far end of the arena during a
dog show to see what else was going on. Next thing I knew I was hooked. The
dogs at that end of the ice pad were doing more interesting things like
jumping and retrieving. That was some where around 1980. Since then I have
trained and shown Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
In 1982, I became the proud owner of Ch & OTCh. Picbrand
Mardi Grais, the first Cavalier in Canada (and North America) to obtain a
Utility Title. My judging career began the 1988 and has taken me all over
Canada and parts of the United States where I have seen some of the best
arenas. My other hobbies include camping and canoeing.
Mr. Oslach judged the BMDCO Specialty Obedience Trials in Ottawa in 2003 and
in Ruthven, Ontario in 2009.
Lynne Oslach (Canada) ~ Specialty & All-Breed Rally
Trials Judge ~ 4 June
TBA
Delvyn Lunn (Canada) ~ Specialty Rally & All-Breed
Obedience & Rally Trials Judge - 5 June
I became involved in dog training in
1978. The first dog I trained was a German Shepherd. The training and
exhibiting of this dog led to a career of over thirty years in dog training.
In 1980 I purchased my first Golden
Retriever from Meadowpond Goldens in Michigan. This again has led to
breeding Goldens under the prefix “Goldunn”. I have trained my dogs through
many obedience titles over the years. I am actively involved in obedience as
an instructor at two facilities.
In January 1999 I became a licensed
Obedience judge and in 2007 a Rally judge. I have been fortunate to have
judged in many venues in the U.S. Canada and Puerto Rico. I find judging
another level of training where the experience is invaluable.
I am currently the president of The
Canadian Association of Obedience Trial Judges and a life member of the
Canadian Kennel Club.
I would like to wish the exhibitors
the best of luck in your trials. I would also like to take this opportunity
to wish you and your club continued success.
Mr. Lunn judged the BMDCO Specialty Obedience Trials in
Ruthven, Ontario in 2009.
Delvyn Lunn (Canada) ~ Specialty Obedience & All-Breed
Obedience & Rally Trials Judge - 5 June
TBA
