Rick Connell
 

	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.
	Mr. Connell is looking forward to judging the Draft Test at the 2009 Specialty.  He wishes all participant the best, and will enjoy seeing the teamwork for which this breed has become famous.