MS . ANGELA PICKETT of Chuluota , Florida does not remember life without a dog . Her focus was obedience when her search for a small dog to compete with led her to discover the Papillon breed . She started breeding and exhibiting Papillons in conformation in the early 1990s . Along with her daughter , Cheslie Pickett-Smithey , Ms . Pickett has bred many champions as well as multiple Best in Show , multiple Best in Specialty Show , Papillon Club of America National Specialty Winners , multiple MACH , and multiple OTCH Papillons . She is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Papillon Club of America and their Judges Education Chair .
Ms . Pickett is approved to judge the Toy and Non-Sporting groups , numerous breeds from the Hound group , Best in Show , and Junior Showmanship . This is her first judging assignment at Westminster .
MS . ELIZABETH “ BETH ” SWEIGART of Bowmansville , Pennsylvania was born on Long Island and has been involved with dogs all her life . First , with the Labrador Retrievers that her father used for duck hunting on Great South Bay , and later , after marriage , she started breeding and showing Labs under the Yarrow prefix in the 1960s . She started breeding Norwich and Norfolk terriers in the 1970s and Affenpinschers in the 1990s . Ms . Sweigart has bred National Specialty , Best in Show winners , and top-ranked dogs .
As a professional handler , she showed dogs that won the Terrier , Toy , and Sporting groups at Westminster .
She handled top-winning Toy and Sporting dogs in the U . S . and the number one dog all-breeds Ch . Cracknor Cause Celebre , a Norfolk Terrier who also won Best in Show at Crufts Dog Show in 2005 . Ms . Sweigart is approved to judge the Sporting , Terrier , and Toy groups and Working and Herding breeds , Best in Show , and Junior Showmanship . This is her fifth judging assignment at Westminster .
MS . NANCY E . TALBOTT of Quartz Hill , California was four years old when a family moved into her neighborhood with two Golden Retrievers that won her heart . As a graduate student in 1979 , she could finally enter the sport with a Golden puppy who became a CH , UD , WCX . She is grateful that the breeder entrusted such a versatile puppy to a youngster with nothing except enthusiasm . In 1987 Ms . Talbott added Labrador Retrievers to her household and continued to be active with both breeds . In addition to the retrievers , she has owned champion Papillons and Pugs .
Ms . Talbott has been judging since 1993 in the U . S ., Sweden , Mexico , South Korea , and Indonesia . Additionally , she has judged multiple Golden and Labrador Retriever National Specialties in the U . S ., Canada , and Australia . Ms . Talbott is approved to judge numerous Sporting breeds and Junior Showmanship . This is her first judging assignment at Westminster .
MS . CINDY VOGELS of Greenwood Village , Colorado interest in dogs began in high school . She and her mother , Jackie Gottlieb , have bred over 100 “ Andover ” Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier champions ; they have owned numerous top winners and producers including Ch . Andover Song N Dance Man most of whose 30-year-old breed records still stand . Ms . Vogels also bred champion Kerry Blue , Norfolk and Welsh Terriers , Brittanys , and Greyhounds .
Her participation in dog clubs included being the former President and AKC Delegate of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America and a previous Board member of the AKC Canine Health Foundation . Presently , she serves as Vice-President and Show Chairman of the Evergreen Colorado KC and on the Board of Directors of Take the Lead . Ms . Vogels has judged worldwide , including Best in Show at Westminster and the Montgomery County KC . She is approved to judge all Sporting , Hound , Terrier , Toy groups , 8 Non-Sporting breeds , Best in Show , and Junior Showmanship . This is her eighth judging assignment at Westminster .
TOP : SANDRA DUKES , BOTTOM : CHRISTINA FRAUSINI
MR . ELLIOTT B . WEISS of Novelty , Ohio was born in New York City and grew up in the Catskill Mountains . The first show he attended was the 1956 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show . It was love at first sight and by 1963 he became an exhibitor . Mr . Weiss worked as an apprentice handler to the late Ted Young , Jr . and became an AKC-licensed professional handler in 1969 . He owns , and occasionally exhibits and breeds , English Setters under the Wyndswept prefix .
Mr . Weiss has owned and bred , Cocker Spaniels , Clumber Spaniels , Giant Schnauzers , Pointers , and English Setters . He started judging in 1994 and is currently approved to judge the Sporting , Hound , Terrier , Non- Sporting , and Toy groups , Best in Show , and a number of Working and Herding breeds . He has previously judged the Terrier , Sporting , and Toy groups , and Best in Show at Westminster . This is his thirteenth judging assignment at Westminster .
WESTMINSTER There ’ s only one ® 33